Kristine Adams workshops - Devon

Video here https://www.youtube.com/embed/ObOKc8N7a_g?list=UUk3ni5uVGcBRzomvmvjD-fw

l-r Kristine, Jacqui, Kelley, Rita, Kay, Lesley, Jo et all

Gosh to think I’d been in 2 minds to go – Kristine Adams workshops - I’m so happy I finally decided to sign up to what turned out to be a b****y marvellous time!  I travelled down with my Pips and we were later joined on Sunday by our Kay.

The days were filled with dancing and drilling and corrections and perspiration and laughter, plenty of laughter!  It was so nice to know the majority of dancers there, as nice as it was to meet the few new faces.

The highpoint of my weekend was the filming Kristine organised; we convoyed our way to the Tarr Steps and she had us dancing on stones over the river – some of us of course took it a little further and decided to dance IN the water – hysterics all round!  Huge thanks to the Mermaids who organised the event and to Kristine (now renamed Lady Dynamite) who was so eloquent throughout!

Pagan Pride, Nottingham

Our latest dance event took us to Robin Hood country, to historic Nottingham for the Pagan Pride which took place in the beautifully manicured Arboretum Park.  Held annually on the first Sunday of August, this event is funded solely from public donations and fundraising events and attracts thousands of Pagans and non-pagans alike for a day of celebrations through live music, dance, arts, crafts, food and drink and of course networking opportunities.

The dance stage was hosted by the lovely ladies of Black Peacock Bellydance (thank you ladies for your warm welcome!) and was made up of belly, fusion, Blacksheep Bellydance and ATS® tribal as well as the local Way of the Wyrd Border Morris dancers.  Of note is the fact that I did NOT snooze on the way up there ..... however, I could not resist a shut eye on the way back home :-)

Report by Rita

The Summer Oxford Art Fair, North Hinksey, Oxford

The Oxford Summer Art Fair is the largest open air gallery in Oxfordshire, and it was a real pleasure to dance there amongst such fine, creational people.  We were surrounded by artists galore and stalls housing all manner of paintings, sculptures, jewellery etc, and the setting couldn't have been any finer than The Fishes in the delightful village of North Hinksey.  We even had some sketches made of us as we danced!

Many thanks Joelle for the warm hospitality, and we're definitely looking forward to future collaborations!

Swan Upping - Nags Head, Abingdon

Almost ....... almost by Royal appointment - this was certainly one of our highlights on this years events calendar - dancing on Nag's island in the middle of the Thames - perfect setting!

We were invited to join Mr Hemming's Morris dancers to perform at the Royal Swan Upping at the Nags Head, Abingdon, where we danced for a very appreciative audience and team of swan uppers who'd been hard at work all week, counting and tagging swans.  Along with so many, many people basking in the humid evening sun, the beer flowed, darkness fell and the lightening lit up the darkening sky making a beautiful backdrop over the river, and when the soft rain fell, we sheltered under the huge umbrellas, still sipping our drinks, thankful for the cooler air and watched the rain fall into the Thames.

Thank you Les, for once again inviting us to share the stage with you all.

Yep, truly a glorious evening!

Eastleigh Mela, Hampshire

l-r - Rita, Kay, Pips, Lulu

The AWCA (Asian Welfare & Cultural Association) hosted their 9th Mela this past Sunday 6th July.  A major cultural community event, the diverse programme posted Irish, Chinese Dragon as well as our own ATS® dancing.  A regular event for us - this year we were again joined by Nirzari, this time Lulu.  Mel was already dancing Odissi at the event, and how amazing she looked!!

There was singing from the Eastleigh choir which blended wonderfully with national performers from the Asian pop scene and Brazilian drums!

The little people were obviously catered for (and kept busy) with everything from kite making and face painting to falconry display and puppet theatre.

On the food side (yummy Indian ice cream), there was an attempt at baking the world’s largest naan bread to raise money for the Fire Fighters, Water Wells Project and Hampshire Hurricanes!  The attempt was successful but has yet to be officially registered lalalalala or yum yum yum!!

FCBD® General Skills and Teacher Training, Essex

Our much anticipated and long awaited FCBD® General Skills / Teacher Training week at Rochford has already been and gone; we’re all back in our routine but I’m still buzzing!  On a personal level, although tremendously looking forward to it, I’d been somewhat apprehensive as well, but I needn’t have worried as I had Carolena, Megha, Philippa and Deana going out of their way to accommodate everyone.

Pips, Esme and I all got our GS certificates (congrats ladies) and I stayed on for the TT.  I had a fantabulous time and we all had the opportunity to finally meet all our Facebook ATS® family!!!

So, following on from this training course, all of Ashnah - Pips, Esme and I (Rita), are all certified in FCBD® General Skills, and I'm also certified in Teacher Training and am now excited to announce that I'm also a FCBD® Sister Studio woo hoo!!!!

Huge thanks to Deana and Philippa Moirai for organising this event.  As for THE ATS® big guns, Carolena, Megha, and Kristine – ladies, it was an absolute privilege to meet you.

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.