Bellydance and Astrology Weekend

Guinevere is hosting a Bellydance and Astrology Weekend from Friday 31 October to Sunday 2 November at Over The Rainbow Mansion near Cardigan.

The main feature will be her AstroBelly workshops, an exciting little dance for each 12 signs of the zodiac.

"It's fun, dynamic, deep and most of all, it will improve your dancing and your teaching," says Guinevere.

"Explore the physical and emotional essence of each sign. Learn how to dance your own powerful astrological self from your moon sign to your sun sign and more.

"From the flowing moves of Pisces and the precision of Virgo to the spins of Aquarius, AstroBelly is one of the best dance systems you'll find. It's great for teachers and students, offering short sequences that can be danced individually or jig-sawed together. It improves choreography technique, musical interpretation and style differentiation. Students love the variety and creativity AstroBelly gives them.

"AstroBelly includes Classical Egyptian, Lebaneese, Saidi, Contemporary, Theatrical/Troupe and Taqsim styles. All moves can be layered for advanced work with props from sticks to wings and veils. Learn about sacred floor plans, physical leading and tips to include and relate to your audience. Free yourself into AstroBelly and enjoy sharing it with those you dance with and for."

"I learnt AstroBelly in Egypt and London with my teacher Keti Sharif. I have been teaching it for several years and use it in my performance, It's truly wonderful and adds a deeper insight into your self and your art."

The weekend also includes professional astrologer Mike Day who will interpret your astrology charts and do a one to one session with you to decode your planets. He will also be on hand for any cosmic questions throughout the weekend.

There will also be pumpkin carving on Halloween with earth artist and willow weaver Cassandra from Live Lightly co-op.

The price of £250 includes workshops, readings, meals, and two nights accommodation at Over the Rainbow. Belly dance teachers can claim a £50 discount and pay just £200.

For full details and to book contact guinevere @ baubo.co.uk or phone her on 01437 767131 or 0792 533 2892.

See also www.baubo.co.uk and www.overtherainbowwales.co.uk

Guinevere is also inviting people to join her at the Sphinx Festival in Cairo in February 2009 - discount prices are available if you book through her website at www.baubo.co.uk

Baladi workshop - Forest of Dean - October 18

A Baladi Workshop with Carolyne Taylor aka Shamira is being held at Blaisdon Village Hall in the Forest of Dean on Saturday 18 October.

The music for the traditional baladi style of dance is divided into sections and you will learn the different types of movements appropriate for each section as well as the expression, feeling and interpretation which combine to make the whole baladi experience.

As baladi is an improvisational dance, you will then be able to apply what you learn to any piece of baladi music you have in your collection. Carolyne will also explain the history of baladi.

Doors open 10.30am for a short opportunity to visit the mini bazaar while the workshop takes place from 11am till 2pm.

The earlybird price of £17.50 is available until October 8 - after that the full price is £19.

For details contact helen.roberts12 @ btinternet.com or phone her on 01594 821251.

Charity hafla in Brecon - November 28

Boliau Llawen is hosting a Winter Hafla in Brecon on Friday 28 November to raise funds for Brecknock Women's Aid.

It takes place at the Bishop Bevan Hall, next to the Co-op in Brecon.

Performances from visiting groups are welcomed - please bring food and drink to share.

There'll also be a charity bazaar, and you can bring items to sell.

The event runs from 7 till 11pm and admission is £5.

To book tickets and performance slots, call Sue Spalding 01874 611027 or Hilda 01874 610002.

Mazaj concert near Bristol - Sept 27

There's live Middle Eastern music at Wotton-under-Edge near Bristol this Saturday 27 September with the trio Mazaj.

The group is made up of Chas Whitaker on percussion, Maren Lueg on woodwind and Russell Harris on oud.

They play a repertoire of classic tunes from across the Middle Eastern and Turkish worlds using traditional instruments such as oud, darabuka, riq, ney and zurna as well as saxophone silver flute.

The concert takes place at the Wotton Arts Project, The Chipping Hall, The Chipping, Wotton-under-Edge.

It starts at 8pm and admission costs £6 or £5 concessions.

Phone 07791 323 869 or see undertheedgearts.org.uk for details.

Chas and Maren will also be returning to Cafe Jazz in Cardiff by popular demand for the next A Night in Tunisia event on Thursday 11 December.

See www.anightintunisia.co.uk for details.

Abergavenny Hafla - November 22

Wendy Hughes is hosting a hafla at Abergavenny Labour Hall, Park Crescent, on Saturday 22 November.

There'll be solo, group and duet performances, DJ Andy Roberts, a bazaar and bar - please bring a plate of food to share.

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

To book tickets and performance slots, contact Wendy on 01873 859725 or 07725 463167 or email xwendy @ fsmail.net

Bellydance Superstars Workshop in Cardiff

Sonia from the Bellydance Superstars is to teach a drum solo workshop at Maindy Pool Dance Studio, Cardiff, on Wednesday 29 October.

The event is being staged by Safeena as the BDSS Babelesque tour visits St David's Hall that evening.

Born in Long Beach, California, Sonia was the first dancer signed to BDSS and has performed in every show since the group's inception.

She began her dance training in classical ballet, modern and jazz dance, moving onto folk and ethnic styles including Mexican folk, Latin, flamenco and Polynesian before adding bellydance to her repertoire in 1994.

Sonia's style is smooth and flowing, exuding feminine grace and beauty.

The workshop is open to all levels of dancers and takes place from 1.30 till 4.15pm - price £30 if pre-booked, £35 on the day.

To book a place contact Safeena on 07708 376887 as soon as possible as places are limited.

Tickets for the Babelesque show at St David's Hall cost £16 (plus £1 booking fee for card payment) - call the box office on 029 2087 8444.

See www.bellydancesuperstars.com for more details.

Morocco's mid Wales workshop

Morocco from New York returns to mid Wales for a workshop at Glasbury Village Hall near Brecon on Tuesday 10 March 2009.

She has spent four decades researching and performing the many different dances of the Middle East, and enjoys a reputation as one of Middle Eastern dance's most respected scholars. However, her technical expertise is matched by her expressiveness of the music through dance.

Morocco - who will also be appearing at MAJMA 2009 - will teach a Turkish-based choreography suitable for beginners and more advanced alike.

The price is £21 for early bird bookings (before February 1st) or £25 on the door. The workshop takes place on a Tuesday night from 6.15 till 8.45pm.

For further information and to book please contact Saffira on 078 333 86648 or email saffira @ tesco.net

Saffira is also hosting a Christmas Hafla at Glasbury Village Hall on Saturday 6 December - contact her for more details.

Radio Salaam Shalom podcast

Bristol-based internet station Radio Salaam Shalom has launched the first of a series of fortnightly podcasts featuring music, culture and discussion aimed at forging links between Muslim and Jewish communities.

The first edition includes my review of KlezFest, a week of Jewish music, song and dance workshops which took place in London in August 2008.

You can hear the whole hour-long podcast via the Radio Salaam Shalom website - my review is at the start of Part 3.

Or check out my Night in Tunisia website if you just want to hear my KlezFest review.

Ozgen Workshop in Neath - October 16

Ozgen will be teaching a two hour Turkish bellydance workshop at Cilfrew Community Centre, Neath, on Thursday 16 October.

It's aimed at intermediate to advanced dancers - the plan is to try and make it a monthly class if enough people are interested.

The class runs from 6 till 8pm and the price is currently set at £25 - it could be lower if more people sign up.

To book a place contact CeriAnne_Miller @ hotmail.com

Sue Spalding Pembrokeshire Workshop

Sue Spalding will be teaching a bellydance workshop on Saturday 1 November at the Old School Hostel, Trefin, near St David's, Pembrokeshire.

It's suitable for beginners and refreshers but please note that it's limited to twelve places, with booking possible until October 18.

The workshop takes place from 10am till 1pm and costs £12. If you'd like to stay at the hostel, two nights accommodation (Friday and Saturday) plus the workshop costs £50.

To book, please contact Chris or Sue at the Old School Hostel on 01348 831800 or email oldschoolhostel @ btconnect.com

The hostel is self-catering but breakfast can be ordered. It's also within easy reach of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.

In addition to the workshop there will be a party in the evening with a live folk band and bellydance performances.

Meanwhile Sue Spalding's Wednesday night classes continue in Brecon at Bishop Bevan Hall - contact her on 01874 611027 or email sue.spalding @ googlemail.com for details.

Zambra Mora - flamenco bellydance fusion

Fiora is teaching a Zambra Mora flamenco bellydance fusion workshop at Fitness First, Llanishen, Cardiff on Saturday 15 November.

It's a passionate gypsy dance - Zambra Mora (meaning Moorish Feast in Spanish) is the ancestor of flamenco and is strongly influenced by bellydance.

You'll explore hand movements (floreos), posture, arm positions, steps and skirt manipulation.

The workshop takes place from 1 till 3pm and costs £15. It is suitable for improvers and intermediate level - please bring a full skirt.

To get a feel of the dance, watch Fiora on this YouTube video

To book your place, please email tfiora @ yahoo.com

See www.oriental-fusion.net for more about Fiora's classes and workshops.

Rural Turkish holiday with Stephanie

Message from Stephanie:

"Find some sun before the winter from 5th -12th October 2008 at Gokpinar Music and dance Centre.

"Enjoy a unique adventure holiday in rural Turkey; experience "The Real Turkey” in dance, music, food and scenery.

"Included during the week: Dance workshops with Stephanie and Bülent Doğan, morning pilates with Stephanie, private classes available. Learn Turkish belly dance, gypsy and folk dancing, explore the chiftetelli rhythm, and learn how to play finger cymbals and Turkish spoons! Drumming and cooking workshops with Bülent. Beach Trips and Boat Trips - long days on quite beaches, and a further day sun bathing and swimming from a boat with all food provided. Village trip: absorb the local culture in this beautiful setting. All airport transfers in Turkey. All accommodation (shared).

"Cost is just £350 pounds per person sharing a double room, flights not included."

Stephanie has also confirmed details of her fifth New Year Hafla, taking place on Friday 23rd January 2009 at Fairwater Conservative Club, Ely Road, Cardiff.

To book a performance slot and get other details, contact Stephanie on 07872 306745 or email info @ stephaniebellydance.co.uk

See www.stephaniebellydance.co.uk for more about her work.

A Night in Tunisia - September 4

Chas Whitaker and Maren Lueg will be performing live Middle Eastern music for A Night in Tunisia at Cafe Jazz, Cardiff, this Thursday 4 September.

The evening starts at 9pm with solo bellydance performances from Hannah Corr, Sarah Scally, Rachel Jones and Wendy Hughes.

Then at around 10pm there'll be live music from Chas on percussion and Maren on reed instruments - they'd welcome any dancers who'd like to get up and improvise to their music.

I'll also be playing some of your favourite Middle Eastern tunes on CD to round off the night with a chance for everyone to show they can shimmy.

If you saw Chas and Maren at their previous appearance at Cafe Jazz you'll know it'll be a night to remember - they themselves say it's a pleasure to perform for such an attentive and interested audience.

Admission is £5 - see www.anightintunisia.co.uk for more details.