Review of Jacky Oruc's Summer Hafla, Misterton, 1st August 2008.
by Siobhan
I was mortified to be late for this hafla - my best intentions were to be on time, but my small children, cute as they are, had other ideas! As a result, I came part way through the first set and missed the Bellicious students’ opening number, my performance slot, and the first performance of Bellykissangels. Doh. I did however catch the first part of Trish’s students performing Sakiz, and doing it beautifully - haven’t they come on really well? I could still hear the music and then the very appreciative applause in the changing rooms as I scrabbled around for the safety pins I could have sworn I packed, and wriggled into my costume at the speed of light (why does the second earring always hide away when you need it quickly, or the pig of a bra strap refuse to hook together?). Anyway, somewhat disheveled and clutching my CD, I came back in time to catch Jacky’s (aka Ayla) lovely solo and her first fabulous outfit of the evening (I think the red Hanan one is my fave). I did my bit after that and really did enjoy it, especially because the audience were so giving and enthusiastic, as they were for everyone - it does make a real difference to how you feel when you dance, I tell you!
The first of the free dance sections came next, giving us all the opportunity to catch up with each other, have a natter, a good boogie, and try to keep away from the souk (yeah right, totally impossible!) - Karen had all the lovely costumes and shiny blingy wonderfulness from her shop on display and it was more than flesh and blood could bear to avert our eyes, so most of us gave in and had a good ferret, try-on and shop. I once saw a belly dancing t-shirt that said “Just ONE MORE hipscarf…” - I think it spoke volumes.
Anyway, back to set 2, opened by Trish. I have a real soft spot for Trish’s stick performance - she does make it look so effortless and, speaking as someone whose stick work is somewhat wanting, it isn’t. She looked sassy and confident and the leopard print skirt under her dress was fab! She’d make Aida Noor very proud. Zubaidah came on next. Now I hadn’t seen these ladies before but their choreos were very good indeed and they were so in sync with one another - they performed twice and it was a real pleasure to watch them; I’ll look forward to seeing them again. Hot on their heals were Bellicious - ladies you looked fab - there were a lot of them on the dance floor but they just glided between each other and every one of them looked liked they were loving every minute of it. Bellykissangels followed with a Shakira number. I love the way their costumes all complemented each other - black, red and gold; it looked so effective. Their performance was super; upbeat and full of fun. I was totally blown away when I heard that most of them had only been performing for six months. Vey well done - another group to watch out for in the future.
Who haven’t I mentioned yet? Oh yes, Anne, Sheila and Unal. Now I am gutted to say that I was giving a helping hand to another lovely dancer to get into her costume and so missed this. However the rapturous applause when they finished told me it went down very well - do it again please at the next hafla, just for us that missed it? Connie also performed in this 3rd set. She made the costume herself you know and I have to say it was a triumph, doing justice to her very beautiful veil performance - she looked so elegant and always smiles when she dances. I want her veil… I NEED that veil…
Special mention to the last performance by Bellicious because each member of the group got to do their own solo for a bit and for many of them it was the first time. Absolutely hats off to you all, if you were nervous you never showed it! A brilliant idea and one that worked so well for the performers and was lovely to watch as an audience. Lovely, lovely dancing. Well done.
Thanks Jacky again for hosting the evening and really great to see old friends and new faces. I’m looking forward to the next gathering.
by Siobhan
I was mortified to be late for this hafla - my best intentions were to be on time, but my small children, cute as they are, had other ideas! As a result, I came part way through the first set and missed the Bellicious students’ opening number, my performance slot, and the first performance of Bellykissangels. Doh. I did however catch the first part of Trish’s students performing Sakiz, and doing it beautifully - haven’t they come on really well? I could still hear the music and then the very appreciative applause in the changing rooms as I scrabbled around for the safety pins I could have sworn I packed, and wriggled into my costume at the speed of light (why does the second earring always hide away when you need it quickly, or the pig of a bra strap refuse to hook together?). Anyway, somewhat disheveled and clutching my CD, I came back in time to catch Jacky’s (aka Ayla) lovely solo and her first fabulous outfit of the evening (I think the red Hanan one is my fave). I did my bit after that and really did enjoy it, especially because the audience were so giving and enthusiastic, as they were for everyone - it does make a real difference to how you feel when you dance, I tell you!
The first of the free dance sections came next, giving us all the opportunity to catch up with each other, have a natter, a good boogie, and try to keep away from the souk (yeah right, totally impossible!) - Karen had all the lovely costumes and shiny blingy wonderfulness from her shop on display and it was more than flesh and blood could bear to avert our eyes, so most of us gave in and had a good ferret, try-on and shop. I once saw a belly dancing t-shirt that said “Just ONE MORE hipscarf…” - I think it spoke volumes.
Anyway, back to set 2, opened by Trish. I have a real soft spot for Trish’s stick performance - she does make it look so effortless and, speaking as someone whose stick work is somewhat wanting, it isn’t. She looked sassy and confident and the leopard print skirt under her dress was fab! She’d make Aida Noor very proud. Zubaidah came on next. Now I hadn’t seen these ladies before but their choreos were very good indeed and they were so in sync with one another - they performed twice and it was a real pleasure to watch them; I’ll look forward to seeing them again. Hot on their heals were Bellicious - ladies you looked fab - there were a lot of them on the dance floor but they just glided between each other and every one of them looked liked they were loving every minute of it. Bellykissangels followed with a Shakira number. I love the way their costumes all complemented each other - black, red and gold; it looked so effective. Their performance was super; upbeat and full of fun. I was totally blown away when I heard that most of them had only been performing for six months. Vey well done - another group to watch out for in the future.
Who haven’t I mentioned yet? Oh yes, Anne, Sheila and Unal. Now I am gutted to say that I was giving a helping hand to another lovely dancer to get into her costume and so missed this. However the rapturous applause when they finished told me it went down very well - do it again please at the next hafla, just for us that missed it? Connie also performed in this 3rd set. She made the costume herself you know and I have to say it was a triumph, doing justice to her very beautiful veil performance - she looked so elegant and always smiles when she dances. I want her veil… I NEED that veil…
Special mention to the last performance by Bellicious because each member of the group got to do their own solo for a bit and for many of them it was the first time. Absolutely hats off to you all, if you were nervous you never showed it! A brilliant idea and one that worked so well for the performers and was lovely to watch as an audience. Lovely, lovely dancing. Well done.
Thanks Jacky again for hosting the evening and really great to see old friends and new faces. I’m looking forward to the next gathering.