Spokane’s 2nd Annual Belly Dance Festival & Food Drive
by Nizana
Nadiyah’s again sponsored the Spokane Festival on June 9th, 2007, featuring Hala of Alexandra, Egypt and Roy Petit of Scabland Band. Local and regional performers danced in the evening show, and there were all types of activities going on again this year, with a change in format. She also had programs with all of the performers’ pictures in it. The evening emcees were Nadiyah and Nizana. This event was also a food drive for humans and animals, and we were able to contribute to our community while having a great all day festival.
The day started off early with a two and a half workshop by Hala on Egyptian technique and combinations. This was followed immediately by another two and a half hour workshop on how to dance to drum solos. I attended the second workshop, and was glad I did, because Hala was full of first hand information about the culture and history of the dance. She also broke down each drum rhythm and it’s “signature move” to build a foundation from which to branch out. I really enjoyed this workshop and am happy I had the opportunity to study with her. I particularly honed in on her hand movements and essence and expression of the dance.
Regional vendors were available throughout the day and night and included Magic City Costumes and Jaleh’s Desert Diva Costumes and Siham’s Shiny Sparkly Things, and a swap meet. Between these vendors, there were some fabulous items to choose from! Siham contributed generous gift certificates for raffle prizes. Magic City Costumes, Nadiyah's and Khamara also donated a bevy of prizes and all were wonderful prizes.
Roy’s Middle Eastern drumming workshop took place in the afternoon, following Hala’s workshops. Roy is a great drummer and wonderful to work with. This led into the “happy hour,” where yummy East Indian food from local restaurant Taste of India was available to purchase and eat during the fashion show. Dancers in the show modeled different ethnic costumes. Desert Silk Dance Company modeled Khalege dresses as a group, looking very colorful. DSDC members including Nizana modeled a beautiful heavy velvet emerald green embroidered djellaba that had been given to her by someone who’s husband worked in the Middle East; Anyah modeled a Rennaissance costume made by the DSDC’s seamstress, Eilene (Sew What;”) and Zahra modeled another creation by Eilene, this one a colorful belly dance costume. Nadiyah, Artemis and Khamara all modeled lovely folkloric and cabaret costumes, including a beautiful assuit piece.
The evening performance was packed with local and regional troupes and soloists. To start out the night, Alwiyah, from Wenatchee, performed a solo with zils to Roy’s live drumming. Roy recruited some other drummers at the last minute, and they all did a very nice job!!! Nizana, from Spokane, came out and performed a solo with a veil to a modern take on a classic ME song. George and Basima, who came all the way from Renton, (much appreciated!) danced a routine together, where they played off each other ever so sweetly! Sha-Mal from Coeur d’Alene, ID was next up with a cabaret solo and she is always fun to watch. Desert Silk Dance Company from Spokane came out and performed a three number set that included a veil routine to a Natacha Atlas choreographed by Alwiyah, and a tribal fusion drum solo and alternative veil number choreographed by Nizana. Shaheena, from Cheney, performed a cabaret solo with a sword, looking lovely as ever. Malidoma was the next troupe up from Spokane, and performed a tribal set to live music led by Michael Moon Bear. Closing out the set was Hala, performing Egyptian Saidi and Raks Asaya. She told the audience about the international coin peace belt she had brought with her to wear, which is made up of coins provided by dancers from all over as they each perform with it. The message of the belt is world peace, and her dancing was lovely and yes, peaceful. As one dancer put it, it seems so effortless for her to dance so beautifully!
For intermission, tickets were drawn for raffle prizes, and then the second set of the show started out with Nadiyah, performing the dance of the seven veils, very colorful and expressive. Next up was the Scheherazade Squad from Helena, Montana, performing a fun and lively cabaret set. Pretty costumes, and they are sponsoring a summer event in Helena. They were followed by Khamara of Spokane, who recently returned from a visit from Turkey, performing a cabaret solo. Another Spokane troupe, the Nah’Joom Dancers, performed a set of dances with colorful skirts and fans. Arika Whitaker of Spokane next performed a tribal cabaret solo with zils to live music that included Moon Bear on drums and a saxaphonist. (Nice touch!) Sarah, from Helena, Mt performed a cabaret routine that her teacher choreographed. The last Spokane troupe performing in the event was Hasna Hadiyyah, with a staged version of a folkloric set that included baskets and a water jug. It was theatrical and a good addition to the show, especially to tie in with Hala’s folkloric offering in the first half. Next up was the Sultana Dancers of Tri-Cities, performing a tribal fusion set that was really something different than I‘ve seen them do before, and it looked good on them. The rest of the raffle prizes were given away, and then Hala closed out the show with an Egyptian cabaret solo, and her veil wrap was one I had not seen before. Fabulous! All performers took a bow and the evening came to an end. I was amazed to see the different dancers come together from all over the region, and it was interesting that there were a number of area dancers I know that were not there, and a bunch of new dancers I had never met before!
The next Spokane Belly Dance Festival has been moved up to Jan 19th, 2008 for next year, and will feature Sonia of the Belly Dance Superstars in a Bellynesian workshop. The Steering Committee, including yours truly again, has already got plans in the works for this event, so mark your calendars!
