Farha festival

[zafirah]

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

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

Z

[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

[Emma]

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.

[ChristinaRizkallah]

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?

[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

[cbarros]

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.

[deelybopper]

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 ...>

[lizajuk]

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

[danidance]

Z - now how do you really feel about this?

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

[zafirah]

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

[lizajuk]

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.

[lizajuk]

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

[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.

[lizajuk]

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!

[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...

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

[afra14]

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.

[Candi]

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

[beafarhana]

Hi Candi- welcome to bhuz!

[ejaghana]

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!!!

[lizajuk]

Originally Posted by beafarhana