Thread: IBDC I'm so glad I didn't go! I think...

I was at the last minute planning to fly out to Vegas to catch the Amani and Dina concerts. I was a click away from booking my plane tickets and show tickets when a strong common sense streak prevailed and decided against the impulse trip. Thank goodness.

My very good friend Lisa, decided to go anyway. She has friends in Vegas so she was planning on the visit already but she thought it would be a bonus to catch the convention. She arrived late last night. Her plan was to take the Dina workshop and maybe catch the Amani concert tonight and the Dina Concert tomorrow.

She told me that it's a good thing I didn't go as I would have been so mad. Apparantly neither Dina nor Amani were able to get Visas. She said she heard rumors of sabotage??? I don't know about Raqia Hassan who was also supposed to be there. They were scrambling to find teachers to take the place of Amani and Dina and discounting workshops. Today the only workshop offered originally was the Dina workshop but Lisa took 3 workshops for about the same price. Tito, some Eygptian guy and I don't know who the 3rd one is. She said it was very disorganized.

Lisa said she thought it was going to be a much bigger deal and fully expected to be intimidated but instead thought the whole atmosphere was comparable to a local workshop. I was very surprised to hear that as I thought it would be a huge event and I'd get lost in the crowd.

I only had a few minutes to talk to her before we lost the phone connection. (She must not be on Cingular! or oops AT &T now isn't it?) Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else had more info?

Who did they get to do the concerts?

I talked to a few other people who gave it as their opinion that it might have been false advertising just to get people to go. I haven't been to one of these things before so I don't know if this is typical or what? The website itself seemed put together and organized. There was certainly enough advanced advertising. I didn't get an idea as to how many people attended but I got the impression it wasn't a lot.

Was anyone there who knows the real deal?

Wow, that sounds terrible. It looked like it was going to be a fun event. I feel very bad for the organizers as well, because these unforseen things are usually out of their control.
I was really looking forward to hearing a review of Amani's workshop particularly.
I don't think that not being able to get a visa into the U.S. is sabotage though, these things are completely in the hands of immigration officials in the originating country. It's entirely up to them whether they issue a (work) visa or not and these guys aren't swayed by anyone.

Regards
Priscilla

Hi Norma!

It's Tipsuda. We met in CHGO at Mohamed Shahines's workshop. My girlfriend entered the contest, so I can't wait until she returns to tell be what happened. I had an erie feeling that is was too good to be true. Just hope people that attended were able to get something out of it since there were other really good intructors there. BUT the price was just so high to take the workshops

Please Bhuzzers! fill us in!!!

oh dear. Well, I feel bad for ARadia and other dancers who had their hearts in the right place.

Personally, seems to me the disorganization resides with dancers like Amani and Dina who aren't exactly going to their first rodeo when they accept gigs like this and should allow the appropriate amount of time for visas.

Surely belly dance sabotage is less likely where visas are concerned and apathy or waiting too long are more likely!

Just got gome and had a BLAST!

The immigration problems did not affect me b/c I only signed up for Aida Nour's 4 classes - which were great.

The other gals in my room also took classes with Tito, Mohammed Kazafy and Lubna. All were reported to be excellent. Class size was perfect at 25-40 in most cases. Plenty of room to move.

I know it was not the turn out that the organizers had hoped for. I know they had many challenges and there will be reports on disorganization.

But I sincerely hope they will do it again. And I hope as commentary rolls in on this one that everyone will be kind and realize that this was a huge undertaking in it's first year and that it should not be written off easily.

I met great people. I saw so many friends. I took great classes.
I'll be there next year.
Bahaia

Hi Tipsuda! Hope to see you again next year in Chicago! I can't wait to hear what your friend says.

And danidance, my thoughts exactly! I mean the IBDC has been advertised heavily for months. I would have thought the organizers would have arranged the visas before they did such heavy promotion!

But I was arranging my trip at the very last minute! As of last night I was still able to book tickets to an Amani and Dina concert! It's one thing if I had booked months ahead of time and something happened, but if I had flown out last night or this morning only to find out that the stars that should have been present all week weren't??? WELLL!!!

Do you think the small turnout had to do with Amani and Dina not getting their visas? Maybe the organizers just couldn't afford to pay them??

My friend ended up taking the classes from the 3 teachers you just mentioned but she went to take a class from Dina who was a no show.

Soooo glad I didn't go, if I had flown in from New York just to take from Amani and then had her not be there I think they would've had to restrain me (I'm 5'1" so it wouldn't have been too hard to restrain me ). As it is the only reason I didn't go to the IBDC is because I didn't think 4 hours of Amani was enough for me to fly accross the country and all the expenses that go along with such a trip.

Did they even announce it in advance that she wouldn't be there??

I think events are hard to pull together. You know - look at LE - Mona cancelled at the almost last minute - seems like you take your changes with M.E. stars.

Originally Posted by bahaia

Just got gome and had a BLAST!

The immigration problems did not affect me b/c I only signed up for Aida Nour's 4 classes - which were great.

The other gals in my room also took classes with Tito, Mohammed Kazafy and Lubna. All were reported to be excellent. Class size was perfect at 25-40 in most cases. Plenty of room to move.

I know it was not the turn out that the organizers had hoped for. I know they had many challenges and there will be reports on disorganization.

But I sincerely hope they will do it again. And I hope as commentary rolls in on this one that everyone will be kind and realize that this was a huge undertaking in it's first year and that it should not be written off easily.

I met great people. I saw so many friends. I took great classes.
I'll be there next year.
Bahaia

I feel bad for the organizers that they had to deal with the turmoil of no-show stars, whatever the reasons may have been.

I had really, REALLY wanted to go this year, but after my 2007-year-from-hell so far, I felt it was best to stay home and rest. It sounds like staying home was the right decision for this year, but I would still consider going next year.

Hi all, I was really disappointed that I didn't get my class or show with Amani, I would have thought they would have arrived earlier too, as mentioned before. I travel alot and the work or travel Visa deal usually is worked out in plenty of time to know if it is all approved to go.............not a big turn out, but I was shopping trying to help out the vendors who didn't fare so well overall. I think the hype was alot to live up to, even with all the stars showing up.

Not sure who is doing the gala show for sure, price was still the same with no Amani, and no singer! Same for tomorrow.

I still managed to buy 5 costumes and saw lots of friends............I live here so I wasn't as affected!

BUT...am very happy to have a local event here in Vegas!

Originally Posted by danidance

I think events are hard to pull together. You know - look at LE - Mona cancelled at the almost last minute - seems like you take your changes with M.E. stars.

I thought the exact same thing, Danidadance! It can't be easy, to say the least. My heart goes out to these hardworking sponsor-organizers, without whom WE would not be able to study from quality instructors from abroad and locally. I heard DeeDee immediately flew out to Egypt to find a last-minute replacement for Mona: Magdy El Leisy and Beba. I recall DeeDee telling all of us on the last day of the seminar (and Fifi acknowledged it all) that Fifi herself was very wishy-washy at the last minute and might not have made it to the event May 18-20 due to some movie filming schedule conflicts that suddently came up, had DeeDee not left for Egypt on Mother's Day, just one week before the event(!), and personally escort Fifi to Texas!

I will definitely attend the IBDC in LV next year!

Oh god, that is so unprofessional of them! I can't believe the drama organizer have to put up with. Apparently, the organizers of the IBCC in Toronto this past April had their hands full as well keeping all the stars content.

I should also say that while some can be demanding, other very well known dancers were gracious and humble.

I do have to say, in the Opening Night show...........Amir Thaleb (sp?) ROCKED the house! Woo hoo!

Originally Posted by Lesgemini_Zafirah

I heard DeeDee immediately flew out to Egypt to find a last-minute replacement for Mona: Magdy El Leisy and Beba.

hmmmmm, I do believe Dee Dee was still in Cairo as she had gone over for Ahlan Wa Sahlan at the end of June and was staying over for awhile after the festival. Although, in this case, I think it was good she was there to get any visas arranged . . . if they didn't already have them.

I am now curious about artist visas . . how long it takes to get them, how long they last, etc. To me (and maybe this is just me), if someone had a visa before to come to the States for artistic endeavors, it should be easier the next time. I don't understand why there are holdups time and time again, when some of the ppl have already been in the States several times.

Oh, and another FYI, there are contract disputes all the time . . . doesn't mean the big "STAR" pulled out . . . just means that no one can reconcile the differences. So who do you blame . . . the star or the organizer???? is a "visa malfunction" just another way of saying "HELL NO" to demands??? Who knows? Personally, I wish the drama would go away . . . I just want to dance!!!!

And for my other comments about my good experiences at IBDC, see the other topic IBDC Update: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/showthread...0055#post40055

Originally Posted by cbarros

. . . I just want to dance!!!!

And for my other comments about my good experiences at IBDC, see the other topic IBDC Update: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/showthread...0055#post40055

That is what is all about! It sounds like it was a great time for you! My feet hurt from shopping..does that count?..l;, ..l;, ..l;,

My friend and I flew from San Diego specifically to take Raqia's and Dina's workshops. The flights roundtrip cost us $150 each and the hotel $62 for both. 2 workshops for $170 each. And then the reason we went was not there!
We were pretty mad! We ended up taking Tito's workshop on Thursday in place of Raqia's and it was awesome!! well worth $75, but I would not have flown there just for him so we were still diappointed.
We couldn't take all 3 worshops on Friday because we had flights coming back early (we were performing tonight) and we didn't want to pay more to change flights and lose money by not performing.
We thought about taking just the first workshop Friday morning, and hopefully still get some money back, but we didn't want to risk it. We asked if we could get a refund for Dina's workshop, they told us to ask today, because they didn't know.
Before we left, we asked and the man that was dealing with all of us was very rude. I had to get firm with him and then they told us they'd give us our refund. (I will have to stay on top to make sure that will happen).
On a lighter note they have refunded our hotel price, they didn't even tell us, we didn't ask - the hotel told us during checkout.

So either way, Tito's workshop was great but otherwise the whole thing was a huge disapointment. My first time to travel out of town for a workshop, and I am not likely to repeat it. I especially didn't like how that man was treating us - rude and cocky, but we stood our ground and got our money back.

i don't think it is fair to talk like this about the eygptian stars till the FACTS are in.

tina

Like what - not sure what you're objecting to.

I'd just as soon see it here than gossiping about it on the phone or email - I'm all for getting things out in the open and letting people respond based on what people are saying to each other.

Egyptian stars are no different than anyone else IMO and I feel the same way about open conversation no matter what.

Originally Posted by tattood1

i don't think it is fair to talk like this about the eygptian stars till the FACTS are in.

tina

Hehehe. It seems Mr. 5280 has commented on the matter:

http://bellydancesuperstars.tribe.ne...8-e2c5145c3e6b

Regards
Priscilla

Well, I have heard many many things that may have hapened, since every one as disappointed and talking - but I didn't even go into that here, I have only shared my experience, the facts only.
So I hope you're not referring to me, Tina.

what miles says i'd heard from other sources months ago. tina

Who were the organizers for IBDC?

How frustrating for everyone. It is so hard to put together a big event with international talent--heck, it's hard to put together a local showcase. Then, to have people travel great distances and be disappointed--what a let down for the organizers and the participants.

Visas are at the whim of the Immigration department, there are basically no rules, no time frames and they do not have to give a reason for denying or delaying a request. You could have had a visa 20 times and the 21st time they will deny it with no reason. I have one friend who tried to get his sister a visitor's visa from Syria for 15 years, no success,but after she married a German and became a German citizen she finally made her first trip to the US as a German!!! And remember that unless someone knows fluent Egyptian dialect, there are always "lost in translation" problems. It's always a gamble to put on a huge event, both producers and attendees should have a plan A and B and Emergency Plan C.

Exactly right. I've been to the U.S. embassy here and in Ecuador, and I've watched visas being denied to 9 out of 10 people who all had their papers in order and apparently met all the pre-requisites. There are no guarantees and it pretty much depends on luck and on the mood of the consul that is assigned to review your application. My son's chilean wife (then his girlfriend) was denied a visa to visit him in the U.S a couple of years ago. She re-applied exactly one month later, and was granted a 10 year multiple visa by a different consul. Now that they're married she was able to obtain permanent residency, since my son is American.

Regards
Priscilla

Originally Posted by hannanesfo

Visas are at the whim of the Immigration department, there are basically no rules, no time frames and they do not have to give a reason for denying or delaying a request. You could have had a visa 20 times and the 21st time they will deny it with no reason. I have one friend who tried to get his sister a visitor's visa from Syria for 15 years, no success,but after she married a German and became a German citizen she finally made her first trip to the US as a German!!! And remember that unless someone knows fluent Egyptian dialect, there are always "lost in translation" problems. It's always a gamble to put on a huge event, both producers and attendees should have a plan A and B and Emergency Plan C.

Well as Miles pointed out, it wasn't really a visa problem after all. The workshop was poorly attended and it looks like the organizers couldn't afford to pay the big name stars.

What makes Mr. 5280 the expert on what went on at the IBDC?
I'd rather hear from the organizers themselves on the facts.

OMG!

I was planning on going and taking the Amani and Dina workshops! Thank heaven I didn't go!

I'm so sorry for the dancers who did pay for the workshops though!

Azeeza