Inspire! Bellydance: Newsletter September 2010

Dear students and friends of Inspire! Bellydance,

Welcome to only the second newsletter for the year! Already it's the final week of Term 3. In a special offer for just this last week, ALL HIP SCARVES ARE ON SPECIAL - starting from just $20. Congratulations to those dedicated souls who've been braving the chilly winter to maintain their dance classes! And those who've been waiting for it to warm up before crawling out of hibernation, now's the time to start waking up and booking in to next term's classes.

I've been keeping busy with plenty of projects, including three exciting pieces of news from the last few months: my Egypt trip, Zumba classes, and a competition.

Firstly, during June and July I escaped Sydney's cold winter for the heat and dust of Cairo, the homeland of Oriental Dance. It was amazing! While there, I attended nearly 30 workshops at the Nile Group and Ahlan wa Sahlan festivals, as well as many private lessons, adding up to over 80 hours of tuition! It was humbling to be a student again, and inspiring to see the high standard of dancers from all over the world. So along with a new wardrobe of stunning costumes, I also now have a huge repertoire of material to draw on for both performing and teaching. The opportunity to perform twice with live Egyptian musicians was a dream come true.

Secondly, Zumba Fitness classes have proven to be a great fun addition to the timetable. You get a thorough cardio workout thanks to the high energy dance moves and spicy music from all of the world. It's bound to be popular with everyone who wants to improve their fitness as summer approaches. If you haven't yet tried it, come along! Your bellydance term pass gives you a free bonus trial Zumba class. Or do both Bellydance and Zumba, and the second course is half price!

And finally, in August I performed in the finals of the Belly Dance Star Awards, a competition with entrants from all over Australia as well as New Zealand! I was honoured to be among 6 finalists selected in the Professional Soloist category - and thanks to many of you, I won the People's Choice Award! Those who came to Dina's concert and workshops as part of the same weekend event were utterly blown away by her powerful presence and technique - what an inspiration!

Please read on for more news! This newsletter contains information about:

• upcoming shows and events, including fundraisers and performance opportunities
• recent events and student achievements
• a look at what's happening with our classes next term and your SPECIAL HALF PRICE OFFER!

I look forward to seeing you all in class! Happy Shimmying, Rachel

rachel@inspirebellydance.com.au ~ 0403 771134 ~ www.inspirebellydance.com.au

A series of dance events supporting charities

Bellydancers' Girls' Night In

Help raise much needed funds for breast cancer research and treatment, while getting to know other dance students and enjoying Yasmina's superb film, "Journey of Desire: A Foreign Dancer in Cairo".

Thursday 30 September from 6.30pm at Rozelle School of Visual Arts, 57 Nelson St, Rozelle.

Bring food or drink to share (think pink!), a cushion or beanbag, and a donation (suggested $10-$20) for this worthy cause. All women welcome, regardless of whether you're a dancer! If you can donate a raffle prize, let me know. All the details are in this poster.

"Haf-la Century" Bellydance Party!

Annette (a fellow teacher) and her school Hippy Hippy Shake Bellydance invite you, your family & friends to a fabulous evening of celebration, fun and entertainment. Highlights of the night will be fantastic music played by Jamal’s band Layali Zaman and fabulous dance performances starring some of Sydney’s best performers, including Rabiya, Jrisi, Shiva (male bellydancer) and Rachel, as well as plenty of time for guests to dance, party and enjoy delicious food with a full Lebanese style Mezza.

We have a table put aside for Inspire Bellydance so contact me to book your seat. This event will be supporting the Down Syndrome Association NSW. Tickets $50 if paid before 1st October, or $60 after 1st October.

Concert for Make a Wish Foundation

On 7 November at North Sydney Leagues Club, students from Rachel's bellydance classes at Norths Fitness will be performing at this charity event. Details soon!

Aussie Dancers for Animals Black Tie Fundraiser

...was an event organised by Jrisi Jusakos of Hathor Dance Studio in July. An evening of quality world dance, it featured several bellydance acts as well as Rachel with partner Damian performing Argentine Tango. Several thousand dollars were raised for the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals.

Diary Dates: End of Year Shows and Parties

Many Bellydance schools will be throwing a party later this year. You're always welcome to attend, even if you don't learn at that school. I'll be trying to get to all of them! Here are the ones I know about so far; more details will be available soon.

Amera's Palace End of Year Hafla ...12 December in Marrickville. This will be an opportunity for Inspire Bellydance students to dress up and perform!

Hips Don't Lie End of Year Hafla ...28 November in Parramatta

Bellydance Ileana End of Year Concert ...14 November in Padstow

Inspire students
in action!

Above: 2010 Bellydance Expo, Sunday 15 August. L-R: Katia, Jessica, Rachel, Ally, Robyn.

Below: Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival, "Festival Follies" concert, 2 May 2010.

Willougby Spring Fair, Saturday September 11: Our merry band gathering in preparation to dance down the main road of Chatswood, as part of the Street Parade!

Here's to many more community events! If you hear of festivals, parades, fundraisers or events that we could take part in, please get in touch. Let's tell the world how wonderful it is to dance!

Professional entertainment

If you're hosting a special function - whether it's a birthday, engagement or even a wedding - a belly dance performance will make it unforgettable. See my performance page for details.

Fast-track your learning, get personalised assistance with particular techniques, or learn a choreography created especially for you! A one-on-one class will address your individual needs and wishes, including assessing your personal strengths and weaknesses in your dancing. Contact me for details.

Corporate classes

Brighten up your working week! Corporate lunchtime classes are available all over Sydney. I am happy to come to your venue if there's a group of women wanting to learn.

In the news

Rachel appeared on Channel 7's Sydney Weekender in July, in the Telegraph in August, and in the Southern Courier and Wentworth Courier in September!

Classes in Term 4

Bookings are now open for the final term of 2010, which begins on Monday 11 October for 10 weeks, through to 16 December. The timetable will be staying largely the same (just Paddington classes moving 15 mins later). Course fees are still $140 for the 10-week term.

All Beyond Beginner classes will be learning choreographies that you have the option to perform later in the year! Plus, for the first time, Fundamentals classes will include choreography as well as technique. Dont forget, it's always worth doing Fundamentals at least twice to consolidate all your moves, before moving up a level. And maybe we can even tempt you to do both!

Enrol in 2 courses for Term 4 2010, and receive the second course for half price! That's just $210 for 2 hours/week of quality dance lessons. Valid across all styles, levels and locations of Inspire Bellydance and Zumba Fitness classes. Not transferable to other people or terms.

Bellydance and Zumba classes are for all ages!

As part of a children's dance workshop at Willoughby Street Fair last weekend, the talented 7-year-old Josie gave her first solo bellydance performance! This year, Rachel is again teaching high school students at Ravenswood School for Girls; while her classes at Norths Fitness are popular amongst older ladies. It really is for everyone!