Wittfest, Oxfordshire

A much anticipated date, we always look forward to this bijou festival as it's one of our regular collaborations with Oxford Drum Troupe, and again this year they invited us along.





This year's 15th Annual Wittenham Free Charity Music Festival held in the grounds of the Plough Inn at Long Wittenham, near Didcot was no different and was raising money for both the Pets as Therapy and the Young Dementia charities.


There was a wide variety of music which everyone enjoyed outdoors while partaking of world cuisine.  Dance-wise, we shared the stage with Morris dancers and oh mercifully, the sun!!!!

Brief video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKskBjQ6vfQ&feature=youtu.be

Oxford Mela - Restore, Cowley Road, Oxford

The Oxford mela - vibrant sounds coupled with delectable yummy smells!!!!  The site was basking in a sea of colours from the cross section of performers who'd gathered to provide a wonderfully eclectic programme.  This event is getting ever more popular and Ashnah is certainly proud to be associated with its endeavour.

Oxford Hindu Temple

Mr Hemmings Morris Dancers - Cherry Tree and North Star

Ashnah were invited to dance alongside Mr Hemmings Morris Dancers of Abingdon in Steventon, and Rita, Esme and I joined them for an evening of fun and dancing.  Starting off at the Cherry Tree and dancing for a while for the locals there, we then ventured onto the North Star, which has a fabulous historic interior with a quaint serving hatch.

The beer and dancing flowed well, and we finished up with a big dance off between the teams.  A great evening ...... looking forward to the next one!!!

Hathor, Kidlington

One of Oxfordshire's main dance events, it never fails to deliver on hospitality while giving us all a good opportunity to catch up.  Once again on top form was the incomparable Jane, our hysterical gem of a compere.

The programme included bellydancing, fusion, ATS® tribal and brought together the local talent.  We all stormed the stage for a last dance or two before having to reluctantly call it a night.

Fun in the Park, Abingdon, Oxon

Abingdon's annual event Fun in the Park came round again, and with an invite to perform there, Ashnah got ready for the big day.

The rain fell, dancers fell by the wayside and only Esme and I were able to make the stage, and as we stepped out to dance, the sun shone down!!!!

We arranged to meet a lovely photographer there, and he very kindly took our pictures during the performance and afterwards in the grounds ..... thank you very much Martin!






Later that evening and still in costume, we headed for Kidlington to perform at Hathor (see separate blog article).

See our Gallery page for more pictures.

Island Farm Donkey Santuary - Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, Oxon

We made a day of this booking and although the weather was not 100%, we couldn't have asked for a warmer reception!  Our first performance in the early afternoon took place under a lovely marquis and on a spotless stage, and in the evening out slot moved to the large hall where we found not only an appreciative audience, but also our Irish friends the O'Gara School of Irish Dance.

Esme who joined us in the afternoon left us to face the music for a prior engagement, and we danced on our own in the evening.

Go donkeys go!!!!

Follow this link to visit the Donkey Sanctuary where you can see what events are coming up, or even adopt a donkey or donate towards this charity.

Ashnah video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJrdoPD7_R8

Mr Hemmings Morris Dancers - Day of Dance

Ashnah were invited to dance at Mr Hemmings Day of Dance this year, alongside a few other teams.  With Rita having a fews away and Pips unable to make, it was touch and go if we could represent Ashnah especially as the rain tipped down the day before.  Shall we ... shan't we......

On the morning, the rain cleared up and Esme and I set out with Betty boom-box, and along with another team we danced our way from The Cross Keys, The Brewery Tap and all congregated at the Black Swan where crowds gathered to watch.  Needing a much deserved break we all headed to The Narrows for lunch, and later all met on the Market Place where we all danced under the arches of the museum ending with a mass dance off, before heading back down Ock St again dancing at The Brewery Tap and back at The White Horse ..... finishing the day at The Royal British Legion where refreshments were laid on.

Busy, busy day, and much fun and laughter and have another invite to join them again next year!!!  Can't wait!!


Thank you Martin for the fabulous photos!!!

Upton Folk Festival, Upton upon Severn, Worcester

Glorious Upton Festival in beautiful Gloucestershire and yet again, the sun played along!

Ashnah went along with Esme Anderson from our Abingdon class, and Jade from the OMEDS class, and for the first time our newly and very recently acquired Betty boombox came along!

Amongst a whole host of Morris dancers in their various colours, we spotted some old friends Barefoot, made some new ones, the ladies from the Tribal Fusion Bellydance Collective and whilst some of us dozed part of the way back having caught the sun, the ever vigilant Philippa saw us safely home – ta Pips for driving ;o)

What a fun day!!!!

Workshops with Maho Beaumont, Abingdon, Oxford

We arranged for Maho to come to Abingdon once again to hold workshops – returning by popular demand – and this time she targeted the more advanced levels.

What a full, fun packed afternoon we spent with her!!  Duets, how 2 dancers connect to each other, creating strong energy and followed by Let's Fade where we drilled fades of all descriptions in the fast and slow repertoire.  All very exciting!!!!

It was great to see so many faces, and some new ones!!!  What a great afternoon meeting and dancing with everyone ........ all of which went down well with tea, coffee and cakes!!!!

Oxford Folk Festival, Oxford

l-r Mel, Kay, Lulu, Rita, Pips, Shereen

Oxford Folk Fest saw the birth of the new name of Kaleidoscope, (collaboration between Ashnah and Nirzari) along with Oxford Drum Troupe.

Both groups have been joining forces for a number of years and thoroughly enjoying performing and spending time together so we thought ‘why not?’ .... and it saves having to give 2 names to anyone who asks at these events - so 1 name it is just for our collaborations!

Stock Photo

And in the midst of days of foul weather, torrential rain, thunder and lightning, came Saturday with sunshine!!!  It held for us until the middle of the afternoon but with audience members having followed us and waiting to see us perform again, we couldn’t disappoint – as it turned out, dancing in the rain turned out to be a slam dunk and a blast!  3 hip-hip-hoorays for Mother Nature!

OMEDS Sequins on my Balcony - event with Yvette Cowles, Oxford

OMEDS hosted Yvette Cowles and her one woman show, Sequins on my Balcony, about breasts, bellydancing and coming out on the other side of this cursed disease, Cancer.  The first part of the evening was given over to local teachers and groups, and Ashnah lead Inspires, our own Kay’s Oxford class, into a wonderfully vibrant Scottish number!  We were minus Kay who was nursing a cold following her Caribbean cruise so don’t pity her too much!!  It was lovely to see so many friends and I hope a lot of money was raised!

Video performance here:

Mind, Body & Spirit - Charity Event, Oxford

l-r Cat and Jade

Our next party was an invitation to our own Jade Forrest’s first event held at the Cotswold Lodge Hotel in Oxford (it’s definitely who you know!) in aid of Helen & Douglas House.  It was so well organised and I’m so glad she managed to raise sufficient funds which allowed her to showcase her first ever choreography (typically I missed it so I’m looking forward to seeing a recording!!!).  The Who’s Who of Oxford attended - Caitlin, Rasha, and the Hathor ladies.  As for Ashnah, we not only performed our own dance but had the opportunity to dance a request with another  performing ATS® group – shout out to Kamala!

Swindon Shimmyers, Swindon

Picture from OMEDS hafla

With ‘grace 1’ away (our jet setter Kay sailing the Caribbean seas), the remaining ‘graces 2 & 3’ with Kay's  Omeds InSpires students looked forward to strutting our stuff over the weekend.  There was Sue Bickell’s event in Swindon which turned out to be a cosy and friendly do.  The programme covered a nice cross-section of belly, fusion, and ATS® with an undercurrent of Latin flavours.  I caught up with Shams and members of her group as well as her daughters who also danced (hip shimmy to the next generation!). My favourite hussy Luisa was there as well.  Helen Sleiman’s girls represented while she was off gallivanting in France (taking over the world no doubt) as was the recently engaged Xenia (congrats darling) with the Malmsbury gals and I know I left plenty out so to all my apologies – I have the memory of a sieve!

London Orient

I was invited to again dance with Maho, along with Zaida, Laura, Gisella, Shelly and Nenning at the London Orient Festival at the beautiful, and very luxurious, Cumberland Hotel.

rehearsals, pantaloons,

Travelling to London for rehearsals frequently, learning to use the requested 'Thai fingers' and fathoming out how to swap for our zills, searching and ordering wads material with me volunteering to make all 7 pairs of voluminous pantaloons, laying out silk fabric on the dance floor to cut, choreographing the dance with Maho - all became a height of busy industrious people.

cutting fabric

Travelling up by car and train with the Ashnah ladies who came to watch the show, we dined first in London then got ready in the huge changing room with other dancers.  The show went well, and as usual our dance was over before we knew it!!!

On the way home the last train was late, and when it finally arrived we found it only went as far as one stop before ours!!!  No more trains, we decided to taxi the rest of the way, and from there we drove home to Oxfordshire, with me fighting hard to stay awake, and eventually got home at 3am!!!

Thai fingers

 An event I shall remember for a very long time!!!

end result

the dance

having fun

Winter Wonderland, Witney

One of our favourite events - Nikki's Winter Wonderland Hafla!!

This year the theme was Burns Night, and we invited students from my Oxford Middle Eastern Dance Society (OMEDS) class and Abingdon class to form one big troupe.

Lot's of rehearsals and the ladies performed beautifully!!!

Oxford Middle Eastern Dance Society Hafla, Oxford

I’d been looking forward to this showcase as one of our slots brought together the Level 1 and 2 classes which Kay teaches at OMEDS.   There were at least 15 on stage for our performance - it was exhilarating and I was so privileged to have danced with the ladies.

The evening was also of course a platform for OMEDS own bellydance classes and a further opportunity for meeting up with as many of the local dance community.  The guest dancer on the night was the gloriously glamorous Galit Mersand who not only danced for us but also gave us an insight into a bellydancer’s world, the funny and not so funny all wrapped up in her own distinctive humour.

Huge thanks to Rachael Borek and her committee for the evening!

End of 2013 Reading Dance Show, Reading, Berkshire

Exciting!  Ashnah was invited to a new platform - our hostess being one of our top local Raks Sharki dancers, Reading’s Nadine Demont-Faucon who was holding her annual dance show.

This was a predominantly bellydance evening which also had on the programme Jazz and ourselves as the ATS® representation.  We couldn't have been happier at our reception and the audience which was so appreciative!  Thank you Nadine for the invitation and the warm hospitality.

Kalash, Christmas and March Vernal Equinox events in Tiverton, Devon

Kalash ladies dancing

Tiverton called ...... and Pips and I headed 'home' to see Kelley, the Kalash ladies and the rest of the Oasis family for the Toucan Christmas workshop and feasting!!

After a full day of fabulous workshops lead by Kelley, tired and weary, we headed to the hotel to change and then walked down to the restaurant for eating, drinking, dancing and merriment!!!!

Kalash video - Touccan

March came and bliss, at last THE weekend was upon us; I had missed the previous Oasis Christmas gathering and had been going cold turkey since then (so you can imagine that I’d also been much looking forward to going back!).

Kelley leads the finale

Our Esme was joining us for the first time and off we went and met up with old friends and made new ones and enjoyed a great workshop which focussed on fluid transitions. At the end of the afternoon, we went to our B&B the warmly recommended The Swan at Bampton, where we changed, showered, and spruced ourselves up in readiness for our tremendous evening party and Ashnah performed The Astoria Waltz for the last time, and may I announce that at long flippin’ last, Ashnah managed to have this dance taped lalalalalala. 

We finished the performances with everyone performing on stage at once!!!  What a wonderful evening it was - full of performances, general dancing, buying, eating, drinking, silliness........ and we only had to walk up the road to bed zzzzzzzz.

Thank you Kelley, thank you Kalash gals

Videos:

Video - Ashnah dancing

Video - Kalash finale

Exiting the stage

Silk Route, London

Maho with students along with Lucy, Zaida and Kay

With an invitation from Maho, I joined her along with Lucy Moss from Sundara and Zaida Jubera once again for a performance in London, this time at the Silk Route - Arabian Cabaret Bellydance Show held at The Bedford in Balham.

The evening opened with school/student showcases which was represented by Al Warner's School, Bellyssima (Phoenix Sahar's School) and Maho's own students too, followed by the professional dancers Al Warner, Anna Stevan, Emma Marshall, Naama Gelber, Oriental Dreams (Liza and Irna), Phoenix Sahar, Roxana, Zooey Aleeza and of course Maho, Lucy, Zaida and myself.

A great evening was had by all, and sadly had to make a hasty retreat after with long journey's to make to home.

VIDEO HERE

Helen Sleiman Christmas Hafla - Swindon

Ashnah - l-r Kay, Philippa and Rita

Let's hope this latest and most interactive event becomes a fixture.  A family affair fronted by the lovely Helen Sleiman, the evening had everyone bumping and grinding no doubt fulfilling its seeming philosophy of bringing the stage to the audience (how else would you account for a Bellydance showdown)!!  On the programme were belly, tribal, salsa and zumba dancing along with some cancan!!!  Familiar faces had the opportunity to catch up and among other (apologies if I'm leaving anyone out), Nikki, Helen (in her belly, salsa and zumba dancer incarnations), Isisters, Sundara-Devi, the Zumba Swindon team (who I must say had a rather awesome male shimmyer in their midst) and Ashnah, all made for a nice all-round programme.  Oh by the way, we were fed and watered, so what else could we possibly want.

Thanks to all for a fab evening!!!

Hayaam Bellydance, Piccadilly, London

l-r Zaida, Kay, Maho and Lucy

Maho Beaumont invited Lucy Moss from Sundara, Zaida Jubera and me along to dance at this event which is held at the Hayaam Bellydance platform in Piccadilly, London.  The venue is in the fabulous rooms upstairs in the Jewel Piccadilly which had a wonderful, joyous audience.  Also performing that evening were the fabulous dancers Amalura, Sarah Malik, Maelle, Tahaty, Anna Kemper, Rachel Rafiefar and Anouk.

Unfortunately the rain decided to join us that evening too, but it didn't dampen our spirits ... only our feet!!

After performing we ate at a local Italian nearby which was great fun, but unfortunately the time slipped away unnoticed and after a 'train hitch' we had the most enjoyable trip home by bus and walking, laughing most of the way, eventually arriving at my own house at 3.30am!!!  I was still smiling the about it the next day ;-)

Thank you Zaida for the use of your fabulous shop!!

Splash of Pink - Against Breast Cancer

picture courtesy of the Abingdon blog

Ashnah were invited to take part in this fundraiser against breast cancer, and the group, accompanied by our Esme from Ashnah-Talmiz, had no hesitation to join in this event.  The setting was the Market Place in the centre of Abingdon which was donned in pink of course!!

We were fortunate again to have good weather and were on the programme alongside Abingdon Centre Community Choir and Mr Hemmings Traditional Abingdon Morris Dancers.  There were stalls carrying nik-naks and our favourite, a cake stall, which had lots of yummy goodies with pink toppings by way of a nod to the cause.  There was also a gazebo set up nearest Costa where appropriately enough an attempt at the world record of putting on and taking off a bra over a t-shirt was attempted.  I understand a new world record was set - 10 bras in a minute which has yet to be recognised.  One can't but help be in awe at the ideas people come up with to realize a target!!

Well done to all!!!!

Sahara Sisters Hafla, Chippenham

Click picture for a slideshow (slideshow by D&D Carrington)

Ashnah at last got to visit the Sahara Sisters at their new home in The Citadel, Wonderfully located in the centre of town, and spent a lovely evening in a very welcoming and lovingly draped hall straight out of something reminiscent of 1001 Nights.

The evening showcased both belly and ATS® from the lovely Raheesha with her Divas all suitably corseted giving us a taste of fiery Spain (ole)! to the equally gorgeous Sundara offering a lovely ATS duet display.  Of course, Ashnah strutted their own stuff and left the ladies and Rachel wishing them a many a happy year and hafla in their new home xx

Slideshow here or click on picture

Hipnotic, Madesjki Stadium, Reading

Thank goodness for dance platforms!!  I don't think you can have enough of them and Oxfordshire and Berkshire are fortunate in that respect.
Hipnotic is one such evening hosted by Covert Bling which takes place quarterly and which Ashnah attended this September 2013.  It's a perfect opportunity to meet new people, (networking is the way to go, don't you know!) and see familiar ones (such as Nirzari whom we'd seen the day before and we don't ever tire of them)!

Many thanks for the hosting ladies!

VIDEO HERE

East Meets West

Our hostess Arpita Desai beckoned, and the range of eclectic dancers who gave up their time to showcase, was rather impressive.  The fundraiser this year, organised by Mike Daniels and the Rotary Club of Bicester, was in aid of Kidney Research UK, and made all the more poignant as one of our own, Sundara Penny's son Auryn became afflicted with it this past year.  I'm pleased to say that he was there on Saturday fighting his way back to good health.

Ashnah, Ashnah-Talmiz, Nirzari, Sundara and Sundara-Devi

The programme on offer that night included modern dance, classical Indian, bellydance, ballroom, Latin and of course ATS® were all represented. The lady mayoress graced us with her presence and a great night was enjoyed by all.  The show managed to raise just over £3000 for the cause - yay to all the organisers, dancers et all and well done and thank you Arpita!!!

Pictures by Shereen from Nirzari