Classes in Carmarthen

The Star of Venus magick shop in King Street, Carmarthen, is launching a weekly bellydance class this coming Friday 1 February.

It's open to all levels and runs from 6.30 till 8pm, cost £4.

For more details see www.starofvenus.co.uk or phone 0845 130 1099.

See the Arabesq website for details of other classes in Carmarthenshire and west Wales.

Zahra al Layl - Flower of the Night

Hannah Corr invites you to an evening of Arabic music and dance at the Moroccan-inspired Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff on Friday 14 March.

There'll be Kurdish folk dancing, handmade Arabic drinks and sweets, live drumming and the best Rai, Egyptian, Lebanese, Turkish and Arab Fusion tracks to dance the night away.

It runs from 7 till 11pm and costs £8.50 - children free.

Contact Hannah on 029 20 300237 or email info @ halfouinedance.co.uk

Middle Eastern Dance Night in Bristol

Kelly-Marie is hosting a Middle Eastern Dance Night at the Blue Lagoon Cafe Bar, Gloucester Road, Bristol, on Thursday 7 February.

The venue has dance events on various nights of the week, and it's hoped the Middle Eastern night will run monthly if it proves popular.

It's open to dancers and non-dancers alike, and there'll be plenty of opportunity for free dancing.

The night runs from eight till late, and admission is £2.50.

For more details contact Kelly-Marie on 07942 785721 or email m.mccarthy.201 @ btinternet.com

Tinariwen on tour in May

Desert blues legends Tinariwen will be playing their first ever gigs in Wales as part of a short UK tour in May.

They'll be at Pontardawe Arts Centre on Tuesday 20 May, The Point in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday 21 May, and at the Hay Festival in Powys on Friday 23 May.

The band won fame in the western world through their performances at the Festival in the Desert in Mali in 2001, and have since toured to great acclaim - I saw them myself at Fiddlers in Bristol last summer and can vouch for the fact that they're a fantastic live act.

Support comes from the Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara Trio, who'll be showcasing tunes from their Soul Science CD.

Adams, a guitarist dubbed the British Ry Cooder, has toured with Robert Plant and co-wrote his Mighty Rearranger album, as well as producing Tinariwen's latest release Aman Iman.

Camara is a Gambian griot who has also collaborated with the Led Zeppelin frontman and Tinariwen before joining forces with Adams last year.

Tickets cost £20 (Hay price to be confirmed) are available from the venues.

For more details about the artists see www.tinariwen.com and www.myspace.com/justinadamsproducer

Dances of the Silk Road - April 25-27

Medea Mahdavi is hosting a weekend devoted to the tribal dances of Iran at All Stretton, near Church Stretton, Shropshire, from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 April.

Dances of the Silk Road offers insights into Ghossamabodi dance with a performance and a seminar presented by Persian Pearls. These will feature dances of the Qashqai tribe, Central Asia and the Gulf.

There'll be a performance of a dramatic scene from the Shahnameh, ‘Book of Kings’, the Persian epic, along with workshops, hafla/jashn, dance film, trading, fitness, and fun.

Medea will be joined by Robyn Friend, Neil Siegel, Afra al Kahira and Vashti.

First 10 places only for culture vultures, workshops and comfortable, shared room accommodation in scenic setting, for two nights for £100 (includes breakfast and lunch).

Contact Medea Mahdavi on 0117 963 3029 or email medea @ footwork.org

For more about Medea's activities, including regular classes in Bristol, see www.footwork.org/medea/

Three Counties Belly Dance - Feb 2

Several leading UK bellydancers will be hosting a series of workshops and performing at the Three Counties Belly Dance Festival, taking place at the Hilton Puckrup Hall Hotel near Tewkesbury on Saturday 2 February.

The workshops will be led by Nikki Livermore, Kay Taylor, Zehara, Kara (Jane Claridge), Ozgen, and AgarmanTan (Dawn-Marie Wedlock).

John Sleiman will provide live music for the evening hafla and cabaret which features all the workshop tutors and other dancers.

For further details and booking, phone 01684 562127.

Ozgen Workshops - February 16/17

Ozgen returns to south Wales in February for a series of workshops hosted by Sue Lloyd.

On Saturday 16 February he'll be leading two Burlesque workshops in the dance studio at Maindy Swimming Pool, North Road, Cardiff. You can try dancing with gloves, chairs, boas and more. If you have gloves, boas etc, please bring them - otherwise Ozgen will have some you can borrow while Sue will have some for sale. Due to popular demand, there'll be two workshops - 1 till 3.20pm and 3.40 till 6pm - each costs £20.

On Sunday 17 February Ozgen will be teaching two workshops at Fitness First, Corporation Road, Newport. The first session from 11am till 1pm will cover Modern R'n'B (no experience required), while the second from 2 till 4pm is Turkish Bellydance (basic experience required). The cost is £18 per workshop, or £30 for the two.

The Burlesque and Modern R'n'B workshops are open to all - not just bellydancers.

To book, call Sue Lloyd 07708 376887 or email safeenabellydance @ yahoo.co.uk

Shirl's Easter Chicks Hafla - March 28

Shirl is holding an Easter Hafla on Friday 28 March at her usual venue, Rogerstone and Bassaleg Social Club near Newport.

It's from 7.30pm till midnight and tickets cost £7.

Contact Shirl by emailing justpooka @ yahoo.co.uk to book tickets and performance slots.

Hossam and Serena Ramzy in Pembrokeshire

Details have been confirmed of a weekend of classical Egyptian drum and bellydance workshops and a show with Hossam and Serena Ramzy in Pembrokeshire in the spring.

It starts on Friday 29 February with a drumming workshop led by Hossam at St Andrews Church Hall in Narberth.

On Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March Serena and Hossam will lead bellydance workshops covering tabla solo, demonstrations, theory, choregraphies and more. These take place at Letterston Community Hall.

The show takes place on Saturday evening at the Merlin Theatre, Pembrokeshire College, Haverfordwest. Hossam and Serena will be joined by leading bellydancers from across Wales, the west and Merseyside.

For full details of times, prices, discounts and accommodation options, see www.baubo.co.uk

To book show tickets and workshop places, contact Guinevere on 01437 767131 or email guinevere @ baubo.co.uk