Chepstow Workshops with Helen Roberts

Helen Roberts holds bellydance workshops one Saturday a month at the Equilibrium Holistic Centre, St Mary Street, Chepstow. Here's the programme for the rest of 2007:

31st March - A simple dance to start with, followed by tribal fusion and then a more lyrical choreography.

21st April - Learn a graceful veil dance followed by technique for dancing with double veils.

26th May - Lots of veil technique and then a chance to show your new skills in a veil dance which has room for improvisation in the choreography.

16th June - Saaidi technique and choreography. A very earthy, folkloric style.

14th July - A lively dance which you can do whenever, wherever, plus technique and variations on the figure 8.

11th August - Smoulder with your shoulders in this dance with attitude plus a technique section on circles.

8th September - Learn a drum solo choreography on two different levels of ability – at the same time!

13th October - Find out which steps go with the different Egyptian drum rhythms.

10th November - Sparkling shimmies and graceful arms. Dance only with your arms.

1st December - An introduction to North African dance will include some scarf dancing.

No previous dance experience is necessary for any of the workshops – just a general level of fitness & mobility. Notes will be provided where appropriate.

Book in advance: £12 per workshop or any 2 for £21. £14 on the day but phone to check availability first.

Booking through Equilibrium Holistic Centre, 19 St Mary Street, Chepstow - phone 01291 622107. Please make cheques payable to Helen Roberts.

A range of Wise Women/Spirituality workshops are held on the mornings of those dates from 10.30am till 1pm.

Helen also holds weekly classes on Wednesdays at Cinderford in the Forest of Dean - for full details see her website at www.goddessdance.co.uk

A Night in Tunisia - thanks!

Thanks to everyone who came along to Cafe Jazz in Cardiff last night for my latest evening of live Middle Eastern music and dance.

We had a great turnout to see dances from Rachel, Wendy, Jane, Alisia and Fatima, plus live music from Scott Baker on the oud and The Riff Bandits, featuring Dale Reynolds, Tim Short, and Philip Moxham of the Young Marble Giants.

We even tempted a few of the non-dancers in the audience to join us on stage at the end of the night.

See the BBC Wales website for some more photos of the night.

Look out for my next event at Cafe Jazz - an Eastern European extravaganza called A Night in Transylvania on Thursday 24 May.

A Night in Tunisia - Cardiff - March 15

Just a reminder of an evening of Middle Eastern music and dance I'm hosting at Cafe Jazz in Cardiff this Thursday 15 March.

Live music comes from a trio called The Riff Bandits, which includes Philip Moxham of Young Marble Giants fame on bass. We'll also have Scott Baker performing on the oud.

There'll be solo dances by Siluria, Alisia, Fatima and Fiora - we should have time for a few others if you're happy with the compact and bijou nature of the Cafe Jazz stage!

Performances start at 9pm and admission is £4. Cafe Jazz can be found on the ground level of the Sandringham Hotel in St Mary Street in the city centre.

For a taste of what to expect, visit www.anightintunisia.co.uk to see some videos of Steph, Fiora and Helin performing at the previous event in November.

And if anyone likes the gypsy tunes I've been playing at recent haflas, look out for A Night in Transylvania, coming to Cafe Jazz on May 24.

Spinning and Turning with Nancy Warren

This workshop scheduled for Saturday 12 May at Goytre Village Hall near Abergavenny has been cancelled.

The Beltane Hip Belter hafla at the same venue that night is going ahead as planned.

Call Rachel Jones 07738 455533 or email info @ siluriabellydance.co.uk for details.

Turkish Dance workshops with Ozgen

Ozgen, a male bellydancer from Turkey, is coming to south Wales in May for two days of workshops.

He'll be in Cardiff on Saturday 19 May to teach Turkish choreography, some zill technique and Turkish Gypsy Rom. A workshop in the Swansea area follows on Sunday 20 May.

Sue Lloyd is organising the events: "I can guarantee ladies that you will really enjoy the workshop with Ozgen. He is a real poppet, with a pleasant personality and bundles of patience.

"He makes learning fun and will take you out of the realms of Egyptian dance into the flamboyant style of Turksih dancing.

"I attended his workshop in Bristol on Saturday 10 March and I was very impressed with the content, style, pace and pleasure of his workshop. I can thoroughly recommend that you attend. All levels catered for."

Venues, times and prices are to be confirmed, but if you want to put your name down for either the Cardiff or Swansea workshops, send an email to safeenabellydance @ yahoo.co.uk

Arabian Nights in Pontypridd review

Sue Lloyd sends this review of Saturday's spectacular at the Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd:

"I know that many of you thought that this event was a bit pricey at £22 and that no-one knew the organiser.

"I had heard only good things about him on the national circuit and had been in contact with him for months as I offered to bring my bazaar.

"The venue may be out of the way, but was perfect for the occasion. Caz is a very quiet and polite man and everything was well organised.

"There was a large Arabic contingent present that night, many Iranians and a table of lads from Dubai and Middle East who were very appreciative of all the music and dancers. One gave an impromptu performance to the amusement and delight of his friends and the rest of the audience!

"The band took centre stage and didn't leave much room for our dancers although they were able to make use of the dance floor too.

"We all queued for the hot buffet before the show began which was unusual but good, as you didn't have to spend and hour or so smelling the food but not able to eat it! (haha) I thought the food was very good, very middle eastern but not much variety really.

"First on was our very own Stephanie, and she was stunning in Turquoise, delighting us all with her fabulous sword routine and then dancing with the Zills to Misirli Ahmed. Stephanie opened the show with real pizzazz and set the pace for the evening

"So that we could all get up and dnace there were times when the Nile Band played some firm favorites, Ya Rahay, Sidi Mansour, Didi, Noss y Noss and many other pieces of music I know, but don't know the names of!!!

"The second performer was the local teacher, Sophira Shannon, with an interesting mix of Beledi and folkloric movements. Many of Sophira's students were in attendance and it must have been nice for them to see their teacher dance at such a prestigious occasion.

"The main atraction was the lovely and talented Amanda Phillips (Sameera) who wore a stunnig animal print cabaret dress and who danced for about 40 minutes, including dancing on all the tables to the delight of the crowd (especially the Dubai lads!!)

"She returned later in the evening in an absolutely gorgeous Saiidi costume to do a stick dance, involving some new and interesting moves which I am going to try out, being into Saiidi dancing.

"The show was supposed to end at 11.30 but there were about 3 encores and the last people left about midnight. Caz and crew were driving back to Cheshire that night and I give them every credit for the entertainment they brought to our small corner ofWales."

"They are due back in Novemebr so watch this space!!"

Did you see this event? Click the image of the envelope just below to send your comments.

Veil and Stick workshops with Safeena

Sue Lloyd aka Safeena has a couple of workshops coming up in Cardiff.

Sunday 11 March - Turkish Mezdeke Veil Dance - 2 till 4pm - don't forget to bring a veil!

Saturday 24 March - Funky Saiidi Stick Dance - 12 till 2pm - sticks will be provided and can be bought on the day.

Each workshop costs £7.50 and takes place at Fitness First in Llanishen, next to Morrison's supermarket.

Ring Sue on 07708 376887 to book your place.

For more details see www.safeena.co.uk