Thread: TODAY, June 13 - 3:30pm - Be part of NYC's biggest mass belly dance performance! Video posted, learn the dance now! Directions posted too.

Hi all,

I'm very proud to be presenting "Belly Dance on the Island" at this year's FIGMENT (FIGMENT) festival on New York City's Governor's Island. It will be a mini-history show of Egyptian-style belly dance, followed by (what I'm hoping will be) the biggest mass performance of BD in NYC history. The event is taking place from 3:30-4:15 pm on Sunday, June 13

That's where my Bhuzzers come in...come one, come all, bring friends and family, dancers and non-dancers alike! This can't be the biggest BD performance if no one comes to dance. Here is the YouTube link that you can learn the dance at; I'll also be teaching it the day of the show Learn the Belly Dance on the Island group choreo.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Or01EY54mc]YouTube - Be part of "Belly Dance on the Island" - FIGMENT Festival NYC - 6/13/10 - Najla Belly Dance NYC[/ame]
Please help me make this event a success by turning out and dancing on the island! Spread the word on Bhuz, to your troupe, your friends, other message boards, etc. Post if you're coming ..g.: FIGMENT is a really fantastic event, and you really can't find a cooler place to dance

Getting to the island: take a quick 15-minute ferry ride from Battery Park. We've been notified that lines may get long on Sunday, so please arrive early enough to wait in line and catch a ferry to BD on the Island (or come early and enjoy the rest of the festival!). The schedule is available here: Directions to the Island, Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation

Here's where I'm posting---please retweet/post if you can
Twitter
YouTube
Facebook

The first press release is here on my website: Belly Dance on the Island Press Release 1
The second press release is here: http://www.najlabellydance.com/Belly...2005-27-10.pdf

Your webpage pdf isn't working.

This is the best link I could find, for those who are curious what all this is about:

Belly Dance on the Island at FIGMENT Festival | Facebook

Thanks da Sage...I'll check out/fix the link when I get home from work this evening

PDF link is corrected above--click and enjoy!

I'm confused... are you inviting us to participate as an audience, or as both an audience and performers?
If you are inviting us to perform, can you be specific as to how one would go about in getting a spot? I don't see anything on the website about that.

Originally Posted by yameyameyame

I'm confused... are you inviting us to participate as an audience, or as both an audience and performers?
If you are inviting us to perform, can you be specific as to how one would go about in getting a spot? I don't see anything on the website about that.

Both! The whole concept behind FIGMENT is interactivity.

Part one of the program is a mini-history show of Egyptian-style belly dance that I will be performing (about 20 minutes).

Part two of the program is where the entire audience (dancers and non-dancers alike) gets up, learns a brief choreography (which I'll also be posting on YouTube in advance) and then performs together. No need to sign up, have experience, etc.

The idea is to learn a little bit about the dance and then to perform it yourself, whether it's your 10th year of dancing or your first day. All-inclusive :)

Originally Posted by najla86

Both! The whole concept behind FIGMENT is interactivity.

Part one of the program is a mini-history show of Egyptian-style belly dance that I will be performing (about 20 minutes).

Part two of the program is where the entire audience (dancers and non-dancers alike) gets up, learns a brief choreography (which I'll also be http://www.bhuz.com/forum/newreply.p...=661162posting on YouTube in advance) and then performs together. No need to sign up, have experience, etc.

The idea is to learn a little bit about the dance and then to perform it yourself, whether it's your 10th year of dancing or your first day. All-inclusive :)

I get it now. So you're putting out a show and as part of your show, your audience will be performing.
You are not inviting dancers to sign up for performance slots on their own.

In any case, keep us posted on the final date and time once you know for sure.

Date confirmed!

"Belly Dance on the Island," Sunday, June 13

(exact time slot still TBA...)

The instructional video is ready! Check out this YouTube link to learn the dance ahead of time. Remember, I need your help spreading the word, so please link, tweet, email, facebook and blog all about it! I hope to see all my tri-state dancers there
Learn the group choreography for "Belly Dance on the Island"

great, have it saved in my playlist!

Hmm, I'm interested but a little confused, what would I be doing exactly if I came lol?

Originally Posted by Zarafshan

Hmm, I'm interested but a little confused, what would I be doing exactly if I came lol?

Hmm, guess I'll have to figure out some clarifying text...glad to hear you're interested!

What you'd be doing is coming to watch a dance show at a fantastic festival and then getting up to do some dancing yourself (the dance in the video posted above). My goal is to teach festival-goers a bit about Egyptian-style belly dance, and then have them do a little dancing themselves

How do we know whos approved for the group choreo?

I live in NY so it would be little trouble getting there :)

What time of day is this? Also indoors or outdoors? I'm about ready to learn the choreo here :D

Everyone's welcome! Bring your mom, your co-workers, new friends you've met at the festival...part of the greatness of FIGMENT is that it's all about interaction and experiencing something new. I'm hoping to have seasoned BD'ers (such as my lovely Bhuzzers here) dancing alongside total novices (like my two-left-footed uncle who's going to come!)

It is outdoors, stage location TBA at the moment. BD on the Island is happening on Sunday, June 13 sometime between 2 and 4pm---they have yet to officially assign my time slot, but it will be during that time frame.

Here's a video about the festival that will give you a good feel for it
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv9ThqFdzp8]YouTube - FIGMENT: What are you bringing?[/ame]

Sounds like FUN!! I'll come out with my neice and I'll post to FB tonite. Are you going to the Dance Parade in Tompkins Square Park? Last year, I got miserably lost : (

Originally Posted by beautynlaw

Sounds like FUN!! I'll come out with my neice and I'll post to FB tonite. Are you going to the Dance Parade in Tompkins Square Park? Last year, I got miserably lost : (

Fantastic! You'll have to introduce yourself when we're at the festival. Thanks for the re-posting on FB, I really appreciate it.

I am going to the dance parade this weekend. It's my first time, so I'm really excited about it! Are you going? If you are, maybe we can try to coordinate a meet-up of sorts.

Here's the event on Facebook...please RSVP/pass this around to your friends (dancers and non-dancers alike!)
Belly Dance on the Island at FIGMENT Festival | Facebook

Do you think maybe its better to invite more of a non dancer audience as this seems to be more of a teacher/student thing rather than a dance opportunity for actual dancers. I thought about it and don't see where an actual dancer would fit in, perhaps a student or totally non dance audience would make more sense.....

I think it's best to invite everyone, dancer and non-dancer alike. It's all all-inclusive interactive event at an all-inclusive type of festival.

"Actual dancers" can come to have fun, enjoy the festival and dance alongside lots of other people. After all, dancers learn choreographies and perform them all the time; it's a great and unique experience to dance in a large group, and it's not something most people (whether they dance or not) often experience.

What a great concept! I am in Oregon so I can't make it to NY but I will put it on my FB page in case anyone I know there wants to come!

I just watched the choero and you did a nice job of keeping it simple for those who have never done this before. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Linnyg

What a great concept! I am in Oregon so I can't make it to NY but I will put it on my FB page in case anyone I know there wants to come!

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

I'm also glad you think it will be beginner-appropriate. I tried it out on one or two non-dancers (including my BF!). I'm hoping that the music being familiar to a lot of people will help a lot as well. I'm getting so excited for this! I can't believe how quickly June 13 will be here

The date, time slot and stage have been finalized!

June 13, 3:30-4:15pm at the Pavilion Stage on Governors Island

Never been to Governors Island?? It's easy to get to from Battery Park in downtown NYC.

Getting to the island: take a quick 15-minute ferry ride from Battery Park. We've been notified that lines may get long on Sunday, so please arrive early enough to wait in line and catch a ferry to BD on the Island (or come early and enjoy the rest of the festival!). The schedule is available here: Directions to the Island, Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation

I'm not understanding a little part of this. (Forgive me for that!) But is it just people learning your choreography or are people able to perform their own numbers with their own choreographies? Sorry for being so confused! lol

Part 1 is a dance show that I'm performing to give a small taste of the history and different styles of Egyptian bd.

Part 2 is a learn'n'perform (open to anyone, dancers and non-dancers) that will give people a chance to learn how fun BD is, and to have the really unique experience of dancing in a big group. Not quite a flash mob, but a large, fun group dance number :)

The choreography is posted at this link if you (or anyone else) is interested in learning it ahead of time. It also explains the event.
YouTube - Be part of "Belly Dance on the Island" - FIGMENT Festival NYC - 6/13/10 - Najla Belly Dance NYC

Mentions in the Village Voice :)

Figment Festival - Governor's Island - New York - Events and Najla Belly Dance NYC - Governor's Island - New York - Events

Mentions from CBS Channel 2 in NYC

Eye On The Community - wcbstv.com