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!!