Dancing, Drumming, Teaching...

So much going on in the next 2 months.. I love it! Ramzy Dance Company practises are well underway for the forthcoming Club Baklava in East Grinstead on the 21st of March. The new choreography is a brilliant upbeat piece - perfect for a party night and such fun to dance with the girls. As well as dancing with troupe, I'll be drumming with the newly formed 'DrummerQueens' and after only a few rehearsals, I think the drumming is going to sound awesome!!!
We are also just a week away from an unmissable workshop with Serena Ramzy in Nutley - details below:

Watch Serena and the Ramzy Dance company  in action on YouTube
I'm also teaching my own workshop on March the 16th in Edenbridge. A fun modern fusion/pop choreography...looking forward to it!

Back To School!

2013 Classes resume this January on Tuesday the 15th of in Uckfield and Thursday the 17th in Albourne and I've planned some great dancing to kick stat the new year.

Beginners
In my beginners classes we will continue to practise and refine the core movements of belly dance, incorporate the moves into a new choreography and play with veils!

Improvers and Intermediates
My improvers and intermediates will be tackling a live drum solo. Did I say 'live'!?? Yep, and I will be the drummer! This is something quite new but I'm very excited about the lessons and the outcome!

Advanced and Performers
In this class, my dancers will be focused on performance and stage skills and refining an existing choreography to a perfomance level - that and drills, drills, drills!!!

Belly Dance Odyssey is on it's way!

Classes are well underway now and exciting new choreographies begun!! As well as my regular students, it's lovely to see lots of new students this term and the smiles on there faces during the class, (guess I must be doing something right?!)
Preparation now fully underway for the much anticipated arrival of CLUB BAKLAVA on the 25th of October. Hossam's put me in charge of auditions and dancers - either he's very trusting or bonkers!?!? We have a full line up for this showcase and a waiting list for the next. Nice to know dancers are lining up to perform! As such, I'm trying to get out to other events to both promote and scout for talent and there are a lot of great dancers out there. Of course, it's also nice to just enjoy the performaces as a paying punter. As a result, I went to Hayaam's Showcase in the very swanky Piccadilly Circus and caught very polished and enjoyable performances from Roxanna, Hanna Mi, La Zingara (Hannah mi, Anouk and Ema Laasya) and Alexis Southall amongst others.Check out some PHOTOS from the last show, (plus a few of me in there somewhere?!)
Focus for me now is on my graduation show  Belly Dance Odyssey  with fellow graduates Cherie, Helen, Lianna and Rachel. Tickets are on sale at tickets.eventu.co.uk 
We will be dancing as both a group and soloist with very special guest, Hossam and Serena Ramzy without whom we wouldn't be graduating!

Only a few weeks now until the new classes begin and this term I'm adding a brand new beginners class in Albourne near Burgess Hill. Alborne classes begin on Thursday th 20th and the day before, my beginner and plus classes start in Uckfield at a new venue, The Belmont Centre.
Lots still to prepare but I have a cool Pharaonic themed duet for one of the classes and a funky pop piece for another - but no spoiling the surprise!
After a busy summer, I'm looking forward to getting back to the routine of things but feel very much revived, especially after a great showcase hosted by Haayam at the Jewel, Picaddilly. Such wonderful dancers performed and  the atmosphere and audience were very encouraging. First dance was a bit shaky but once the excited nerves were out of the way, I thoroughly enjoyed the dancing and hope the audience enjoyed it too.

Talking of showcases - set aside 25th of October for CLUB BAKALVA! The newest and most exciting showcase is coming to East Grinstead, West Sussex and will host a wealth of talent including professional, students and very special guests. Not one to be missed!
If you would like to perform, email ramzystore@btconnect for further information.

Finally, I recieved the pictures from the very memorable Silk Route showcase back in May. Here are a few...

Some exciting news!

Some exciting news! On Thursday the 23rd of August I've been kindly asked to perform at the first ever Hayam Bellydance Showcase set in the heart of London at the Jewel Picaddilly. Hosted by the lovely Adriana, I will feature amoung a host of talented dancers at what could be one of the top regular belly dance showcases in London. Very excited to be there at the beginning!
Another bit of exciting news is a brand new class I'm in the process of setting up in Albourne near Burgess Hill. This time I go private (not under the umbrella of ACRES) and will teach a beginners class on Thursday, 7pm - 8.15pm at Albourne Village Hall. Only posted adverts yesterday and already have 2 students booked!

Here are a couple of great workshops coming up in August...

Sunday 12th - Oriental expression Hafla and Workshop with Katie Holland at Angmering Village Hall.
Katie will be offering a double veil workshop.

Tuesday 14th and Thursday the 16th - Enhance your Belly Dance with Serena Ramzy at Ridgewood Village Hall, Uckfield.
2 fantastic opportunities to hone and refine arms, hips and accents - prepare to drill!!!

More updates...

Hey folks- following on from a whirlwind weekend of dancing and drumming, (my first solo drumming performance!!!), at the incredible Lianna's show in Hastings, set in a cliff face theatre formerly a crypt!!!? (...and there I was thinking, "Wow, there are bodies buried in the walls?!" as I was dancing...), and attending the Angmering Hafla on the Sunday with some astonishing and beautiful performances, particulary from Charlotte, Tin Tin and Hilde, here are a few updates on what's happening next, (follow that if you can!!!)

22nd April - Workshop with Serena Ramzy at Ridgewood Village hall, East Sussex TN22.
A must do for local dancers as Serena teaches another fab choreography in her uniquely elegant style.
Time: 2-5pm
Cost: £25 - places can be booked with me or via www.hossamramzy.com

28th & 29th April - Essex Concert and workshops with Hossam and Serena Ramzy at the Runnymede Hall, Essex, SS7 1TF.
I will be performing with the Ramzy Dance Company debuting a new choreography!
Cost: £35 per workshop, Concert £15. Tickets can be booked via www.hossamramzy.com

20th May - Silk Route Showcase, The Bedford in Balham, London SW12 9HD
I will be performing solo and with the Ramzy Dance Company- very excited about this one!!!
Cost:£10 in advance (£12 on the door)
Time:7pm
Details from www.silkrouteshow.com

27th May - Ridgewood Hafla (yay!) and workshop with Galit Mersand at the Ridgewood Village Hall, East Sussex TN22.
Organised by our very own Ann and George, the hafla is brilliant fun and, if you haven’t managed to get to one you are missing a great party!
Cost: £20 (£23 for workshop and hafla, £5 for hafla only)

June 2nd - Rotherfield Hafla at the Rotherfield Village Hall , TN6 3LX.
I will be performing as a soloist as with the group 'El Hanim'. Also, my brilliant students will be performing and I'm hoping one or two will solo?!! (Hint, hint!!!)
Time: 7.00pm till 11.00pm
Cost: £10 - Adults, £5 - OAPs / Concessions

That's it for now but will update as details emerge- plenty to keep folk busy for now!

Spring Update

The Ridgewood Hafla, hosted by my lovely students Ann and George, will be on Sunday the 19th of February at the Ridgewood Village hall, TN22 5TG starting at 7pm- 10pm.
Last time they provided us with a really great party, so much so that we insisted they do another one! So after much nagging this will be the 2nd hafla they've organised.
At only £5 to get in and an opportunity to air your choreographies or just enjoy someone elses, it's a real bargain!!!
Also at the same venue, Serena Ramzy is offering a fantastic workshop to the wonderful piece 'Betes Allay Alayah'. It's been a while since the last one so book your place in good time.