Thread: Farha festival

So forget all other festivals! This is the one I am excited about!

Who is going?

I will be there all weekend doing a class with live music every session plus performing with band .w.:

Me and wiggle will be roomies in the hotel included in the residential package.

Z

hmm, well I guess that overwhelming response explains why Kay is having to send out so many promotional emails recently.

It'll be a real shame if the festival isn't a success/can't be repeated because everyone spent all their money learning party tricks at Raqs Britannia.

Z

Two festivals up north barely a month apart, it's (sadly) not surprising. I feel bad for Kay, it's such a great idea for a festival. If I was going to any weekend this year it would have been this one.

Whose the Egyptian dancer that they are bringing on the tour? I noticed on Farida's web site, she doesn't specify. I remember in 05 it was Dandesh and Aida Nour and then in 06 it was Randa. Who will it be in 07?

Hi Christina,

This isn't the Farha tour (less than a year since Randa was here) but a festival put on by the same people.


http://www.faridadance.com/farha_tou...a_festival.htm

They are bringing Feret el Negoum and Yasmina/Khazafy over - the festival is all about live music and most workshops will have at least one musician from Feret el Negoum in it. So its about the music not so much about learning lots of new moves which is sadly why it seems it possibly won't be as well attended as Raqs Britannia (BDSS) or the bellydance congress (lots of international teachers incl. Raqia, Randa, Samesen, I'd go if i could afford 2 dance festivals this year)).

Hopefully there will be another Farha TOUR, but where do you go after Randa Kamel?! Not sure the budget would stretch to Dina (plus I think Randa is a hard act to follow, even for Dina)

Z

This sounds really wonderful! Too bad I don't live in the UK.

I wish someone could do that here with all the various classes offered AND . . . with Egyptian musicians.

I would love to be coming, but unfortunately poor health & the fact that I have spent a lot of 'events' money this year on the JWAAD TT Foundation, means that I won't be there

To be honest with you, I am surprised that it's not appearing to do so well - who wouldn't jump at the chance to dance with Feret el Negoum <sigh>? I hope you & wiggle enjoy it, please post your experiences back here.

D <...only slightly green with jealousy ...>

It's got everything going for it and...
it's not in Bognor nor Blackpool but...
I'm in Bodrum (all being etc....)..g.:

Z - now how do you really feel about this? ..g.: ..g.:

Are you all having over-saturation of events too? It seems everything here of late is the same people and/or the same things. When something special pops up, it's such a breath of fresh air and we want it to succeed but the usual, predictably themed workshops and shows draw the crowds.

Originally Posted by zafirah

hmm, well I guess that overwhelming response explains why Kay is having to send out so many promotional emails recently.

It'll be a real shame if the festival isn't a success/can't be repeated because everyone spent all their money learning party tricks at Raqs Britannia.

Z

Dani,

It’s not that I have anything against Raqs B/BDSS but I have been unpleasantly surprised how many people went that didn’t even go and see Randa Kamel when she was in the country (and the location of Farha is nearer than Raqs B for those of us in Scotland) and were unaware of the existence of Farha Festival. Raqs B somehow draws out the people that can’t even be bothered to make the 30 min drive into Edinburgh for big Egyptian names.

Tribal Fusion people are obviously let off – BDSS are their stars, but people that claim to be Egyptian style can’t be bothered to see RANDA KAMEL (£20/30 a ticket I think it was?) with a LIVE BAND but can make more effort for the BDSS (the weekend would have cost more than Randa, for sure)? I just find it sad. Also, I have found with my own workshop students (my workshops are attended by a random assortment of people from across SE/central Scotland) it is a strange situation with a local teacher that claims to align herself to Egyptian style but probably didn’t want to tell her minions about an event that she was not personally involved with (she WAS at Raqs B). Sad.

If I had the money I would have gone to Raqs B too. The congress would be no 2 on my list and Raqs B no 3, but I would have gone if I could afford it.

It’s not looking good if even the usual suspects above aren’t going for their various reasons. Still, means more of Yasmina’s time and attention for me!!

Z

Originally Posted by zafirah

hmm, well I guess that overwhelming response explains why Kay is having to send out so many promotional emails recently.

It'll be a real shame if the festival isn't a success/can't be repeated because everyone spent all their money learning party tricks at Raqs Britannia.

Z

I think you are being a bit rough on those of us who went. I live so close it seemed a shame not to go to be taught by Bozenka who is a well respected dancer...I learnt no tricks, my dear unless you count a coupla shimmies I had not discovered.I had no hotel bills to pay and being asked to perform on the Fri afternoon gave my mates and I quite a boost. We also saw some wonderful performances by Brit dancers on the platform as well as at Cafe Sha'abi. I didn't go to the Sat show as I have seen the SS twice and though I do admire them they don't match up to the Farha shows with Dandesh and Randa so I was content with a cracking UK show on the Fri and saw not only familiar faces but some known to me only by name all for the cost of a local hafla.

I also also enjoyed the fact that I was supporting UK teachers and dancers and traders at that Friday show and in the souk. UK BD is not doing too badly out of BDSS.
As I wrote, I cannot go to Farha as it's the time my husband could get off work to go on holiday and funnily enough he wasn't keen on my suggestion I take him to Newcastle instead of Turkey or Egypt or Morocco ( I have finally got to drag him to lands of dance and I ain't stopping now!). I also think July in a lean time to have a festival but then there are so many BD events this year and it had to fit in somewhere...and there's the problem!
Friends of mine who went to BDSS are also going to Farha and (like me) to JOY.
As a member of NADA and Mosaic I do my darndest to promote all BD ventures and a fair number of my students went to BDSS and are going to JOY but late July was for many of them their annual holidays with their kids.
No way would I not support Kay and her ventures but purses are not bottomless.

PS Farha and Randa had a full house down our way!

I'm going to Farha - I cannot get enough of Yasmina, and the live band thing was def a big plus. I would have gone to BDSS if I was closer to it, but the large classes do turn me off. I would rather travel to Europe where they do not pack you in like sardines.

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

I'm going to Farha - I cannot get enough of Yasmina, and the live band thing was def a big plus. I would have gone to BDSS if I was closer to it, but the large classes do turn me off. I would rather travel to Europe where they do not pack you in like sardines.

I was in a class of about 40 with Bozenka. A big room, she was on a stage, mike'd up and despite my fears, vision was good. There was some rotation but most dancers had found a spec. they liked and stuck with it.

I can see why the chance to dance to the band is such a draw and so useful for dancers like yourself and Zaf and Wiggle and other young and semi pro dancers and even for older dancers like myself just for the pleasure and sake of it. But offer the chance to most of my students who at most are entering their 3rd year of dance and they'd run a mile at the idea Live musicians can be quite daunting and a know quite a few experienced dancers who are not keen either. I try to encourage improvisation and self confidence in students and I would whole heartedly recommend the chance to interact with a band at every opportunity but with some dancers, they'd run a mile!

I do hope Farha is a resounding success and I would think there are enough dancers in Scotland and the north of England to support it.
And with the workshops and band "practise", how much more attractive is that than staying in Butlins and waking up in the morning "hoping" you are gonna get the workshop you've paid for!,r:;

Thanks for the clarification. That's a good point-who do the organizers select after Randa? I guess Dina-if they can afford her. If not, maybe Soraya? She seems very entertaining...

Originally Posted by zafirah

Hi Christina,

This isn't the Farha tour (less than a year since Randa was here) but a festival put on by the same people.


http://www.faridadance.com/farha_tou...a_festival.htm

They are bringing Feret el Negoum and Yasmina/Khazafy over - the festival is all about live music and most workshops will have at least one musician from Feret el Negoum in it. So its about the music not so much about learning lots of new moves which is sadly why it seems it possibly won't be as well attended as Raqs Britannia (BDSS) or the bellydance congress (lots of international teachers incl. Raqia, Randa, Samesen, I'd go if i could afford 2 dance festivals this year)).

Hopefully there will be another Farha TOUR, but where do you go after Randa Kamel?! Not sure the budget would stretch to Dina (plus I think Randa is a hard act to follow, even for Dina)

Z

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

I'm going to Farha - I cannot get enough of Yasmina, and the live band thing was def a big plus. I would have gone to BDSS if I was closer to it, but the large classes do turn me off. I would rather travel to Europe where they do not pack you in like sardines.

I wish people down on the south coast felt that way (I do too! ) as for the first time since starting to host her regularly each year I have had to cancel a weekend of workshops and a haflah with Yasmina! Normally I hold it in or near Reading but this year it was moved to Southampton because of venue problems and because I know that there are a *lot* of dancers in the region, but tickets sales were incredibly low. I am surprised and to be honest a little shocked that I've had to cancel, normally the workshops sell out.

This helped me make the decision that I will not host workshop events in that region any more. I used to live in Reading and there is a big student base up there (much bigger than where I live now) which meant that most events ran quite well, but I got very disheartened this time. When I first started advertising I was swamped with enquiries but in the end hardly anyone bought tickets, even though they were all cheaper than last year's event.

I wish the Farha Festival every success - it's a wonderful idea and if I weren't flying to the states shortly after it's over I'd be up there like a shot even though it's at the opposite end of the country.

I'm going to the Farha Festival-really looking forward to dancing with the band. There aren't enough musicians near where I live (a couple of people who drum) and I really like dancng to live music.Its a great opportunity. There is such a lot happening this year tho

Hi Candi- welcome to bhuz!

I would have loved to go! I just got the Farha tour DVD (2006). I certainly hope they would continue to do something like that in the future. Dani, I agree with you, we need something like this Stateside!!!

Originally Posted by beafarhana

Hi Candi- welcome to bhuz!

Is Candi who I think she is!?..g.:

Originally Posted by ChristinaRizkallah

Thanks for the clarification. That's a good point-who do the organizers select after Randa? I guess Dina-if they can afford her. If not, maybe Soraya? She seems very entertaining...

I was thinking the same thing! I didn`t really "get" Soraya until I saw her live, but she is dynamite! And she has a fantastic connection with the audience, really, really friendly. I swear, for a minute there, she danced only for me :Awink:

[QUOTE=afra14;33416]I wish people down on the south coast felt that way (I do too! ) as for the first time since starting to host her regularly each year I have had to cancel a weekend of workshops and a haflah with Yasmina! Normally I hold it in or near Reading but this year it was moved to Southampton because of venue problems and because I know that there are a *lot* of dancers in the region, but tickets sales were incredibly low. I am surprised and to be honest a little shocked that I've had to cancel, normally the workshops sell out.

QUOTE]

Hi afra - I hear you ! I organise lots of things in Edinburgh, and they are not doing very well this year, and it has left me thinking - shall I go on ?

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

Hi afra - I hear you ! I organise lots of things in Edinburgh, and they are not doing very well this year, and it has left me thinking - shall I go on ?

Well, it made my mind up for me - I'm not doing events like this anymore. It's too much hassle and as a full-time dancer/teacher I can't afford to throw money away on venue deposits etc, as I've done this year.

Well I got back last night and now back in the real world. I had a great weekend (even though I didn't learn a single new move ;-) ) and feel inspired again. So much gorgeous music. So few gigs where I can dance to it :-(

I performed with the band Sat pm and it went Ok I think except a dodgy ending but it seems most people thought my aborted spin where I decided to shimmy instead was in fact some sort of Dina inspired accent LOL. Wiggle was great with the band as usual, better than me at chilling out and rememebering how she usually dances whereas my mind goes a bit crazy in the heat of the moment (but not my dancing, that just gets a bit dull). Still I think it was an improvement on my performance with band at last years Ahlan wa Sahlan so that's at least a little progress. Everyone that performed with the band looked pretty confident and calm so top marks there! Our very own Caroline coped well when the band decided to ignore all the things she had asked them to do in rehersal! High points for me were of course Yasmina (mmm Maw'ood and that red dress) and Kazafy (forgot how much I love him!) and also Raphaelle who I have always thought is in a different league to the other JWAAD teachers particularly when it comes to really understanding the music.

Another high was my solo with the band in class on sat - I swear Yousery the tabla player knows I am going to do an accent before I do - he is amazing and you can't help but look great when he is so in tune with what you are doing. Also the drum solo class was fun and not as embarrasing as I thought it might be!

Only bad point was the damn Hen Party in the hotel room next door that kept me and wiggle awake sat pm untl 5 am!! By the last workshop Sun afternoon we just couldn't move anymore we were so tired.

Very grateful to Kay for organising it, lets hope enough people went in the end that she at least broke even!

Z

Originally Posted by zafirah

Wiggle was great with the band as usual, better than me at chilling out and rememebering how she usually dances

Awwww, thank you! Although for the record I never think your dancing goes dull. I know you feel pressured to do something AMAZING because you have a LIVE BAND, OMG - but you're so very good at staying calm and just *dancing* without the need to show off. I saw it in class - that Tabla Solos class was quite your forte, you Ass Master. ..l;,

So, here's my wee rundown for anybody who fancies it!

VENUE: Very nice. Centrally located, literally two hundred yards from the hotel. Ballet bars (good for the ballet warm-up!), mirrors in many studios, all rooms very light and airy and replete with heating - not that it was needed! The floors were slightly odd in that they were a kind of plastic(?)-coated concrete - very hard, and quite difficult to turn on. Also VERY hard on the old buttocks when you're sitting around for a while. ,f:: Ouch! But all in all, a nice venue. Nice little cafe downstairs, but I didn't have much time to enjoy it (and they need to stock more - I think we all ate and drank them out of house & home!)

ORGANISATION: Fabulous. Everything ran super-smoothly from my POV, although there was of course slippage for "Egyptian Time". I added some workshops when I got there, which was no problem at all.

CLASSES: Just the right size, I think. I had classes with the band every session, mostly with Yasmina (but one with Kay). Some involved a lot of sitting out, while info was given or while others took their solo spots. Now, I KNOW some people get annoyed when they're sitting out for info - but not me. The information was relevant and interesting and I enjoyed the opportunity to get it. The band were FABULOUS, and it was such a joy to get to listen to them and work with them a little. As Zaf mentioned, Yousry the tabla player was some kind of drum-playing psychic. .w.: He's worked with dancers for so long that he has this sixth sense of how you're going to move, where you're going to accent. He makes you look (and feel) absolutely wonderful! I was also blown away by how lovely it is to hear the accordion live - such a lovely, rich, warm sound.

THE SHOWS: Friday nights informal hafla was lovely - getting the hear and see the band up close, watch people boogie-ing, and get to see some performances. There were some little moments of pre-stage jitters from some of our entertainers, I think - but everyone got up there and did a lovely job. Being part of the Saturday night show was an eye-opener for me - Kay obviously has done this so often that she's got everything honed down to a fine art! Undoubtedly the best-organised show I've ever been a part of. I was a *little* surprised when the band didn't end my song where they'd ended it in my little in-class rehearsal but instead gave me the full song - woo hoo! ..g.: Hopefully I recovered and covered up my little "fake" ending well enough that no-one noticed. Performing with the band was an absolute blast - this was my second time on a low stage with in-your-face lights and all, so I wasn't as thrown as I was the first time I had to limit my range of motion for the stage and not go right up to the audience as I usually do. ..l;, I had a really great time, and was on a real high when I came off. I had to miss some performances - notably Zaf and Yasmina's first performance! But since the show is coming out on DVD I'll at least be able to catch up on what I missed. The band did *really* well, adjusting to the different dancer's styles and music without really having ever worked with any of us before. And the performers all seemed to have as much fun as I did and did a great job coping with what's both a fun and terrifying experience!

All in all, an amazing weekend. As Zaf mentioned, the only bad thing was the party next door - who almost got the legendary Wrath Of The Glaswegian brought upon them. ,m:: I got my revenge in the morning. After my drive home last night I was sound asleep in bed by about 8.30 pm and slept right through - so obviously I worked harder than I thought!

Much, much kudos and gratitude to Kay and her plethora of lovely helpers for putting this on. I hope, hope, *HOPE* that she made enough money to do it again someday.

*crickets chirping and tumbleweed blowing across the thread*

Mmm, I was just thinking that myself. Anybody who didn't go want to ask anything? Caroline and Candi, get your reviews up here! ..g.:

Thanks for the review, the tour is coming to OZ next year thanks to the wonderful Amera, so it looks like it is a must do!
Sounds like you all had a great time.

Cheers
Julie

Hello, 1st time poster here, and my post is so long that there's 2 of them!!

Ok, so I'm a lurker here on Bhuz and never post, but I really want to say something about the Farha Festival.

What an absolutely brilliant weekend it was, and as I wasn't woken up by Stag and Hen parties I can't fault it in any way, shape or form (I was lucky enough to have dancers in the rooms either side of me!!)

We arrived at Dance City on the Friday afternoon and the band were playing in the atrium, it was a sign of a good weekend to come. I even had a chance to have a quick practice ready for my performance on Saturday night!!

So, now for my low down of the weekend, apologies for the length, I just want you all to know how good it was!!

I began with a very informative seminar on the development of Egyptian dance with Yasmina on the Friday afternoon - it was well worth going to.

The Friday evening was a very informal affair with the band playing for general boogying and a handful of performances. It allowed everybody who was there a chance to dance to the band, even if they didn't want to do a solo performance.

Saturday morning I began with the Ballet warm up, it was interesting and if nothing else proved to me that I am not destined to become a ballerina!!

My next workshop was with Kay and Yousry billed as a Taste of Tabla. As there were only 5 of us in the workshop I got much more than a taste of tabla. Now, I hate Tabla solo's, I'm just not very good at them, find myself falling into the trap of doing much the same thing all the way through. I don't want to brag, but I was fab in this workshop!! Yousry is just amazing, as I'm sure that you would expect being the tabla player for Lucy and Randa. It was such an amazing feeling to dance with a tabla player that really watches what you do and responds to it. I hold my hands up, the reason that I was fab is completely down to Yousry and his skills, I don't think I'll ever do another tabla solo quite like the ones I pulled off in that class, but at least I can now say that I've done a good tabla solo.

A quick break for lunch and then off to the Dancing with a Singer workshop. Not much tuition in this one, but that wasn't the point of the workshop. It was wonderful to hear the passion with which Safaa explained the meaning of the lyrics and having Yasmina on hand to help with the translation was an added bonus. Everyone that wanted to had the chance to dance with Safaa singing to them, it was enough to make a girl go weak at the knees!!

Final workshop for the day was a stick workshop with Kazafy. I've come to the conclusion that I'm not really cut out for stick work, still have a nasty sore on my hand and can't hold a pen properly to write with, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. Kazafy's movements are so clear that it's really easy to follow what he's doing (or at least give it a good go!!)