Don't miss the debut of the O.C. Bellydance Festival

We're gearing up for a busy, busy belly dance weekend in SoCal!

Bedouin Bazaar kicks things off in San Diego on Saturday, and then on Sunday, we have the chance to support our very own, Orange County-based festival when the O.C. Bellydance Festival debuts at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center in Mile Square Park.

Workshops will be offered with Robin Johnson (8-10 a.m.), Politti Ashcroft (10 a.m. to noon), Sooz Hall (noon to 2 p.m.) and Elizabeth of She'enedra (2 to 4 p.m.). The cost for each is $40 at the door.

Vendors who will be selling their wares include Tribal Bazaar, Geisha Moth, Enchantress Designs, Left Coast Trading and many more.

Twenty-five performances are lined up, beginning with JJ & the Habibis at 12:05 p.m. and culminating with the festival's hostesses, troupe Incognito, at 3:53 p.m. In between, you can check out performers like Perizad, Kashmir, Om Sisters, Blue Damsel, Tribe Roman Morga, and many more.

The Fountain Valley Recreation Center is at 16400 Brookhurst St., near the corner of Brookhurst and Heil Avenue. Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/troupeincognito or e-mail Nikki at troupeincognito@sbcglobal.net.

Hope to see you there!

Lights, Cameras, Dance -- the Amateur Competition Results

When the contest between six competitors came down to a tie between two beautiful dancers, the audience made the final call between Emily and Iowana in a last round dance-off to live drumming by Gorkem Somer. Both competitors demonstrated strong talent -- and both self-taught, they told show founder and emcee Farah. But in the end, Emily of Riverside, in her shimmering green, blue and gold ocean-themed costume, earned her place as the winner of the inaugural Amateur Belly Dance Competition at Orchid Persian Cuisine restaurant in Costa Mesa.

It was the culmination of a successful evening that started with a terrific buffet, a performance by Farah and a visit from Ben Aaron of KDOC's "Daybreak OC." Aaron's camera crew followed along as the correspondent wrapped a red and gold hipscarf around his waist and tried to follow as Farah and Perizad showed him a few moves and how to work a crowd. Before he left, Aaron announced that footage from the event would air on "Daybreak OC" on Tuesday; the show runs from 6 to 8 a.m. on KDOC.

Then it was time for the women in the audience to dance. Farah and Perizad packed the dance floor and led the group through hip drops, shimmies, serpent arms and more, ending with an impromptu circle dance.

It was a great prelude to the competition that was to come. Every competitor showed talent, and the costumes were stunning. Best of all, the audience -- filled with friends, family and other dancers -- was kind, welcoming and appreciative of every competitor's skills. And with all the dollar bills flying around, every dancer was "enriched" by the experience, too.

If we're lucky enough to have Farah host this event again in the future, you won't want to miss it. I know I won't...

Amateur Competition in Costa Mesa

Dance showcases have been sprouting up across the area, and now Orange County has it's own competition, too. The Amateur Dance Competition will be held at Orchid Persian Cuisine restaurant in Costa Mesa on July 31. In addition to dancers competing in two categories, the event will feature dance lessons by event founder Farah and Perizad; performances by Farah, Perizad and Shya; live music from Turkish drummer Gorkem Somer; music by DJ Mike Soltani; henna artists; and a hookah lounge on the restaurant's patio.

Farah also was kind enough to answer some questions about the competition.


What was the inspiration behind this event?
I was eating the delicious food at Orchid Persian Cuisine, and I was inspired by the stage. There are few restaurants that actually have a stage. I sat there thinking to myself: Wow, this place is beautiful -- especially since they redecorated and have a full bar. Why don't we plan a belly dance event that will inspire new dancers to perform?

Who is helping you organize it?
I chose Perizad because I went to her [O.C. Bellydance Connection] meetup at Sophia's restaurant in Placentia and thought it was really fun. She is so sweet and I love to watch her dance. I would especially like to see her perform on a beautiful stage.

What are the categories for the competition and who are the judges?
Level 1 will be entered by dancers who have been practicing or taking lessons less than six months. The dancers will be judged by the audience, who will have ballots that will be counted by me before awarding the prize. The DJ will pick the music and the contestants will each dance one song. The prize for this level is a beautiful hip scarf and matching top, plus one month of unlimited exotic dance lessons -- including Hoop, Belly and Pole at Fit For You Studio, next to Orchid. This prize is valued at $265. This level will be won by the boldest diva who is not afraid to risk everything in order to have a good time.

Level 2 gets more serious. It is open to participants who have belly danced anywhere from 7 months to 5 years. No instructors please! We need to keep this amateur. All choreography must be original. You can bring your own song if you want. Every dancer will dance one song. The prize includes a month of unlimited exotic dance lessons (pole, hoop and belly dance) at Fit For You Studio, plus a cash prize of $100. The total value of this prize is valued at $335. The contestants will be judged by professional performers: me, Perizad and Shya.

Rubric:
1.Costume 5 pts
2. Appearance, hair makeup, etc. 5 pts
3. Stage presence (examples: facial expression, posture, eye contact, attitude, interaction with audience) 10 pts
4. Props (cymbals, cane or veil) 5pt.
5. Use of space 10 pts
6.Rhythm (ability to follow music and make transitions gracefully) 10pts
7. Arms and hand position 5pts
Total 50 pts

Do you have plans to make this an annual event?
My plan is to make it a monthly event where students can come and compete. The goal is to keep the students practicing and give them a place to perform that is beautiful and with a full stage so they can really show off their talent.

What's your dance background?
I have 23 years experience performing. I consider Angelika to be my major influence. I have danced everywhere from here to Istanbul. My style is Turkish/Egyptian.

Where can people go for more information?
www.bellydancingclasses.biz

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Some people are complaining about the price, well they should realize that great quality DJs cost $600. I hired the best. I am also paying professional dancers and a live drummer. I am offering prize money and all-you-can-eat buffet, plus henna artists and hooka lounge. Trust me, I am not making a penny. In fact, I may have to cancel the event if I don’t get a few more people to come. I really thought everyone would be more excited about this event.

Bellydance Showcase debuts in Placentia

Members of the fledgling OC Bellydance Meetup Group held their inaugural Bellydance Showcase on April 28 at Sophia's Greek restaurant in Placentia. We were happy to hear from Rachel, the group's founder and event organizer, that the showcase was a hit.

Here's what she says:

"Our first bellydance showcase was a resounding success. The dancers were Perizad (pictured left), me (pictured above), Fatin, Aminah, and Farah (pictured below). Fatin and I were dancing for the very first time in front of an audience. The audience was very supportive and forgiving. Clips are on YouTube under 'oc bellydance showcase.'

"Perizad was the hostess for the first Showcase, and she did a great job. We had a large turnout, and I got to meet lots of great people. Next time we will start the dancing later to let people get their food first. It was a bit chaotic with dancers and waiters trying not to bump into each other. LOL!

"After the performances, we put on the music and let everyone dance ... definitely my favorite part of the night.

"We did forget to pass the tip basket around. Oh,well."

Rachel adds that the group is already working to schedule the next date. Check http://bellydance.meetup.com/344 for updates.