nwbellydance.com

Dance season is in full swing!  Loads of opportunities to dance
around the Olympia area.

Mas Uda turned down an opportunity to dance at a cultural
evening - we usually love these but this one was to be set at
Juvenile detention facilities (this was not clear in the initial
contact) - although we’d love to help out, we just don’t think
it’s a good venue for our dance.  We gave them some other ways
to find more suitable entertainment and hope that they’ll find
some that will work for them.  The program is through a grant
to help incarcerated youth.

Med Fest was fun as always - a lot of variety and my troupe
members spent $$$!!  We had new beledi dresses to compliment
our purple beaded belt costume.  As always the Babylonian
Ensemble run a GREAT event. 

We also danced at the Shelton Farmer’s Market and at Oregon
Trail Days - both fun events and a chance to get out into
smaller towns and spread belly dance - folks seem to love it at
these venues.

Great Cuisine of India, 116 W 4th Ave, Olympia - 360-943-3442
continues to have dancers twice a month on Sunday evenings -
TIME- 6:30, and if there’s a good enough crowd, another show at
7:30 -
Contact Kashani if you’d like to dance.  Minimum pay is $25.
Aug 10 - Kashani (first set - live music?) & Mas Uda (second
set)
Aug 31 - local teacher’s night - if you teach in the Olympia
area, here’s a chance to show off your stuff in time for fall
class registration. If you are interested in taking classes,
come see local instructors dance, talk with them, get info on
classes!
Sep 14 - workshop instructor - Elizabeth Mahina of She’enedra
Tribal (California)
Sep 28 - tentatively:  Hanan (maybe students, too!)
Oct 12 - DANCER NEEDED
Oct 26 - DANCER NEEDED - maybe Amira of Mas Uda (or the
following date)?
Nov 9 - DANCER NEEDED
Nov 30 - no dancer - long weekend
Dec 14 - dancer TBA
Dec 29 - no dancer - long weekend
——————————————————————
Olympia’s second Sunday workshop series is planned into the fall. 
Sunday August 10 - Jennifer Secrist Goran of Tribe Nawaar (Denver
area)(see www.TribeNawaar.com for more info on Jennifer), 
Jennifer is teacher certified in ATS by Fat Chance Belly Dance.
2 workshops:    Introduction to Tribal Style & Group Improvisation
- 10-12pm - $35 after Aug 4
Mesmerizing Slow Moves - 1:30-3:30pm - $35 after Aug 4
BOTH WORKSHOPS, PRE-Registered (by Aug 4) = $50
At Shakes Dance Center, 2724 A Black Lake Blvd, Olympia, WA  98512

Sunday September 14 - Elizabeth Mahina of She’enedra Tribal
(California) -
Exploring Dynamics
Elizabeth is also certified in ATS by FCBD
——————————————————————
Lots of classes are going on in Oly-
~Kashani is at the Woman’s club on Mondays
~ Wednesday afternoons at TESC - class starts again in the fall.
~Wednesday evening - drills and step combos/review - starts again
in the fall ~Mas Uda’s Thursday intermediate & performance classes
at Shakes Dance Center on Black Lake Blvd (by the archery place)
~Hanan on Tuesdays at the Olympia Center
~Tribal style (ATS) with Andrea is on Mondays at the Eagles.
~ Mogra is no longer teaching entry level, just troupe.
~Kashani is available for workshops and private lessons -
reasonable rates & nice studio space - every floor I teach on is
‘foot friendly’!!
~Get 5-6 students together and a time that works for Kashani and
we can ‘make our own’ class!!

IF YOU’D LIKE YOUR CLASSES (or other events) LISTED HERE in the
monthly Olympia area b.dance newsletter, SEND THE INFO TO
KASHANI AND IT’LL GO OUT TO HUNDREDS OF FOLKS!!

If you’d like to no longer receive this, just let Kashani know

Kashani & Mas Uda = excellent instruction at reasonable rates! 
ALL classes are on “foot friendly” surfaces!! (no concrete or
other ‘unforgiving’ surfaces)
Mas Uda PERFORMANCES:

v     Sat. Aug 2, 2:30 pm - Food Court stage, Thurston County
Fair

v     Mon Aug 4, 12:25- State Diversity Fair, Labor & Industries
Rotunda, Tumwater

v     Sun evening Aug 10 - Kashani and Mas Uda dance at Great
Cuisine, 4th & Columbia, Oly

v     Sat Aug 23, 2:00 pm - Sand in the City, downtown Olympia

v     Sun. Aug 31 - 5:00 - Olympia’s Harbor Days on the
boardwalk

6:30 - Kashani and other teachers at teacher night at Great
Cuisine!

v     Fri. Oct. 3 - Artswalk - 7:30 at the Washington Center
for the Performing Arts

v     Feb 2009 - Brothers of the Baladi at South Puget Sound
Community College

v     April 4-5, 2009 - Mas Uda’s Evening at the Oasis benefit
show and workshops

—————————————————————————-
AND — NON-DANCE ITEMS -

Daisies to dig up if anyone wants some, contact Kashani — they
are spreading too much and I need to ‘pull them back’ to where
I want them - they get really tall and are blooming beautifully.
They make nice cut flowers in a vase on the table - and they last
a long time, too!
————————————————————————-
For more info about classes and performances in the Olympia area,
contact
Kashani via www.mas-uda.com
also take a look at http://www.myspace.com/masudaolympia

Happy dancing!
Kashani of Mas Uda
www.mas-uda.com
http://www.myspace.com/masudaolympia
Sponsors of annual benefit show/workshops
April 4/5, 2009 featuring workshops with Riskallah Ryad of
Connecticut
Show includes Riskallah Ryad (www.riskallah.com) and Riskallah
Ryad Dance Theater Company

Dear Dancers,
I hope you are enjoying your summer!  This is a reminder that I
have opened registration for next year’s intensive training
project.  For those of you who were able to see one of the
performances of last years project will know what a rewarding and
exciting year we have ahead of us.  Last year we performed at
Town Hall for Noruz, at Folklife, at the Rainier Valley Cultural
Center for our end of the year recitals, at the Iranian Fest
and we went on tour to Nepal.  There are sure to be equally
exciting things in store for us in the coming year!

The introductory weekend is September 13th and 14th, 2008.
On Friday, September 12th you can come see me perform at the
RVCC to have an idea of some of the dances and their
backgrounds.
Fri 12.9.2008   USA/Washington, Seattle
Solo Performance: Dances under the Crescent Moon
Rainier Valley Cultural Center Arts Gumbo Series
http://www.seedseattle.org/seedarts/rvcc/rvcc_artsgumbo.html
order tickets at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/38104?prod_id=1784

For the project itself:
There are 6 hours of class on each day (12 for the weekend)
The exact times and place will be announced as soon as I have
worked out everything with the studio.
We use time to learn about cultural and historical background,
dance notation etc as well as to dance!
The price for the weekend is $150.

The other weekends will be
October 18-19, 2008
November 8-9, 2008
December 13-14, 2008
January 10-11, 2009
February 21-22, 2009
March 14-15, 2009
April 4-5, 2009
May 16-17, 2009
May 30-31, 2009
Final recitals June 5 & 6, 2009 at the Rainier Valley Cultural
Center (and possibly a performance at Northwest Folklife, as
well as the option for
an international tour to a folklore festival)

The introductory weekend in September is open to anyone who wants
to come and acquaint themselves with my work and what I propose
to do in the training program. We will try out many different
dance styles, look at videos, see photos of previous training
programs that I have led. You will have the chance to ask any and
all questions about the work and together we will pick the 7
dance styles that we will work on over the following year.
Yes! Whoever comes to the introductory weekend helps to choose
the repertoire!

The project itself will then be a series of 9 intensive weekends
of 12 hours each. We would have a theme and a repertoire of 7
dances…decided upon in the introductory weekend, after which
one must decide to participate or not and commit by contract.
We will learn the techniques of each of the dance styles decided
upon, do dance training and yoga, learn about the cultural and
historical backgrounds for the different dance styles, learn
about choreography, staging, stage make-up and costumes. We
learn 7 different group choreographies…each student will be in
4 choreographies, but is expected to be able to stand in for the
other 3 if necessary.  We will also make decisions about
costuming at the introductory workshop…which will mostly come
from my collection. At the end of the project we do a recital…
I do solos in between the group choreographies so that we have a
smooth running, full evening performance. There is a certificate
of participation for
all who complete the program. If you would like to chat about
anything you are welcome to call! 843/599-1089

Best regards!
Helene
www.helene-eriksen.de

AUGUST at OTTOMAN TRADING COMPANY
Hi Dancers and Friends… Ottoman Trading Company has lots
going on this August..and you are invited.
 
FREE KIDS BELLY DANCE CLASS…SAT AUG 2
This coming weekend-August 2-3, Country Village is running a
kid’s event. Lot’s of special classes and activities for the
kids.  For more info check out
www.CountryVillageBothell.com <http://www.countryvillagebothell.com/>
We will offer a free kid’s belly dance class Saturday at 1:30,
in addition to our regular Princess Class at NOON.  Sunday we
will have Turkish Evil Eyes and Beads so the kids can make a
necklace.
 
For Jewelry Makers, Bead Collectors and Costumers…August
8-10 A Bead Show and Sale will be held on Country Village’s
Center Stage, August 8-9-10. Our West African Bead Man, MUSA,
will be here with his extensive collection of Beads…set up in
our Caravan Tent at the end of our Dance Studio. Five other
vendors, hosted by www.zizbead.com
<http://www.zizbead.com/> ,  will be set up Center Stage.
 
HULA BELLYDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA….Starring ALEXANDRA and the
KIELE HAWAIIAN Dancers. Hosted by ASIYA.
Alexandra will teach a workshop Saturday morning (Sign up with
Dena or Asiya; it is filling fast) and the Dance Show starts at
1:30.  We dance on the Stage until 5 PM.  Show is free, and open
to the community. As you know, Uncle Williama, who prepares the
Luau has just come home from the hospital…so no Luau this year.
There is, however, lots of food available about the shopping
center…even Falafal and Gyros…and  Uncle Williama will
certainly be preparing his famous Mango Smoothies…and perhaps
a few Hawaiian surprises as well.
EMERALD SANCTUARY BELLY DANCE RETREAT  August 21-24  Indigo of
www.indigodance.net <http://www.indigodance.net/>  hostesses
this wonderful camp-out for dancers.  Dena, Michelle, Sabine and
some of their dancers will be attending.  Check it out on
Indigo’s website.
 
Store will remain open while Dena is in retreat….and many items
are on SALE…including Kilim Purses, Pashminas, and Turkish
Carpets…  Our Web Shop is now OPEN, with new items being
added every day. See www.ottomantradingco.com.
 
SAVE September 14th.  We are having our 3rd Annual TOTALLY
TRIBAL HAFLA. hosted by SABINE, with tribal style dancing from
2-5 PM on the stage.  This year we will turn the studio into a
GRAND BAZAAR with lot’s of Tribal and Ethnic Treasures from Silk
Road Tribal, Dena’s collection and other surprises.  Shopping
from 10-5 PM.  Working on FOOD SURPRISES now…as what is a
party without FOOD ?…
 
Hope to see you at any/all of our fun events.  Have a Happy
Summer and Thankyou Again for your Support.  Dena  425 368 0369
 
 
Ottoman Trading Company
23634 Bothell-Everett Hwy
Bothell, WA 98021
 
425-368-0369
 <mailto:info@ottomantradingco.com&gt; 
 <mailto:info@ottomantradingco.com&gt;
info@ottomantradingco.com
Ottoman Trading Company
23634 Bothell-Everett Hwy
Bothell, WA 98021
 
425-368-0369
 <mailto:info@ottomantradingco.com&gt;
 info@ottomantradingco.com

We only send about 4-6 newsletters a year (most between Oct
and March) and we try to keep them very short and fast to
navigate.
Thanks for your attention! We know your time is valuable!
_________________________________

1) INTERNATIONAL: Saqra in FALL WORKSHOPS -  NE, NJ, Germany,
ID, etc
http://www.saqra.net/calendar.html

2) NATIONAL: Saqra NOMINATED for 2008 Zaghareet Magazine
INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR - VOTE TODAY!
http://zaghareet.freeservers.com/poll.html or QUICKLINK
http://www.saqra.net/index.html

3) NATIONAL: Seeking WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS coming to the SEATTLE
area

4) WEST COAST: AUGUST MICHAEL BAXTER PHOTOGRAPHY HAPPENING in
SEATTLE area
http://www.saqra.net/photography.html

5) EAST COAST: Carl Sermon’s SPRING CARAVAN PHOTOS uploaded
to Rakkasah
Photo Site http://www.saqra.net/rakkasah/index.html

6) REMOVE
_________________________________

World Dance Showcase has just turned 1 year old, and like a
toddler, it has grown legs and taken a life of its own! Every
month quakes with talent, artistry, and incredible vibes. Your
involvement has created this magic. Thank you thank you thank
you to all who have performed, attended, provided production
support, and otherwise contributed to this community event.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
July’s “Afro-Arabic” focus was explosive, and everyone that
attended is still talking about it! Miraculously, the lineup
for this Sunday, August 3rd, is looking just as inspiring,
featuring…

—DELILAH, internationally acclaimed innovator and visionary
of the art of belly dance, accompanied by ERIK BROWN on tabla
(and who knows, if we’re lucky — maybe a few more H.O.T.
musicians!)

—SIMONE and SOFIE, two of the area’s most exceptionally
talented young sisters, performing contemporary dance and belly
dance fusion as solo and duet!

   Those who have seen Sofie can’t forget her (see the December 07
photos). Having studied with the Zurich Ballet, her sister Simone
has been performing with a professional Austrian dance company,
“Tiroler Landestheater,” for the past two years, and has just been
recruited by Germany’s “Chemnitz Ballet.” As it turns out, she is
also a talented singer/songwriter. She is in the area briefly to
visit family, so catch her while you can!

—Special guest performances by: RAHZEL (Egyptian Oriental
Fusion), AISHA (Egyptian Cabaret), and KRYSTAL (Oriental/Egyptian
Cabaret)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WORLD DANCE SHOWCASE
Sunday, August 3 - 6:30pm
The Northside Grill
8550 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle
Family Friendly - $3 Cover
No Reservations - Shared Tables
Wine, food, fun, and open dance for all.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
July’s photos by Eric Denson…
www.picasaweb.google.com/planetsuzanna/July08WorldDanceShowcase
A huge thanks to the production team and performers that brought
this fro-Arabic theme to life. The live fusion jam between Thione
Diop (jembe and talking drum) and Anton (tabla) was absolutely
OMG amazing. We really MUST do that again!

Celebrating the many expressions of dance across the globe, the
WORLD DANCE SHOWCASE creates a place for dance artists of all
genres and levels to present, exchange, and inspire. The event
takes place on the first Sunday of each month at The Northside
Grill (8550 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle). Dance soloists, duets,
and groups are invited to request a guest performance spot (8
minutes max), by emailing planetsuzanna@gmail.com, indicating:
1. Preferred month
2. Musical accompaniment (CD, live musician)
3. 1-4 word description of your style

For booking consideration as a headliner act (25+ minutes),
email planetsuzanna@gmail.com with your background, website,
online video, etc, and proposed style(s) to be performed. Or
simply introduce yourself via a guest performance. For more
info, see
http://www.planetsuzanna.com/world_dance_showcase.html

—— S U Z A N N A ——
www.planetsuzanna.com

Jewels of Egypt: Dances from Afar
 
Thursday, July 31st ~ 8:00-10:00pm
Featuring Noor (Egyptian Cabaret), Anwaar (Fusion Variety Belly
Dance), Shawna (Afro-Caribbean), and Zahra (Egyptian Cabaret)

Every Last Thursday of the Month
Waid’s
1212 E. Jefferson Street
Seattle, Washington 98122

A Monthly Dance Showcase featuring some of Seattle’s finest
local dancers and musicians.

www.mellilah.com/jewelsofegypt.html
_______________________________________________________________
Arabic Beats, Shimmies & More…

Euro Lounge, $10.00 cover
10pm-closing
with Naseem, Arabic Band, and Belly Dance Show with Marina
113 Virginia Ave
Seattle, WA 98199 (in Belltown)

Live Arabic Band, Belly Dance Show, DJ Danni!  Come dance the
night away…
 
www.naseemband.com
 
_______________________________________________________________
Return to Cairo presents…

T h e M B O r c h e s t r a

Belly Dance show featuring

RUBY

and

MELLILAH

Friday, August 15th, 2008
Music and open dance from 9pm-2am
Dance shows @ approx. 10:00 and 11:30
Dress to impress!
$15.00 cover
All-ages

Location:
Waid’s Haitian Cuisine & Lounge
1212 E. Jefferson St
Seattle, WA 98122
206-328-6493 (Reservations not accepted)

www.myspace.com/returntocairo 

Hey friends –

Time for our monthly trip to the Other Side! Please join us for
Spiritus Metaphysical Carnival this week, Thursday July 24, at
the Rendezvous downtown at 2nd & Bell. Go-time is 7pm. Mystical
bellydance by Hands of Kali, psychic readings courtesy of Faye
the Tattooed Psychic and live personalized tarot readings. Hope
to see you all there. Tickets are $15 at the door.

And don’t forget, you can catch a little more HoK bellydance
action Friday night at Club Heaven. 172 S. Washington in Pioneer
Square. Start time is 10:30pm, and ladies get in free until 11!

Thanks for supporting dance and art in Seattle.

xoxo,

Hands of Kali

www.handsofkali.com

Hey All,

Stopped into Safeway to pick up some milk last night and what
did I see? … the first Halloween display of the year. Yikes!
October is just around the corner!! So …

Just wanted to let you know, on behalf of MEAI, Yousry will be
out here in the Northwest this fall. We’ve finally gotten some
details worked out! Classes offered will be Yousry Technique,
Yousry Oriental Choreography, and Cane Dance. If you’ve been
wanting to study with Yousry, but haven’t been able to make it
out to NY, now’s your chance! Register at the ADVANCE price at
the following link.

www.YousrySharifSeattleSeries.eventbrite.com
www.TheVoyageOfRa.eventbrite.com

We’re also proud to announce that the show will feature the
incredible Cassandra (of Jawaahir and the Oasis Dance Camp.
Check a performance clip at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQFXYti5Pe0)
and also the amazing (homegrown) Aubre Hill
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RXpgYUUP20)
plus flamenco artist Savannah Fuentes, Noor, Magidah, MEAI Dance
Co. and more! Advance tickets sold at the above link!

More details coming within 24 hours to MiddleEastArts.org
–
Mirabai
www.MirabaiDance.com
206.883.7123
–
MEAI presents Yousry Sharif, October 3-5, 2008
www.MiddleEastArts.org

“Belly Dance as Healing Dance”

Important details
(Originally this event was earlier in July: Fri Sat and Sun
It was moved so we could promote it at Med Fest and we had to
change days and location. So please, if you are interested
please call and read carefully. Regrettably because we had to
move the dates we lost some of our participants. Ouch!)

Important question; What is it?
Belly dance as healing dance does not mean you have to be ill.
It’s a title for learning about belly dance as more than just a
frivolous hobby or stage performance but deal with the aspects
of deep soul and personal growth work. Art is about who we are.
The explorations make us whole.

We still meed 5 participants for Saturday to be an effective
workshop!

Please pass the word to friends and sisters in dance.

http://www.visionarydance.com/lorraine_july08.html

This Friday Night
Please join us to meet Lorraine Lafata M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W.

“BELLY DANCE as HEALING DANCE”

A Livingoom Salon; A Lecture and Performance

Friday Night at Delilah’s House, July 25
(cross the Street from Studio in the middle of the block)
4115 Fremont Ave North, Sea Wa 98103
Time 8:30 Lecture starts at 9:00
$10 donation
CALL US
206 632-2353 206 632-1906

All day small workshop Saturday July 26
Morning “Healing our Sexuality through Belly Dance”
Afternoon “Pleasure & Passion Reclaimed”.
Cost: $100 Please sign up in advance please, limited to 7-15
dancers.
Location:VDP STUDIO 4128 Fremont Ave N

More About Lorraine M.S.W., L.I.C.S.W.
Lorraine has been a therapist for 20 years. A founding member of
“the Goddess Dancing,” she is currently a collaborator in “Sacred
Source Belly dance.” Both are women’s dance collectives in Boston,
dedicated to furthering the empowerment of women through dance
and ritual. Lorraine has been working with women in class rooms,
in private practice, and in prisons and institutional situations.
Her life is dedicated to helping women heal their woundedness and
celebrate their wholeness. For many years she has combined the
traditional practices of her professional training with the
personal relationship with her art. She has found that belly
dance offers us much more than fun, physical exercise and
fantasy. In fact, women everywhere report their interest and
experience with the dance has
made a powerful difference in their lives for mental, physical,
psychic and spiritual healing.
As fore mentioned, Lorraine and Delilah have worked extensively
together
“Embracing Aphrodite”. It was one of the most enlightening
retreats Delilah has ever hosted (and to mention the most
attended by dancers). An hour long documentary about the retreat
experience can be found as an extra feature on Delilah’s DVD
(entitled Delilah & Sirocco; Live & Wild). The documentary
follows Lorraine, Delilah and a group of 40 women ages 18-88,
exploring beauty and self esteem issues using belly dance,
journaling, and movement therapy as a tool for healing and
enlivening the life experience. It was beautiful.

More info on healing dance coming up . . .
“The Neighborhood Temple Preiestesses”

STARTS THIS WEDNESDAY July 23rd
Call Fern Life Center to register: 425-391-3376

Tribal Belly Dance Summer Classes  July 23rd-Aug 27th

Wednesdays 6pm-7pm (6 weeks) Suitable for beginners 
 
About the class:
Learn to dance by drilling the basics in fun combinations. Using
both slow movements and fast steps we’ll get you dancing in your
first class! All basic movements and group formations in a six-
week cycle including posture and body awareness, zils and music.
Intro to partner and group dancing. You are welcome to drop-in
on this class after the course has started as we have plenty of
review built into each class. (If space is available.) However,
you must arrive 10-15 minutes to class start.

*Best class for beginners.

*Corresponds with FCBD Tribal Basics Vol.1 Fundamentals of Dance
DVD
(Available for purchase from instructor)
 
Rates: $75 for 6 weeks (6 student minimum) No refunds.
Drop in $15 when available.
 
Registration: (due by July 18th)
 <http://fernlifecenter.com/classes/danceclasses.htm> Fern Life
 Center
710 Fifth Ave NW
Issaquah , WA 98027
phone: 425.391.3376 / 877.391.3376
fax: 425.391.3378
email:
<http://de.mc509.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@fernlifecenter.com>
info@fernlifecenter.com

Dress for Skin Deep dance classes: Full skirt or loose pants,
hip scarf, short top or leotard (just wear something comfortable).
Bare feet or dance shoes only in dance studio. You will need a
pair of zils (finger cymbals). You can purchase from the
instructor bring your own.

About the instructor:
Katrina Hellbusch, LMP
American Tribal Style (ATS) Belly Dance Instructor + Sister
Studio,
Certified by Carolena Nericcio of FatChanceBellyDance
Skin Deep Troupe Director
katrina@skindeepdancestudios.com
http://skindeepdancestudios.com

Katrina has been a FatChanceBellyDance devotee since 1999. Her
studies originated in Chicago under the instruction of Stephanie
Barto of Read My Hips and Miss Taj. She moved back to Seattle in
2001 and formed Diatribe, (Seattle ’s First ATS Belly Dance Troupe)
with Christina Larson who is now a member of Hands of Kali. On her
quest to deepen her dance, she later joined Troupe Hipnotica under
the direction of Adriene Rice. Now, she has fulfilled her dreams
of forming her own dance company (SKin Deep) and opened her own
dance studio to spread her joy of dance to others. She is also
a healer.
 
Katrina Hellbusch, LMP
Skin Deep Studios ~ Dance & Massage
A FatChanceBellyDance Sister Studio
Top Flr of El Centro de la Raza
2524 16th Ave S #311
Seattle WA 98144
206-322-9500
http://skindeepstudios.net
http://veganmassage.com