Enjoy the video!!
December 14, 2012
December 04, 2012
Oxford Middle Eastern Dance Society hafla
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| Ashnah with 'our' Janet |
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| In-Spires - Jenny, Penny, Winnie, Christine, Lucy & Esme |
Guest of Honour was the sassy Emma Chapman who ended up dancing on the
chairs and bringing the roof down – go Emma!! The rest of us mere mortals,
local students and groups, contended ourselves with solid performances. Along with bellydance solos and group numbers, there
was also a strong and eclectic tribal presence represented by the lovely ladies
from Sundara and Belly Raqs from Thame who dance Gypsy Caravan-style and yours truly, Ashnah, who danced with 'our Janet’!
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| In-Spires - Christine, Jenny & Winnie |
November 26, 2012
Tribal Tea Party - London
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| Moirai Tribal & Hannah Mi |
Oxford Christmas Light Night
Friday 23rd November - Ashnah were invited to this event laid on by Oxford City
Council and shared the dance stage with a whole host of local dance
groups. The selection covered Street,
Ballet/Lyrical, Salsa, Breakdancing, Jazz, Bellydancing and ATS® of course courtesy of yours
truly. My best bit was being announced
by our MC Matt from Heart FM – I wake up to him and Michelle every
morning! The weather was clement, the
audience very receptive – what else could we wish for? Oh yes, a lovely polar
bear leading the lantern procession – I smell Christmas!!!!
November 05, 2012
Brutal Belly Dance Halloween Hafla
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| Ashnah and Sundara Tribal |
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| Basket Dance |
Once again we performed our new basket dance (with Kay tossing out furry spiders from her basket to the audience), and our second dance was a collaboration with the lovely Sundara Tribal ladies, Patsy and Lucy, performing an improvised ATS® number ....... smooth Berber Walks ladies!
It was an eclectic show and a very successful evening
and yay to Dave Hutchings who allowed us all a glimpse into his musical
talent.
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| Ashnah and Sundara Tribal |
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| Basket Dance |
October 29, 2012
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Ashnah premiered their latest choreography - a basket dance, and also performed an improvised piece too with one of their students, Janet.
October 16, 2012
ATS® Flash Mob World Wide
London contingent hosted by Philippa Moirai
Under the concept of One Dance, One Song, One World United ....... Ashnah decided to accept Philippa's invite to join the London contingent of the ATS® tribalists taking part in our first ever personal flash mobbing!!! As you can imagine, it was pure excitement all around and meeting up at the rendezvous point with various dancers, including 2 Brazilian flight attendants who happened to stop over mid flights to join us along with Maho Beaumont, we took our final orders from our General and disappeared into the crowd to gradually gather again throughout the dance. It was terrific, fabulous and over too soon!!!
Our thanks to Warren for the taping, and to the rest of the ladies - it was an absolute pleasure!
View the video HERE !!
Our thanks to Warren for the taping, and to the rest of the ladies - it was an absolute pleasure!
View the video HERE !!
Tribal Pura, Edinburgh
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| Carolena Nericcio, Megha Gavin, Philippa Moirai and Katra Tribal |
We're still suffering from withdrawal symptoms - the weekend was fantastic!
In brief - Flight ok (I'll take the small inconveniences as it only took us 50 minutes to get there), McCraes Organic B&B highly recommended, 'Edinburghers' a very friendly and helpful lot, Edinburgh GORGEOUS!!!
What else? Oh yes! The workshops! We found them fabulous with endless tweaking to our moves to be had. Carolena and Megha were all smiles, and hooking up with old and meeting new friends was wonderful.
We left a bit of our hearts there.......
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| Class with Carolena & Megha |
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| Workshops |
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| Sightseeing |
September 26, 2012
Oasis Workshop with Kalash - Tiverton, Devon
It was that time again and Ashnah headed to the Kalash Oasis workshops hosted by the lovely Kelley Beeston at Tiverton. We got stuck in awful traffic but finally made it there past lunchtime and had a perfect afternoon! Our focus this time was on what I'm calling shading - allowing the moves to marry the rhythms - it was all so eye opening.
We also went over various formations and long may we never get done; it's all way too enjoyable!!
Roll on December!
September 13, 2012
FCBD® Sister Studio
I am very excited to announce, that following on from my Teacher Training course in Sweden with Carolena Nerricio and Megha Gavin, I've now been honoured a FCBD® Sister Studio status.
Sister Studios are graduates of General Skills for ATS®, ATS® Teacher Training. These teachers are dedicated to presenting ATS® as created and developed by FatChanceBellyDance® director and master teacher Carolena Nericcio. Sister Studios do not blend ATS® with other styles of dance, tribal or otherwise. They present ATS® only, or clearly separate ATS® from the other styles of dance they are presenting. Our gaol is that you, the student, should be able to attend an FCBD® ATS® class anywhere in the world and receive consistent, quality instruction.
September 05, 2012
FCBD® Teacher Training, Sweden
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| Me with Megha & Carolena |
2 days were given over to listening, learning, teaching (yup, teaching in front of Carolena....) :-} and were all proudly presented with our certificates at the end of the course, resulting in many, many smiley faces and numerous photos being taken, followed by celebrations!!
What a wonderful experience ..... getting to know all the other dancers, wining and dining together, learning and dancing, firming friendships and making new friends.
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| 5 UK dancers Patsy, Jo, Kay, Charlote & Helen |
report by Kay
September 04, 2012
Wallingford Bunkfest 2012
Oh flippydiflip and flop it’s over but what fun we had! Ashnah and Nirzari joined by the ever wonderful Oxford Drum Troupe spent the day at Wallingford and even managed to catch the sun!! As popular as ever this event is so family and dog friendly. Belly and Morris dancers in abundance, great stalls, food and drink what’s not to love? I will however add that the idea of not having a marquee covering the main Kinecroft stage is one we’d rather not see repeated. Apart from the fact that it left us all at the mercy of the weather, sitting not that far from the dance platform to watch other performances, we couldn’t hear anything and that was a pity. Thanks to Jenny and the rest of the team for all their hard work.
Matt & Kate Russell's nuptials
Saturday11 August 2012
Ah the joys of performing at a wedding – everyone is appropriately suited and booted, spick and span and on their bestest behaviour - food and drinks are free-flowing and spirits are definitely lifted. Ashnah was invited to join in the general merriment of this coolest and most laid back of knot tying and had a fabulous time. Oxford Drum Troupe got feet stamping and we got hands clapping and after our performance, we got everyone up boogying (well quite a few at least). Brilliant afternoon all around! Long life and health, wealth and prosperity to Mr & Mrs Matt Russell lalalalalala!!!
Ah the joys of performing at a wedding – everyone is appropriately suited and booted, spick and span and on their bestest behaviour - food and drinks are free-flowing and spirits are definitely lifted. Ashnah was invited to join in the general merriment of this coolest and most laid back of knot tying and had a fabulous time. Oxford Drum Troupe got feet stamping and we got hands clapping and after our performance, we got everyone up boogying (well quite a few at least). Brilliant afternoon all around! Long life and health, wealth and prosperity to Mr & Mrs Matt Russell lalalalalala!!!
White Horse Folk Festival
This was an Ashnah first.
We kicked off the day teaching an ATS® workshop and this became my own personal highlight. It certainly helped that the Scout Hut
location was kept cool with a couple of fans and Lord knows we needed them on a
day which turned out to be a scorcher!!
There were at least 10 women in that room all positive and all buzzing
and we all had a blast. Oxford Drum Troupe joined us at
Grove and held their own masterclass. A
few hours later we performed with ODT and our student Janet at various locations, and having of course partaken of food and
drink (duh!!!) and oh ice cream as well, we all made our way home, tired and
wonderfully spent.
Nicholson House, Care Home
Our collaborations so far have been at Ashnah's instigation ..... this time around, we were asked by our belly dance friend Jen Evans to join her at her gig at the Nicholson House Summer Fete. The audience were delightful, and we all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. It was also a perfect opportunity later on to catch up with our lovely friend, which we of course did at The Kings Head and Bell (dancing is thirsty work - as if you didn't know)!!
Photo to come.....
Photo to come.....
July 30, 2012
Cultural Diversity Awareness Day
I’m sure most of us have at one time or another been unexpectedly
surprised by an event; this happened to Kay and I this past Saturday when we
performed at the Ethnic Minority Business Service (EMBS) in Oxford. The invitation was last minute - and what an amazing warm welcome and the audience’s appreciative response!
We stayed on
and got to know some lovely people, enjoyed nice food and sat down to relax in
a lovely garden which felt like someone’s home.
Thank you Grace and looking forward to
future collaboration!
Acholi Day
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| Rita, Philippa and Kay |
Starting in May - “If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed then Mohammed must
go to the mountain”. We may not have
gone to Africa but it was as near as and the ladies of Ashnah joined Grace and
Sarah of Afrofusion at their event hosting an Acholi day fundraiser on Saturday
26 May 2012 at Oxford’s St. Clements’ Family Centre.
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| Grace, Sarah and Jan Debrah |
Infectious and beautiful
earthy drum beats courtesy of The Oxford Rhythm Centre, Oxford Drum Troupe and
the lovely Jan Debrah of African Footprints kept everyone’s feet tapping (or
was it stomping) and the sounds were wonderfully interwoven with the singing
provided by both Haula Nakakembo and Joy Osaiah. Dancing was showcased by the inexhaustible
Grace and Sarah of Afrofusion, Mariam Muwanga and her swaying and hypnotic hips
of and Ashnah’s own ATS® style
which went across very well. Let us also
commend the wonderful and flavoursome food that was provided – yum yum!!
Then in July - Ashnah attended this community event to help celebrate and
get to know this East African tribe.
Taking place at the East Oxford Community Centre off the Cowley Road,
the programme included a theatrical performance, traditional African story-telling,
and dancing; good food kept spirits and energy levels lifted! We were joined by the County’s High Sheriff’s
who even took to the dance floor with the rest of us and all happily bumped and
bopped.
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| L-Kay R-Pete, Cathie and Paul from ODT |
Shoulder of Mutton, Wantage
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| Rita, Janet, Jo, Carolyn, Philippa, Vicky |
We went to our favourite haunt on Friday and didn’t it turn out
to be quite an evening - filled with firsts and yes, some minor crises!! The good news was that it was our very own
Janet’s debut with the group and she did brilliantly – here’s to the first of
many. Ashnah was also joined by Carrie Nicholson and Vicky of Brutalbellydance
and that turned out to be a fun collaboration. However, the evening almost
didn’t happen as the pub’s CD player decided to act up! Mercifully, technical
minds prevailed and Vicky and Peter, our landlord, put their heads together and
saved the night by transferring the music to ipod! Lalalalalalala (zaghreeting
to the uninitiated!) and oh! how could I forget - our Kay was away on holiday –
missed but never far from our minds ;o)
Eastleigh Mela
Sunday 7th July, alongside NirzariTribe and Paul and Pete of Oxford Drum Troupe we performed at the 7th Eastleigh
Mela in Wiltshire.
Hosted by the Asian Welfare and Cultural Association, this
community event promotes cultural unity and diversity and offered a whole day
showcasing music, dance, workshops and cuisine from all around the world. The
weather may have been quintessentially British, but the sun did come out to
play and we all had a lovely time!
Wittfest
Hathor, Kidlington
With Philippa away on holiday, Kay and I represented and
showcased our mask dance as a duet. We got plenty of lovely compliments, along new students wishing to sign up to our classes, and had a lovely evening. With Hathor’s ever growing popularity, the
evening attracted dancers from further afield so yey for eclecticism and long
may it carry on.
Oxford Mela
Our visit to Kanta’s fundraiser this year was as brief as it
was sweet. Its location this year was at
the Oxford Spires Academy which devout Bonanza attendees will recognize. We
arrived in good time to catch the performance of Oxford’s Messy Jam group, a
wonderfully colourful and vibrant troupe of urban dancers ranging from the ages
of 7 to 17 who gave plenty of attitude and went down a storm! We unfortunately
had to disappear for a quick change and within a few minutes of re-appearing,
already had to take to the floor. Well, most humbly, we came, we saw, and conquered, had photos
taken, gave out our cards and as quickly as we came, we had to leave.. No
lovely Indian food and worse still, no henna sniff sniff!!!!
A wonderful afternoon!!
June 07, 2012
Jubilee Weekend - June 2012
The event took place in the beautiful setting of the Abbey Grounds and was both colourful and eclectic and included Morris and Thai Dancers, Ceroc, Majorettes, and Irish and Scottish Dancing.
Ashnah were joined by the inimitable Oxford Drum Troupe who's rhythms and beats totally warmed up everyone!
On Sunday, along with Oxford Drum Troupe, we were invited to dance at the
Oxfringe Festival at The Castle in Oxford. We’d been looking forward to this
event as it marked a first for us in that we were collaborating with another
American Tribal Style® group namely NirzariTribe. We needn’t have worried as everyone had a blast and left it all on the
dance floor. It was a seamless effort between dancers and
drummers which in the words of Shereen (of Nirzari) “left everybody buzzing!!”
What more could we have wished for - spending it with our wonderful friends!!!
Pic above L-R
Shereen & Mel from Nirzari
Kay, Pips & Rita from Ashnah
Pic right L-R
Mel, Shereen & Rita
What more could we have wished for - spending it with our wonderful friends!!!Pic above L-R
Shereen & Mel from Nirzari
Kay, Pips & Rita from Ashnah
Pic right L-R
Mel, Shereen & Rita
May 13, 2012
OMEDS Hafla
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