Thread: Raqs America!

The schedule is finally posted, yay! So, whos going?

me me me me! I'm teaching Saturday morning and signed up for Bozenka's shimmy class afterwards.

Haven't signed up yet but wouldn't dream of missing it!

ooh, Zana, is that a new profile picture? Pretty!

Aww, thank you! People get enough exposure to my mouth around here -- I thought it was only fair to expose the rest of my face as well.

Suzana

Wish I was going ..cr.: I am so sad I can't make it! So be sure to shimmy for me!

Is there an open stage schedule posted anywhere?

Originally Posted by TanyaLV

Is there an open stage schedule posted anywhere?

There are sign-up spaces at www.raqsamerica.com. SO much nicer than the Rakkasah call-in! ..g.:

OK, who else is in? Anybody signing up to dance? The performance schedule looks wide open so far.

So far I'm registered for Lotus, Latifa (finally! yay! *waves madly*), and both Bozenkas. Very excited!

I may be helping out with Saphira's workshops also. If you see me, please come say hey. ..g.:

Suzana

Argh! I wish I could go to this event or the one in LA, but I'm moving to NC and my first priority is packing boxes. boo-hoo!
-hannan

I signed up for Bozenka's shimmies, Ansuya's sword, and PJ's beledi and double veil workshops.

I chose the pay by phone option and the money has been taken out of my account but when I sign into the website it still says unpaid and the receipt they gave me doesnt say paid anywhere on it. Also it looks like all of the workshops that were full a week ago are open again. Does anyone know what is going on? Or what we need o bring with us to get in the workshops? Or the show? Are there actual tickets for the show or do I just bring my little reciept? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks!

I'm going. Thanks for the heads up on the pay by phone option. Sorry to hear that. I planed on paying for everything today. Pay by phone would have been the better option for me as well. I would still bring the receipt as a back up, just in case. You never know. I'm still wondering some of the same things you are. Sorry I couldn't help. Like I said before Keep the receipt handy.

I wish I could make it. Im booked for a bunch of jobs in NYC that weekend. My mom will still be there selling costumes though!

I have a slot early Sunday afternoon. I am looking forward to going, it should be fun

Thalia

I will be learning khaleegy with Latifa! Yay!

I'm going! I have registered for one workshop. I'm hoping to squeeze into some of the others I missed out on. I want to see how good the shopping is, too. I invited my mother, but I don't know if she'll do anything but look around. I'm quite excited.

Originally Posted by Mintaka

I signed up for Bozenka's shimmies, Ansuya's sword, and PJ's beledi and double veil workshops.

I chose the pay by phone option and the money has been taken out of my account but when I sign into the website it still says unpaid and the receipt they gave me doesnt say paid anywhere on it. Also it looks like all of the workshops that were full a week ago are open again. Does anyone know what is going on? Or what we need o bring with us to get in the workshops? Or the show? Are there actual tickets for the show or do I just bring my little reciept? Sorry for all the questions! Thanks!

I noticed the same thing! I wanted to register at the last minute and I forgot the deadline. But everything was taken up then all of a sudden there were a bunch of spaces. I don't know what happened. I was able to register through Sahara for one workshop tonight. .w.: I'm bringing my receipt, I suggest you do too as a backup, and your bank statement showing that it was indeed taken out. See ya there!

Ladies, how was it? Or is it still going on? Sorry just got back from vacation ,r:;

It was over that Sunday. I liked it. I went mostly for the workshops, and I brought my mother along. She watched the performances while I was in my workshops. She's gaining more respect for Bellydance nowadays.

I expected something bigger actually. I figured since the one in LA is so big and popular that ours would be too. I guess their BD community is larger? But I was NOT disappointed. I have some regrets--I should have bought more stuff!! Did anyone see that Melaya Leff dress in the vending room on the right (not the one with the food)? To die for!

Back on topic! I was just happy that there was a local Bellydance event, and I'm grateful. And I saw Miles Copeland from a distance. Neat!

I heard there were a lot of no shows due to the cost of gas. I guess a lot of people backed out. Is that true? I should have gone to check it out but decided not too - at the last minute.

Originally Posted by ravenadesigns

I heard there were a lot of no shows due to the cost of gas. I guess a lot of people backed out. Is that true? I should have gone to check it out but decided not too - at the last minute.

If you did, you would have paid $15 just to get in! Well, there was a good amount of people, but in my opinion, I think quite a few backed out.

And remember we were talking and you mentioned vending fees were so high? I don't why they charged so much. It wasn't THAT spectatular when it came to vending. I could count the venders on one hand, though there was quite a bit of a selection among them.

It was still a very nice event. It would have been nice to see you!

Originally Posted by Bellydancefanatic

I expected something bigger actually. I figured since the one in LA is so big and popular that ours would be too. I guess their BD community is larger?

Well, our BD community is no doubt larger, but where did you hear that the "one in LA is so big and popular"?

Originally Posted by Bellydancefanatic

I could count the venders on one hand

Wow, you must have very unusual hands! There were two rooms of vendors on the ground floor in addition to the ones in the lobby area -- did you make it down there? There was a dangerous amount of sparkle and plenty to spend money on, in my opinion. I tried to behave, but it wasn't easy!

It seemed to me to be a very successful event, and I think the organizers were pleased as well. The vibe was very pleasant and friendly all weekend. The venue worked out well, with three roomy studios and enough room in the common areas that even with a good turnout, there wasn't too much of a crush. There was a pleasant buzz and a lot of activity all through the weekend, but the only time I felt really squeezed was at the end when the lobby was chock-full of dancers waiting to audition for the BDSS. I'm not sure how many turned out for that, but there were many.

The show sold out all 250 seats and was very good. I was really, really proud of our local superstars! The DC/Baltimore area actually has a very large dance scene (scenes, really), so there is a lot of talent to draw from. Saphira, Ebony, Asharah, Raqs Sahara, Latifa, Lotus, and the NDC all brought their best game and represented the diversity of dance in the DC area beautifully. (I hope I'm not leaving anyone out -- if so, please chime in!) The Superstars were in strong form, too. The show differed in tone and style from their previous offerings here: it was mostly solos, without the big production numbers, so we got to see them from a bit of a different angle. Sonia was especially good, I thought, despite nursing a sore back. Ansuya was her usual sparkly, dramatic self -- I would have been happy to see more of her. Bozenka completely rocked my world, with fan veils and without.

I missed a lot of the open stage because I was working the event and taking a bunch of workshops, but what I did see I really enjoyed. Gorgeous Amani Jabril of Atlanta did a very sassy beledi that was the standout for me, but there too the weekend attracted a really diverse bunch of performers. Kostana's Rom was terrific, and I loved the costuming she chose for it -- really well suited to her and her dance. I was surprised at how many people I met from way out of town.

Attendance at the workshops was uneven, with big crowds for both of Bozenka's, Ansuya's and (I think) Cami's and Zoe's and PJ's, and looots of room to move around in some of the others. There were three workshops scheduled simultaneously most of the time -- that was a drag on attendance in some cases, and that's one thing I think will change next year. Bozenka taught "every shimmy in the book" and a class on Latin-Arabic fusion that really opened my eyes to the possibilities of that combination. She's the perfect person to teach it because she's so strong in both. I didn't expect to love it, but honestly I was wowed.

Ergh, sorry -- didn't mean to go on so long, but I'm running off to class now so that will have to be my take on things. I hope to see as many of you as possible there next year! (Chantal, can you fit us in if we book you from now? )

Best regards,
Suzana

Hi Zana! I'd love to!!! Hopefully, I'll get to see you and all the other lovely ladies I met when I went to see Raqia!!! ..g.:

Say 'Hi' to all the ladies for me!!!!!

Originally Posted by nasila

Well, our BD community is no doubt larger, but where did you hear that the "one in LA is so big and popular"?

Let me double check my resources before I tell you exactly. Of course, I read it somewhere and heard it. Plus, there are so many BD events in LA that it would make sense to me. Have you gone to the one in LA? Is it not really "so big and popular" like I assumed? ..g.:


Zana, I really wasn't referring to the amount of stuff, which was quite a bit. I was basically referring to the amount of acutal venders (sep. companies) that I saw handling their tables. My unusual hands could have miscounted ..l;, , but that's what I meant.

Hi, BDF. I understood what you meant. You just must have missed a few -- another hand's worth at least. No biggie.

Miz Chantal, Anna and Saphira asked about you just last night! We were talking about the Raqia and RA weekends and the nice folks who came in from far afield. I will pass on your hellos for sure.
<Where's that waving smiley?>