Thanks for another great NCBellydance Celebration!

I just wanted to thank everyone that made last night’s NCBellydance celebration so wonderful!

Belly Revelations, for their service to the Bellydance community in general, and specifically in organizing this whole event – I don’t know what I’d do without you!

All the selfless volunteers who helped set up, run the show, and clean up afterwards – we definitely couldn’t have done this without you!

The performers for your gifts of dance, especially those who had to drive in from out of town. I enjoyed all the performances so much – what a wonderful variety of Bellydance we have here in North Carolina! I can’t wait to see everything on DVD.

Timbuctooth for being the heartbeat of our show – there is nothing better than live music!

The vendors – Blue Fusion, Scheherezade Imports, and Amara Al Amir. Thank you for rising to the occasion and providing us with such delicious costuming.

Megan Freeman and Amara from Woodland Willow Photography for taking pictures; and Jeff “the man behind the woman” Stratford for videotaping. Thanks for creating precious memories of this event – I still like to look at the pictures and the DVD from last year, and can’t wait to see this year’s!

And finally, thanks to everyone in the audience who came out to support NCBellydance – I really appreciate it.

A lot of people were commenting that this kind of community doesn’t exist in other states, and that we are so lucky to find performers and teachers coming together to help and support each other.

That’s why I enjoy my “job” so much.

Thanks again for a wonderful party, and for helping to keep NCBellydance around for another year!!!!!

www.ncbellydance.org

Call for Volunteers! We need your help for the ncbellydance event :)

(See previous post about the ncbellydance party this Saturday)

Would you be willing to volunteer for part of the evening to help make the NCBellydance party a success? We have one-hour time slots available - sign up for as many as you'd like!

We need folks to: manage the drink/snack table, cashiers to take money at the door, ticket takers, a host to welcome guests, diva assistants to help performers, CD Maestro to push "play" on the CD player, vending area assistants, videographer assistant, models for the vendor fashion show, and Clean up Artists for afterwards.

If you would like to help out a little while you're there, please contact Qadria at 919-786-9895 or qadria@bellyrevelations.com.

Thanks in advance for helping us celebrate NCBellydance!

NCBellydance.org 6th Birthday Party Reminder

I wanted to remind you that this coming Saturday is the big NCBellydance.org 6th Birthday Party in Cary at galaxy
cinema. I will be performing with my husband and Continuing level students, and there will also be a huge variety of students and professional dancers from all over the state!

This is a fundraiser for my site, NCBellydance.org, which is a public resource for Bellydance and Middle-Eastern music throughout the Carolinas. It is being sponsored by the hardworking, lovely ladies of Belly Revelations.

There will be vendors selling costumes and accessories, a Vendor Fashion Show, Middle Eastern food, and live music by Timbuctooth in between sets.

Doors open at 6pm and the performances start at 6:30pm. Make sure to get there on time to see the Happy Hips Dance Troupe open the show - they are an all-children's dance troupe and are absolutely adorable!

The event will wind down at 10pm.

If you would like to purchase show tickets in advance, surf over
here: www.bellyrevelations.com/events.html

Many of you in my "friends" list on Tribe are performing, so I'm looking forward to seeing you again!

Hugs,

Haala

Karim Nagi Turbo Tabla Weekend - woo hoo!

As I type this, we're packing up the whole family to drive to Charlotte for this weekend's Turbo Tabla workshop and show. Have Workshop Will Travel!

I was invited to perform in the show this evening, and afterwards there will be a dance party DJ'd by Karim Nagi himself! I really like the idea of having the show the night BEFORE the workshop! Too often, you'll slog through a whole day of classes, then have to go right back to the hotel and get ready for the show with no downtime. So this will be a lot more relaxing. I

This is my first time performing in Charlotte, so I am excited and a bit nervous. I'm also looking forward to seeing the other performances - I know everyone's names from working with ncbellydance.org, but this will be my first time seeing them in person.

Karim will be teaching Dabka, Assaya/Tahteeb, and Musicality for Dancers on Saturday. My hubby's going to watch the kids while I take those workshops. Then I guess we'll just kick back and have a relaxing family dinner and evening in Charlotte.

Sunday, Karim will be teaching Riqq, Arabic drumming, and Drummer-Dancer Communication. My hubby is going to take these workshops while I watch the kiddies. Then we'll be driving back home to Cary to recuperate!

I'm glad we have Monday off -- I'm going to need to rest!!!!! :)

NCBellydance 6th Anniversary Hafla September 22 - Save the Date!

This year's NC Belly Dance event is not to be missed! Not only do we have a huge line up of dancers representing NC's amazing beauty, skill, grace, and talent, but we have some of our own wonderful local musicians, fashion shows where our favorite vendors will be show-casing their mouth-watering wares, and delicious food. As if that weren't enough to make for one amazing night, there will also
be an opportunity for dancers to have photoshoots on site from our very own Audra and Amara. This year's hafla is going to be a feast
for all the senses!

The show is from 6:30pm to 10pm. This is celebration of our community and of Haala & all that she does to keep NC Belly Dance up
and running & our community interacting. As always, the proceeds will go to make sure that we have another year of NC Belly Dance.

Tickets are $10 per adult, $3 a child. Families max out at $23

The Galaxy is located off I-40 exit 291 at the Village Square Shopping Center at the corner of Cary Towne Blvd. and Maynard Rd, Cary NC.
We'll be in theater number 3. www.mygalaxycinema.com

I'm enclosing a picture of all the performers from last year.

Hope to see you there!

Class Topics for Next Session (Cary NC)

CLASS TOPICS FOR NEXT SESSION

I've just posted descriptions, dates and registration information for the next round of classes online: www.halobellydance.com/haalac...s.html.

The intro Bellydance Basics class will begin Monday August 27 - this class usually sells out in advance so pre-registration is strongly recommended!

The Beginning Bellydance and Continuing Bellydance classes will begin Thursday, September 6.

The Beginning class will continue to work on basic technique while also delving into the popular rhythms of the dance.

The Continuing class will also work on rhythms of the dance, with the focus on improvising to live drumming.

Both Thursday classes will feature the live drumming talents of my husband John! Get ready for an exciting session!

All classes take place at Clear Horizons, 1200 Trinity Road, on the border of Cary and Raleigh (just off of exit 290/I-40).

For more information and to pre-register, visit www.halobellydance.com/haalac...s.html.

Raleigh Middle-Eastern Drumming Workshop with John Price this Sunday!

Just a reminder about a Middle-Eastern drumming workshop my husband is giving this Sunday in Raleigh.

Dancers are also welcome to attend and dance!

Here's the press release:

Come out to Nada Rhythms at Blue Lotus this Sunday, August 5th, 2007 for a hand drumming workshop on Middle Eastern drumming with John Price from 6:30 - 8:00 pm.

You don't need a drum...you don't need experience...you need only to show up with an open mind and willingness to let go and have a blast! Each month we host a different instructor.

The August Workshop features instruction by John Price, who will demonstrate and teach basic Middle Eastern techniques, including:

holding the drum
basic strokes (doum/tek/ka)
basic rhythms
fills and improvisation
practice drills

Fee of $5 is collected at the door. No experience is necessary. All are welcome. Bring your own chair or blanket and drum. Loaner drums also are available.

"When you take your drum to a rhythm circle and play it with your community, healing happens. It does not matter if the group's focus is purely social or ritualistic. If you come and drum, the healing is compounded because everyone is putting their spirit into the drum, and their hearts are open.
You get and give a rhythmical massage that is compounded by the number of people in the circle and the energy they are sharing with each other." ~
Arthur Hull

About John Price

John Price has an extensive musical background, touring and recording with several rock bands in the area. He has studied Middle Eastern percussion with Issam Houshan and Souhail Kaspar, and has performed at the N.C. Renaissance Faire and the N.C. Museum of Art. John's wife Haala is a bellydance instructor (NCBellydance.org).

blue lotus
401-105 N. West Street
Raleigh, NC
(919) 831-2583

Aziza in August!

Aziza in August!

Okies, so if you asked me who my favorite bellydancer is, I would probably say Aziza!

I wanted to remind folks that she will be coming to Winston-Salem August 11-12 and I heartily recommend that you attend, no matter what your level of experience. And the show that night should be fabulous -- it's not your typical workshop hafla, it's actually a true Gala Performance.

You can find more info and pre-register at www.shimmies-r-us.com. Tell 'em Haala sent you :)

Here's a nice video of her on YouTube:

youtube.com/watch