Scary stuff- when everything is out of your control….

Well- a few of you have complained there hasn't been anything on the blog for a while….. mainly because I have been working every night (which is going great- still loving it) In fact one friend (Aline, on holiday here from Scotland ) came to see me last night on the boat and she likened my reaction to working here to being addicted to a drug. It's true – It gives me a high, dancing, like nothing else can! Anyway- I have had lots of mad and fun moments over the last couple of weeks too- which I'll tell you about soon- but I have to write first about the most horrible 14 hours that I just had!

1st- you have to know my flight back to UK was at 8.30am this morning.

2nd- you also need to know that in order to get your ID card which allows you to work as a dancer here you have to hand your passport over to the Mogamma (the government offices) which you can get back anytime you have to travel.

So what happened? Someone messed up. I won't mention any names at all- but I was let down badly- and the person responsible for collecting my passport for me- didn't do it in time. Even though they had known my travel date for, well- for 2 months actually!

So, although they knew this, at 3pm yesterday (when I still could have called BA office to change my flight) they didn't let me know til 10pm. In between shows (my waterproof mascara is tear proof too- but the khol is not!!!)

I ended up sitting up til 5.30am til the taxi came to take me to the airport so I could try and change my flight (to tomorrow since there is only on flight per day) Thankfully the woman there was very nice and agreed to do this when she heard my story, even though my ticket is not supposed to me exchangeable within 24hr of travel (it will cost me 5o pound though) However- tomorrow's flight is fully booked. So tomorrow at 5.30am I will head to the airport again to wait and hope someone just doesn't turn up for the plane! Otherwise I don’t fly til Thursday- which means all the people who have booked to see me perform on Wednesday night at Morocco restaurant will be sorely disappointed (but not as much as me!!!!!!!!!)

I am gutted. Tonight was supposed to be time with Khalid, and all day tomorrow was for time with my sister and her baby son Sam. Now I won't get that quality time I had planned. So please- send out some prayers that I'll be able to get a seat tomorrow so at least I can see my friends who are booked for the wed night!

THEN………………..

As if that wasn’t enough…

My Taxi had an accident on the way to the airport this morning. It was bad. He was either on drugs, or psychotic… but it was the most scary experience of my life- I thought I was going to die when he accelerated straight towards a wall (in an empty street!). Thank god for the curb being so high. That stopped the car before we hit the wall and probably saved both our lives….. I have never screamed like that in all my adult life!

The scary thing was actually after that- when he started to accelerate up the slip road onto the bridge…………….. with me shouting at him to stop….. and then I saw his eyes- wide open and manic.

He did stop, and I jumped (shaking and crying into another taxi) and then he tried to charge me for the journey that far! The new taxi drive r set him straight and reminded him of the fine he'd have to pay if got his company or the police involved- which quietened him eventually. I had even booked the yellow taxi because the cars are newer and safer (and cheaper for long distance!) and I tell you- I made sure I called the company to complain about him as soon as I could talk! I will use yellow cabs again- but only once they confirm to me that that lunatic is sacked!

So I am alive and ok (apart from a very stiff back which feels like I have worked out in the gym for many more hours than I should have!) but wow- what a night.

Hope you see you all in Edinburgh soon!

Teaching

What wonderful day so far...

this morning I taught a bellydance class in direct exchange for a massage! An American woman Pam, who is already a nice dancer so fun to teach plus she is the best masseuse i have found in Cairo.... very good! Fabulous!

Then I have just taught 2 girls from Qatar... mainly in arabic. They are lovely and will be lovely dancers so looking forward to classes with them every day for the rest of their holiday here.

Just now I am sitting in a cafe typing this and eating my lunch with the sun shining outside.

and tonight- I have 2 shows on the Golden Pharoah.

I am very happy with my life!

a weekend at Mena House Hotel

A group of friends and I decided to spend a night at this beautiful hotel situated just under the pyramids since the cost of the room worked out about the same as 2 days pool use anyway! It was a fun weekend- as the photos will prove......................





John- sipping his 'Early Grey' in front of the Pyramids, by the pool........ how terribly english!











John was voted 'best male model' for the weekend after this fetching pose...... it attempts to depict the stresses and strains of a hard life..........!



Chilling out by the pool- oh and those pyramids again too!!!!! thats pretty much all we did during the day both the friday and saturday!


The evening had a gentle start- Anna louise, me, Paul, John, Suzanne and Waleed in the Indian restaurant at the hotel......

However- The beginning of the end.....................(well.... we had to celebrate John's Uni results after all!!!)

Captions required for this pic of suzanne and the waiter..........

The food- AMAZING. The best Indian meal I have had anywhere (I even still said that on my 5th helping!!!!!!!!!) Only problem was the price- not horrific by UK standards- but worked out more expensive than the rooms!!!

then.......... not surprisingly.....How we all felt by the end of the meal!!!

some worse than others.........................................!

The hotel lobby...............

Then we went to the Nightclub in Mena House to witness the charms of the lovely Bellydancer Nancy. I felt sorry for her since there was only 1 other table in the place with us... but once she worked out that we could appreciate the music and the dance then she put on a really lovely show. Here, she is attemping to get Paul up to join her- however he was stunned into giggles at the thought of it....

She looked like she was having fun ...........

How she could dance in those shoes though I wasn't quite sure.........

The long walk around the grounds at night to try and encourage the meal to settle meant we got a chance to see this fantastic scene- so peaceful............... a fitting end to the night...

My Cairo CV so far........

I suddenly realised that although you, my blog readers, now know about my regular contract at the Nile and Golden Pharoah boats, you may be interested to know some of the other places I have danced in Cairo....... some were a one off occasion, a few were regular gigs!..........

Movenpick (airport) Hotel (regular performances and weddings)
Novotel Hotel (regular performances)
Grand Hyatt Hotel (weddings)
Mena House Hotel (corporate dinner)
Cairo Sheraton Hotel
Sonesta Hotel
JW Marriot Hotel

and others............ (including a wedding in a private villa in the middle of a mango grove, where the dance floor was glass over a swimming pool and they had a fake snow machine on while the couple did their 1st dance!!!)

Hot

Feeling the heat today.....
depending on which website I look at its either 37deg or 40deg. I'll vote for 40.

Its interesting how memories lie hidden in your brain til you are prompted by something. Today, walking home from lunch with a friend, I felt the road soft. I looked under my feet and realised the tarmac was melting! It took me straight back to being a child in Inverness and realising the same thing- never noticed it any other time in my life. Amazing.

What was also amazing was the number of shops I had to pop into on the way home- not because I wanted to shop... but for a quick blast of the Air Con before walking the next part of the route!

The Gold story

I don't know why I always seem to be wearing the gold saaidi dress (Eman Zaki design) when friends come to see me- I do have other ones!!! Honest!

Me and my folklorique dancers having fun Saaidi style!

Thats my friend Ruth's husband Mohammed at my feet there........ he's quite a dancer! Oh and the youngest fan of the evening gazing intently on!



And next, my friend Paul up having a go.................. not sure how well he is doing though, from the look on my face!!!!!

exactly what I am doing in this next photo I am not too sure!!!!!

oh of course- you know- that tongue sticking out jumpy move- how could I forget that one!

of course- every good bellydance performance has a yoga break in the middle of it.............. STRETCH UP with the right..................

........................... and STRETCH with the left...............

Its a family show!!!.....................


'THE END'- As close as I get to a 'Highland dance' pose!!!

and to finish..................... of course.................... I love you all............................ blowing kisses!

Now I want no more complaints about there not being enough photos of me dancing on this blog!!!!!!!!!!! (and yes- video will happen sooner or later............. can't give you too much all at once can I?!!!)

Lorna in Pink on the Pharoah

This 1st pic is there, not to show me posing for photographs but to give to an idea of the size of the dance floor I have to try and stay on! I invariably slip of the edge at some point during the night....... Actually- its looks fairly big there............. its not!!!

I love getting the audience up to dance- especially when they CAN dance! I look almost shy and cute in this photo- I've included it because I know that those of you who know me wouldn't believe it without photographic evidence!

Not everyone who gets up to dance however, can keep up- some end up on their knees!!!!

And then there are others who you have to tell (in a nice way!) just to stay in their seats..................................!

Rhanda at the Marriot - again

Just can't get enough of this girl- I learn so much just from watching her dance............. When she comes onto stage at first with the wings- she treats them the same way egyptians use veils- they are there for helping you create an interest- as soon as you have everyones attention you fling them to one side!!

That is just such an amzing stomach huh............ wow.

The new flowers up top look.........

Trousers meet disco lighting- love it! The little bolero jacket was discarded as soon as the saaidi number was completed......

Rota for June on the Nile Pharon (Nile/ Golden Pharaoh, Cairo, Egypt!!!)

Well- I asked for the new rota for the next 2 weeks… and was told there wasn't one- I am working every night …………………. Mostly on the Golden pharaoh (but I guess they might put me on the Nile Pharaoh is the whim takes them).

So- anyone reading this hoping to come to see me dance in Cairo on the boat; Assume I am dancing, but Double check when you book!!!!! The Pharaohs website to get more info is in my links.


Talking links- Morocco Restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland now has a blog (see links) so you can see who is dancing which night (rota updated regularly), special offers, classes info and menu details (once updated )etc etc…… feel free to have a look and leave comments!

Extra drums....

I discovered the reason why I have had an extra tabla player for the last 2 days performing…….. my drummer is off abroad to a festival for a few days, so my replacement has been sitting in. Learning by doing and watching. I have to say, I don't think my drummer (as wonderful as he is) has ever been so good! I guess if I was teaching, or performing, in front of someone who was going to cover my job for a while, I would make sure I was the best I could be too. Anyway- I feel I am the winner out of this one, since the new guy seems really good too and the drum solo is getting more and more enjoyable every time! Did I mention in this blog anywhere that dancing with live music is the best thing ever?!!!!

Private parties….in Cairo

I discovered last night, when I was booked to perform at one.. that often small groups of people (less than 10) will hire dancers to perform in their own homes- just so they can sit and enjoy the dance without people passing judgment on them. Nothing dodgy or sordid in any way although I know it does sound like it is- just a house party- with entertainment. I guess this is even more so if the people hiring are famous (as these guys were) or feel their reputation would suffer if they were seen out and about watching dancers! As if it should be something to be ashamed about……… but I guess for many people in the middle east it is still seen as something not seen in high regard.

Anyway- I have to say- it was my party like this…. And I was incredibly nervous…….. It felt wrong in the beginning (although it set my mind at rest having 2 other dancers I knew there with me who were performing too!) …….. BUT these people were totally respectful and appreciative of the art so my fears were thankfully unfounded. I know I didn't dance my best since I was being very cautious and holding back, but it went ok. I guess there must be some people who will hire dancers hoping for a bit more than dance- but since I had my 'boy' with me to look after me (and the other dancers had the same), and since these people were decent people, it was all 100% ok. Still strange though- that someone would pay that much money (we're talking UK performance rates- not Egyptian ones here!) just to entertain a handful of people. Anyway- it’s a side of the dance I have, not only, not experienced before but didn't even know about- so that’s why I am writing about it. A friend was telling me that sometimes a group of women (esp. Saudi women) will hire dancers for an event themselves so they can enjoy the dance and join in, without men spoiling the fun- now that I am looking forward to- hope it does happen!!!!!

no way at all....

Just no way..................
no way at all.......................
there are many jobs you can do after 12 hours vomiting and diarrhoea....... but Bellydancing on a boat is not one of them! The idea of having to run offstage straight to the loo..... no- just couldn't do it!
Thank god they were able to get a replacement for me tonight...... thats all I can say! Inshallah all will be well by tomorrow!
It was always my biggest fear about working here- that my stomach would play up when I was due to perform- well- the fear has been realsied and lets hope it doesn't resurface!!!!

Updates- fame and floundering

so... a good thing yesterday- I saw the copy of the 'people' magazine called 'Cinema walnass' , a bit like 'Hello' Magazine- and I get a REALLY good write up- the 'star lorna', wowing the audience - that sort of thing............ very happy with it. I'm a 'fanana' (sounds rude in english doesn't it!!!)

and the bad thing tonight- landed on my backside in the middle of my performance............ my new costume's (black with chains- call it my 'cher costume'!) skirit was too long and I was doing the Dina style flat foot heavy walk going backwards- and ended up on the floor- HOW EMBARESSING!!!!!!!!! my back now hurts too - so fingers crossed THAT doesn't last!!!!!!!! Think I managed to save it - ie make it look like it was almost meant- sort of... almost.......

at least the second sail was all egyptians and arabs in the audience and they were fantastic- grown men stopping their forks half way between their plate and mouth to watch!!!!! and little girls coming up to me for autographs and to ask my name!

what else........ have my friend Sarannah staying with me for a couple of days and she was wonderful tonight- chopped me up a salad- so when I got home starving and opened the fridge it was sitting there waiting for me- I can't tell you how wonderful that is when you come home starving at 1.30am and then usually have to think about what to eat and start to prepare it! God bless her!

still loving my job- but hope I can stay healthy- it's really tiring doing ti 7 nights in a row!

white pharoah

ok- so really its a bellydancer (me.................Lorna - of Cairo!) in white on the Nile Pharoah- but still!

This picture shows me that this costume revels rather more thigh when i am in motion than it does when I checked it out infront of the mirror!!!!!! oops!

more photos of me on stage

That last one I call my 'thank you god for letting be here dancing in Egypt' photo!!!

The Tabla Solo Photo

I love this picture of me at the Nile Pharaoh. It reminds me of how good it feels being up on that stage- being creative and having fun!

Lorna (of Cairo!) performing in Edinburgh, June '07

As many of you know- I'll be coming home to UK to perform and teach at the Raqs Britannia festival in Blackpool at the end of June.

However, I know many of you, can't make it to that event- and i love dancing for my friends, family and students...... so I have decided to perform in Morocco Restaurant for 2 NIGHTS ONLY, before heading to blackpool.

WED 27th June
THURS 28th June

I hope a few of you can come along since it would be great to see you and catch up (and since I am only home for a few days it won't be possible to socialise as I'd like to!) Also- I'll be able to tell you all the stuff I can't put in my blog about dancing in Cairo!!!!!!!!!! (Plus the 29th is my birthday- and since I'll be in blackpool for it- then this is kinda my celebration for that too!!!!)

warning- book soon........ since this will be my only performances in Scotland before November,when i am home for a week or so, I suspect it may be rather busy these nights (hope so anyway!!!!) (0131 652 3764 to book!)

Paparazzi on the Nile Pharaoh

I haven't told you how Wed night went........

Sara, Yasmina and Caroline came to see me- and I was really nervous. But it went really well and they all seemed to enjoy themselves... which was such a relief! Yasmina complimented my drum solo- which I was really chuffed about cos I do think it is good- we have such a good interaction and it is just getting better each time!

however- what made my night was that the lower deck was full with a private party. It was seemingly famous singers, actresses etc etc. and the paparazzi were there too (2 photographers) anyway- they were the best audience I have EVER had! Out of the approx 80 people, there were about 6 men (who were a lot of fun and also appreciative!!!)....... and I love dancing for a female crowd to start with, but these women were soooo appreciateive- clapping, cheering, dancing.... and they ALL wanted their photo taken with me! A few of them asked how they could contact me again too- so potentially more work from that one too!!!!!

It was so wonderful to be really appreciated by people who really do understand what its all about- not just egyptian women- but fellow artists, ok- not dancers- but people who understand music and the culture 100%!

Found out tonight that my pic will be going into a celeb magazine too (called cinema people- or something like that!) How exciting is that!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway- I was floating on a cloud all night after that I tell you..........

Beach

I spent the day on the beach yesterday!

very exciting- it was this first time for me to see the red sea (which isn't red- but is very salty!!!) Strange watching the huge oil tankers from suez glide along the horizon!

A group of us from the salsa crowd went to ein sokhna. It was a very relaxing day and just what I needed, and it was only about an hour and a half away by car. Wonderful. Its a common day out for people from Cairo who are 'better off' (it is a resort complex and you can only access the beach if you are stayiing in the hotel, or know someone who has a villa there and therefore a pass- which we did- thanks Moshira!)
No idea why that last pic has come out so small!!!!!

I also needed to remember to reapply suncream onto my back- which I didn't- so now I look like raspberry ripple ice cream- white-ish on the front- PINK on the back. Not quite sure what to do about that since I have work tonight- happy that I have a couple of costumes which have bolero jacket tops to them!!!

the excitement continues....

Something exciting happened last night........... I signed my first real autographs!!!!!!!! Maybe its really silly to be excited by such things- but hey! I am loving it!!!!!! It was for a German family- they wanted me to sign the photos of me with them (after they got over the shock of me being from Scotland!!!!)

what else..........? oh- got a couple of 'dancing boys'with sticks performing along side me tonight for the 1st time- so we'll see how that goes!!! The stage is very small so i am a bit concerned about sticks clashing- but hey- it'll be interesting!

oh- and to all my 'Morocco' Dancers- NOW I understand how you felt when i came to see you dance ................. I have Sara and Yasmina (and another dancer from liverpool, Caroline) coming to see me tonight- I am soo nervous!!!!!!!!! Mind you- I have a big group of friends coming to see me next weekend and I am just excited about that!

Need to go try to choose some more music........... if I am dancing EVERY day then the band , and I , are going to get pretty fed up of the same tracks over and over- off to search out some variety!!!!

Come see me dance 16th-31st May.

Hi- well as promised (or threatened) here are my dates over the next 2 weeks of May, if you happen to be in Cairo and want to come and see me perform.

Nile Pharaoh- wed 16th , thur 17th , thur 24th , fri 25th ,
mon 28th , tue 29th , wed 30th and thur 31st.

Golden Pharaoh- mon 21st, tues 22nd, sat 26th and sun 27th.

See- its a regular job- only 4 days off in 2 weeks!!! Hope to see some of you there!!!

holiday review

Just to let you know- there is a really nice review of my latest dancing holiday to Cairo on my friends bellydance website... it has lots of interesting facts about various aspect of Cairo life..she has written up about the coptic area of Cairo particularly well....

http://www.scarab.uk.com/page.asp?id=blog

enjoy.

Performing in Cairo

Did I mention that I LOOOOOOOOOVE dancing in Cairo?!!!!

Really- I have been in bed for a week with the most horrible tummy bug ever- but got back to work friday and saturday and feel like someone has pumped some happy pills into me. I hate not dancing.......its the only sure fire thing to get me down!

Saturday I danced 2 shows at lunchtime then a further 3 in the evening. It was a heck of a long day- but i feel I am still on such a huge learning curve. Ok, so I have dancing in restaurants for at least 9 years now..... but still - to be doing it here in Egypt, with most importantly- my own band! I love it.

I love the excitment of not knowing exactly what you will be dancing to. We, of course, have a playlist of songs I normally use but sometimes the mood just won't fit the people who are in that night or I needed to do more to fill in time or whatever, and the freedom of just chatting with the band mid set and saying- ok- lets try this....... and then just doing it. WOW. Life on the edge!

Then of course there is the Tabla Solo- which is just so much fun. We really do have a giggle on stage- and it is really different every time- mainly because my drummer is a live wire and loves improvising- which means I have to be 100% on the ball to keep up with him! Sometimes of course I put my foot down and refuse to play his game- usually this ends up with a mock fight of some sort (between my hips and his drum!) and the audience laughing.

The feeling of achievement at the end of one of these sets is like nothing else............. when I do my finali and shimmy my way to the end of the music I feel so proud and strong and happy- 'I got to the end'........ 'people are enjoying this'...... 'I am performing in Cairo'!

I also get a huge buzz standing in the changing room , about to go on stage hearing myself being introduced..... 'il Fanana........ Lorna' !!!! (the 'artist' , which here implies the 'star' ) Such a huge ego trip- and I think I get the buzz cos I STILL can't believe its really happening! I feel like a small child on christmas morning every time I go to work!

I wonder how long this feeling will continue- I really hope forever, its better than any drug! (although by the time I am dancing at least 5 shows per day in the busy summer season- who knows? I'll just have to pray for the energy to keep fit enough through it all!!!!)

Sandstorms

I meant to write this up a few weeks ago- when it happened- but somehow I got distracted!

'Sham el Nessim' is a festival and holiday celebrated by all people in Egypt, and seemingly goes back to the time of the pharaohs (4500 years ago!). It is basically their celebration of the coming of spring (the scent of the breeze) and is celebrated on the Monday directly after the Coptic Easter day.(i.e. this year it was 9th April- so only a month late writing up about it!!!!) People have the day off work and usually go for a picnic- and eat Fiseekh (a raw salted fish) it is very smelly!!! Unfortunately often it smells funny because it is bad and many people end up in hospital round sham el Nessim from fish food poisoning! People often boil and colour eggs (coloured eggs also date back to pharonics times and are the direct root of our 'Easter eggs'. They were believed to symbolize regeneration of life. Spring onions were once used to cure the son of a pharaoh and so nowadays are also on the spring menu!

This is a festival for all- and is one of the few big public holidays which are non-Islamic.

Around the time of this celebration there are always sandstorms (khamaseen). We had a pretty major one (photo below taken from my living room window!) but I heard that it actually did kill people- not to mention causing severe road accidents out of town where you couldn't even see the road- far worse than fog!!!

Closing Party- Nile Group Festival april 07

I arrived late (becoming more Egyptian by the day it would seem- only 1.5 hrs late!!!) so missed the first dancer- and have no idea who it was. Nana (or something like that- saw her later dancing in the audience and realised I had missed the best dancer of the night!!!)

Fatima (of the Marriot hotel) danced is as tiny costumes as always- lovely figure and nice dance- she has improved since last year. I promise that although Fatima's make up looks very scary in this picture- in reality she looked not bad!!!!!

Hanadi (of the Grand Hyatt boat) did a long set- the highlight of which was the 'african' dancers she had with her!!!- great fun. She got Tito up on stage with her too- they interacted really well with each other which was a pleasure to watch.

Then a woman I don't know- again Egyptian- Safwa, and she is a famous actress now seemingly. Very good dancer- tons of attitude and never boring- but horrific costume well, the first one was, where she was reveling far more flesh than appropriate- a mini skirt should at least cover your backside in my view! It was a shame- because I really wanted to watch her dance- but I was cringing too much on her behalf to start with.

They also had a giant 'birthday' cake for all at the festival and all the teachers got up on stage and sang and danced around the cake- see how many you can recognise!...............