I know it’s a cliche, but time does rocket by, I can’t believe it’s been a year since I was last in the audience of the Hathor Hafla snapping (camera) and clapping away with the riot of wondrous bellydance acts that the annual Summer Hafla brings along to Kiddo (that’s Kidlington to the rest of the world). Last night was a lot of fun. Gill and I had decided, only a few weeks ago at the Bellydance Bonanza that we NEEDED to get back up on stage and resurrect Soleil d’Egypte – and we were lucky enough to be in the first third (it’s a show of three thirds!) – so we could then sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the show.
So we were the opening guest act – performing straight after Hathor (always a challenge!) and I did my usual thing of being terrified, waiting in the wings, practising the moves in my head and throwing a sudden blank as we are introduced and skip out, in the darkness, into centre stage… BUT I am pleased to say that we pulled it off (Jilina, of Bellydance Superstars’ choreography to La Azon by Mohammed Fouad) without a hitch – I really enjoyed dancing this one, with all its spins and jumps and the wagging no no no no finger move 🙂 YAY! Loved being back on stage as well – it feels like AGES (not performed since last Halloween). Then, all hot and breathless, I was able to scuttle back to my front row seat to admire the other performers from close up!
So needless to say, as ever at Hathor, there is a rainbow of performers, from solists, to groups, of all shapes, sizes and bellydance styles – from sultry veil numbers to full on carnivale affairs – and this year the thirds seemed pretty short and snappy – so the night motored through at quite a pace, with the wonderful MC/comedey from the compare, the wonderful drumming from John Sleiman in the breaks and shop shop shopping!
So my highlights were… from Part 1, it has to be Nikki Livermore with an impentrable drum solo which turned into a battle of the sexes – man versus woman, drum versus hips – and I think Nikki won! She can shimmy for Britain – infact the world (and I heard she recently got back from Brazil, which explains a few of those insane bottom shaking moves that had us all shouting for more at the end of a very exhausting set!
My Part 2 highlights were Ashnah (actually my favourite dance of the evening), doing a steampunk come can can performance, all killer boots, bustly skirts and attitude. LOVED it – and what great facial expressions MORE MORE MORE!
From a pure spectacular, choreographical marval and just “I can’t take enough photos but want to watch without my camera” front, hats off to Negoum El Leyl’s dance – a riot of colour with Isis wings, fluffy peacock fans, silk veils, fan veils, candles, all, somehow moving and spinning and whirling and twirling in UNISON. Wonderful, spectacular, and completely and utterly prop-tastic!
So with Part 3 comes my new bellydance crush – Sundara ATS – I LOVE these girls – doing American Tribal Style dancing with their fierce makeup and amazing hair and costumes, just a feast to look at and that’s before they start dancing. Their movements were sublime, they melted into the floor and moved with real style and grace, I was completed bewitched and just was thinking the whole way through “I want to dance like this, I need to dance like this”.. and so, I need to get some tribal in my life.. any suggestions gratefully received! (I quite fancy Tribal Fest in Cali..). Not only did they execute a hipnotising dance, they then rocked out to Personal Jesus, which nearly bought the house down (or the front row, at least!) Great stuff… And then, to close the show, Hathor pulled one of their usual crowd-pleasers out of the bag – putting more energy than I thought was possible into the Flo-Rida track Club Can’t Handle Me – the front row was literally jumping out of their seats with excitement!!
I’ve been going to Hathor now since 2004, and it’s amazing these days just how much variety and creativity the dancers put into their acts, which is something that seems to increase each year – back when Soleil d’Egypte started performing, there weren’t many times in a Hafla when dancers did something unexpected, but these days each time a group/dancer comes on stage, you don’t quite know what to expect and I think that the Hathor Hafla really embraces that, which I personally love and encourage. Another great vintage Hathor – lalalallalallalalallla! (my online version of the zaghareet).
ATS classes are now being taught by Kay from Ashnah at OMEDS. Check out the OMEDS website for details.