Thread: Raqs B. . .

Okay, Ihave jsut started booking workshops and I have a train ticket from London to Blackpool. Now to start getting hte rest into place. . .

Who else is going? What are you taking? Where are you staying?

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Okay, Ihave jsut started booking workshops and I have a train ticket from London to Blackpool. Now to start getting hte rest into place. . .

Who else is going? What are you taking? Where are you staying?

{{{{HUGS}}}}

I am and I am staying at ...MY place. I can see Blackpool across the river.
Should you be desperate there is a futon in a messy costume depository aka bedroom but as Wiggle will attest I can make porridge............
At present a mate is trying to get me to stop over with her so I can let you know the hotel if we do that.....

Ahhhh! Thanks! please keep me updated about what you are doing. Everyone else as well!

{{{HUGS}}}

I am and I can't remember where I'm staying as someone else booked my room - but I know its on the list.

Workshops - doing - oh god - I can't remember - some Jillina, a Sonia, and a couple of tribally ones.....

Emma
note to self - write these things down somewhere so you dont look completely ditsy!!

Hey Emma!

I am not taking Jillina and grew because (please don't hate me) many of them are local to LA and I can take them here. I am currently signed up for 3 of the more English based teachers, including Afras.

*Afra - Morocco says hello!

I'm really excited!

Anyone planning on dancing?

{{{HUGS}}}}

Tahira, I think I'm now an attendee at Raqs B after being offered a place at Liz's. Woman must *really* be a glutton for punishment hosting me again! ..g.:

I shall be doing a Bozenka workshop, and I suspect that'll be about it since I'm scarily broke. But it'll be nice just to meet folks and have a goot blether! ..g.:

I look forward to a blether and a few drinky poos to keep it going!
E

Originally Posted by wigglewhiz

Tahira, I think I'm now an attendee at Raqs B after being offered a place at Liz's. Woman must *really* be a glutton for punishment hosting me again! ..g.:

I shall be doing a Bozenka workshop, and I suspect that'll be about it since I'm scarily broke. But it'll be nice just to meet folks and have a goot blether! ..g.:

And I dare say we can still house a desperate American..

Originally Posted by lizajuk

And I dare say we can still house a desperate American..

LMAO!

With an offer like that, how can I refuse! Thank you!

I look forward to a good blether. I'll even see if I can sneak in some California wine. Which we will have to drink so I have room in my suitcases for new costumes!

{{{HUGS}}}

I think I'm going to go to this. It looks great! Anybody want to share a hotel room?
Hannan

no, I can't, but can I have your profile costume when you're finished with it?

Originally Posted by hannan

I think I'm going to go to this. It looks great! Anybody want to share a hotel room?
Hannan

Part of me wants to come to this to see the show, chat with people etc. but I just can't get excited about being in classes of 80 - 120 people. I can't imagine what learning veil would be like in a class that large. I'd rather buy a video for the amount of teacher interaction you get in a class that size, cos at least then I'm in the front row

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

Part of me wants to come to this to see the show, chat with people etc. but I just can't get excited about being in classes of 80 - 120 people. I can't imagine what learning veil would be like in a class that large. I'd rather buy a video for the amount of teacher interaction you get in a class that size, cos at least then I'm in the front row

I haven't picked workshops that bad deliberately and I really rate the teachers I have picked. And hey, Michelle Pender's workshop that I'm down for on the Sunday is fully booked and some of the "Stars" ain't!
Also I'm off to the UK halfa rather than pay £35 or £45 for the Stars. Blackpool is just too near (40mins in a fair wind and Wiggle's sat-nav) to miss the opportunity. I can't say, Caroline I might make the effort if it wasn't for the fact I can see Blackpool tower from where I live.

I see your point, if it were in Glasgow (an hour up the road from me) I'd def be making the effort.

What UK hafla? Do tell.

UK Hafla is the Friday night gathering. Saturday night is the Stars Ball (sit down dinner)

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

I see your point, if it were in Glasgow (an hour up the road from me) I'd def be making the effort.

What UK hafla? Do tell.

The friday night £10/£20sees a hafla of UK dancers as opposed to the £35/£45 show of BDSS.

Well gals loks like I'm going to meet you all, and maybe even photograph someof you in your finery. I had a meeting with the Raks B people up at the venue last Monday (Blackpool's Winter Gardens, jaded Victorian opulence, lots of large, interesting and gorgeous rooms, great venue). I think you're going to love it. They've asked me to let all the Bhuzzers know that we will be there to capture their loveliness for all eternity (photographically speaking that is).

Our company is setting up a photo studio with three lights and backdrop and a pro studio photographer with plenty of MED photography experience will be on hand Fri, Sat and Sun to take photos of you. They'll be printed on a dye-sub printer same day for you to take with you (fyi a dye-sub printer is the same technology as all the photo labs use - as opposed to inkjet which we all tend to use at home).

So if you need some good portfolio do bring a couple of costumes with you.

We're going with a black backdrop so anything goes. We will also bring the wind machine so we can get your hair flowing and the veils streaming. Can't wait, my favourite type of work!!..g.:

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to Raqs B, I've booked all my travel and a cheap B&B...I'm going to do a couple of Jillina's workshops and one of Bozenkas. I'm gonna try and get a spot on the open stage too but they haven't started booking that yet...

I've also booked for both shows - ladies you don't have to pay for dinner for the Superstars show - you can get tickets for the balcony for £15 (and have a fish supper instead...).

Kathy - I'm really interested in the photo shoot opportunity (wind machine, ooh!). What's the charge for this?

I'm really looking forward to this - a whole weekend of dancing - YAY! And it would be great to meet up with some other Bhuzzers in the flesh!

C x

Originally Posted by KathyC

Our company is setting up a photo studio with three lights and backdrop and a pro studio photographer with plenty of MED photography experience will be on hand Fri, Sat and Sun to take photos of you. They'll be printed on a dye-sub printer same day for you to take with you (fyi a dye-sub printer is the same technology as all the photo labs use - as opposed to inkjet which we all tend to use at home).

Ooh! That sounds wonderful. Any chance of you offering the same service at the Congress in September? (Where's the smily for "Please, pretty please, with a cherry on the top...")

WOO WHOO!!!!! This looks like it's going to be fun!

Spoke with someone who should know last night, and for anyone who went last year, I was told that this year should be MUCh better organized! I am looking forward to it either way! Now to figure out how to get the wine through custumes. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

The cost will be £10 per printed shot or £20 for three (at 8"x6"). You get to choose which shot(s) we print from a selection of about 10 we'll shoot of you. You will see them on the laptop screen first, and if you don't like them, you don't have to buy.

I'll be shooting against a blue chromakey background so I can change the background colour to suit where possible (blue is easy to isolate - unless of course you're wearing a blue costume ... note to self ... must think of alternative for blue costumes)

Also one of our team will be doing video recordings of each dance in the staged open platform bit, so they'll be available for purchase too (the individual dances that is, not the whole two/three days!). Details on this part are still to be confirmed but I will let you know.

Would love to do the Belly Dance Congress too, who do I speak to about that?

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

WOO WHOO!!!!! This looks like it's going to be fun!
{{{HUGS}}}

Are you in the UK yet ? I've moved and lost my old email connection and a lot of email addresses.

Can you email me at lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk please ? I'm around for about 3 weeks and then in France, Spain and Portugal for 5 - 6 weeks.

After that ? ....no idea. I'm toying with the idea of going to the WOMAD fest in July which usually gets a few dancers turning up (Robert Plant's daughter was teaching ME dance last year, but we couldn't find the venue.)

Helen - You have mail!

{{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by KathyC

Would love to do the Belly Dance Congress too, who do I speak to about that?

Irene or Edwin at Aladdins Cave, I should think would be the best point of contact.

Update: Does anyone have a room they want to share Saturday night? Haven't had time to book and would rather share the madness with someone! ;-)

Besides, it'll help with everyone's expenses!

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Update: Does anyone have a room they want to share Saturday night? Haven't had time to book and would rather share the madness with someone! ;-)

Besides, it'll help with everyone's expenses!

{{{HUGS}}}

PM'd you.

Any one coming to Blackpool, we don't seem to be quite as wet as some parts of this poor battered country. In fact, the sun shone today!
But then Arnie has come to visit so we can all feel safe in our beds!No doubt he can put his finger in any dam ..g.:

What's the report Raqs Britannia-ites?

Tell us all about Raqs B.! pretty please?

Sob.... I went out for a Starbucks on Sat afternoon and missed Uzume..
An amazing weekend.Great to meet up with Tahira and Cassi.
We were asked to take part in a show on the Fri afternoon and apart from a thumping sound system which seemed to distort particularly our second number, it went well...and I have hit the BIG time, BIG style...I was the back end of Desiree. ..g.:
Friday show and party was great.All the dancers were stars and Lorna wow! I stayed later than I expected, bopping and generally hair down time, as my friends were going back home as they had walked outa their filthy B&B .
So we were not really up to getting back on Sat in time for my morning workshop and I only made the afternnon one.Bozenka is luverley.
Dithered about the £15 tickets for the show but decided we wanted the h$ll outa Blackpool on a Sat night!
Loved the Winter Gardens, loved the open platform, the shopping , the meeting people so I came back with him indoors and friends on the Sunday instead of going to the Arabic Arts festival in Liverpool and oh dear me bought a Madam Abla from Faridadance...well it fitted and come on, it fitted better and looked rather nicer than Desi's arse.
Hence I am selling an Eman and Shimmyshop...OMG..Mandy had made some gems!Stunning cozzies!
I am glad it is coming back and hope to go again but no way would I take a chance on accomodation and would want to stay outa town at the Premier on the outskirts or the Hilton or even go to Lytham where we had a great meal on the way home. Poor Blackpool has gone to the dogs or rather stags and hens and is even more desperate in the rain and what rain!!..cr.: