The SoCal Scene
By: Jim Boz
Fall is always an exciting time in Southern California. Of course, the whole concept of the season of 'fall' is almost an oxymoron here, considering we usually notice the leaves turning brown just before the wind blows them off to reveal spring's buds all ready to sprout.
Yeah, it's a tough life. But remember we have earthquakes.
Some exciting annual events this Fall included Scottie Schultze's 18th Annual "Bedouin Bazaar" in San Diego, Anisa's Annual "King Tut Returns" (this year featuring the Empress of Elegance - Helena Vlahos) and Leela's Arabia Exotica.
So many fabulous events to choose from!
Yours truly was guest judge at Hips of Fury in Palmdale just a mere hour or so East and a bit north of LA. HoF is now in its third year of presenting a competition loosely based on Middle Eastern Dance, with one foot and a few toes firmly standing on Alternative Music and Presentations.
The event is the brainchild of Faizeh of Faizeh Productions and Hiplash based in the Palmdale area. Faizeh said she threw the idea around, but it was the assistance and suggestions of friends Zahra Zuhair and Princess Farhana and others that gave her the drive and energy to get the event off the ground.
Faizeh is annoyingly calm at her events, releasing an ethereal warmth rather than the usual mixture of stress, frustration and low blood sugar so often the norm with event producers. She attributes her piece of mind to her incredible and attentive staff.
This year's theme was "Sci Fi" and offered Southern California a delectable buffet of creative expressions, musical variations, interpretations and often - just sheer exciting art for the sheer exciting artistry of it all.
Sort of like filling up on Halloween candy. Yum yum yum!
Featuring workshops with talents such as Carolena Nericcio from Fat Chance Belly Dance, Princess Farhana and more, the day flowed seamlessly into an exciting evening of intense performances and interpretations.
Some events on the horizons:
January I'll be a bit self serving: I'm hosting Frederique David from Belly Groove in San Diego. We'll be offering workshops and a Belly Jam unlike any of our other events. This event is low-key, intimate and will definitely have more than a few surprises! Visit www.SDBellyJam.com or www.BellyDanceSanDiego.com for more info.
February I'll all be saying buh-bye for a week as yours truly, Princess Farhana, Rachel Lazarus-Soto and Jeremiah Soto embark on a 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise for workshops, a hafla and as many impromptu performances as we can get away with without the Mexican government coming down on us. Oh, did we mention we're going even further south than Cali? Think Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas! Oh my!
So, keep that in mind for your gift to yourself after living through the Belly Dancer of the Universe competition earlier in the month (Feb 17 & 18), Tonya & Atlantis's 17th Annual Southern California dance competition. Featuring competitors from all over the world, this is something to consider when you want to get away from some of the cold y'all got going on.
You know it's like 75-80 degrees in SoCal around then.
Yeah, but then again, we have earthquakes.
Hey, they help with your shimmies - so come on down and hope to see you at an event soon!
Jim Boz of San Diego, CA is an international performer, workshop instructer, promoter and student of Middle Eastern Dance. To contact him:
PO Box 15085, San Diego, CA 92175
1-888-4-JIMBOZ
www.JimBoz.com
