winter's end

There is lots to celebrate the end of winter. Here's just a few of the bellydance events coming up in Vancouver.

Juanita is coming home from Tunisia for a visit. While she is here she is hosting a hafla fundraiser for medical funds for a one year old child from a Bedouin family that she has gotten to know. Leona and I will be two of the many dancers performing that night.

Hafla details:
- Sunday, March 8, 2009 - show is at 7 p.m.
- Minimum $20 donation (plus food and drinks)
- Kayan Mediteranean Cuisine 202 - 777 West Broadway, Vancouver
- reserve at 604-874-2777

Bellyfringe Bellydance Presents Ariellah
- March 14 & 15, 2009
- Workshops 12 - 4 and 10 - 2
- Show, March 13
- to register www.bellyfringe.ca

MEDA - The Grande Bazaar 2009!!
The vendors, the dancers, the teachers, the music, the beautiful costumes, the food.......oh!
- March 28 & 29, 2009, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Admission $5
- Bonsor Recreation Centre 6550 Bonsor Avenue, Burnaby

winter solstice shimmies hafla

Come out and join Leona, her students and special guests for an evening of fun. This hafla is about love, dance and rejoicing in the season.

when: sunday, december 14th
where: moberley arts and cultural centre, 7646 prince albert st., vancouver
show: 6:30 p.m.
by donation

40 Days & 1001 Nights with Tamalyn Dallal

Ala Nar is pleased to host a screening of "40 Days and 1001 Nights" the documentary of Ms. Dallal's experience of living in five Muslim countries for 40 days each - Indonesia, Egypt, Zanzibar, Jordan and China's western most province, the predominately Muslim Xinjiang Autonomouse Region. Writer and director, Ms. Tamalyn Dallal will be present to provide an introduction and commentary on her work.

When: Friday, January 9, 2009
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Moberley Art5s and Cultural Centre, 7647 Prince Albert St., Vancouver
Tix: $10 at door or email info@nina-d.com

new bellydance & yoga classes in 2009

New classes starting January 2009

Bellydance at Hastings Community Centre, mondays 6:30-7:30 p.m. - new session January 12th - March 9th (9 weeks)


To register contact HCC http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/hastings/index.htm



Bellydance at Thunderbird Community Centre, tuesdays 7-8:15 p.m. - new session January 13th - March 10th (9 weeks)
To register contact TCC http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/thunderbird/website/index.htm

Bellydance at Urban Beat, thursday 6-7 p.m. - January dates tba www.urbanbeatdanceco.com

Yoga at Thunderbird Community Centre, tuesdays 8:30-9:30 p.m. - new session January 13th - March 10th (9 weeks)
To register contact TCC http://vancouver.ca/parks/cc/thunderbird/website/index.htm

remembering

death is nothing at all. i have only slipped away into the next room. i am i, and you are you. whatever we were to each other we still are. call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. play smile, think of me, pray for me. let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effort without the trace of a shadow on it. life means all that it ever meant. it is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity. why should i be out of mind because i am out of sight. i am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. all is well.

henry scott holland

Master Class with Tamalyn Dallal

Ala Nar is pleased to host Tamalyn Dallal for a master class workshop on Saturday, January 10, 2009. The workshop will cover rhythms, technique and combinations. This workshop is designed for the advanced dancer, with a minimum of 3 years Middle Eastern dance experience. Workshop size is limited to 15 participants.

Friday evening, January 9, 2009, we will host a screening of “40 Days and 1001 Nights”, Ms. Dallal's film documenting her travels and experiences in five Muslim countries. Writer and director, Ms. Tamalyn Dallal will be present to provide an introduction and commentary on her work.

To register for the master class workshop email leonais@shaw.ca
Watch for location details for the screening.

Helena Vlahos

Bellydance Vancouver is hosting Helena Vlahos for a workshop and gala show, November 29th and 30th. Helena, the legendary Greek-American bellydancer, is famous for the belly coin rolling trick that was featured in the 70's TV show "That's Incredible". (Hmmm, do you remember that show?!) She is also named in the Guiness Book of World Records for her amazing abdominal control which includes folding a dollar bill with her belly. Whoa.

Ala Nar is honoured to be dancing at the show at Kalypso on Robson Street, on November 30th.

For details and to register visit www.bellydancevancouver.com

today is october 12th

Happy birthday Dad. Today I cried because you are no longer here. Today I worked in the garden and felt the sun on my back. Today I gave thanks for the things that you taught me to love. Today I gave thanks for my life of blessings.

I miss you.

nina d.
xxx

new bellydance classes with nina d. at Urban Beat

I'm happy to tell you that if you go to Urban Beat Dance Co. (www.urbanbeatdanceco.com) you'll find I'm teaching a 7 week beginner belly dance session. Urban Beat is one of my dance home bases - I've been doing west coast swing there for almost ten years. Graeme and Elizabeth (who run Urban Beat) really do make it easy for people to take their first swing or salsa dance steps. I'm looking forward to doing the same for belly dance. Great studio - great downtown location too.

My classes will be on Thursdays from 6-7 p.m., October 23rd to December 4th. Go to www.urbanbeatdanceco.com for details and to register.

MEDA workshop and show

October 18th is the MEDA annual show, Twilight at the Oasis. The show will feature local belly dance talent, plus special guest and instructor Aubre Hill. The show will be held at the Firefighters' Club in Burnaby - doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.

Also on that weekend is the MEDA sponsored workshop with Aubre Hill - contact MEDA to register - allisonraks@gmail.com. And don't miss the mini bazaar, on both days during the workshop.

dancing in the sun, PNE 2008

Thank you Cam for the beautiful photos. Thank you Ala Nar for the dance. I give thanks for sun, family, love.

(Cam Massey, photo credits).

yoga classes with nina d.

Join nina d. for Vinyasa yoga classes this fall. Vinyasa means “breath-synchronized movement” using your breath to flow from one pose to the next.

Thunderbird Community Centre 2311 Cassiar Street, Vancouver
Tuesdays, 8:30 - 9:30 p.m.
September 23 - December 9, 2008
To register contact TCC:
604-713-1818
thunderbirdcc@vancouver.ca
www.thunderbirdcc.ca

namaste

Come to the PNE this weekend!

Come to the PNE and see Ala Nar. We will be dancing on the Festival stage at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 30th. Pray for sun!

Check out our new troupe website www.alanar.ca

remembering Kyoto

Today I remember Kyoto, little Kiki cat, August 1987 to
August 14, 2006.

new bellydance classes start Sept 23rd

Two NEW beginner Bellydance Classes with nina d.

Hastings Community Centre 3096 East Hasting Street, Vancouver
Mondays, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
September 29 – November 24, 2008 – no class October 13

To register contact HCC: 604-718-6222 hastingscc@vancouver.ca
NOTE: classes will be held at the St. James Hospice 660 North Penticton Street, Vancouver (between Wall Street and McGill)


Thunderbird Community Centre 2311 Cassiar Street, Vancouver
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
September 23 – December 9, 2008
To register contact TCC: 604-713-1818 thunderbirdcc@vancouver.ca www.thunderbirdcc.ca