Bellyladies Night

Good morniiiiiiinnnggg!!!

Remember, several weeks ago, I wrote an enthusiastic article about an event, Le Week-End de la Danse Orientale: http://gloomy-san.blogspot.com/2012/03/le-week-end-de-la-danse-orientale.html (in French only, I know: my apologies! I will try to avoid French as much as possible but as it is my mother tongue, you won't escape it).

This event took place this weekend. At first I really wanted to attend some workshops (saidi, Bellywood, chaabi,... God, I no longer knew where to look), but unfortunately, I finally had no time enough to lose a whole day, because of my student's life and the future examinations. That's why I decided to attend the show: Bellyladies Night. I will not talk about every single performances; I hope you will content yourselves with those which made a deep impression on me.

The dancing evening began with Maëlle, who immediatly seduced everybody with her smile -and with her magnificent white outfit too, yes. Her dynamic performance was ideal to get into the swim of things. Nevertheless a weakness, only in my opinion: I appreciate raks el asaya with saidi, but the cane isn't a prop that I appreciate that much when it is included to a raks al sharki performance.

Annamma @ Spectacle Magic Orient

Who talks about Bellywood workshop insinuates the presence of a show in the colours of India. God knows how I love this country, its various dances, music and so on. So I of course waited for this moment with a growing impatience. And it didn't disappointed me! Raised in a masterly fashion by Annamma, the duet Uma & Annamma flung us in this Asian country with their interpretation of the famous song "Kannodu Kanbathellam", taken from the movie "Jeans" and originally played by Aishwarya Rai. These ladies were the first to fill my eyes with tears, but I couldn't tell you if it was out of melancholy or happiness. Both, I guess.

And suddenly happened the disappointment: I couldn't wait to see the gorgeous Belgian dancer Artemisia, but her passage was purely and simply cancelled. If I understood well, I think that she suffers from a knee pain. Shame on me, but health above all! It is only a question of time.

The next huge surprise was Jamila and her wild saidi on "El Baston". Saidi is one of my favourite styles, and I keep telling that I absolutely need to try! You know what? I've just found my teacher! No kidding, Jamila was absolutely impressive, and she spread as much cheerfulness as saidi asks. Wow, I wanted this moment to last longer!

The first part ended with Fatima and her students. With the girls, we dived in the depths of the Moroccan folklore. While watching them, I remembered some people who told me how chaabi was boring, in their opinion. Personally, I just wanted to slip a kaftan on to rejoin the circle. Amazing Fatima!

Fatima and her students @ Prague

The star of our evening, Farah, introduced the second part, catching every single heart in the audience. What could I say? This heightened feminity, this precision, this touching interpretation, not counting this formidable stage presence and the particular contact with the public, every good elements were gathered together to make the best of these -short- seven minutes. Farah is what we call a GREAT dancer!

Farah Bakkali

To watch her performance, just click on the following symbol: *

The show needed another belly dancer to continue, and we all knew how the challenge was major.
But Asrar brilliantly accomplished the mission! Firstly, she decided not to present another classic act, but favoured a gypsy atmosphere, very different from everything else in the Night. No need to say that it was to her advantage! I was glad to see her for another obvious reason: a student is always delighted to support her teacher, right? According to our lessons, I was sure that this moment would be filled with joie de vivre, and you know what? I was right!
Here is the link to her performance: *

After that, the lovely Johanna seduces her and the Wicked Mystic offered us our tribal fusion time, but my next true favourite was the Cie Zellidjah and their saidi -yes, another one- which gave us the will of jumping at the opportunity to stand up and dance! Once again, I realized how Jamila is excellent! I'll try to attend her workshop in July, if I find the favour of time :)

Asrar @ Bellydancer of the World 2011
© Ayman Shoala

To conclude, this event was absolutely worth coming, even without the wonderful Artemisia: great dancers, various performances enough, nice place (fortunately easy to find) and friendly atmosphere.
Congratulations to Zahra & the artists, teachers, everyone who made it possible!

As Zahra said: "See you next year, inchallah!"

Please notice that the pictures are neither mine, nor taken from the Bellyladies Night. If you are the author and you want me to remove your work, let me know: it will please me to follow your requierements.