November through January 2010-2011
Wow! It has been a long time since I have written, and so much has happened!
Let me get you up to date on my adventures…
Let’s go back to last November. I had a crazy tour that began in Germany. I participate every year at Leyla Jouvana’s Festival in Duisburg. The weekend before the event I judge the Belly Dancer of the World Competition. I love returning every year for many reasons. First of all Leyla is an excellent host and I am in awe at how she is capable of pulling off not one, but two huge back to back events. I love seeing familiar faces in the classes and seeing how the people I’ve have gotten to know grow in the dance. I also appreciate knowing a city well enough to get around. I love the fact that I visit every year just as the Christmas fair opens. Gluewine and a big Ferris wheel!
Highlights of this visit included hanging backstage with Suhaila, Sadie, Amaya, and Salwa, experiencing Nadia from Russia- hands down one of the most exiting fusion artists I have ever experienced, and spending time with Queenie, Khalida, Amelia, Zafirah, Dagmar, and Ruby. I feel so lucky to have made dance friends that I could spend time with in Duisburg.
After Germany I took a little detour by train to get to Belgium to visit one of my favorite costumers, Bella. It was quite and adventure! After braving the train, the metro, and a snow storm that had me waiting for hours for a taxi, I warmed myself in the glittering glow of four new Bella costumes!
Then… on to Switzerland! Bern is another place that I visit every year. I love teaching in Amira’s enviable studio. This year I had a small show in an adorable theater. I test ran one of my new costumes and -other than a nasty splinter in my foot- had a lovely show. Amira and Alex are also wonderful hosts. They are offering one of the most complete and comprehensive Tribal fusion study program I have seen. The dedication to raising the level of Oriental and related dance forms that Alex and Amira have shown is exemplary. I am looking forward to returning to Bern this year for special celebration for Amira’s 30th year belly dancing and 10 years at studio Taxim.
After Bern I flew to Grenada, Spain and joined Helena Rull for a workshop and show. This was my third time to Grenada but my first time with Helena. The workshops were taught in a gym with only a partition separating the body builders from the belly dance class. There were a couple of interesting grunts happening when we weren’t blasting the music. The students were warm and wonderful. I also enjoyed the show in a huge theater. There was glitter everywhere backstage. One memory I will keep with me is after the event driving around Grenada in a car full of dancers with a magical view of the Alhambra. I can’t wait return to Spain.
Then it was back home to Quebec. I had a glorious 6 week break from teaching and performing. This year I opted out of Christmas with the whole family and instead took a trip with my husband Eric to… CUBA! It was so wonderful to spend needed quality time with Eric and so exciting to spend it in Cuba. As an American I had never considered Cuba as a vacation destination. We stayed right on the beach and spent our time relaxing, reading and playing cards. Bliss! I made my own Christmas tree in the sand and enjoyed hearing Christmas carols among the palm trees.
My first event in 2011 was the Aziza professional weeklong in Sanford Florida and was an excellent way to start the New Year. We had a great group of dedicated professional dancers that worked hard 5 hours a day for 5 days. We also shared meals and had a video night sharing our favorite DVD’s. Sanford is such a sweet town with great restaurants and a resident rooster you hear crowing as you walk to the studio in the morning. I look forward to keeping tabs on these talented women I had the honor to dance with this year.
Then it was on to Italy! I was invited back to Pordenone by Manuela and Samantha and this year in a new workshop venue with mirrors! The show was a showcase of Manuela’s and Samantha’s students. I was thrilled to be around that nervous energy of new performers. My favorite moment was watching the parents of a young dancer with huge proud smiles and camera’s in their hands snapping away every time the choreography had their daughter facing them. It was a moment that made me miss my own family.
After the event in Pordenone I ventured on my own to Venice and had a couple days to walk around this most romantic of cities eating fabulous food and exploring the canals. I found a Lush store and bought some bubble bath and a phone card to call my friends and family. After a long soak and hours talking on the phone I was struck by how incredibly lucky I am that I am able to travel the world with this dance. Although I count my blessings often, I also wish that I could share these experiences. I wish that I could have been eating this amazing food and seeing this incredible city with my husband. I hope that the next time I am fortunate enough to visit Venice I will have pictures of Eric and I together to share with you.
So what is next?
Can you believe South Africa?!
