News & events from 2006
August 2008 ...
Friday 01 - JIM BOZ HAFLA - " Supporting Jim Boz we have the luscious Anne White (Enta Omri), queen of raks sassy Beatrice Curtice (stick), gorgeos Chantel Phillips (tribal ifulsion), Gwen Booth (fan dance) & adorable Razia, plus grande dame of UK belly dance Vashti (Turkish gypsy) & princess of modern Cairo Style Zafirah 9drum solo), with troupe numbers from the Hips Inc girls & solo by organiser Charlotte." Tix £22 in advance, Fairfield Halls (Croydon CR9), show 8:15pm
Saturday 16 - SHAKERS & MOVERS SHOW - "A dance showcase presenting different styles from the intensity of flamenco to the allure of Arabian dance, with Indian classical, Bollywood & Bangra. Drinks & oriental bazaar after the show." Includes performances from Eva Green, Nafiseh, Juani Garcia of Viva Flamenco, Moirai tribal dancers, Fazia & Fakhi Sood, Nancy & Michelle - 2 to 3:30pm at the Polka Theatre (240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19), tix £12.50 (children £6)
Saturday 16 - SAQARAH monthly hafla (belly dance party) -"with a genuine passion for the varied & exciting art form known as belly dance, Saqarah welcomes all - created by dancers for dancers, organised by experienced teachers & professional performers Nafiseh & Eshta, the show features up & coming plus established professional dancers" - NEW VENUE in Liverpool Street, doors 8pm, tix £7\10
Saturday 16 - LOVE ON THE ROX dinner cabaret - "Our sultry, hilarious & beautiful chanteuse Gracie will entertain your ears & make you blush with mirth ... hosted together with the most talented & sought after compere on the British burlesque scene Miss Ivy Paige, with our favorite comedy vaudeville star Fancy Chance & mesmerising fusion bellydancer Joyleaf (Kimberly Mackoy)." At the Volupte Lounge (Chancery Lane EC4A), first dinner sitting 6:30pm, second diner sitting 10pm, tix £45/50/55
Last Thursday of the month - London's original monthly belly dance showcase PLANET EGYPT, hosted by Anne White at Darbucka (Clerkenwell EC1) - show 745pm, tix £12
30 August 2008 - LAST DAY of TUTANKHAMUN & THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE PHAROAHS exhibition at the new O2 exhibition centre at the refurbished Millenium Dome (Greenwich) - "Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in Egypt in 1922. In 1972, 1.7 million guests visited the London Tutankhamun exhibition. Now, after more than 30 years, the treasures of Tutankhamun return to London for the most anticipated exhibition ever ..."
July 2008 ...
Saturday 05 - Dance theatre production company Red Glass Sky (left), based in north London, is offering a belly dance class & demonstation at Fiesta Havana, Fulham Broadway from 7pm ...
Sunday 06 - SHIMMY SHAKE SHOW (right) - "Once again, Sapphira is proud to present some of the hottest talent from home & around the globe" - Sapphira's belly dancing & burlesque show returns to Madame Jo Jo's (Soho W1F), tix £10/13, doors 7:30pm, this time entitled 'Burlesque or bust!' & raising funds for homelessness charity Crisis UK PLUS 'Britain's Got Talent' semi-finalist belly dancer Sophie Mei (right) - & see the NEW ARTICLE on belly dance & burlesque!
Saturday 12 - SAQARAH monthly hafla (belly dance party)& -"with a genuine passion for the varied & exciting art form known as belly dance, Saqarah welcomes all - created by dancers for dancers, organised by experienced teachers & professional performers Nafiseh & Eshta, the show features up & coming plus established professional dancers" - NEW VENUE in Liverpool Street, doors 8pm, tix £7\10
Sunday 13 - MIA SERRA's end of term student show - more details to follow ...
Sunday 13 - BRIXTON SUMMER HAFLA with Brixton belly dancer Anna (0798 411 4679)- "It's time to get your beads & bangles out ... For one night only the biggest bellydance party in south London is turning up the heat with new performances by Anna & the Brixton Bellydancers, the fantastic Kim Mackoy & students, gorgeous Beatrice Parvin & the brilliant Caasi, plus surprise artists on the night! Shop till you drop at our Middle Eastern souk with belly dance imports from Egypt, Turkey & India. Shimmie the night away on the open dance floor as the DJ plays the best of bellydance & world music. Advance tickets include a raffle ticket to win a private bellydance lesson or hip scarf!" Hootnanny Pub, 95 Effra Road, Brixton SW2, doors 6pm, show 7pm, entrance £5, children free
Monday 21 - CELLOMAN pefroms at the Park Sounds festival/competition at Canada Square (Canary Wharf), with grand finale on Friday 25 - FREE
Tuesday 29 - MEDICAL AID FOR PALESTINE CONCERT at the 606 Club (Lots Road SW10), tix £15, show 730pm - "Join us for a gala night of eclectic music, gastronomic delights & surprise special guests! Proceeds will go to aid those suffering in Palestine & refugee camps in the region. Line up includes Ian Shaw, Sara Gillespie, Nick Meier Group feat Gilad Atzmon & Celloman."
Last Thursday of the month - London's original monthly belly dance showcase PLANET EGYPT, hosted by Anne White at Darbucka (Clerkenwell EC1) - show 745pm, tix £12
June 2008 ...
Ongoing ... to 30 August, see TUTANKHAMUN & THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE PHAROAHS in the new O2 exhibition centre at the refurbished Millenium Dome (Greenwich) - "Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in Egypt in 1922. In 1972, 1.7 million guests visited the London Tutankhamun exhibition. Now, after more than 30 years, the treasures of Tutankhamun return to London for the most anticipated exhibition ever ..."
Sunday 01 - 17th Camden Green Fair & Bikefest 2008 at Regents Park, including stalls, activities, stages ,... & belly dancing
iFriday 06 - MEDITERRANEAN EVENING - "Live music & belly dancing for your entertainment, followed by disco. Price includes fab set menu. Spaces are limited!" - with Samantha & Badra, 8pm at Ayasophia (Waltham Abbey)
Saturday 07 - WHITE MISCHIEF 'around the world in 80 days' show featuring on the main stage London-based Turkish world beats band OOJAMI (righ
t) (there're sure to be sufi dancers & belly dancers!)- "Afrobeat flavours of Tough Love, the Turkish beats and Sufi dancers of Oojami, French petit gypsy swing band Ta Mere, the brilliant Ebony Bones &a whole planet’s worth of circus & vaudeville, from sword swallowing to aerial acrobatics to snake charming!" - La Scala (Kings Cross),tix £15-£22
Sunday 08 - HOSSAM RAMZY drum workshop hosted by Caravansary - "Egypt's Ambassador of Rhythm & the World's Leading Name in Egyptian Dance Music" - beginner/improver level, St Mark's church (Islington EC1), £45/25
Wednesday 11 - BROTHERS OF THE BALADI UK tour with Algerian dancer & choreographer Amel Tafsout (who teaches a workshop on Sunday 15) at Darbucka (Farringdon EC1)
Thursday 12 - BELLYLICIOUS with Galit Mersand - "Belly dancing unveiled! Find out what's behind the shimmies, hip circles & chest drops, & experience an authentic 'old school' Cairo style cabaret ... well almost! Sexy, funny, revealing ... this show is not to be missed!" - 7pm at the Battersea Barge (Vawxhall SW8), tix £10 in advance only (last 2 shows sold out ...)
Thursday 12 - Neju Dance Company presents Raqs Sharqi: As It Was - As It Is - 'A kaleidoscope of Egyptian dances' with Juliana Brustik & Nensi Bego, plus guest stars Kim Hall (Tabeeya) & the London Raqs Sharqi Dancers - Arcola Theatre (Hackney E8), tix £12
Saturday 14 - SAQARAH monthly hafla (belly dance party) -"with a genuine passion for the varied & exciting art form known as belly dance, Saqarah welcomes all - created by dancers for dancers, organised by experienced teachers & professional performers Nafiseh & Eshta, the show features up & coming plus established professional dancers" - Horse Bar (Waterloo SE1) doors 8pm, tix £7\10
Wednesday 18 - BROTHERS OF THE BALADI UK tour with Algerian dancer & choreographer Amel Tafsout (who teaches a workshop on Sunday 15) at Darbucka (Farringdon EC1)
Saturday 21 - TOTTENHAM CARNIVAL - "It's the second biggest Carnival in London, & a great day out for the family. Dance theatre production company Red Glass Sky (left), based in north London, is offering free belly dance classes & various shows throughout the afternoon." Bruce Grove Castle (Tottenham N17)
Sunday 22 - BELLYBLISS - Mia Serra's new night at Shish with the Bellybliss Allstars plus guests veteran US quintet Brothers of the Baladi - "Music & dance meet in an explosive evening of original choreography & live belly dance music as you've never heard it before" - Shish (Old Street EC1), tix £15/20
Last Thursday of the month - - London's original monthly belly dance showcase PLANET EGYPT, hosted by Anne White at Darbucka (Clerkenwell EC1) with dancers Vivienne Radfar, Valerie Romanin, Bridget Poulter & students, Nafiseh, Candy, Salome´s Angels & Akasha (Heike Humphreys) - show 745pm, tix £12
Sunday 29 - FLEUR ESTELLE's end of term student showcase, featuring graduates of Fleur's 10-week belly dance courses & her dance troupe the Layali Dance Company - at the Borderline pub (Soho W1D)
Sunday 29 - ASAKI's Belly Dance Gala - "Belly dance spectacle with professional dancers from the UK, Europe & Japan, as well as graduates of Asaki's 8-week belly dance courses!" tix £6 in advance, £10 on the door (£15 for 2), doors 6pm, at Bar Soho (Soho)
May 2008 ...
Thursday 01 - Remember to make time to use your vote ...!
Saturday 03 - HERSHAM'S FIRST EXCITING HAFLA FOR WOMEN - souk, performance & workshop with Eva Green - doors 7pm, St Peter's Church Hall, Hersham (Surrey KT12), tix £15-20
Tuesday 06 - CLOSING DATE for applications for the position of part-time dance administrator to the Raqs Sharqi Society, the independent London-based Egyptian dance organisation for the dance community & professionals ...
Friday 09 - NIHAVEND ENSEMBLE - Turkish Ottoman traditional art music at St Ethelburga's (Bishopsgate EC2), 730pm, tix £10
2nd Saturday in May each year - WORLD BELLY DANCE DAY - "Started by Lydia Tzigane (Dubai), our mission is to unite the initiative of many dancers around the world to celebrate the wonderful art of belly dance as a holiday on the second Saturday in May every year. The event is a reminder that belly dance is an art form, a cultural event, a sport, & a social & family entertainment."
Saturday 10 - SAQARAH monthly hafla (belly dance party) -"With a genuine passion for the varied & exciting art form known as belly dance, Saqarah welcomes all - created by dancers for dancers, organised by experienced teachers & professional performers Nafiseh & Eshta, the show features up & coming plus established professional dancers" - Horse Bar (Waterloo SE1) doors 8pm, tix £7\10
Sunday 11 - SHIMMY SHAKE SHOW (right) - "After a sell-out debut show in March, Sapphira presents more hot talent for the next show! Burlesque beauties, sultry singers, belles of belly dance, hilarious hosts plus burlesque stall with stunning designs & prizes to be won on the night!" - Sapphira's belly dancing & burlesque show returns to Madame Jo Jo's (Soho W1F), tix £10/13, doors 7:30pm - see the NEW ARTICLE on belly dance & burlesque!
Saturday 17 - BORN TO SHIMMY - Croydon belly dance teacher Charlotte's bi-annual student show featuring gruop dances& solos by her Hips Inc students & teachers, Stanley Halls (South Norwood)
Thursday 22 - FIREWATER - "Blending a smooth concoction of American Tribal Style Belly dance & her baby sister Tribal Fusion, FireWater is a night solely & obsessively dedicated to showcasing the delectable Goddesses of Tribal belly dance in the UK & beyond. Our debut event stars ATS Queens Moirai, sassy little AnaRkali, Spiral Tribe, Kerry & Californian esteemed guests Tsingani, Heather Shoopman and Elizabeth Souza" Doors 7pm, show 8pm at Darbucka (Farringdon EC1), tix £5
Wednesday 28 to Saturday 31 - MAMA'S KITCHEN - "Another week in the season curated by Shunt artist Layla Rosa which will focus on aerial & physical performance, visual & sonic art, & live music." Different show each night (see Shunt's website), including performances by belly dancer Hannah & Anarkali, at Shunt (London Bridge SE1), free to members (day membership can be purchased from £5/10, permitting entry for 2)
Last Thursday of the month - London's original monthly belly dance showcase PLANET EGYPT, hosted by Anne White at Darbucka (Clerkenwell EC1) with dancers Tracey Gibbs, Kharis, Michelle Pender, Dawn & Khalgani, Marisol Grenslade, Antonia & Heike Humphreys, plus a rare Planet Egypt outing for Anne White herself! - show 745pm, tix £12
Saturday 31 May & Sunday 01 June - CARAVANSARY Third Frame Drum Festival at St Marks Church (Islington EC1) with workshops, master classes, drum circles & performances - "a unique opportunity to experience frame drumming from various cultural & musical backgrounds from Africa, India, the Middle East & Brazil; suitable for all levels - groups & families welcome"
Saturday 31 - HAREM Turkish club night at the Red Rooms (Holborn WC2) (guest list only), 10pm-6am
April ...
Master of Egyptian dance London-based Shafeek Ibrahim will perform at Wembley stadium on Sunday 6th April at the start of the London leg of the 2008 Olympic torch 
relay! Check back soon for the interview with Shafeek, who will be will be our first featured belly dancer ...
Who is the mystery London belly dancer who (London's METRO newspaper reported) escaped a parking fine with the help of her snakes ...? See the 'news, reviews & interviews' page for the full story!
Plus check back soon for news of the forthcoming Channel 4 show where some time soon you might just see belly dancers entertaining the celebrity guests ... plus forthcoming Nuts TV mobile phone belly dance diaries!
Sunday 06 - MIA SERRA's end of term student showcase BELLY DANCE BEATS, featuring graduates of Mia's 12-week courses & her dance troupe the Belly Dance Allstars - at 229 Great Portland Street, tix £10/12, doors 730pm
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 - MICHAELLA'S BELLY DANCE FESTIVAL - "Two-day belly dance extravaganza featuring Fifi Ness, Natacha Atlas, Storm, Vashti, Lilliee & Michaella, with the promise of 2 thrilling evening performances" - at the City of Westminster College Cockpit Theatre (Paddington NW8), tix £15 each show (workshop & show packages available up to £90)
Sunday 13 - Turkish prince of pop TARKAN (Holly Valance's number 1 hit Kiss Kiss is a cover of Tarkan's song Simarik) comes to Wembley Arena for a massive concert - "Superstar Tarkan released his 7th studio album 'Metamorfoz' 2 months ago & sold 300,000 copies in Turkey in the first week of circulation. The Wembley concert will be his first in the UK for 8 years. The opening band will be the Turkish nu-metal band MaNga. Since Tarkan's debut album in 1992, 'Yine Sensiz', which sold over 700,000 copies, his success has spread throughout Europe, South America, Russia & Australia." Tix £40 to £70
Monday 14 & Tuesday 15 - RACHID TAHA, "Algerian worldbeat artist of international fame", plays at the Jazz Cafe (Camden NW1), doors 7pm, tix £28-47