Nostalgia

Am working on the Newsletter for September (omg! where did time go?) and looking forward to all the events coming up while looking back on how it all began, I suddenly started feeling a bit nostalgic..

About ten years ago around this time I was looking for a new hobby.. Something new to do, preferably involving dance or music, so I started browsing the internet, and I stumbled upon www.bellydance.nl, the website of my very first teachers. Little did I know I was about to lose my heart :)

I know ten years is not much in any field of art, but it is still always nice to take some time to reflect on 'all the things'.. This dance form has brought me so much joy, and I've met such beautiful people over the years, sharing the same passion, that it's hard for me to imagine how my life would look without it. Making dances brings me joy, and learning, practicing and teaching makes me deeply happy. Who knew? That very first class I taught I almost died in fear ;)

I was asked to write some articles about my experiences and discoveries in the land of dance for Yamila's Newsletter Dévoilée, a belly dance magazine that I've helped edit myself in my younger dance years, and on this blog I will share the English versions of those articles with you :)

But first of all, I would like to officially thank my very first teachers for introducing me to middle eastern dance about ten years ago.. Miss Myriam, for sharing her knowledge so generously and inspiring me to keep learning as much as I can about this art form, and her sister Yamila, for showing me the way to professionalism and teaching me how to teach ♥

Thank you.

with Miss Myriam (left) @ Yamilas festival 2012 in Heerlen, NL

with Yamila (below) @ Yamila's festival 2012 in Heerlen, NL

Upcoming Events Sept-Oct 2012

Soo.. in preparation for the September newsletter.. These are the events I'll be at in the coming weeks. Classes, shows, workshops, events.. We've got 'em all :) Hope to see you there too! Warning, long post  ;)

September
WÜRSELEN, DE - Th 27 Sept 2012 - WORKSHOP DRUMSOLO
18:30-20:00h Drumsolo madness - Mini-Workshop
Price: 14 Euro (Optional!) Performance opportunity at B2B Festival in Maasmechelen on Su 30th Sept for all participants. Enrollments now open!
Enrollment page
Information - Website
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/348976548523948

LONDON, UK - Fr-Su 21-23 Sep 2012 - FESTIVAL SITC
Will be traveling to London this Sept together with miss Queenie to take classes with Dina, Aziza, Orit and Kazafy and watch the fabulous show :) Shimmy in the City Festival in London (SITC) - Hope to see you there as well! FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shimmy-in-the-city/168886873171671

DEN HAAG, NL - Sa 29 Sep 2012 - WORKSHOPS, SHOW and FESTIVAL ASLI SHARQI
Whoop! Am honored to be part of the fabulous Asli Sharqi Festival in The Hague/Den Haag (Asli Sharqi), where I will be teaching a workshop floorwork (!) and silk veils (single and double - a few loaners available on request!) plus performing at the Saturday evening galashow, along with Tito Seif (!!!), Tjarda, Anasma, Leana and others. Can't wait!

• 13.00-15.00 workshop Silk Veils - max 16 participants
• 15.30-17.30 workshop Floorwork - max 12 participants
• 21.05-22.00 Show

Workshop information: http://www.aslisharqi.nl/nl/workshops
Enrollments: http://shop.aslisharqi.nl/
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/116496061829707/

MAASMECHELEN, BE - Su 30 Sep 2012 - SHOW BELLY2BELLY
Show/Open stage day in Maasmechelen (Belly 2 Belly Festival)- A whole day of dance performances :) I will be dancing there along with the Jahanára ladies AND the participants of the drum solo workshop (those who would like to perform) of 27th of September 2012. Can't wait!
Tickets: 5 Euro; Information Website
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/246749885407645/

October
WÜRSELEN, DE - Th 04 Oct 2012 - CLASSES - FREE TRY-OUT!
For the start of our new class season we'll have a day of FREE try-out classes for new beginners as well as for intermediate/advanced students or students interested in drills.
No enrollment needed for this date, just swing by and come dance with us :)

• 18:30-19:45 L1/2 and new Beginners
• 20:00-21:15 Drills and L3/4

Enrollment regular classes: Enrollment Page (Classes starting Oct 18th)
Information - Website
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/500721489956574/

WÜRSELEN, DE - Sa 06 Oct 2012 - WORKSHOPS WITH NEPHÉLÉ
On Sa, 06th of October we are hosting the fabulous Nephélé of Belgium in Würselen. She will be teaching a workshop on Fanveils (loaners available!) as well as stage presence and presentation. Not to be missed!

• 11:00-13:00 Fan(tastic) Veils - Technique and combinations
• 13:30-15:30 Performance CPR - Confidence, Professionality, Radiance

Price: 1 WS 29E, both WS 49E
Enrollment Page
Information Website
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/230884513667952/

BRNO, CZ - Th-Su 10-14 Oct 2012 - SHOW, WORKSHOPS, FESTIVAL TALES OF SAHARA (TOS)
Am honored and happy to be part of the fabulous Tales of Sahara festival in Brno (my first time teaching/performing in Czech Republic!) I will be judging the competition finale as well as teaching a workshop double veil and performing in the show. Hope to see you all there!

• Competition: 'Queen of Tarab' Finals on Fr 12 Oct
• WS: Sa 13 Oct - 10:00-12:00 Double Veil (a few loaners available!)
• Gala: Sa 13 Oct 19:00 

Information: http://www.festivaltance.com/en/seminare/
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/festivaltos

AALST, BE - Su 21 Oct 2012 - WORKSHOPS, HAFLA ORIENTAL MADNESS (OM)
Oriental Madness! On Sunday, Oct 21 2012 Katleen d'Herdt of Belgium will host workshops with Queenie and Khalida as well as a Hafla with open stage in Aalst, BE

• 13u-15u: Rhythm Combinations with Queenie
• 15u30-17u30: Arms and hand, technique & combinations with Khalida
• 19u30: Hafla!

Enrollments via: katleendherdt@hotmail.com
FB Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/325706377513585/

After all of that madness.. there is.. MOAR :)

Details will be posted in the course of next month, for direct links to the other events in the next months please check out my events page at http://www.khalida.biz/bellydance/schedule.html (2012) and http://www.khalida.biz/bellydance/schedule2.html (2013)

Back from away :)

Finally recovered a bit from our fabulous BOOTCAMPs (see FB picture albums here) and freshly returned from Canada, where I spent a lovely week in the woods along with my travel partner Queenie, taking workshops from none other than the fabulous Aziza of Canada and Lena Helt. Was very happy to get to spend time with and meet so many great people *waves* as well as seeing some familiar faces *waves again at Katja, Aminah, Erica and Lisa*

Some highlights from the Dreamcamp Olympics and a cameo (ha!) of Princess Lumpy the Camel.


Will be posting more pictures soon, so be sure to check back for a link to the complete FB album!

For me, it's now time for me to get back to preparations for the upcoming dance season. 

There are a lot of exciting events coming up, for which I'll put up a separate blog post in a few minutes. For the first one, a tiny plug :)


As some of you already know I will be performing alongside the Jahanára ladies (featuring the advanced students from Würselen) at Chadia and Luna's yearly Belly 2 Belly festival on Sunday, September 30th 2012 (previously Mieps Buikdansfestival) in Maasmechelen, BE.

It's a recurring open stage festival, with performances from local and visiting dancers as well as groups and a bazaar, and it runs for a whole afternoon.

Entrance is only 5 Euro, and tickets are still available, so be sure to check it out if you are in the neighborhood!

Slightly releated to that, I will be teaching a workshop Drumsolo Madness on Thursday, Sept 27th in Würselen, DE with the opportunity for all participants to (optionally) perform the choreography with me and the Mädels at Belly 2 Belly 2012!

If you are interested in participating please check out the website and/or you can enroll right away via our enrollment page!

Dresscode for the performance at B2B: Black pants, hip scarf (a few loaners available!) and a top matching the hip scarf color.

Enrollments are now open, hope to see you ... SOON!

xxx Khalida
www.khalida.biz
www.khalidashop.com