Beginners class in Pontypool

Rachel Jones is teaching a six week course for beginners at the TRAC 2 centre, Church Avenue, Trevethin, Pontypool.

It takes place every Saturday morning from November 11 to December 16, 10.30am to 12.30pm and is free of charge.

Although the course is aimed at beginners, everyone is welcome.

Contact Rachel on 01495 757144 for more details - see the TRAC website for venue information.

Abergavenny Autumn Hafla

There's an Autumn Hafla at the Abergavenny Labour Club, Park Crescent on Friday 6 October.

Solo or group performances welcome, plus bar, raffle and buffet.

Tickets £6 - contact Wendy Hughes on 01873 859725 or 07725 463167 to book tickets and performance slots.

Safeena's Seafront Shindig review

Zoe Ellerbeck sent this review of a great night out in Newport...




"On Saturday 9th September I had an entertaining night out in Newport! The Sailors Mission was the venue for Safeena’s Birthday Hafla. This turned out to be a wonderful celebration. The Mission had never hosted an event like it; the manager took lots of pictures which are being submitted to their world wide publication.

"Lots of our favourite dancers - Shirley, Wendy, Stephanie and Rachel - were in attendance some with their students, all giving a wonderful performance. The Happy Birthday Chorus being conducted by Rachel caused a blush from our hostess. Other former students of Safeena’s, Liz and Shakila, brought their beginners groups who performed brilliantly.

"Safeena’s Mezzydeks had great fun at the Cairo Souk and a lovely colourful display to Nancy Ajram. Safeena paid tribute to the location by performing a very spicy Meleya Lef to the Alexandrian Dance (above left).

"There were also guests who had travelled to perform; Tracey Pye dancing beautifully with the sword, Tees Kabira who brought the house down with their interpretation to Sex Bomb and Anna Chandler (above right) who twisted and turned so dramatically with stunning gold Isis Wings.

"The guest of honour was of course Safeena’s good friend Maria D’Silva (above centre) who performed two stunning dances - the first, a Saiidi, was introduced as mesmerising. It was exactly that, for the first few minutes you could have heard a pin drop. The second was a special dance for Safeena.

"Maria aided by Joe had their splendid Bazaar which was busy all evening and Amanda was also kept busy applying Henna tattoos.

"Not satisfied at keeping us entertained once Safeena is holding another Hafla at the Discovery Inn, Lakeside, Cardiff on Saturday 23rd September. I’ll see you all there."

Dances of the Sun in Newport

Jawahir Middle Eastern Dance Club presents Raqset Al-shems - Dances of the Sun - at the Dolman Theatre, Kingsway, Newport on Wednesday 1 November.

Previously performed at the Monmouth Women's Festival, this is an evening of dance, music and spectacular images in a journey around the music and cultures of Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans.

The show includes music from Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, the Punjab, Lebanon, Iraq, Armenia, America, Canada and Spain, and moving images from Algeria and Libya.

Tickets cost £10 each or 10 for the price of nine, with accompanied under 16s admitted for £5 - available from the Newport Tourist Information Centre on 01633 842962.

Laila Ajbar founded Jawahir in 2002 to spread understanding of Middle Eastern cultures and in particular those of North Africa, from where her father originates.

For more about this show and Jawahir's weekly classes in Newport, see www.arabdance.co.uk

Bellydance classes - regional listings

Due to the growing number of bellydance classes in south, mid and west Wales, I've divided them up into regional pages on the Arabesq website.

Go to www.arabesq.co.uk/classes.shtml and you'll find links to separate printer-friendly pages covering:

Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Newport, Torfaen and Monmouthshire

Swansea, Bridgend and Port Talbot

South Wales Valleys

West Wales

Mid Wales

Anyone looking to join a class should not simply turn up at the advertised date and time - they should contact the tutor first to check availability and suitability, as well as the date, time and location - just in case the published information is out-of-date or otherwise inaccurate.

I'd be grateful if tutors can keep me updated on any changes to their class details and whether any classes need adding to or removing from the list - email andy @ arabesq.co.uk

Morocco workshop in Powys

One of New York's top bellydance performers and tutors comes to mid Wales in November to share her skills.

Morocco will be teaching a fun Oryantal Karsilama routine to "Dere Karsilama" on Tuesday 7 November.

The workshop takes place in the village hall at Glasbury near Brecon from 6 till 8.30pm - price £21 in advance.

Further details from Saf on 07833 386648 or email Saffira @ tesco.net

For more about Morocco, see www.casbahdance.org