belly dance venues in Italy?

[Lisayasmeen]

Aloha Dancers-
I will be in Italy from July 3rd- July 12th. I am interested in performing at a venue or two while I am there. Can any of you suggest some venues that have belly dancing? If so, do you know who the booker is? I plan on visiting Rome, Venice and Florence.

Because I'm visiting from out of town and not a regular house dancer, I will not be asking for the typical compensation. Adding the experience of dancing in Italy would be great to add to my dance resume. I danced at the Pyramids Egyptian restaurant in Honolulu, HI a couple times while I was working with WATG. I was compensated with a meal and drinks. It was a blast and such a nice experience. Shadiya was a house dancer there and she helped me with that venue.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Love and shimmies-

[BreaMorgiane]

There's a very sweet lady and a bellydance costume shop in Venice. I was there during Carnivale and wanted desperately to dance, but no luck! Check out the shop, though. I wish I could remember where it was in Venice, or what it was called. That city is fun but very easy to get lost in!

[Lisa Michelle]

I cannot remember where Maya Gaorry is from in Italy, but I think it may be near Venice. You could check with her. She is a lovely person and wonderful dancer. Here is her website:

Danza del ventre, danza orientale, belly dance - Sito ufficiale di Maya Gaorry

[katja]

Originally Posted by Lisayasmeen

Aloha Dancers-
I will be in Italy from July 3rd- July 12th. I am interested in performing at a venue or two while I am there. Can any of you suggest some venues that have belly dancing? If so, do you know who the booker is? I plan on visiting Rome, Venice and Florence.

Because I'm visiting from out of town and not a regular house dancer, I will not be asking for the typical compensation. Adding the experience of dancing in Italy would be great to add to my dance resume. I danced at the Pyramids Egyptian restaurant in Honolulu, HI a couple times while I was working with WATG. I was compensated with a meal and drinks. It was a blast and such a nice experience. Shadiya was a house dancer there and she helped me with that venue.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Love and shimmies-

You have Faridas fabolous festival in Palermo 4th july! faridaonline.com or Raqs Sicilia : International Oriental Dance Festival

[khalida777]

Ciao, Lisa!

You'll love Italy! Florence is my second home

Last September I danced at "La Valle dei Cedri", the only Lebanese restaurant in the city, and it was an amazing experience, must put up a blog on that one of these days.

Ibrahim is the owner and very professional with the highest of standards. Whether you dance there or not you will be treated with the greatest kindness and respect. You might try contacting him before you leave re the possibility of performing. In any case, I highly recommend at least one visit to La Valle dei Cedri for a meal; the food, décor, staff, music, etc. all make for a spectacular experience. Here is the website with the contact info:

Valle Dei Cedri - Contatti

Parli italiano? If so, you'll find this website extremely useful re general info on bellydance in Italy:

LucyintheSky Immaginari e dintorni della Danza Orientale


Buon viaggio!


Khalida

[khalida777]

P.S.

My profile pic was taken by my mum during the first set of my performance at "La Valle dei Cedri".

Khalida

[magdelenam]

Originally Posted by Lisayasmeen

Aloha Dancers-
I will be in Italy from July 3rd- July 12th. I am interested in performing at a venue or two while I am there. Can any of you suggest some venues that have belly dancing? If so, do you know who the booker is? I plan on visiting Rome, Venice and Florence.

Love and shimmies-

Hi Lisa
I will be in Florence from July 2nd thru July 6th for work. I'd like to know what you found out about dance in Florence as i would love to go to a class or 2 while I'm there & possibly to a restaurant that has dancers. If you are there at the same time - would you like to meet up?

[Bellydancingcaroline]

Make sure to get paid properly, otherwise any other 'out of towners' or foreigners will have to fight to get paid properly after you. Good luck & I hope you have a great time.

[magdelenam]

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

Make sure to get paid properly, otherwise any other 'out of towners' or foreigners will have to fight to get paid properly after you. Good luck & I hope you have a great time.

Hi Caroline - I'm there for my other job - not to dance so getting paid will not be an issue. They have the big Pitti Filatti yarn show there. I made reservations to the Valle Dei Cedri for Friday night dinner s/b a great time! Now all I need to do is find out Maya Gaorry is still in Florence since I could not access her website...

[khalida777]

You will love Valle dei Cedri!! Please say "Marhaba" to Ibrahim, the owner, for me (Kellye from Canada)!

Firenze . . . bella Firenze. . . .



Khalida

[magdelenam]

Originally Posted by khalida777

You will love Valle dei Cedri!! Please say "Marhaba" to Ibrahim, the owner, for me (Kellye from Canada)!

Firenze . . . bella Firenze. . . .


Khalida

Hi Khalida - I sure will

I'm really looking forward to this trip!!!

[emma-bessa]

I second both Maya(fabulous teacher!) and Raqs Sicilia,here´s Maya´s site:
Danza del ventre, danza orientale, belly dance - Sito ufficiale di Maya Gaorry

AND if you scroll down here you will see my adventures in gothy bangs:/

Plus how hair extensions look if you dance Iraqi style with hair spinning-
and forgot your hair brush at home;D
MAYA GAORRY IN SVEZIA

Our troup "Rainbow Pride"galabeyas looks great though!

[meissoun]

Originally Posted by magdelenam

Hi Caroline - I'm there for my other job - not to dance so getting paid will not be an issue.

Not for you maybe - but undercutting ist undercutting. No matter why.
The resident dancer might not be happy about a foreign dancer coming and snatching her gig because maybe SHE needs the money!

MEISSOUN

[Bellydancingcaroline]

From a dancer who picks up spare cash when she travels by dancing in new places - please charge a fair rate for this gig ! Or if you only want to dance for fun, go the the place as a customer, have a nice dinner and get up and dance with the house dancer when invited.

[nisaasaintlouis]

Guys, I don't think Maggie was saying she was going to perform while over there...but the original poster did (and also mentioned the dancing for "less than usual compensation"/for meals and drinks). In the latter case, I agree with what Meissoun and Caroline are saying...even if you are just a visitor, please try to research and charge the "going rate" for the sake of the local community, who may be struggling to get that fair wage.

Nisaa

[magdelenam]

Originally Posted by meissoun

Not for you maybe - but undercutting ist undercutting. No matter why.
The resident dancer might not be happy about a foreign dancer coming and snatching her gig because maybe SHE needs the money!

MEISSOUN

Just so you all know - I am a fashion designer for my day job and I travel a lot. I am going to Florence for the Pitti Filati Yarn show. Going out to dinner & taking a class here & there while traveling for work is just a fringe benefit. At no point in this post did I say I was going there to work as a dancer - please read what I said before you jump on me for imagined crimes against our already stuggling dancer pay scale.

[JeanneLF]

You don't mention Milan, but if you should happen to find yourself there, you might want to look up Olivia. Her websites are all in Italian, but she does speak English -- she's come out to the Bay Area a couple of times for Suhaila weeklongs -- so no problem in e-mailing her.
AL-KIMIYA
Rose del Deserto

[Bellydancingcaroline]

Hi - just incase there was any confusion my comments were in response to this post

Originally Posted by Lisayasmeen

Because I'm visiting from out of town and not a regular house dancer, I will not be asking for the typical compensation. ... I danced at the Pyramids Egyptian restaurant in Honolulu, HI a couple times while I was working with WATG. I was compensated with a meal and drinks.

[magdelenam]

Originally Posted by JeanneLF

You don't mention Milan, but if you should happen to find yourself there, you might want to look up Olivia. Her websites are all in Italian, but she does speak English -- she's come out to the Bay Area a couple of times for Suhaila weeklongs -- so no problem in e-mailing her.
AL-KIMIYA
Rose del Deserto

I will be in Milan this trip but not long enough to take a class - maybe next time. Thanks for the contact info!