ADVENTURES OF AN ATS® DANCER
29th March-3rd April 2012
Part 1 (The Run Up)
16th February (42 days to go) - Or exactly 6 weeks (whichever sounds the shortest). A quick update; plans are all coming together and going 'swimmingly'
(explanation: an old fashioned Brit term meaning pretty damn good, although quite what swimming has to do with it is beyond me?). I suppose old fashioned terms are a tad better than the current ones like; "Bet you're well Jel" or "Shadddupppp" as taught to Rob by our David last summer in Essex...
Troupe InternATSional has it's own facebook page and the threads have been hilarious to say the least; a real tonic for the cold weather...Brrrr...roll on spring and summer! You know, I seriously think we have brought together nine (I suppose I should really say eight; how presumptious of me?) of the funniest people in ATS®! *Oh..and not forgetting that since my last blog we've had the news about the ® being attached to all things FatChance which is great for FatChanceBellyDance® Inc., huge congrats to Carolena and everyone at FCBD!
Anyhow I digress; the big news is that we have (finally) 'democratically' decided on our music choices for both performances!...Lililililiyip!...and the schedule is looking super charged with fun. Nancy's ATS® slumber party is arranged for after the instructors showcase on the Friday night and I cannot wait to see everyone dancing in their PJ's!...*thinks*...As this is the evening before our busiest day; morning workshop with Colette, 2 performances and then Mimi's workshop in the afternoon, should we pre-empt matters and apologise for our conduct now?..lol...'Bet you're well jel?'...Go on admit it!!..*waves*...Till next time!...
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17th January (72 days to go) - Already we are fit to burst with excitement!... Our direct flights to Seattle with British Airways and our hotel (The Maxwell) were booked well before Xmas. Then this week we got notification from Troupe Hipnotica (who organise C & T) that our performance times on Saturday 31st March are 1:25pm for Akula Tribal (Maxine, Stacey & me) and 2:15pm for Troupe InternATSional!..
Troupe InternATSional consists of Nancy Brown & Rich (Razil) Williams of Ucanto Bellydance in Seattle, Rob (Valizan) Galbraith of Shades of Araby from Canada, Heather Lynn Dirsuwei of Tribal Angels from South Africa, Michiyo Salisbury from Las Vegas and us from the UK.
I've been reading with interest that our friends are currently snowed in over there and I keep getting told to bring my umbrella...Boo!...So obviously they get plenty of April showers there too, it'll be just like being here only with the bonus of having these guys to play with!!...Anyhow, we'll be relying on Nancy & Rich to let us know what to pack (lets hope we get a freak heatwave because I need all the room I can get in my suitcase for the goodies I'm bringing back!)..
So far I have booked workshops with Carolena on the Friday, Colette Todorov and Mimi Fontana on the Saturday and Carolena's 2 workshops on the Sunday. I think this will allow plenty of time for socialising, exploring and drinking Merlot & eating Pinwheels with Troupe InternATSional at Nancy's house for our ATS® slumber party!...
We are already planning getting together for a Thai (evidently there's a great one close by The Maxwell) on the Thursday night for a catch up before we get stuck into the workhops. Or if not maybe we can all hang out on the Friday night, have a bite to eat, share a few tales and make plans for our performance...to be continued....
Much love & bye for now, Christine x
Rob F Galbraith's (aka Valizan) visit to the UK
29th September-7th October 2011
When Maxine sent out an invite via facebook to our favourite (ok only!) male FCBD®Sister/Brother Studio for him to come and perform at Tassels, Tiaras & Turbans, we honestly did not dare to think that he may actually accept. Nobody could have been more surprised than us that after much 'could he/couldn't he make it?' when we finally got word he was flying into Heathrow on Thursday 29th September (albeit after some confusion with time zones as to if it was the 28th or 29th!). As you know, we are lucky enough to have 2 male dancers in Nartakah so we could barely contain our excitement at being able to tell David and Mark that we were aiming to make belly dance history by getting together the largest group of male ATS® dancers ever to perform at any event worldwide and it was going to happen right here in the UK!
I arranged to meet Rob at Heathrow airport and as I saw his flight from New York (the 2nd leg, after starting out from Buffalo) had landed at Terminal 4, it was with great delight and more than a little apprehension that I waited to greet the man himself. I had only ever had 'virtual' conversations with him previously on facebook and tribe and now he was going to be here in person and staying at my house. I started to feel a little anxious with tons of questions going over in my head the most important one being; " Would I actually like and get on with this man?". I was reassured by friends I adore and respect who knew him personally that not only is he a fabulous dancer and a great teacher, but also a true 'gent' and a wonderfully warm human being. Within minutes of meeting Rob I felt as if I'd known him for years, all my doubts and reservations were allayed immediately, we were ready to hit the ground running!..
Back home on Canvey after being suitably fed and watered, I asked if Rob needed some rest after his long journey but he assured me he wanted to adapt to our time as quickly as possible so was going to hold out. Obviously the majority of our initial conversation revolved around our mutual love of ATS® and it wasn't long before we were dancing around my living room in trio with the light fittings, no time for jetlag at my house!...lol...
Next day was showtime!...I had arranged for some of the troupe to come to mine in the early afternoon to meet Rob, have some lunch and get ready for T, T & T together. Toni arrived first followed by Stacey and boyfriend Obi (our compere), the conversation flowed freely as I had no doubt it would and a jolly good time was had by all (helped somewhat by Stacey introducing Rob to his first Pimms, how very british!). Arriving at The Freight House around 6.30pm it was good for everyone else to finally meet Rob, albeit amidst the usual organised chaos surrounding show preparations.
Then onto the show itself; starting off with Mystik Hips and a very rare chance to see Maxine performing cabaret with her choreography The Cloak Dance, a dark and intresting set. Followed by a ribbon dance, chinese fan dance, flamenco then our fellow Sister Studio Lucy dancing a lovely ATS® set with Elaine. Then our friends Deana, Helen & Tribal Unity closed the first half with a distinctly different native american inspired ATS® set accompanied by some of them playing traditional instruments. The second half gave us Sister Studios (Lucy, Deana, Helen, Maxine & me) a chance to chorus for Valizan's wonderful solo (I so need to learn how to do the Berber Walk!) and then to dance together totally off the cuff with no prior practice (Ahhh..the beauty of ATS®!). When the 2nd song failed we decided to wing it and dance just with our zills which was much appreciated by the audience. Maxine and I then danced a slow peice to Max's daughter Katie's violin, I had never heard the peice before and it was so beautiful. Then it was time for Akula Nartakah to perform, we are so proud of our tribal babes and they were amazing as always. Then it was the moment we had all been waiting for, full of expectation the ATS® boys or Ibn Nerricio (Sons of Nerricio) as they chose to call themselves took to the stage after only 10 minutes practice backstage. David, Mark, Ian, Jacob and Valizan you totally rocked it, big smiles and even bigger hearts all round! Ian (Lucy's other half) has only been doing ATS® for a few months and talk about a 'baptism by fire', he was the first to lead the group with Valizan in chorus. Each of them took lead and then Ibn Nerricio were all dancing together for the first time, honestly you had to be there to appreciate the moment it was simply wonderful to see!...*le sigh*...After the show it was time for everyone to let their hair down and just go for it at the hafla, so many smiling faces. Well done to Kathy and Maxine for making it all happen!!...
Saturday was time to chill and reflect on the previous night's festivities, pictures and videos started appearing (such a shame that the videos came out so dark, front lighting needed next time!) but all are timeless proof of a truly memorable night. I dropped Rob at the station in the afternoon as he had arranged to meet friends in London and then our Mark met up with him and I assume after more than a few dirty martinis made sure he made it back to Benfleet station all in one peice.
Sunday we were booked to do a Mind, Body & Spirit event in Chelmsford in aid of Little Havens Hospice. Rob had agreed to become an honary Akula Nartakan for the day and also my dance partner in Maxine's absence (Boo!...She had booked to go away for the week prior to knowing Rob was coming over). To say it went down a storm is an understatement, it was totally awesome and another chance for our boys to dance with Valizan this time in a slightly more relaxed environment. We have had some lovely messages from the organisers as well as visitors which gives you a nice warm glow inside and reassurance that the public 'get us' and what ATS® is all about. Some of us had arranged to take Rob for a traditional Sunday lunch at the Toby Carvery in Chelmsford afterwards. Rob particularly liked our pear cider and the complimentary hot puds (thanks to David's manager friend). Outside we didn't want to leave we were having far too much fun and as it was an uncharistically hot and balmy October night, the pub car park became our makeshift studio. Another new experience; ATS® in civvies, on gravel and dodging the tooting cars!...lol...I think we all slept well that night!
Monday meant I had work to do, Rob could get a lie-in and the day was pretty normal. Rob very kindly agreed to come along to my Chelmsford class that night and as it was only troupe members there we got through tons. A huge thank you to Rob for sharing his new moves (not yet presented so off limits till then, but so good and so much fun!). Then practicing other new moves which we think are going to be included in the new FCBD® DVD which is eagerly awaited and due out soon. Can't wait to see the subtle changes that may have been made to the ones we learnt with Devi in Leige and the ones that have been created by other Sister Studios. Again Tuesday nights class on Canvey was brilliant although there were some 'rabbit in headlight' looks from some of the less experienced students as 'sink or swim' was the order of the day for 1 week only...
Wednesday night Mark took Rob to see an alternative play in Colchester and as Rob came back raving about it seems to have been a hit.
Thursday I had planned to work but some of the troupe had arranged to take Rob out for the day to Ongar for a touch of historic sightseeing. The more I thought about it, the less I could justify missing out on Rob's last full day in the UK. I called off my afternoon meeting and played hookey with the rest of them. Toni was our tour guide and took us to places I did not even know existed like Greenstead Church which dates back to Saxon times around 600 AD there was definitely spirit in residence there! We had a fabulous lunch in The Fat Turk in Ongar, I'd definitely recommend the meze platter and everyone else recommended The Fat Turk special, as well as the not so fat and very tasty turkish waiter!...lol...
Next morning at the most unearthly hour it was time to take our very special visitor back to Gatwick to catch his 9am flight to Atlanta (then onto Buffalo). It was with huge sadness that I said goodbye to my friend Rob (and to Valizan his spectaculor alter ego) and a feeling of melancholy filled the rest of my day. I was so going to miss his company, his wit and the opportunity to dance around my living room with him as my dance buddy. I know there is so much Rob didn't get a chance to do like visiting the Tower of London, standing outside Buckingham Palace, visiting Camden, etc and meeting more of the UK Sister Studios which means he will just have to come over again to do all those things. Such a shame that Max missed out on getting to know Rob as well as we now do, but we know it won't be the last time we all get together (think about Cues & Tattoos in Seattle please Rob!) or if not us Brits just may have to come and invade Canada!...lol...
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21st-24th July 2011 ~ Workshops with the fabulous
Wendy Allen of FCBD® in Tiverton, Devon.
Maxine and I headed out on the afternoon of Thursday 21st July with grey skies and threatened downpours in Essex and over most of the country. Wouldn't you know it, we had decided to camp rather than book into a B & B because of course we were going to get good weather, after all it was July! Max's little silver car was packed to the brim with camping gear and everything we needed for the 3 days and nights ahead. We were really excited to be seeing Wendy again after taking some private lessons with her in San Francico last November, believe me the lady rocks!!!...We had learnt so much in that private despite booking it for immediately after 6 hours of GS Floorwork!...Remember to ask us sometime about our inability to walk 10 feet to the bathroom in the middle of the night afterwards though! ...lol... hey we'd done it before at festivals and always had an absolute blast!
After nearly five hours in the car and torrential rain for most of the journey we saw a bright break in the clouds and luckily it was in the direction we were heading. We hit the M5 and by the time we arrived at Kelley Beeston's idylic farm just outside Tiverton the sun was shining and the scenery was breathtaking. We decided to put up the tent after a quick 'comfort break', en-route to the portaloo we bumped into Wendy in the garden and ended up chatting to her for over an hour before heading back to our field. The tent had been lent to us by our Toni Wilson of Nartarkah who told us it was a smallish tent that would be a doddle to put up (admittedly it was brand new and Toni hadn't used it yet)...Errr hum...Put it this way our mahoousive blue tent could be seen for miles on the hillside in the sheep field at Kelleys picturesque farm (in fact one of the gals said they thought it was the dorm tent...lol...) Anyhow with some much welcome help from Angela Noble's hubby Mark we got the frame up just before the rain started on the last legs of erecting it and dusk was starting to fall. We climbed inside and went about making our temporary home comfortable, laying down the carpet, blowing up beds and making them comfy, etc. We had just got ourselves sorted and were about to open a bottle of wine when in the darkness we heard Kelley and someone else asking if was ok to come visit. Kelley had brought Bethan from Brighton to meet us as she was all on her lonesome in one of the dorm tents in the orchard (it was as pretty as it sounds). We ended up polishing off 2 bottles and tons of nibbles before we realised that it was 1.30am and we had the workshops next day. Saying a fond goodnight to our visitors we got ourselves ready for bed. After a bit of a spruce up and teeth clean we tucked ourselves up in our individual bedrooms at each end of the tent, nice and snug under winter weight duvets and furry blankets. The rain was still falling and the wind was starting to pick up, I suppose the combination made the sides of the tent start to russle a bit, to be honest it was a little unnerving and I snuggled further under the duvet so that the 'mad axe murderer' lurking outside and rustling the sides of the tent couldn't get me. I held my breath to see if I could hear anyone and was starting to feel really anxious, I was so tempted to wake Maxine but there was no noise from her end of the tent so after an age of nerves and jitters I eventually fell into a really pleasant and deep sleep. Next morning we awoke to quite a nice morning albeit with some light showers but the views were really beautiful. Over breakfast I came clean as to what a chicken I'd been after the lights went out and Maxine laughed saying she had felt exactly the same and had been convinced that someone was outside walking round but didn't call out because she thought I was sound asleep and didn't want to disturb me either, what a pair of complete whoosies we are!...lol...
Friday afternoon was sunny and warm as we made our way to the Sports Centre in Tiverton ready for the workshops which started at 1pm. It was fantastic to meet up again with lots of our closest ATS® friends and meet lots of new ones. The three workshops ran one after another with only a short break in between to grab some rest, coffee and high energy snacks. So much insight and info to absorb, but more than anything it was great just to have Wendy over here teaching us and sharing tips on how to achieve a little piece of FatChance® flair. By the end of the day we were all feeling elated but exhausted, so a lovely shower at the Sports Centre and change of clothes gave us renewed energy ready to meet up with some of our workshop buddies at a pub restaurant call The White Ball in Tiverton. A perfect day was finished off with a few drinks, great food and fabulous company. We returned back to our big blue tent and learnt a valuable lesson; to close the window flaps which we hadn't realised only had netting on the top half. As it rained a bit whilst we were out it meant that everything inside the living area was really damp, luckily our bedroom areas were dry and cosy and exhaustion ensured that we had the best nights sleep ever.
The Saturday held another day of workshops for Wendy and the other group of attendees but we woke up rested and refreshed. A lovely morning dried out the tent living area in no time, we then had the whole day to chill out with good friends in the sunshine and enjoy the blissful peace of Kelley's beautiful home. Sitting in the orchard just chatting and laughing with Maxine, Jo, Bethan, Sarah & Jo Baker was a great way to prepare for the evenings festivities. We sneaked back into the Sports Centre mid afternoon for another shower and a cheeky glimpse of what was going on in that days workshops, having quick chats between workshops breaks with more ATS® buds and then it was time to return to the tent to get ready for the evening hafla at the farm.
Getting on all our finery in a tent is something that we've done quite a few times before and it's kind of fun so long as you are able to do it by daylight. The hafla started at 7pm but as we had Lucy and Elaine of Umberlily in our tent for drinks and a chat first we were fashionably late. I honestly don't know how everyone who had been in the Saturday workshops (Wendy included) had the energy to dance the night away but they did. Kelley and Jacqui Spiers did the most fantastic job in changing Kelley's games room/dining room/barn into an arabic inspired ATS® palace. The atmosphere was amazing and the food was a gastronomic delight (especially loved the spinach and feta pie with filo pastry...yum!). The punch with the funniest name ever was a potentially lethal coctail of many spirits; brandy, gin and a ton of other things, it tasted really nice and deceptively innocent more like a fruit drink. In order to save a mega hangover I made sure to have plenty of Jacqui's scrummy home made elderflower cordial as well.
The evenings dancing kicked off with a beautiful performance by the gorgeous Samantha Emmanuel, followed by an awesome ATS® performance from our hosts Kelley and Jacqui. Then the lady herself, Wendy Allen put on the most jaw-droppingly beautiful ATS® solo performance lighting up the room and leaving us all mesmerised and awe struck by her dance prowess, it was a definite pinch-me moment in the most beautiful surroundings. Then it was the turn of everyone else to get up and dance, so many Sister Studios (Jorunn from Norway, Philippa & Jesse of Moirai, Kelley, Jacqui, Kirsty Matthews, Carol Malley, Lucy Raynor. Angela Noble, Max and me...OMG have I forgotten anyone? If so I apologise!) in the room it was magical for us to all get a chance to dance together mixing and matching the groups was such fun. I noticed that some of the students sat out the dances, so I tried to bring some of them up to the dance floor and one of them quite sadly said she felt 'out of her depth' and would prefer to watch. You know we have all been there, every single one of us remembers what it was like when we were novice dancers and not one person in that room would have judged them. I really hope the next time the people who felt like that get up and give it a go because that is what ATS® is all about simply having fun dancing together, we are all still learning and there is always someone better than us. I honestly don't know where Wendy, Kelley and Jacqui found the energy to dance that night, but dance we all did until the wee small hours....A truly memorable night was had by all!...
We got back to the tent about 1.30am, there was some noise going and we thought it may have been some of our partygoers in their tents. However, we soon realised that the music was actually coming from a rave in the local vicinity which went on with annoyingly loud booming music till around 4.30am ensuring that we didn't get a wink of sleep until they packed up.
Sunday morning found us both a little jaded mostly due to lack of sleep, we had decided to leave after breakfast and maybe go back via Glastonbury (which didn't happen as it turned out to be further out of way than we first anticipated). Luckily putting away the tent was so much easier than putting it up and in the end we had quite a giggle rolling around on it to get out the air. We had the best 3 days ever and that was down to the fantastic job that Kelley and Jacqui did in organising a really fabulous event, thank you ladies you were awesome! Finally an especially big thank you to the wonderful Wendy Allen for inspiring us to be the best dancers we can be, till the next time lovely lady!!...
