Last Class Recital, March 9, 2010

What a great performance on March 9th!!!  I'm so proud of my students they work really hard on all their dances and what a show they put on Tuesday night.  Thanks to everyone that helped set up the room with chairs and putting everything back when we finished.  The audience was fantastic moving to the dance room to watch the intermediate tribal class perform the skirt dance since the drama room was too small for flying skirts :0)

Below are some photos from the evening performance.  Thanks Gail for taking such great photos during the show.

Group shot before our performance

Beginning Thursday night tribal performing to the song "I Like To Move It"

Beginning Wednesday night tribal class performing a basket dance

Beginning Wednesday night cabaret class performing a fusion dance

Beginning Tuesday night cabaret class performing a 1980's dance called "Bellyrobics"

Intermediate Tuesday night cabaret class performing an Oriental dance

Intermediate Wednesday night tribal class performing a skirt dance

More skirt dance

Jade performing a solo

Roxy performing a sword solo

Michele and Kay enjoying the show

Next recital will be in May...

Catching Up January - February 2010

It's been a long time since my last post and so many events have taken place.

My dance classes at the Mesa Art Center (MAC) on January 19th and I'm now teaching 3 nights a week Tues., Wed. and now Thursday evening with a new beginning tribal class.

On January 23rd I held my 15th Annual Belly Dance Swap meet and even this week and one of the worst storms in AZ it didn't dampen our spirits. Attendance was really down due to the unusual weather since dancers from out of the Valley of the Sun couldn't make it due to so many road closures. We will do it again on January 15, 2011!!!

Helena's workshop at the 15th Annual Swap Meet

On February 6th I danced at TC's Belly Dance Gathering at Plaza de Anaya as a solist and with some of my students. It was a fun show with lots and lots of dancing and chatting with friends.

Kelley, Kyla, myself, Dena and Debbie at TC's show

I vended with Kyla and Gail at the Estrella War Games in Florence, AZ Feb. 9th - 14th. This was my first time vending at War and doing henna for a day. I saw so many people I hadn't seen in so long; next year I'm not driving back to town we'll stay and camp.

Our vending tent at War

Kyla, Gail and I at War

John and Ratso

Last Saturday I taught a veil workshop in Safford, AZ and what a blast!!!! The women in Safford made me feel so welcome, like one of the group. A huge Thank You to Rajani for inviting me to teach; now Rajani know how to throw a party! My hubby and dog Ratso came along for the ride and although I can't speak for Ratso my hubby had a great time!!

I am going to do my best to make sure I bring my camera with to all events in the future. There are several events in March and OMG April is filled with workshops and shows every weekend along with a road trip to Cottonwood. I can't wait to see everyone in Northern AZ.

Till next time...enjoy

Upcoming Events

Hope everyone had a great holiday; mine was fantastic!

During the break from my Mesa Art Center classes I will be teaching a bellyrobics class on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.  If you would like to join in on the workout send me an email to register, yasmina@joyofbellydancing.com.  Classes will be $5 each and will start Dec. 29th & 30th and continue the 1st two weeks in January 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th.

I am starting something new the first Saturday of the month mini workshop.  I'm adding a second workshop that day from noon until 1:00 p.m.  The entire 2010 schedule is posted on my website; check it out when you have a chance.

My Mesa Art Center classes will be starting January 19th, 20th and 21st.  Below is all the info on these classes.

Tuesday

beginning belly dance (American Cabaret Style)

CAW10DNC003-01 T Jan 19-Mar 9 7-8pm $47 R $55 NR

intermediate belly dance (Oriental Style)

CAW10DNC004-01 T Jan 19-Mar 9 8-9pm $47 R $55 NR

Wednesday

beginning dance (American Fusion Style)

CAW10DNC003-02 W Jan 20-Mar 10 6-7pm $47 R $55 NR

beginning tribal style (Basket Dance)

CAW10DNC001-01 W Jan 20-Mar 10 7-8pm $47 R $55 NR

intermediate tribal style (Skirt Dance)

CAW10DNC002-01 W Jan 20-Mar 10 8-9pm $47 R $55 NR

Thursday

beginning tribal style (Tribal Fusion, song Move It)

CAW10DNC003-02 W Jan 20-Mar 10 6-7pm $47 R $55 NR

register by calling the Mesa Art Center box office, (480)644-6500, or drop off your registration at the Art Studios at the Mesa Arts Center lobby.

late registration call (480)644-6500

brochures are at the Mesa Art Center or visit the Mesa Arts Center website, http://www.mesaartscenter.com/index.php/classes/dance.

My first big event will be January 23rd at the Women's Club of Mesa.  This will be my 15th Annual Belly Dance Swap Meet.  Below is more info:

Mark your calendars for Saturday January 23rd from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Enjoy a day of shopping, workshops, networking with other dancers and having fun.

The event will be held at the Women's Club of Mesa - 200 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201 (cross streets - University & Center)

Vending space is $10.00 (setup will start at 7:00 a.m.)

Please bring your own table(s) or rugs, setup will be outside. If you would like shade bring a tent.

Four workshops this year!!!

9 - 10 Yasmina - New Dance Combinations

10:30 - 11:30 Sherry - Fusion Belly Dance

Noon - 1:00 Helena Vlahos - Arm and Hand Movements

1:30 - 2:30 Aradia Rose - Zumba

Workshops are $5 each.

To reserve your vending and/or workshop spots please contact Yasmina - 480/962-6303 – yasmina@joyofbellydancing.com.

Workshops are starting to fill up; email or give me a call to reserve your spot.

Enjoy your weekend and have a fun, safe and wonderful New Year...

Chandler Parade of Lights

Sorry this has taken so long; what can I say it's that time of year! :0)

What a fun night it was and a very chilly night for us in AZ. The first Saturday of December was a very busy day. I started the day with teaching a dance workshop in the morning and that night was the light parade in downtown Chandler.

We needed to be there by 5:00 p.m. to get set up and ready to be judged for our category Best Lit Musical or Dance Troupe. The "lit" part was for lights on the costumes not "lit" inside :0)


I had my own contest going for the class and Dena and Paola won best lit dancer (again it was the use of lights) and Kyla won best use of glow sticks.

A huge thanks to Kelley and Melissa for getting us drummers to provide the music for us as we danced down the parade route with our lit candy canes.

Below are photos of the event and I'm already planning next years route!

group shot with the early birds

Roxy

Michele

Melissa and I

Melissa

Jade

Melissa, me and Ginn lit up

Jackie in the parking lot

Elisabeth

Kelley

group shot

Everyone have a great holiday season and a very happy New Year...until next year take care.

Craft class on November 14th

Hi Everyone,
I know it has been awhile since my last blog it's my super busy schedule and living life to the fullest!

Below are the boxes we will be creating in class on Saturday. These boxes are great for small gifts and candy treats.

group shot of all the boxes


Small acetate box with stamped images; sorry they are really difficult to see

Box in a bag

Mini bags using the Sizzix Top Note die cut

Small box using the Sizzix Top Note die cut

Triangle box

Mini pizza box with a turkey made with a stamp set by Stampin' Up called Fall Whimsy. The turkey is made with leaves, pumpkin and an acorn

Enjoy your week and see you in class....

Talent Show, October 17, 2009

What a fun evening performing at the Mesa Amphitheatre for the City of Mesa "Community Spirit" talent show to raise money for Longfellow School.

It was a beautiful evening under the stars with friends and family performing and watching the talent of the employees of the City of Mesa.

I have always wanted to perform at the Mesa Amphitheatre and now that dream has come true. It was a great stage and to enjoy it with my friends and students was fantastic!!!

Below is a group shot after our performance and a photo of our groupies :-)

Sonaran Rose - Melissa, Kyla, Jennifer, Elizabeth, Carrie, Rachel, Debbie, Kelley and me

Melissa and Rachel came and watched us perform

> Sword duet with Melissa

Drum solo

Smooth

Yasmina's Fall Belly Dance Swap Meet

The fall swap meet was a fantastic day filled with shopping, meeting new friends, seeing friends and dancers you haven’t seen in a long time, workshops and an evening show.

It was a glorious day of sunshine and even though the weather guy said it was 88 degrees it seemed a lot hotter :0)

The day started early with getting to the Women’s Club of Mesa at 6:00 a.m. The vendors were eager to start their day and started arrive before 6:30 a.m.! Even the shoppers were arriving before 8:00 a.m. when the swap meet was to start.

It was a really nice blend of vendors this year with 23 showing up to sell their wears. Welcome to the new vendors that joined us this year and thanks to everyone for making the swap meet a success.

Gina (Ginici) was the first workshop instructor for the day starting everyone with slow and slithery moves with a twist. Holly put the workshop students through their paces with pops ‘n locks 2. Habib started the lunch hour with “heavy duty beat patrol” learning how to tweak the visual impact of your musical interpretation. I ended the day with some new combinations in cabaret and tribal style flavors.

After my workshop all the vendors packed up and we prepared the Women’s Club for the evening show. I should say Kelley and Qianna did all the work they set up over 100 chairs for the evening festivities.

The show was fabulous; what talent we have in the State of Arizona. I didn’t perform in the show I ran the music and had the best seat in the house right up front! For me it was so nice to be able to watch a show almost in its entirety. I was taking photos and getting the music for the next performance ready but all in all I got to see a show.

Thanks so much to Morgiana for emceeing the show. Personally I hate talking into a microphone and Morgiana does it with such ease; she can adlib with the best of them!

Huge thanks to Kelley for helping in the booth, keeping an eye on Habib’s booth while she taught her workshop and for help with cleaning up after the show; this girl can run a mean vacuum! Also thanks to Paula for helping with clean up after the show.

What can I say about my hubby he is priceless; I don’t know what I would do with out him; thanks John for all you do.

Photos from the show:

Divine Chaos

Rukshana

Desert Menagerie from Safford

Gypsy Chicks from Flagstaff

Habib from Sedona

Qadesh

Sonoran Rose

Sonaran Rose

Mitra

Ginici

Ginci and Sherry

Dancers of DeNile

Hadara from Tucson

Banat Tabla from Yuma

Anaya Tribal


Thanks for all those that attended this years event I hope you found a lot of new treasures, learned some new moves and just had a wonderful time. See you all next year, Yasmina