this July/August Moria and I had the honor of attending the Sacheon International Percussion Festival in Korea with BDS’s world renown ISSAM HOUSHAN who was invited to come showcase his exceptional percussion skills in this famous exhibit! The festival featured artist from 7 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES and Moria and I got to dance to help give them the real idea of what Issam’s Syrian culture of drumming is all about: Communication of drumming and dancing!! AND WHAT AN HONOR IT WAS!! (Picts to follow) We performed nightly for a week on a stage outdoors where the backdrop is the bay, evening sky, mountains and beautiful bridges that light up in different colors throughout the night! Breathe taking, truly! We had 10 minutes to represent Syria nightly. Issam began by himself impressing the audience with his unprecedented technique. Then Issam and I played a Tunisian transposed folk tune with me on Bagpipes and Moria danced to is (also seen on the Tribal Fusions DVD) and of course everyone loved that organic element! Then Moria was a supporting tabla player with Issam while I danced a section of a partially improvised drum solo and then for the big finish – Issam played loud and proud and Moria and I danced a drum solo segment together! AND THE CROWDS WENT WILD!! The wind was blowing the humid air across us, the beautiful water behind us and 2 jumbo trons giving the 2,000 people cheering us on a closer view!! 
Our act was nestled between other foreign representations from: Steele Drummers from France, a Siam Ensemble from Thailand featuring 2 performance martial artists’ (Mine and Moria’s new best friends), a Croatian University experimental percussive group, Japanese Taiko drummers (amazing), Singapore Urban Drum Crew (our buddie’s), and Korean traditional artists that dance and drum at the same time, tight rope walk and wear these REALLY COOL hats that have a ribbon attached to it and WHILE PLAYING A DRUM, AND DANCING, THEY SPIN THEIR HEAD AROUND IN A CIRCLE TO KEEP THE RIBBON GOING IN A SYNCOPATED CIRCULAR SHAPE!! I was in spinning heaven!! We went to the Japanese Sea (later found out it is the Korean Sea and the Japanese paid off the mapmakers to name it after Japan) and swam in the ocean and laid on the very busy beach, went to the most elaborate Buddhist Temple i have EVER SEEN with a 250,000 year old Tree carved into a massive Buddha hollowed out so you can walk inside and leave prayers and offerings and CLICKING COWS that click for blessings! We did numerous TV interviews, participated in a parade that promoted the festival, taught a workshop, an even received the prestigious honor of being the only performers for the Mayor at a welcome Luncheon for all the Foreign Representatives in this festival! We Came, We Saw, WE CONQUERED! Well, impressed at least! Issam was so happy to be among musicians who understood his common language instead of teaching us dancers on tour with questions like “why is that one called a half-note again?” (i’m just joking ladies! We do pretty well, and we are so lucky to have a great teacher like Issam) Sacheon was a very clean and welcoming city and i miss our trips to Holley’s Coffee every morning for our Latte’s to discuss our daily schedule already! I was truly honored to be a part of it and I hope we can go back soon with the WASSAN PHAROON!
Updates from August, 2010
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Sacheon International Percussion Festival in KOREA
Petite Jamilla
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Raqs Britannia 2010 !!
Petite Jamilla
so yes, i am getting a late start on talking about this past years’ AWESOME experience, but i’m getting around to it NONE THE LESS! This year was my BY FAR my favorite Raqs Britannia! It was a new location in Sheffield which the windy “snake pass” road’s beauty DID NOT disappoint! I started off with a quick TV spot with Issam, Stefanya, myself and Sohpie Mae from Britains’ Got Talent. We performed OUTSIDE with a London Eye look alike as our backdrop! (Pictures to follow) and lots of enthusiastic participants to help kick off the excitement! the classes i taught for the weekend were: Double Veil and Simplified Spinning, Emotional Release (a single veil choreo class filled with tips on how to tap into your emotions and use them in your dancing), and a Body Conditioning class that kicked my own butt BUT, was so worth it. The event was organized brilliantly and showcased artists and teachers from all over the world. I attended the Friday Night Show and watched the amazing Tamalyn Dalal dancing an intense and moving single veil piece which was really special to watch. Roland and Leyla Jouvana performed a medley of routines filled with their charming and infectiously happy energy, as usual. Uzume dutch tribal group was innovative and chilling as always. Hilde makes me smile from ear to ear with her classic beauty, amazing body and unique musical interpretation! I was totally diggin on the Slumdog Millionaire mix that bollywood dancer Lopa Sarkar was grooving to! LOVED IT really enjoyable evening! I unfortunately, could not take part in the auditions as 2 of my classes were offered during the audition times, BUT I WAS THERE IN SPIRIT routing everyone on and wishing for the best! I mat some new friends and met up with some old one’s, one of my favorite parts about the Raqs events. Such a joy to see my friend Sabrynah again and meet her bestie, Reana. Had a mini 2010 Castle Retreat Re-Union with Romy and Kasia. I got to hang out with Taca from Colorado for a good while at the fun after party’s. Loved listening to DJ Phil Meadley drop some science for us to boogie to which was a blast! And loved the Arab League as great entertainment too! The classes were fabulous and the bizarre, i think, the best ever! I bought an amazing 1940’s pill box style black feather hat with an italian laze overlay that melted my heart on first sight, HAD to get it! So great shopping, great people, awesome classes, my favorite show ever, STARBUCKS nearby, what more can Petite Jamilla ask for?? and at our Bellydance Superstars show Saturday evening of The Art of Bellydance, i was moved to tears because i felt so close to that theme! I felt the most attached to The Art of Bellydance over any other BDS show we’ve ever performed, so it was bittersweet to me to be presenting it to England for the first time and for it to also be the last time that we perform it! 
All things come to an end though, and new bright shiny things always glitter in the horizon to re-inspire! And with the dawn of Bombay Bellywood just around the corner, IT’S CRUNCH TIME to put all the pieces together to create the best show we can for you all in the Fall of 2010!! -
Fun Fotos
Stefanya
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Public Broadcasting in support of the art of Bellydance
Stefanya
Sabrina Foxx and Miles Copeland and myself reached out to millions across the US promoting the “Art of Bellydance” DVD and the upcoming Bombay Bellywood Tour on San Diego’s PBS Pledge Drive. Stay tuned to your local PBS to see the full show plus interviews by the world famous Bellydance Superstars. -
Notes from the Drawing Board
Lauren
Our spring/summer hiatus has been anything but. The BDSS cast and team have been hard at work creating a most magnificent tour for the fall. Something completely different, completely fresh, completely new. You may have seen BDSS before, but I can guarantee you haven’t seen what we have in store for the fall.
Last week the cast flew in from all over the country for an intense creative session. We have some amazing new cast members that are bringing with them a life time of unique experiences, a creative spirit and a new perspective on performance art. We spent the week dancing outside the bellydance box, beyond our comfort zones pushing the boundaries and limitations of our minds and bodies, exploring new realms of dance, fusion and the beauty of the East.
I wish, dear fans, that I could spill the beans and give you all the details of the new show as I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. But I will not spoil the surprise. You will just have to wait and see for yourself this fall. I cant wait to see YOU on the road!!!
By the way we are playing in my home town DALLAS TEXAS at the Palladium Ballroom, did somebody say Party? I think Brisket and Shiner Bock would be apropos.
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Bellydance Superstars Live on the Air.
Stefanya
Lauren, Nathalie and myself had a wonderful time promoting the 3D DVD and our up coming show at the Alex Theatre Oct. 01 in Los Angeles. Bonus was making new friends with a nice camel named Saloman. Follow the link to watch out on air bit from KTLA, a Los Angeles morning news program. http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/7a20f18e-0f3b-4793-af44-6e6bfca8544e/News/KTLA-Sex-and-the-City-2-Day-Bellydance-Superstars -
Hope Everyone had fun at the Castle Retr...
sabah
Hope everyone had fun at the Castle Retreat last week!
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Picture of Heidi Klum and Stefanya from Germany's Next Top Model
Stefanya
From the filming of Germany's Next Top Model
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Updates from the CASTLE!
Moria Chappell
It’s SO beautiful here! Spring in France, what could be more perfect. The castle is magic full of old royal things, and what a contrast coming in from Dubai. I will let you know the moment I see a unicorn!
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Cecilia and Petite Jamilla Workshop Weekend
Cecilia
I’m excited and can’t wait to be teaching in El Paso, Texas my new workshops!
PETITE JAMILLA: Simplified Spinning & Double Veil and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
CECILIA: Drum Solo and Tango Fusion
I’m also grateful I will be teaching with Petite Jamilla!
I hope to see you all there!
