Please help..........

calling any techie people out there who might be able to help me on this.

I just received a comment from a teacher who was checking my website and it turns out somebody has stolen it!
Somehow 'they' have attached my website name to link to a porn site- so

DO NOT OPEN www.Bellylorna.com

Even though I still own and have paid for that domain name I had no pages saved under it yet- the blog is enough for me just now- but I was waiting to get to get round it....................

now I really don't know what to do or who to complain too..........................

very upset and angry!!!!

any help please???????

( this bit added in June!- ps all websites now safe to use!!!!!!!!!!!! the hackers have been ousted!!!)

Catch up.....

Last night I was at Yasmina's house cos Kay Taylor had a group over and they had a party there. They had a few shows too- Nubian, saaidi (stick) and Iskandraya (melaya). One girl from Kays' group is a teacher in Belguim and I just loved the way she moved. Somehow she really reminded me of myself. Calmer ( a good thing!) , and maybe less cheeky.... but the same body shape and the same snakyness. hypnotic!

It was fun, and the band were there- love when there is live music and you can dance , not just perform. Am really excited about work tonight becuase I managed to persuade my manager (well- I have decided he is more like an agent than a manager) anyway- persuaded him to get me this other table player that I really like and got him..... so REALLY looking forward to doing my tabla solo ( or 'faddi' as they call it here) .....

On thursday night I was at work, but the whole boat had been chartered out for a wedding... so ALL the guests were downstairs and the buffet upstairs. There just seemed to be TONS of people. They call all these occasions weddings- but actually it was an engagement party, and the 'bride to be' had her birthday on the same day... a fun night. But loooooong! They had the dreaded wedding video camera's too- so it was REALLY hot with these strong white lights on you the whole time, and you have to keep an eye out to check the camera is trying to get a view up your skirt and then project it on the wall!!!!!!!!!!! Bizarre performing, but at the same time being able to watch yourself dance on a huge TV screen on the wall!!!

And of course just when I was getting into the end of my saaidi number disaster had to strike- one of my bra staps burst! Thankfully everything remained covered.... but I had to do a very rushed finali which left me rather deflated. it's amazing how important the ending is. I went to the cinema to see 'cloverfield' last week and enjoyed the film, but because the ending was very weak it ruined the whole experience for me. I hope the people in my audience weren't as disappointed with my ending, as I was with the film!!!!!

mental note to self- ALWAYS MAKE ENDING OF SONG/SET REALLY STRONG!

what else has happened? oh yes- Weather. It got up to 40 deg for about a week- forgot how oppressive that can feel! but now it has really cooled down again, only 25deg today ( and yes- I do put all that there to remind people at home how lucky I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and the Khamaseen or the '50-day wind' is on its way (about a month of volitile weather, winds and sandstorms.....) FUN! In Scotland you get used to grey skies most of the time. However, this time of year in Cairo we get used to orange skies!!!

Oh, I am so excited......... by the end of today I will have bright coloured curtains up on my balcony to shade my wondows from the sun, and me sunbathing from my neighbours! Also my dance studio will have full wall mirrors on 2 walls, and my bath will have been repainted. It feels good!

Looking forward to some of my friends coming over to stay in a couple of weeks... should eb a lot of fun.

I rent out rooms- so if you fancy sunbathing on my balcony, dancing in my studio, and seeing Cairo and the dancers here ................. then let me know!!!!!!

Costumers in Cairo, and moulids and stuff!

Just realised for all the talking i do (ok- well writing actually) here about my new costumes etc etc _ I rarely give the costume designers themselves a plug..... and they deserve it.... so here goes...

If you want to see Eman Zaki designs and contact her , or her sister Hoda directly , their website is www.EmanZaki.com and the emial is emanzaki@emanzaki.com there- not too hard to remember!

For Amera el Kattan (aka Pharonics )- harder to track down online- so I'll come back to this one!!! I have a phone number for her- but as yet no website or email- I think that is to protect the people who sell her costumes on, mainly in the states....... I'll research it- or at least get an email for you if possible!!!

For Oriental Moon www.orientalmooncairo.com

For Aida Nour costumes you can arrange to go see her, or check out which festivals she is teaching, and selling costumes at through her website. http://hem.passagen.se/aidanour/aida.htm or email aidanour@hotmail.com

For Raqia Hassan costumes http://www.raqiahassan.net/co.html I have not bought one of these yet- but the pictures look good!

So- there are lots of others............. and I often find some nice items from Mahmoud and Yasser in Khan el Khalili too...............



Today was 37 degrees. Very hot and sticky. I can hardly believe it. Was cold really not that long ago at all. Not a complaint- just a comment!

Having some work done in my flat over the next 2 weeks- mirrors getting put up in my 'spare' room to turn it into a proper studio for the private classes i get here at home and curtain rails put up on the balcony to shelter my huge livingroom windows from the afternoon sun, and so that I get some privicy to be able to sit out there and sunbathe without causing a riot amoung my neighbours!

I must mention mothers day. It was on friday here.... and a pretty huge event. People were saying congratualtions to me even- when i asked why- I was told becuase its a celebration day for all women- when I persisted and said- No its a day for all 'mothers' they argued no, no, for all women! weird. Anyway- well OTT, like valentines day... and when I said to a friend- we won't be able to get a seat in any restaurant today- he asked why- mothers seemingly dont get taken out for their meal- they still have to cook for the extended family on 'their' day! of course.........

It was also the Moulid Al-Nabi , the Prophets birthday, last week- which meant huge dolls and big boxes of sweets on sale everywhere. If for some reason you should be interested in making a moulid doll out of sugar, i found this bizarre with indepth info about it!!! http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Arts&Culture/Folklore/AlMoulidsDoll/070704000000000001.htm

To read a really great review of another moulid celebration- check out this journalists experience of moulid el-hussain last year... http://sparkslockout.blogspot.com/2007/06/moulid.html

oh- and Happy Easter everyone.... my 2nd Easter in a row without a chocolate egg- does that mean i have to be a grown up now??????? I don't want toooooo :-( !!!!!

pics of me!

Michele Dillon took these pics of me last time I was home (was hoping for more pics to show of the cossies- but hopefully they will follow!!!!!!) They were taking in the changing room- so pretty damn good for non studip shots I think!!!

Michele is a lovely dancer who performs mainly in various restaurants in Glasgow and also a wonderful photographer with recent success in her debut exhibition- an upcoming star!!! You can see some of her work on her website http://www.art-i-san.com/

Messages from home

A website and newsletter i haven't ever mentioned on my blog is worth a look.

The Bellydance club newsletter keeps me up to date with reviews of workshops and performances, books, cd's and lots more all over UK and is based in fife, Scotland. Run by an enterprising and enthusiastic bellydancer, Annette McCann, she sends out your newsletter direct to your email inbox, once a month and it never fails to entertain!!!

To find out more and to register for your newsletter (for only £10 per year!!!) click the following

http://www.bellydanceclub.co.uk/register/index.html

Also if you are a teacher based in Scotland- its a great place to advertise your classes (didn't notice any mentioned in Edinburgh yet!!!!!!) and if you are a student interested in starting out its a good place to search for more info!

I love it when I know whats going on at home, even when I am over here in Cairo! Mind you- sometimes I hear of events going on over there and I half wish I was there to attend!!!!!!!!!!!

instead I'm here........ biding my time, waiting for more dates to perform- a struggle just now since one of the boats is out of action- so there REALLY isn't enough work for all 4 of us right now..............very stressful........... roll on summer!

quote of the day 'the Dalai Lama treated me really badly' ( yes -a friend actually said this to me today. I live in a bizarre wonderful world!!!)

never boring..............

one of my favourite phrases to use to describe Cairo is 'it's never boring!'. here's what happened yesterday, in a fairly uneventful day, just to give you an idea.

• I signed the contract for yet another year working on the pharoah. It is all written in arabic and they laughed when i asked what it said!
• To write my name, on something I couldn't read- i had to sit about and wait for over an hour and a half!
• While sitting waiting, the police came to move us on (was sitting with 'my boy' on a bench on the corniche beside work) not really sure why this was acceptable behaviour on thier part- surely people can sit on a public bench for as long as they like?
• I met the general manager of the boat, for the 1st time, even though I have worked there for a year.
• I froze to bits eating my KFC lunch- since the sun has come out in Cairo some people seem to think that means it's acceptable to have the AC on in restaurants etc at 16 degrees. When i complained , the cleaner took the remote control out his pocket and changed it by a degree (I'm sure it got even colder!)
• The irony of going to get pampered, ie getting nails done, which also means have the hairs on your face ripped out with threads.............. ouch!
• My 1st show of the night, on the sunset sail (which leaves after sunset???) was to 4 tables. I felt like I was back in Edinburgh! However, still managed to get them up dancing and got a party atmosphere going so was happy until...........
• I did one dance, turned round and when I looked- every single one of them was looking out the window- not a soul looking at me. Grrrr. well- what could I do? I could stop, or walk off, or pretend they were watching, but i decided that what I really wanted to do was dance for me- so me and the tabla player just went a bit mad- it was fantastic! I didn't look at the people once- just at the tabla and floor and me.... danced my heart out... then he pointed out I should look at the people and not one of them wasn't looking at me!!!!! A fab show considering how little the audience was!
• between that sail and the next I finished my book, which had been a present from a good friend. Its called 'Chicago' and its by Alaa Al Aswany. Wonderful- read it in 2 days. All about medical students from Egypt who go to study in Chicago and all the cultural differences they discover. Tells a lot about human nature, and about Egypt life! I really recommend it!
• had a fight with my singer as to why, yet again, even with all this work i had in one night (3 sails), my fanoon weren't there with me....... (the 2 men who dance with sticks with me in the saaidi section of the show). He makes more profit out of me if he doesn't have to pay them you see..... so often they are 'busy' and can't come! Grrr
• Another fun tabla solo- totally improvised, since this was a drummer I have only worked with twice before. Think he was enjoying himself as much as I was!!!
• going up to a guest and asking 'where are you from?' to get the reply 'Scotland'. His face when I said I was from Edinburgh, was a picture!!!! so funny!
• my friend Amanda came to see me dance, and brought a friend from London and her Aunt, who's Egyptian. It was really fun chatting in arabic with her aunt after the show, and I always love when i have friends to see me- it brings out the best in me (thats what comes from being a show off I guess!!!!!)
• I managed to get smiles and laughter out of an Italian tour group! Usually they are the hardest audiences to please- but these people were lovely!
• while dancing I overheard a woman say to her husband- 'she pulls some faces!' i instantly replied , mid dance, 'thanks very much' ! after, when I thought more about it, I realised that wasn't a phrase you would really find outside of Scotland, and yes- they were from Glasgow! I just LOVE seeing the range of emotions that flood over a persons face when they have been watching the 'egyptian dancer' and suddenly realise that I am from their own country!!!
• Was told that although we don't wear them at all in Cairo anymore- I should ALWAYS had a shebka (a body stocking) in my bag when i work, in case the musanifat (police, sort of) come to check if I am decent or not! when no one told me this a year ago I don't know!!
• Last show (4th) of the night was nearly all Egyptians in audience. The atmosphere was wonderful, I felt amazing- they were all singing along with the music and very appreciative. Can honestly say I felt like I could really dance last night, which, for me, is saying something!
• The most amazing things of the whole day was probably the fact that i laughed and joked with the taxi driver on the way home, and he didnt' take that as a sign to be slimy with me!!!!!

So, that was my day. See what I mean. An average day. I didnt' find it boring- if you have got this far with reading it then hopefully you didnt' either!!!!

Oh- and if you still are checking this on the blog- why not get my posts sent direct to your email inbox- you just need to click on the link, it's easy!!! I have readers all around the world now- it's really exciting for me!

more costumes..

no pics this time though........

I have been rather naughty the last 2 days.
I bought all those new costumes before I went to Scotland (which I am still waiting for the pics so I can put them up here!!!) so I don't 'need 'costumes right now. BUT I went to see Amera el Kattan (of Pharonics costumes) yesterday- as I wanted to order one costume- and really had to restrain myslef from ordering more than the 2 I did!!!! so excited. Never had a yellow costume before- won't have it for a while yet either- but its in the making......................

Then today- I went to see Eman Zaki, pay off my debts to her........ and just commented in passing that I had never seen any of her sister Hoda's designs. Well that was just the WRONG thing to say wasn't it?!!! within 5 mins I had ordered one from her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmm

trying NOT to think what the last 2 days just cost me!!!

just have to say - last night Sara came to see me dance with a couple of people over from UK, a dancer and her son, and I was really scared, cos I felt like I would never be able to get the energy going to make it a good show. But its amazing where the energy can come from at times........seeing your teacher smile like that is a bit like being a kid and making your mum smile!

Saw an accident on the way to work last night. A huge old tree had fallen on top of cars on the main road on the way to work. It wasn't windy or stormy or anything. It just fell. Not sure how many cars were crushed underneath it- a few. There but for the grace of God............

Oh and another wee thing. I was chatting with my labeesa (dresser) and she was saying the thing she liked , or one of the things she liked, about foreign dancers as opposed to Egyptian dancers was that foreigners dressed decently off stage, ie long skirts or jeans, long sleeved tops etc etc whereas some Egyptian girls show off more cleavage and leg on the way to and from work as they do on stage. I thought it showed an interesting example of how 'we' see the dance differently from local girls. Work is work- but off stage is something else. I am sure there are exceptions to that.....

but then I was chatting with Joana (dancer from portugal) today, and she was telling me about a conversation she had recently with a couple of Egyptian men, who, after they had been talking about history and religion and such things for a while asked 'are you SURE you're a dancer? dancers don't talk about things like this. You are really well educated' so maybe that sums up yet another difference between us and them! We foreign dancer have come here because we have CHOSEN to be dancers. Often Egyptian girls do it cos they think they will make good money that way and they can't see any other way of doing that.

all very interesting..... and helps towards trying to understand why this art form , which I love and respect, comes under such heavy critisism within Egyptian society.

Praise……..

You know- I've been thinking about it. I think the reason I felt so strong that 1st night back to work here in Cairo was largely due to the massive positive response I received when I was in Scotland. Both in the workshops and in response to my performances. I'd like to blow my own trumpet a little and quote some of an email I received from a student of mine, it really made me feel amazing…

Dear Lorna, You'll be hearing so much of this I am sure! Always seeing you dance has been a source of inspiration and amazement. Each jaw dropping performance has always swept every other dancer from my mind. When you returned to Scotland before, it seemed impossible but somehow you had brought more to your dance, showing us so much emotion and moves that had me doing that " but HOW did she DO that!!!?" face.
This time you did something else amazing. At Morocco you utterly became the music to a point that it seemed impossible to separate the two. You became greater in stature, making yourself immense in the space. The observer in my dance head was trying to question " how does Lorna do that?" but you were just so at one with the music you were it that it was not possible to step back from your performance and look at pieces of it. WOW!
You explained lots of this at your workshop which seemed to be over in minutes. It was a delight to see you dance in Scotland again. Wishing you huge success in Cairo, you are already a huge success! All the best ……… V.

Isn't that lovely? Her email made me sooo proud I instantly sent it to my teacher Sara so she could be proud of me too!!!! The line that really got to me was ' You became greater in stature, making yourself immense in the space.' It got to me because that was the long term aim for me……… not just to be a dancer- but to be a real performer…… and that’s what this line suggests I, at least on this particular night, achieved! I am really grateful that this girl was able to put in writing the way she felt…. And that she even thought about doing it! Quite often when you become good at something, or are the teacher (or both!) people stop praising you. They assume you already know!

Perfect example is when you go to a hafla in UK, EVERYONE will praise the beginners (as they should do since its hard to get up there when you are just starting out!) but few will say anything to the professional- maybe you get a 'great – as always' or something- a comment meant to praise, but actually makes you feel you haven't achieved anything any better than you did before. If you are always good- why put in the effort? Good dancers often have low self esteem too- don't forget to let them know WHAT was good!

Oh- and while I am talking about my time in Scotland- can I just say how much I loved teaching in Dundee and Glasgow again- what NICE NICE people!!! I had forgotten just how welcoming you guys are! Looking forward to coming back to see you in September hopefully when I am in the country for a month (inshallah!!!)

So you can appreciate what I mean- look at these smiley faces from my Glasgow workshop!............... (we all look a bit sweaty and exhausted- but some of us had just done 4 hours dancing!!!!)

I am sad to leave Edinburgh, to leave my family and friends behind. This trip was so chaotic I didn't even get to see most of my family…….. so hopefully when I return end of April (for a week) I can make it a 100% social trip and catch up with everyone (or maybe 98%- for sure I perform at least once at Morocco!!!)

I'm NOT sad to leave that horrible weather! In Cairo the sun is shining- I am out in daytime in a t-shirt (or equivalent) and sleeping with just a sheet- no electric blanket or hot water bottle!!!!

Scotland is the most beautiful country in the world- except for its weather!!!!!!!!!

Costumes…

A few people have commented on the photo of me in my new costume in the last blog!) . It’s by a new designer here in Cairo, they are called 'Oriental Moon in Cairo' and are based in Nasr City, Cairo. They are just starting out really- but have some nice and funky ideas.

You can see some shots of me modelling some of their costumes at their website www.orientalmooncairo.com/diva.html . There are more pics under the 'malika collection' too…………….

I even get a mention in their 'friends' page! I'm looking forward to their new collection so I can go pose in lots of lovely costumes again for a day!!!! Quite like this type of modelling work!!!!

Here's a taste of their funky cossies!!!!!..................

Performing in Cairo- back to work!

So much to write about I don't know where to start……

Back in Cairo now. Its really, really sunny and warm! Amazing what sunshine can do to your mood! and amazing the difference 2 weeks can make!

Was working last night- on my 1st night back. WONDERFUL!!!!! I very rarely am happy with a performance, being such a perfectionist when it comes to my own work. I really felt wonderful last night though. I guess back to sunshine, and friends, and mainly- my band! Oh the joy of dancing to a live band after 2 weeks working with cds. I really can't describe the pleasure! I felt on top of the world in my new costumes, working with my band behind me- inspiring me, supporting me and very happy to see me. The whole joy of being here and living the dream was reinforced with all 3 performances I did last night!!!

It helped that amongst really nice, mixed, friendly audiences, there were a couple of dancers from Leeds there- smiley faces right in the front, singing along with the music and urging me to do well. I am hoping pride doesn't come before fall in this case- cos I felt so damn proud to be up there, the Scot in Egypt- doing a good job and loving it!

Before I left to go to Scotland, I had a night on the boat where I really didn't feel so confident. I felt it really hard to connect with the audience and it was probably all to do with the way I was feeling about travelling etc but I just wasn't in it at all. One table helped make it a really enjoyable night for me though. They were attentive and smiley- which always helps to a performer! When I did the photos with them (part of the job to go round everyone and have professional pics taken) I realised they weren't speaking English- so I kinda mimed that I wanted the 2 young girls to join me on the dance floor. They did- and were lovely. Really attentive and very good followers! To be honest- I was on stage thinking- I guess work-wise I should be performing for the rest of the audience more and not just enjoying myself with these two. But I decided I needed to have fun too.

The funny thing was – I received a lovely email from the family a few days later………. Turns out that they were Scottish too!!!!! They hadn't realised I was Scot, assuming I was Egyptian. When they discovered where I was from (not sure how) they searched me down on the internet and emailed me to say thanks for making the night so special for their nieces from France (hence me not hearing English!!!) and that they felt very proud as fellow Scots, of my achievements! The girls had been so inspired they had a private class later in the week and are seemingly still speaking about it! The family sent some pics too- Here's us having fun!


I love my job.....................!

If you are reading this and want to join in the fun- and are in cairo over next week or so- I am performing on the following dates;

Nile Pharoah- 7th, 8th, 9th and 12th March

Golden Pharoah- is having a refurbish/ motor overhall or whatever you call it- so not running for next week or so!

hopefully see you here!

coming soon.......

.... to cairo - fly back 'home' tomorrow!

Have been running about in Edinburgh, well, across Scotland actually, for over a week- hence no blog entries... but once i get a chance to sit and type it all expect to read up about the following..

-how my workshops and performances in Scotland went... with some student reviews...
-dancing for Scots on board the Pharoah...
-New costume designer in Cairo......
-My new costumes- with pics!!! (anyone reading this who took good photos on the night of the bellydance banquet- please send any nice pics you have of me..... !!!!!)
-how it feels leaving Edinburgh....
-anyone interested in renting a flat in Edinburgh?!!........
-best and worst bits about returning to Cairo......

well..... there are prob lots more topics i want to cover, once i start writing I get inspired and just go for it. But you get my jist- lots of blogging to come in the very near future. Bet you are all soooo excited now!!! I guess this is a bit like a blog trailer then.....

1st I have a last day of organising and seeing family and spending time with my lovely wee nephew Sam, who turned 2 last week... so cute!!!

What a weekend- phew!!!

wow....

its been non stop ever since I arrived in Edinburgh.

I spent all day friday completing the script for Hannah for the show on sunday ( i know i know- my own fault for leaving it so damn late!!!)- then I performed on friday night. That was a tough show- but then it always is- the 1st time with CD again after being too used to having a band backing me up! That and my back having decided it would punish me for making it sit for so long in airports, planes and in front of the comupter!!! grr and ouch!

Saturday morning, I taught a FREE complete beginners workshopat macdonald library- which had about 30 people in it (I have to say there were quite a few who were NOT beginners!) but we had a lot of fun and laughs and it really was a nice vibe. Its amazing how this dance form has the power to really touch women from all walks of life. i love it.

My 'fancy footwork' was sold out on sat afternoon- and the 3 hours of walking and exploring foot patterns and freeing up how we use our feet in bellydance really seemed to appeal to a lot of people. They were dancing some pretty mean drum solo's by the end of it all anyway!!!

Sat night- back in Morocco. The restaurant that is, not the country! Getting a chance to practise my arabic on some Egyptians who came in and also some Syrians. It was a lovely night, very busy with a relaxed amosphere. Alys brought 15 girls in from Perth and they were the best audience a performer could hope for- thanks girls- looking fwd to that masterclass next time!!!!!

Sunday (after another 2 hours finishing planning for the show at night!) i had 2 workshops. I usually dont teach choreography... but i decided to break my rule- and i really enjoyed it. A baladi/table piece that was cheeky and fun. Wish we had had 3 hours for it instead of 2 though.......

The alchemy workshop was the one that surprised me- and the girls in the class too. I was holding back the tears by the end of 2 hours, as were a few girls in the class......... lets just say we spent 2 hours getting in touch with all the different aspects of bellydance including the spiritual side! I dont do 'new agey' type things usually- but this one really worked........ the difference in peoples dancing by the end was phenomenal- iike I said- it produced tears! Thanks for sharing the love girls!!!

In fact- it even helped me at night- i felt much calmer when i performed in the Bellydance Banquet last night that I do normally at these types of events... and i felt really connected with the audience.
I had some wonderful feedback from one dancer who told me she just realised lst night that when she watches me dance, she watches my face more than the moves or rest of me! I was really chuffed with that compliment since thats how i feel when i am watching a dancer i really admire!

So wonderful when i feel i have learned as much from teaching a workshop as my students did from being in it!!!!!

Oh- if anyone is reading this from elsewhere in the UK and are interested- I lan on being home in UK for the whole of September (for Ramadan, when all Bellydancing is Banned in Cairo because it is considered to be 'Haram' ie forbidden by Allah) so if you are interested in hosting workshops in your area on the topics i mentioned above, or any others... then please feel free to contact me asap since I'd love to dance and teach in new places too!

anyway- back to work now after all the excitement of last night- I have a week full of private classes... its nice getting the time to catch up one to one with some lovely dancers....

looking forward to the workshops in Dundee and Glasgow this weekend too!

Going 'home'

This was written yesterday in heathrow airport.........

Home is where the heart is , or so they say….

And for the 1st time ever I feel I am leaving home to come to Edinburgh for a visit!

I have had a hellish morning……….. after one hour of sleep I headed to Cairo airport- and there was traffic queues- at 7am! So I was stressed, tired and late. I just made check in- which as a chaotic event since they were checking in ALL Egypt air flights at the same time…..

Then I got to passport control where they gave me a really hard time, cos my 'tourist visa' had expired 2 months ago. I tried to explain about my working there- with a paid visa all that time- but when the mogamma offices return my passport to me, when I hand in my ID card, they don't mark it to that effect- so I had to pay a fine and be treated like a criminal for ages, even though I had apid every month for the privialge of being and working in cairo, and of course being eyed up and down by all these police men wanting a look at the 'dancer' before I was allowed to run to the gate to catch the flight before it closed….

I did however manage a quick stop at duty free to buy a pressie for my sister……….
Flight was a good half hour late, and when I got to Heathrow they of course confiscated the bottle of vodka. I was gutted. It's ok to bring in stuff from EU, but not from outside, seemingly. So, it looks like Cairo airport duty free shop had lied to me when I asked if it was ok- just to make even more money out of me.

At Heathrow, they hadn't put the gate number up yet- when they did and I walked all the way there- it was closed, due to service faults… so they sent me somewhere else, who sent me back, who sent me back and basically on the 5th try to find where I should be , I eventually found the new gate, in tears, liteally, and after the flight had left.

I sat for next half hour while they checked me onto the next flight, 2 and a half hours later, crying my heart out. The girl had sat me down in the special needs section while she sorted it for me and everyone avoided all eye contact or anything with me- I guess not sure what sort of special needs I had and frightened by my tears!!!

2 precious hours of time wasted when it should have been spent with my nephew Sam.
NOT a good journey. I am praying that when I finally arrive in Edinburgh that things start to go a little more smoothly!


Now its friday morning- after an evening, last night with my sister and nephew, a good meal, half a bottle of non- Egyptian wine and a great sleep.....................

Its good to be back in Scotland!

- even if the weather is horrific- windy, grey, wet, and cold. Looking forward to dancing in Morocco restaurant tonight and am sitting now putting together the show for sunday night- which is sold out!

value of food

In a culture where so many are soooo poor they really do not have enough to eat a tradition has developed which gives food a very high status.

In a way it reminds me of when my mum used to give me a row when i didn't want to eat all my dinner- that was to think about all those starving kids in Africa............ meaning I shoud take what i was given and not complain since I was lucky enough to be born in Scotland rather than in lands of famine........

What I couldn't understand then was how was the food I had left on my plate going to make a jot of difference to anyone starving anywhere- unless they were sitting next to me then in which case they would have been welcome to it.

Of course the whole idea was to teach a respect for food and reduce wastefulness.

Here the respect for food is so great that last night when I drop a few crisps on the ground by accident last night- and went to kick them off the boat into the Nile, my girl shouted at me... 'Haram' (ie- it is forbidden by Allah)- you can't treat food like that- so she lovingly picked up each crisp by hand and then flung it into the Nile anyway since no one would eat it when it had been on the ground......

It's something to do with food being from Allah- therefore its wrong both to drop it on the ground, throw it away or touch it with your feet................ even if you are only about to put in the rubbish bin..............

which is all fine, well and good..............

BUT.........

where does that respect come in when you see Egyptians at a buffet meal with their plates heaped up so high that 4 people couldn't even finish it- then leaving it all on the plate at the end of the meal........?

do the kitchen staff get it? do they want it? what????? do they put it all in a big box and give it to the other starving people in Africa?!

Passport

It's something most people (esp in the UK) take for granted. the freedom of having a passport, not only that but the power to travel almost anywhere with that passport.

The majority of Egyptians dont have a passport and wouldn't be able to get one. To travel you have to have done your national service (or have proof that you are exempt) , you need money in the bank or property (so they know you are going to come back), you need a reason to travel (a holiday generally isn't enough reason!) which therefore involves letters of invitation and guardians abroad who will vouch for you...........etc etc................ The Egyptians who do travel usually either have dual nationality, a lot of money or know people in high up places............

It's a subject I was forced to think about because for the majority of the time I spend in Cairo I have my passport taken off me. In order to obtain a 'green' card to work as a foreign dancer here in Cairo, you have to submit your passport. They hold it in mogamma (goverment offices) until you exchange the card again for it each time you travel. Thankfully so far I only had one flight I missed because the mogamma wouldn't release the passport in time.........

and today i got my 'burgandy freedom' in time for travelling on thursday morning, so the pressure is off! phew!

Choreography

You would think, that even though I always improvise when i perform... that since I am dancing most days, it would get easier over the years to choreograph a routine. I'm teaching a fun baladi/tabla solo number this coming sunday in Edinburgh (sorry workshop fully booked!) and i chose a very short piece (2 mins) since we only have 2 hours.

Today I set aside part of the day to work out the routine........... I have been at it for over 5 hours and it's still not complete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its only a 2 minute piece! Thats an hour for every 20 seconds!

I dont' understand- when i was teaching over 20 classes per week it would take me about one hour to choreograph one minute of a dance. So, either my standards and skills are slipping, or the more likely reason, because I dont teach as much as I used to i have a lot of moves that my body automatically does to the music- without processing the information via my brain! In a class I normally having to break things down to explain to others.... but now my body has had the freedom to speed ahead on its own. It's hard to rein it back in!!!

I am giving up on it for today and will finish off the last 20 sec's tomorrow with a fresh brain and body....

Actually- I like it so much I might even include it in my Bellydance Banquet show this coming sunday in Morocco restaurant, Edinburgh (for which there are a handful of tickets left...... but going fast.....)

I have enjoyed it today though..... very theraputic...... and probably very good for my dancing too....... we'll see if i end up doing anything differently from normal on the stage tonight!

Last week

The whole last week has been a busy and strange one............

Oh- I had it confirmed .... as a foreign dancer I am ONLY allowed to work in ONE VENUE. Which is frustrating as an artist anyway- but especially when you are working enough to 'maybe' pay the rent, and not much else. Bloody stupid system. I can see why so many of the foreign dancers get married just to get an Egyptian passport!

I had an audition in a nice place last week (no more details -sorry!!!)... I was really nervous, and felt i didn't do anywhere near my best, but they liked me.... or so they appeared- but not yet heard anything thing... so , we'll see.........

Valentines day here is HUGE!!!! every shop window is FULL of huge hearts and flowers- Cairo is painted red! What I found more strange was that EVERYONE wishes you happy valentines!!! from my cleaner, to the manager, to friends... all of them! They call it 'Eid el Hob' - meaning 'festival of love', and its TOTALLY over the top. Saying that- I did have a lovely day- so I am not complaining!!!

An annoying thing I have decided about Cairo- maybe the most annoying thing is, when you ask someone to do something- even if you are really specific about what it is you want...

they do exactly what THEY think is better for you................................

from the choice of colour to paint your nails, to the music the band play for you to dance, to what clothes/rooms need cleaned or left....... EVERYONE thinks they know better. When you are sick, they ALL have the 'only' solution or cure. It's hard to get angry at them cos you know they were really only trying to help, and only trying to get it right... but the concept of following a request to the letter just isn't known about here!!! GRRRRRR

Thats all for now- off to work now (on Nile Pharoah tonight, then Golden mon 18th, tues 19th and wed 20th) and then I fly home to Edinburgh for 2 weeks on the 21st- wow- still SOOOO much to do before now and then!

Happy Egyptians 1-0

I know I have written about football before, but I am sitting at home listening to the sounds of Egyptians going wild whenever Egypt scores a goal. theres fireworks, drums, car horns, screaming, you name it..... and I am inside, with my windows and doors closed and my stereo playing- and I can still hear it all going on. Gameat el dowel street with me at a standstill this evening... with everyone taking to their cars to parade the egyptian flag with pride.

Tonight is the final of the African Cup, and I am guessing from the celebrations currently going on that Egypt just won!

They beat cameroon 1-0. happy happy folk!!!

Where to stay in Egypt

I have mentioned before about having a large flat in mohandiseen in Cairo in which I have 2 spare rooms (one double, one twin) which I am happy to rent out to anyone interested, esp suitable for dancers (since you have me on hand to question and advise re the costume shops, dancers etc etc ) on a per day or weekly basis.............. contact me if you are interested...

However I was thinking, that you would like to combine your trip to Cairo with some time out in Luxor doing the sites there (valley of the kings/queens, karnak temple etc etc )- then you might be interested in my friend Penny's flat in Luxor which she rents out. Her website has all the info and booking form too, and the price is very reasonable I think too.... http://www.everythingegyptian.co.uk

Its possible to fly or get the train between cairo and luxor both quite cheaply. so you could have your main flight to Egypt either to Cairo, or to Luxor which might be cheaper from UK........

so hopefully we'll see you in Egypt soon!

Changes in Cairo Sheraton

On monday night I went with a fellow dancer ( Joana from portugal- works at same place as me ) to go to the Marriot Nightclub to see Suraya perform. We went looking for inspiration. Sometimes when you are performing all the time you need to take time out to watch others perform to make sure you are not getting stuck in a rut!

Suraya used to perform at the Casablanca restaurant in the Cairo Sheraton, but they have closed that down for some reason and so she can now be found 2 nights per week at the Marriot.

They have built a stage there...... It used to be that the musicians were on a stage at the back, but the dancer performed on the dancefloor area in front of them- now they have built the stage right out towards the tables- so the dancer is elevated. I like it. It gives more status to the dancer and you can see more. Prob is that if they wear a short skirt you can also see more than you bargained for!!!

They never used to have a minimum charge either there- but they forced one on us- so don't know if that will be the norm- or if it was just because of the people we were with! She started 1.30am.

Anyway- Suraya def has the best band in Cairo at the moment. I guess she was able to keep them since she used to have work everynight at the sheraton in addition to weddings etc... dont know what'll happen know that she isn't quite so regular.... anyway- her kanoun is to die for, her violin player makes you cry (in a good way) and her table is 100% by her side. Its a joy. As for the dancing- so be honest- I love her to bits- but I HATE tose damn shoes she wears!!!! I know she is little and has to- but I feel they take so much away from her art and make her look unsteady so much of the time. She was very good, although I have seen her dance better and wonder if its all the stress of a new stage, new venue etc etc... Her shimmys are to die for- and esp the earthquake one- amazing- i think my mouth fell open watching that one!!!!!!!!

As for costumes- cos I know you all love to hear about those. 1st she had a mini skirt one- its was white with red flowers and the skirt was a sarong style. Very girlie, cute. Please excuse the quality of the photos- I have a lovely wee nikon digital camera, thats supposed to be really good, but I just can't work out how to get good dancer shots on it- can anyway advise???? It has lots of scene settings etc that I just cant seem to get anything decent out of!!!

Next a more traditional style- I strongly suspect Eman Zaki design- turquoise, of the night, my favourite, and it seems I was so taken with it that I forgotten i was supposed to be photographing it too- so no record of that one.....

Last cossie of the night was a corker. Black- straight long skirt with red sparkly pattern on hip ,and it had two lengths of material which started at the skirt and came up over her chest- marilyn munroe style. Amazingly sexy, and not built for the average bust, she looked a million dollers in it, although I felt it hid some of her technique. But it showed off her other assets to a tee!!! Sorry again for the pic that makes her look bizarre, and its not very flattering (sorry suraya) but just to give you an idea of the cossie!

I recommend her any day (although that stage in my mind belongs to Rhanda- she's a hard one to beat- in my opinion!!!!!)

Workshops…… Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow and Cairo.

The Edinburgh workshops are filling up pretty quick- so if you are interested in coming to a workshop with me in Edinburgh this Feb, then email me now!!!

Sat 23rd- Fancy Footwork- 4 spaces left
Sun 24th- Learn a Choreography- FULLY BOOKED
Sun 24th- Alchemy of dance- FULLY BOOKED

As far as I know there are still a few spaces left in the following workshops;

Dundee- Sat 1st March (contact niladance@hotmail.com )
Glasgow- Sun 2nd March (contact bellydancerjoanie@hotmail.com )

(NB- at this moment in time- this is my only planned trip for workshops to UK before Sept 08)


Also- the workshop I taught here in Cairo on sat 26th Jan went so well that we are doing another one before I return to Edinburgh… next Cairo date;

Sat 16th Feb. 12-3pm. Digla, Maadi, Cairo.
( to book place contact Annalouise on asebborn@yahoo.com )



Something else. My Cairo moment of yesterday-

A whole day without internet… why? Because of my computer – no (but I wasted hours in case it was!!!), because my internet provider no…. seemingly it was because- the cable which brings the internet access from Asia to the whole of Egypt, under the ocean, had a fault in it- somewhere. Arghhh. This happens fairly often- since the cable is obviously a fairly long one. The only other option for Egypt would be to get it from Europe- but that costs too much!

hehe- just found the news link- imagine someone dropping a ships anchor onto a cable, in fact- imagine laying the cable in a place that could possibly happen!... seemingly just off alexandra, egypt.... I am so surprised... NOT! anyway- if you dont get emails from me in a while heres why... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7218008.stm

I currently pay 125le per month for my broadband internet connection in my house- ie about £12. which is fine by UK standards- but not so great on an Egyptian wage!

We are back in action, just- but you cannot believe how slow it is… feels like back in the days when internet 1st arrived! I hadn't realised how much I depend on this. It's become my lifeline! Scary to be so dependant on something you can't control.

Beauty from within

The following is written by a student, and friend of mine, Sara.

After she sent it to me i felt all warm and happy inside- so I figured that you too would appreciate reading it. (she did give me permission to paste it in!) you'll enjoy it especially if you have ever thought about taking up bellydancing and are not sure whether it is for you or not.......

Sara Lepine's 'the Art of Bellydance';

I've developed a serious passion for bellydance. It HAS always been on my "to do" list and is one of those fantasies I indulge in after every inspiring performance I witness. Well, it just so happens that Edinburgh has a relatively rich Bellydance community and I've been blessed to work with some outstanding dance intructors, all of whom are brilliant performers in their own right. So I have had ample opportunity to indulge myself and am currently making every effort to get the most out of my time here. To that end I now dance {quasi} professionally, at a lovely Moroccan restaurant, and attend multiple classes, workshops and performances limited only by my restricted student budget.

It's been well worth the effort.....not that I've become a spectacular dancer by any stretch of the imagination....but because the art itself has such a positive influence on so much of my life and I've seen the same in others.

I've found a wonderful network of friends through bellydance, and have seldom seen a community that offers such a warm supportive female environment.

It's also a fantastic workout, and as shown by dancers more dedicated than myself produces phenomenal muscle tone.

Add on to this the opportunity to shop for gorgeous yet totally impractical clothing and you've reached the stereotypical feminine ideal.

Yet what I love most about bellydance is very simple. Bellydance makes everyone beautiful. All women, of all ages, and of all shapes are nearly instantly transformed into these beautiful, sensual creatures through the art of dance.

A little of it's the clothes with that little added sparkle. But, it's mostly the way it makes you feel and the way you express that feeling through your dance. It's graceful, a little mysterious, sensual and fully enjoyable. It makes you feel beautiful and this feeling unconsciously changes the way you carry yourself and present yourself to your audience.

It's very much a "Look at me because I know I'm worth looking at." kind of feeling. And when you see a dancer that's connected to that feeling, she's actually glowing. She simply radiates self confidance and her pure enjoyment in the music and the dance will convince her audience that she's one of the most beautiful things they've ever seen.

I saw one performance where the dancer was heavily pregnant. Her abdominal moves were beyond impressive, with exquisite muscle control. And she was radiant.

I saw a much older lady, somewhat plump and quite scantily clad, dance with such force of personality and humour that you couldn't help but laugh and watch carefully for every nuance of expression, lest you miss the slightest detail.

I've even seen an older man doing a Saidi performance with a group of ladies. His face was simply shining with joy. You couldn't help but think it was wonderful and smile right back at him.

So this is what you feel when you dance. The joy, the power of the music, the true inner beauty shining through in a way everyone watching can see.

It's like you've taken something precious from inside yourself and are wearing it on the outside. Or maybe it's more like the superficial physical appearance melts away and you finally see what lies underneath.

And the best part is the more you learn to show that part of yourself, the less readily it sinks into the facade you've always shown the world. And more and more you become the beautiful creature you finally let out.

Thank you Sara- I couldn't have put it better myself....... This really is the answer to that often asked question 'Why do you bellydance' ?

Robert Burns night- in Cairo!

On friday night I went round to my friends Ruth and Mohammend's place to help celebrate the birthday of the great Scottish Poet, Robert Burns.....

They have a LOVELY flat (in which they rent out room as a bed and breakfast.....)

and Mohammed even donned his tartan trous for the occasion........

In fact- most people had some tartan on of some discription-

from a kilt...........

to a scarf...........

to a fleece.........



or even just a ribbon............



some people really went the whole hog.... well- I guess he did have the job off addressing the lassies- so it was only right! Check out the shoes! Ruth modelled the lovely new 'gold tartan' sash............. with interesting footwear too..........



and I got to wear my lovely new shoes and bag.... both bought in Cairo this week!!!!!!!!!! Was so chuffed with them... everyone kept asking if I had had the shoes specially made!!!!!!!

We danced that great traditional burns night dance of 'balancing the 'caber' on yer heed'...............

and of course...........we ate lots of haggis........... after talking to it- as you do- well- we do in Scotland... but then we'll address anything if it means a drink after!!!!!!!!!!!

oh- and did I mention my shoes and bag..................................?!!!

Egyptian Blogs

I recently received an email from the guy who writes this blog............. and I then sat for about 2 hours going through it!

http://egyptianstories.blogspot.com

some really fun and interesting photos and stories- political and not.

really worth a browse sometime if you fancy a wee read!

plus- if you are interested in the topic of male bellydancers he has written all about that too!

http://egyptianstories.blogspot.com/2007/01/tummy-trouble-male-belly-dancers.html

Noise

I woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm, the guys shouting to collect any old stuff, the lift going up and down, people shouting in the street below, a baby crying in one of the flats opposite and cats and dogs joining in everything.

Oh- and I almost forgot- the sound of heavy rain battering onto the air conditioning unit- which is right by my bed.......... (the streets were totally flooded out today!)

I only heard the alarm. Really. The rest you get so damn used to that you filter it out. And of course you wonder why you brain can't retain the information it usually did, or why you are tired all the time...... its busy filtering....

And my street is a fairly quite one................ very actually.

2 of my friends back home sent me the link to this news report re noise pollution in Cairo- its not a pleasant read for someone living here!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080125/thl-egypt-pollution-health-noise-a0a7e8a_1.html

Not so sure about the damage of noise really being the thing we in Cairo should worry so much about........ not when I had a discussion with a taxi driver this morning INSISTING that he could see the road in front better without the window wipers working (in torrential rain of the ilk I have NEVER seen before in Cairo!!!). I could't see a thing. Scary- much more so than the occasional headache from the noise!!!!!!!!!!!

its all relative I guess!

Lunch cruise

Danced on the Nile Pharoah today on a lunch sail. there just before 12. the coaches full of tired hungry tourists who have been herded around the pyramids all morning arrive around 2.30pm and the whole sail (including me performing on both decks) is over within an hour. Usually lasts 2 hours - but I guess this way it cuts down on any overlap on the tour guides timetable for whatever they have to run off to do next.

These coach loads all look a bit stunned. They are trying to eat, and suddenly without warning there is a bellydancer up there, so they want to eat, watch, talk, rest , photograph everything all at the same time.... then i try and get them up to dance with me either they go 'f**k it, why not' or they just disappear into their chairs hoping I don't spot them!

I would say the boats are a must for any tourist..... and I guess if you are doing a whistle stop tour of Cairo then why not- nile cruise, lunch, dancer, tannoura and band all in an hour............... but somehow I feel the evening cruises are better value for money!!! I certainly prefer working them! plus its really weird having to put on full stage make-up at 11am!!!!!!!!!

Bellydancers Blogs from around the world!

Since I have been doing this blogging thing for a whilenow, I have come to the conclusion that I can't be the only blogging bellydancer in the world.

I am not talking about blogs which have a mention or 2 of bellydance in them- actually real live dancers who actually write about what they are up to- not just publicise stuff for sale- be it workshops, performances or costumes etc etc (ok I know I do other these things too- but you know what I mean!!!!!!!!!!!)

….. so after an hour or so (ok, call it 3 or more!) sitting surfing, I have come up with some other bellydancing blogs for your blogging delight…………. In no particular order (well- apart from the 1st one of course!!!!) …………

www.bellylorna.blogspot.com – me!!!

www.naimasbellydanceblog.blogspot.com – great, well written and fun and informative!

www.elektrasbellydanceblog.blogspot.com – Not updated recently- but a few interesting thought on what bellydance is about and how it should be taught…….

www.bellydancertaaj.blogspot.com – a feisty character with some good advice! Very enjoyable read.

www.shimmyblog.org – a regular and interesting blogger on all matters dance and learning bellydance.

www.bellydancerlessons.blogspot.com – interesting if you too have started bellydance lessons recently- she seems very good at practicing…. And I LOVE the idea of practicing in the dark!!!!!!

www.howtobellydance.enchantmentunlimited.com – this one has a list of how to do it- for beginner bellydancers….. and tips on music and costumes..

www.belly-babes.co.uk/blog.html - a UK based site with some interesting blog entries including 'choosing a dancing name'!

www.bellydanceblogs.net – This one kind of takes the fun out of surfing for bellydance blogs- but gets you where you want to be very quickly! A whole listing of LOTS of bellydancing blogs (knew someone had to have got there before me!) - and easy step by step in case you are inspired after reading all this to make up your own blog too!



Oh- and I came across these on my blog search- some websites of the other dancers who work at the same place as me- interesting how their experiences echo mine !!!

www.joanabellydance.com – from Portugal.

www.outiofcairo.com – from Finland.


This blog list is of course by no means exclusive and please don’t feel offended if I haven't mentioned yours- just tell me about it and I'll add it on!

I am all for scratching backs…. And if people fancy linking my blog onto theirs in return for the mention, although not compulsory of course- I'd be deeply grateful!!!


Blogging Bellydancers Unite!!!

Dirt

its only been 10 days since I set up the blog so you can get all my new blog entries directly into your inbox and already i have 55 people signed up to that. Thanks guys!!!!!!!!

going this afternoon to see how Eman is getting on with my new cossies I ordered......... Trying to get a few together for when i come home to Scotland at end of Feb for my show there on the 24th!



and a note on something completely different- Cairo is SOOOOOOOOO dirty!

hehe- I said something along the lines of that to a friend and he said- 'what... don't you have dirt in Scotland?'

'Hardly, and anyway- it doesn't compare............'

The roads here are tarmaced to a degree- well- the main ones anyway....... but there are no drains....... so if it rains the water has nowhere to go. As for the dirt tracks- well- you can imagine...

Everyone here throws ALL rubbish on the ground. Really- on the street or in the Nile. I was so shocked when I 1st saw that and gave my musicians a row for doing it and they all just laughed at me.

So- when it rains- all the decomposed rubbish material which has gathered into a marinade all across the surface of the roads (and pavements- if you can call them something so grand) just turns into a mush. Much like the slush in Scotland which has all the grit and mud in it. But here you know what it is- not just sand and salt and snow- its rotten fruit, veg, papers and other stuff I would care not to think about- but lets just say there are a fair few donkeys and dogs and cats around too...........

And thats just the dirt in the street.

The dirt in the air is something else again. Sometimes when they are burning the rubbish in the fields you can taste it and the air feels heavy with it. deisel fumes helping to trap it and keep it close enough to the ground and therefore to you to breathe! Nice huh! Textured air.

And when they are not burning the rubbish... then there is always the sand particules in the air which mean that you may well clean your floor- surfaces etc in the morning- but by night you can draw a line with your finger through it! As for in April and May, when it is time for the hamiseen winds to blow from the deserts, well- thats the same problem but in extreme!

Oh- and then there is the water. The water in Cairo is safe to drink.

Well- that is assuming your intestines can handle the toxic levels of chlorine and whatever other chemicals they put into it to kill the bugs. It is so strong that you can smell swimming pools when you turn on the hot AND the ceramic on your bath corodes within a very short time if you have a dripping tap! it looks horrible- even after scrubbing and scrubbing with bleach it never quite looks clean!!! I haven't even seen plastic baths here- i guess they aren't too good an idea! Anyway- trying to find out who i can get to come and repaint my bath so all my guests dont think its me who is a dirty so and so!!!!!!!!!!!

so- do we have dirt in Scotland? YES of course- but compared to here- NO WAY!!!!

The people however- generally- I am not talking about the ones who live in the streets etc, but the average person- VERY clean! numerous showers each day is the norm......... guess thats what comes from living in a hot , dirty city- you have to be able to escape it somehow!!!!!

Excited about Workshops

Love this bit- putting together a series of workshops and getting excited about what i am going to teach.!!! I do love performing- but I miss all the teaching I used to do too- from nearly 25 classes every week down to occasional workshops here and there! All workshopsdetails have been added to prior blogs (if you are interested please contact relevent email address in blogs entitled 'Lorna returns to Scotland' 12.1.08.) - but have added them here just to bring your attention to them in case you dont scroll down !........

Looking forward to teaching again...............

Cairo - sat 26th Jan. 12- 3pm.



Edinburgh- Sat 23rd Feb. Complete beginners FREE CLASS! 10.30-11.30
Mixed level footwork plus. 12-3pm

Edinburgh - Sun 24th Feb. Learn a choreography. 11-1pm
Alchemy of dance. 1.30-3.30pm



Dundee- Sat 1st March. Advanced/intermediates. 1-2pm
Improvers/Beginners. 2-4pm


Glasgow- Sun 2nd March. Improvers/Beginners. Time TBC
Advanced/intermediates. Times TBC


Bookings have started- get yours in now!!!!

How to make bad days better?

ok- so as performers, we all have good and bad days.......

yesterday wasn't my best ever- full of the flu, feeling low (you know- those days when you question the whole point of being) and it had been raining all day (I know that means nothing to those in UK, and my sympathies to you, but for me here I hate it even more than i did at home!!!!) anyway- I went to work, to find out that they have taken me off the rota for next 3 days (not good for the self esteem - even though it wasn't against me but you know how you take these things when you are low anyway!) and generally feel horrible- and then discover in the audience friends who are dancers (ie peer pressure to perform well).

Argggh!

well- i survived it- but only really danced well on first 2 songs I did (I felt) and those were only cos I was damned if these dancers were going to see me dance badly!!! After, when I spoke to them, they said no i hadn't looked like I had a cold on stage (which just goes to show I can act quite well when i have to) but then NO COMMENT re my dancing! Why is that? Did they hate it so much they couldn't bare to tell me te truth or lie to me, or did they think I was so wonderful but I knew that anyway so they didn't need to tell me? Grrr- I hate not knowing. I know I was brought up being told- 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all' but surely there must have been SOMETHING nice about my show- even if it was just my costumes?!!!!!

so- please - audience......... if you see a dancer perform, even if you don't like it, PLEASE dig deep to find SOMETHING good. Don't lie- not asking anyone to do that.... but don't act like they havn't done anything either- thats just not nice. Art is only art if it creates a response in its audeince- If I feel my dance has made no impact whatsoever there is nothing more demoralising!!!!!

Anyway- you can tell from the whole tone of this blog that I am still full of the cold, it is still raining and cold, and I am stil in a feeling sorry for myself mood!!!!!

So- How to perform when you feel like that?

- Pretend everything is good- the more you smile the more you feel like smiling. ACT!

- choose your favourite music and costumes- if everything around you is good then it will all be much better. Nice perfume helps too!

- Remind yourself that this is work- and you are getting paid to entertain- its not an exercise in making you feel good- you have a duty to your audence! (Thankfully I only have to fall back on this attitude very seldom- and even then, after a few mins of dance, the music usually lifts my mood!)

- Call on friends- thank god I have people around me who love me and admire what i do- at times like last night I have a wee moan to them and they remind me that I am good and to pick my chin up!

- This is advice for others that I don't take myself (but maybe should think about) If you choreograph your dance then even if you feel rubbish at least the technique will carry you through. Usually the other things above are enough to get me out my funk but last night I almost wished for a choreography to help me through!

- Waterproof mascara- for changing room before and after! sometimes the act only lasts as long as the performance does!

- Music- I said it before but for me it really is the most important. Last night my 1st 2 dances were strong- but I felt myself crumble on the 3 rd because it was one I don't dance to very often and don't feel so confident in. I should have chosen something different! Of course- I am my own worst critic and i am kinda hoping that what I felt as crumbling the audience just saw as not quite as enthusiastic as the others! The musicians said 'it all looked good- but did I have a cold?'- so thats all they noticed!

- oh, and another tip given to me by Caroline (dancer from Australia who has worked here for years) When it all gets too much- remember there are people out there who would pratically kill to get the opportunity to do what you are doing- even for a day. Dancing on the Nile, living 'the Dream'- dont forget it!!!!

If anyone has other tips for pulling yourself together emotionally or physically when you have to, I'd love to hear them!!

(and yes- have already tried the glass of wine and the bar of chocolate!)

oh well- as Karen sang- 'rainy days and mondays...........................'