Follyfest

This was a new platform for us, and it didn't disappoint.  Putting the invites out there we were joined by the lovely Nening from Zoku along with her husband, and Marek from Marekesh, who drove all the way from Southend-on-Sea with his partner to come dance.

Brilliant performance, lovely crowd, beautiful market town and all finished off with Sunday lunch all round!!!

Looking forward to next year!!!!

Wads Stock Festival

A new event for us - and this time we were joined by the lovely Nirzari ladies, Thurstan and Cillian!!  This event was held at the Wootton Community Centre, and the lovely warm afternoon brought crowds of people to come and  watch a variety of entertainers including Morris dancing, listen to bands and visit lots of scummy stalls.

As usual, we can't have an event without finishing up for eats and drinks which happened in the local pub.

Eastleigh Mela

Lulu, Angela and Shereen from Nirzari

What a fab event this turned out to be!  Ashnah and the lovelies of Nirzari (minus our Mel) hooked up and our Shereen performed for the first time since the birth of Master Cillian Johnston who also joined the company and was the perfect young man, not a peep out of him!  

This year, there was just one stage which I thought was a good move on behalf of the organisers with everyone’s attention focussed in one place.  We did well and as it was Kay and my first outing since the FCBD teaching course, we were trying to implement the latest tweaks – work in progress; bring it on!

Damn, we love you Nirzari girls!

Ashnah, Nirzari and Master Johnston

Cowley Road Carnival

Don’t you just love the festival season when sights, sounds and smells just set the senses buzzing and eclecticism rules!  This Carnival event was certainly no different and Kay, our student Cat, and I represented.  We managed to bag ourselves an extra slot to prolong our enjoyment and performed on a new stage making its premiere this year and aptly named The World Stage.

Rita with her boys in blue

There was all sorts going on from the MCs on various parts down the Cowley Road to live music coming out of different pubs; dance-wise we also went totally global: Street, Samba (our lovely Oxford-based Mims with none other than Serena Ramzi!), African, Indian, Irish, Modern ballet, Capoeira, bellydancing, ATS® and I’m sure I left many other styles.

The weather did hold for us and we left with our feet still not touching the ground.  Here’s to next year!

FCBD® Technique for Teachers Course

TfT attendees UK 2016

Official site - Ashnah Dance

Kay and I have just come back from the most fantabulous 4 days ever, organised for ATS® Teacher Trained dancers and the first of its kind in Europe – or should I say, outside of the U.S.

Courtesy of Kelley Beeston and Jacqui Spiers, our hostesses, these ladies brought about a cozy 4 day gathering of twenty Sister Studios from Poland, France, Germany, UK, Morocco, Italy and America, who all performed and were individually critiqued by Carolena and Megha.  All The feedback was totally invaluable to all, and Q&A's ensured everyone had their queries dealt with.  Each day was focussed on a particular set of moves and the whole experience left everyone energized and inspired and raring to start again.

Ghost stories by candlelight

New friendships were made and old ones reinforced.  Outstanding memories were all of us singing around the firepit on Saturday night, and Deborah Francois’ most haunting voice filling the night air.

Roll on the next meet – thanks a million Kelley and Jacqui, not forgetting our leading ladies Carolena and Megha.

Kay and Rita receiving their certificates from Carolena and Megha

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