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

Rita, Philippa and Kay

Africa here we come!

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.

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.

L-Kay            R-Pete, Cathie and Paul from ODT

Shoulder of Mutton, Wantage

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

We’re going national people!!  Well, we’re certainly more frequently going further afield for our performances and spreading the good word and having tremendous fun with it.

Sunday 7th July, alongside NirzariTribe and Paul and Pete of Oxford Drum Troupe we performed at the 7^th 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

Ashnah kicked off July supporting ODT at Wittfest (Wittenham Free Music Charity Festival) in the most picturesque village of Long Wittenham.  This event is the most perfectly ‘bijou’ festival the group has yet attended.  It was conceived in 2000 as a one-off charity fundraiser and has been going and growing ever since.  It takes place in the lovely grounds of The Plough and a visit there is a must.  The programme had something for everyone from the various Morris dancing sides including my personal favourite, the Border Morris dancers (who as far as I’m concerned are the funkiest and most ‘badass’ of the lot!!) to folk and blues music as well as a whole host of activities for the younger visitors.  The weather held and we all had a fab time.

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!!

Jubilee Weekend - June 2012

What a weekend we had where we were all totally in our element doing what we love the most - dancing!  In Abingdon this year, to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, both Fun in the Park and the International Day of Dance Festival were combined and attracted big crowds.  Despite the clouds, the rain stayed away and the weather held out for all the dancers!

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

OMEDS Hafla

This Spring’s OMEDS hafla at the O’Reilly Theatre featured the lovely Delilah - 2010 Miss Bellydance UK winner and former OMEDS president.  The event allowed OMEDS to showcase their various bellydance student groups and solo dancers and alongside them our very own Kay's ATS® OMEDS Beginners Class, In-Tuition who, for the first time, ventured a performance and put their best foot forward – well done to Janet, Lucy, Johanna, Esme, and Sara!  We caught up with good ol’ regulars like Nikki and John Sleiman, Hathor, Isisters and Zanoba ladies, and welcomed new faces such as Barefoot Bellydance and when we had the opportunity, hit the dance floor to some good live music.

Oxford Festival with Oxford Drum Troupe (ODT)

I'm feeling rather delicate this morning – I’m back at work after a weekend of dancing in and around the Oxford Castle and Oxford City Centre with the rest of the Ashnah ladies and in collaboration with the wonderful guys from Oxford Drum Troupe (ODT).  How fortunate were we!  I’m sure none of us would hesitate to sing hallelujah to all the various gods of weather and rain and storm and general element interference NOT conducive to outdoor dancing, musical playing and general merriment for looking down on us and granting us their blessings!!  At worst, there were a few drops of rain which lasted all of a few minutes.  The Oxford streets were awash (pardon the pun) with a whole host of Morris dancing sides and pubs and cafes joined in the spirit of the event by throwing their doors open to live music, recitals and dancing - a big thank you to Folk Weekend Oxford for stepping in to cover for Oxford Folk Festival.  It is much appreciated!

Video

Swimathon - Team Tribal

Well, there was no escaping it - the day came upon us and I do believe we were all raring to go!  Sunday 29 April 2012, 10am at Wantage pool (my first time there and it’s really rather nice).  Kay, Philippa, Fiona, Sue and I were out to have a blast and we did.  We swam our 40 lengths each, egged each other on, and managed to finish in what was for us a record time of under 40 minutes!  By which time of course we were all starving and thirsty and in need of much deserved sustenance so we made to our favourite pub, The Shoulder of Mutton in Wantage, where our favourite landlord Peter topped up his pub’s contribution further and offered us teas, coffees, and ... crisps!! Crisps??  Well the kitchen was closed and our lovely Mr Fowler had been out the previous day to a beer festival ....... I rest my case!!!

Now to the big gi-normous thanks we owe so many people – we managed to raise over £600 (final total to be confirmed) and the contributions came from many of our work colleagues, friends and all our families – Thank you all!!!

Moirai Workshop & Barefoot Bellydance

It’s not often that we have the opportunity of having a top ATS® dancer and teacher such as the graceful Philippa (Moirai) come to these parts, so when the Barefoot Tribal ladies invited us to this event, Kay, Pips and I didn’t hesitate to say a ‘big yes’. Philippa’s approach to addressing the class’ needs was to get us dancing and honing in on our shortcomings. It was all in the detail - arms to the feet, body positions, thinking of simplicity over elaborate moves and ultimately finding space in all that we do – it was such an enjoyable experience and Philippa herself couldn’t have been more gracious. Thank you to the Barefoot ladies for organising this.

Kalash - Oasis Workshops

Some of us at Ashnah started to attend Kalash’s ATS® workshops held in Tiverton, Devon. Don’t let the prospect of a 2-hour plus drive put you off (says the non driver!) as they’re certainly worthwhile. One Saturday every 3 months is given over to all levels of ATS® dancers and coming together as we do is a perfect opportunity to improve, tweak and strengthen our dancing let alone catch up with all and sundry. The day is hosted by the lovely ladies of Kalash, and lead by their most wonderful Kelley Beeston whose praises I can’t sing highly enough – firm, nurturing, warm and welcoming and oh, almost forgot, an endless font of knowledge (straight from FCBD® San Francisco itself)! I can’t recommend these workshops enough. We’ll unfortunately be missing the July one but roll on September!

Wendy Allen workshops - July 2011

A Blog article I'd missed publishing - seriously, how could I!!!!!!

July - Philippa and I travelled down to Devon for 3 days of workshops with the wonderful Wendy Allen of FatChanceBellyDance®, and hosted by Kelley Beeston and Kalash Tribal. We stayed in a delightful B&B just outside Tiverton set in its own grounds (great fun manoeuvering up the steep road including bends in the typical Devon

countryside ha).

Wendy Allen (left)

Samantha Emanuel (below)

Pips and I took separate workshops on different days, though we covered basically the same ones. The workshops covered were The FatChance Flair, Hand and Arms - Connect the Dots, and Work That Shimmy and a 4th one which totally escapes my mind!!!

It was hard work, ouch the arms!, and especially so for me since I'd hurt my back the week before but was determined not to miss this event as I'd booked it months before, so I struggled painfully through the workshops with lots of laying on the floor to ease my discomfort.

Saturday evening there was a get together for all the workshop participants, which was hosted by Kelley in her amazing barn. Pips and I set out all dressed in our tribal finery, and drove the 10 miles to her house. Oooh-arrr those lovely Devon country roads foxed us with their high hedges/walls, narrow, twisting lanes and even our Sat Nav was puzzled too.

During the evening there were much dancing from various troupes, troupes mixing together, much eating from the fabulous spread, and the wonderful Souk provided by Angela from Tribe Zuza. Then the highlight came ........ Wendy Allen performed for us! We all sat in awe watching as she skilfully moved from step to step with such ease ......... not only a truly beautiful dancer, but a wonderfully warm-hearted lady too.

Then a surprise dancer (something I'd forgotten was going to happen). Amazing! I thought wow someone ought to snap her up ..... stunning! Philippa whispered to me after 'I think her name is something like Samanuel' ......... I suddenly grasped reality and squeaked 'Samantha Emanuel'! But of course!!! How thick can one be ............ seriously folk? She'd been in my class earlier that day, had just danced for us and I hadn't twigged ...... big ruddy DUH!!! My humblest apologies Samantha :-?,

So here's the weirdest situation. There was Pips and I ..... in the middle of the Devonshire countryside ..... in a barn ..... full of spectacularly dressed ATS® tribalists ..... with Wendy Allen and Samantha Emanuelle from Bellydance Superstars ......... how surreal can that be!!

Lalalalalalalalalalalala

Wendy and Philippa

1st April

Spaghetti on Trees, Aliens Landed, Ashnah never to dance!! ........ happily I can say none of them are true - it's 1st April - Happy April Fools Day!

Swindon Shimmyers hafla

Most memorable sight of the night?” John Sleimans’ martial art jump; I’ve never seen the man so smiley or exuberant!! It was quite novel and I enjoyed the experience which happened at the end of a rather nice evening. Jen, Kay, and I attended the gathering and saw among others the lovely and original Xenia of the Malmsbury Tribal Bellydance Group, Carrie from Brutal Bellydance who unusually was wearing a skirt, and Emma Pyke from Reading along with Covert Bling. I saw Helen Sleiman who both lead her Zakoura girls and did a lovely solo and Luisa and Gary Taylor were also there – she unashamedly strutted her stuff, a nice baladi number, and he playing photographer (Ashnah have yet to go to one of her haflas hmm.. should drop her a line!). There was a welcome new arrival on the scene, Diana Soraya so a big welcome to her! The programme was varied and interesting and a many warm thanks to the Swindon Shimmyers’ Sue Bickell for organising this party cum fundraiser.

Majma Dance Festival, Glastonbury

Report by Rita

With Carolena Nericcio and Megha Gavin of FCBD® headlining this year’s event, tribalists from all over descended en masse and in glorious techni-colour onto Glastonbury – almost all the Ashnah ladies made the trip and we were minus our Jen.

L-R Rita, Pips, Hannah, Carolena, Megha, Agne, Kay

Do you know when you’re taught a combination so fitting and natural you immediately absorb it? well Tara provided me with a few of these so my thanks to her for her gifts!

Later on I met the sassiest dancer ever, the lovely Ava Fleming whose performance on Saturday night was an absolute privilege to witness and who left the entire audience exhausted and begging for more.

As a teacher, she was as lovely and as demanding and rigorous as you’d expect from a winner of the Bellydancer of the Universe to be and more! Mind you, whether my arms are as liquid as gold is not even up for debate!! I also for the second year in a row gladly found my way to the lovely Valerie Romanin who so easily brings out the latina in me “ay esse!!!” the rest of the time was spent in the company of my girls shopping, eating, dancing, talking about dancing, dreaming of dancing, working on dancing – we were straight out of an episode of Fame!!only missing our Jen. Covering the bellydance side of the weekend (and leaving our Kay to take you on her ATS® journey), I arrived ‘bellydance-workshop starved’ and couldn’t wait to get started; I’d signed up to Tara Ibrahim, Ava Fleming and Flamenco Descalzo’s Valerie Romanin’s classes and they all left me shattered and happy and I simply had an absolute blast.

Report by Kay
We congregated at our hotel, 3 cars having travelled down on such a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. We chatted excitedly throughout our journey, only to stop whilst our breath was taken away at the sheer beauty of Stonehenge suddenly appearing as we rounded the hill on the A303. That sight never fails to make to gaze in awe........

Well I'd plumped for all of Carolena and Megha's classes - how could I not do them!!! Each workshop was fab - going over familiar moves, refining them, writing notes, learning new moves, combinations, dancing with our own troupe members, friends and new people, and writing more notes ..... always write notes (a godsend)!!!

Oh those floor moves!!! Ouch - the thighs the next day!

Sadly the weekend all too quickly came to an end, we said our goodbyes to friends and teachers and made that wonderful journey back home again past Stonehenge .........

Hey! We're doing it all again in October in Edinburgh! Counting the weeks!

Station House Care Trust, Abingdon

How often do you get told your performance had such a positive impact on your audience that’s it’s enabled and stimulated long overdue communication! Ashnah had the privilege of dancing at the Station House Care Trust in Abingdon, a lovely facility which provides high quality residential and nursing care to the elderly and specialises in dementia, very centrally located in our home town. The whole setting was very light and airy and the atmosphere warm and relaxed and while the performers did their thing and concentrated on entertaining, the organisers of the evening ensured everyone had a little glass of something to quench thirst. Later on, we were regaled with delightful memories of bygone days and later on still and in true Ashnah form, we rounded off our evening at a local restaurant... thus ensuring the proper upkeep of both body and soul ;o)

East Meets West Charity Show, Bicester

Man and his dreams .. they come in all shapes and sizes and I suppose if you believe and work hard enough at them, and are fortunate, they will happen. Take this woman, Arpita Desai, whose dream it was to bring cultures together and for a while, a couple of hours, get so many to put their best foot forward in a dance show which was also a fundraiser in aid of the See-Saw and Ronald McDonald charities. Just that happened on Saturday 11th February at the Community College in Bicester and in front of a packed house, Morris, Latin and Swing alongside ATS® Tribal, Bollywood, Flamenco, Belly and Fijian dancing, we even had a karate display, showcased this colourful and most eclectic programme. A wonderful evening was had by all with a promise to return at the next call. Congrats to Arpita and many thanks to the Rotary Club and especially Mike Daniels for all their invaluable help and priceless support.

Video

Winter Wonderland hafla - Jan 14th

We’ve come back from our first 2012 hafla, Nikki Livermore’s Winter Wonderland, at the almost beautifully refurbished Langdale Hall in Witney; besides the place looking rather nice, I actually missed the stage. I don’t know if it will be replaced so I should like to put it out there that I for one think it’s essential; when Nikki and Helen Sleiman kicked off the evening with a free-for-all warm-up Zumba session, I couldn’t see a thing and I’m not vertically challenged! both ladies were lost in the crowd - bring back that stage!!

The hafla itself brought together all the familiar faces and it was great to catch up with everyone. On the programme were among others the various incarnations of the Isisters and Hazzaz groups who invariably jollied the place up and the ladies from Hathor without whom an evening would be incomplete. The lovely Carrie Nicholson made it from Didcot and happily represented the ‘dark fusion’ element providing an excellent foil to the likes of Helen Sleiman who led her Zakoura group in a lovely dynamic modern Egyptian number and later mesmerised everyone with her own solo. There were a few new faces from Cheltenham; the soloist Anne Blagden who from the back bears an uncanny resemblance to Nikki (that’s definitely a compliment) as well as Jane Claridge who closed the show to a Ghawazi number. My apologies to all those I haven’t mentioned; the programme was certainly a full one. I do however have to round up this article by mentioning the ATS contributors, our ‘sisters in the art’ Sundara who performed 2 lovely dances of one of which incorporated a ‘ripple’ effect which I absolutely loved and our good selves Ashnah who took our Kodo dance to Witney for the first time but minus our lovely Jen..