Month: April 2018
Hamilton International Bellydance Competition 2018
54 days left to enter Hamilton International Bellydance Competition ^_^ Is this your year?
2018 Hamilton International Bellydance Competition
Cost to enter Phase 1 (video):
$35 CAD (per category) for soloists
$70 CAD (per category) for ensembles (groups)
Online judges: Michelle Sorensen & Farasha of Tokyo
Finalist judges: Henna of Datura Online, Melissa Gamal
Application fees may be paid at https://mahasti.ecwid.com/. Please note – all application fees are non-refundable.
Successful finalists will be responsible for an additional $50 fee (per soloist or per ensemble). Successful finalists, if they wish, may apply this fee towards a full day workshop purchase with Henna.
All applicants will receive a ticket to attend the competition & gala show for themselves for free. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
How it works:
Seven solo and five ensemble finalists will be chosen per category from video submissions. There are three categories – professional solo, fusion solo, and ensemble. Professional applicants should use traditional Middle Eastern bellydance music. They may present any traditional bellydance style from raqs sharqi to folklore. Fusion applicants and ensembles may use any style of music, however at least 50% of their dance should be bellydance.
Applicants may enter as many categories as they wish. Only those applicants whom appear in the video may dance in the finals (understudies are not permitted). If you are not sure who may be available in September, we strongly recommend dancing with extra performers.
The application period opens Monday, March 12, 2018 at 9 a.m. EDT.
The application deadline is Monday, June 11, 2018 at 9 a.m. EDT. All videos and entry fees must be submitted before the deadline.
After being selected, finalists in each category will be contacted by email by Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 5 p.m. EDT. Their names will also appear on our website. The final competition will take place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada from September 15, 2018.
After uploading your HIBC video to YouTube, please email eshebellydancer@hotmail.com your artist or ensemble name, category entered, the name of choreographer, and a link for viewing the video. In the case of ensembles, please also include a list of the dancers who appear in the video.
Rules:
Videos for soloists should not exceed 3 minutes in length. Videos for groups should not exceed 4 minutes in length.
Choreographies and videos must include all original content created by the soloist entering the competition or ensemble director in the case of groups. Using another dancer’s choreography is not permitted. Applicants may perform the choreography from their video submission in the final competition if they wish.
All dancers must be 18 years of age or older at the time of submission.
Videos:
Please shoot your videos from the front only and in landscape mode. Also ensure that you’re in a well-lit room and that the recording has good sound. Your entire body should be visible for the duration of the video. You don’t have to wear a professional costume or be in full make-up, but your movements and expression should be easy to see.
Videos will be judged on technique, musicality, personality, and originality. For ensembles, we’ll also be examining your synchronicity and formations. The final competition will have the same criteria. The judges will select the winners. In addition, the audience will select a People’s Choice winner for each category.
Finalists are responsible for their own travel, accommodation fares and all fees related to the competition.
If you have any questions, please email eshebellydancer@hotmail.com.
WORKSHOPS
Workshops with Henna for Hamilton International Bellydance Competition 2018 will take place at Mahasti on Sunday, September 16, 2018!
Mommy & Me Bellydance at Mahasti in Hamilton – New Session June 2
Love this photo by Second Studio – 세컨드스튜디오 of me & my love 
We have a new bellydance session for our Mommy & Me class from Sat June 2! Open to all caregivers! Kids 4 & up We are working on choreography in this class with an option, never obligation, to perform.
You don’t need to be a “good” dancer or have experience to take this class. Your child will love the time you’ve invested in doing something fun with them! It’s so healthy for kids to see you happy & trying something new & active!
Saturdays 10-10:30AM (New choreography June 2)
4 classes (1 adult & 1 child) $26.55 + tax = $30.
Mahasti – The Bellydance Emporium
422 Concession, Hamilton
hamiltonbellydance.com
New Bellydance Session in Hamilton at Mahasti
NEW SESSION at Mahasti – The Bellydance Emporium from Monday!
Monday 7PM Pay What You Can Basics (or use your class card)
8:05PM Choreography 1
Tuesday 9:30-10AM Lil Movers $5 drop in (suggested ages 18 months & up)
10-11AM Feel Good Bellydance $5 drop in
6:20PM Basics with Peggy Nuwayrah Bellydance
7:25PM Pay What You Can Beginner Skills with Peggy (this session we focus on veil – free loaners at the studio)
Wednesday 7:10PM Drop in Drills with Angela Josephine (intermediate level). Next session is choreography!
8:15PM Bellydance Choreography 2
Thursday 10-11AM Feel Good Bellydance $5 drop in
7PM Fresh Fusion with Faith Dance (4.19 is FREE if you share our post)
8:05PM Cultivate & Create (improv & dance development strategies, games & excersizes all styles & levels welcome)
Saturday
10-10:30AM Caregiver & Me (new session from 6/2)
10:45AM Pay What You Can Basics
11:50AM Bellydance Choreography 1
12:55PM Bellydance Choreography 2
All classes are 1 hour & taught by Eshe unless other specified.
422 Concession, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We are a proud member of the Concession BIA! Check us out on Groupon!
SPECIAL EVENTS
Sat 4/21 Harem – Bellydance Show in Hamilton KIDS UNDER 18 ATTEND FREE
Sun 4/29 Let’s Make CF Extinct! Bellydance Workshops with Faith & Eshe
Sun 4/29 Souk in the City 5 & Mahasti’versary FREE BELLYDANCE MARKET
Sat 5/12 Freestyle Flow: Improv Secrets with Alyssa Nedich
Fri 5/18 Sidewalk Sounds: Bellydance Stage – FREE SHOW
Sat 5/26 Try Hamilton – FREE CLASS 10:45AM at Mahasti
Sat 6/16 PWYC fundraiser for Pride Hamilton 10:45AM
hamiltonbellydance.com
Hamilton Bellydance Crew Meet Up
Join us Saturday at The Casbah Lounge. 306 King St W Hamilton
Free entry.
Everyone is welcome.
Municipal parking is at 55 Queen St N Hamilton
Terrarium reservations are now closed.
Bellydance for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, Souk in the City 5, Mahasti’versary
Join us Sun April 29th for a full day of fun!
Bellydance Fusion workshops 11-12:30 with Eshe
12:45-2:15 Kpop & Bellydance with Faith
$25 for 1 workshop or $40 for both
50% goes to CF Canada
2:30-4:30 Souk in the City 5
Free Bellydance Market
& Mahasti’versary Party
Try Hamilton on Concession Street 5/26 FREE Bellydance Basics Class
Save the date! We’re bringing you another FREE class on Saturday May 26th 10:45-11:45AM.
All styles & levels welcome!
Freestyle Flow: Improv Secrets with Alyssa Nedich
Freestyle Flow: Secrets to Improv with Alyssa Nedich
Join us Saturday May 12th as this award-winning artist shares exploratory and expansive drills. Learn what it means to dance in the moment or use the exercises to push through creative blocks or past established habits. Test out different tempos, levels, textures, ranges of emotion from brooding to playful as soloists, partners and a group.
Sat May 12th
4:30-6:30PM
at Mahasti
422 Concession
All experience levels welcome.
($39.82 + tax) $45
Interac etransfer to eshebellydancer@hotmail.com
Pay online at: https://mahasti.ecwid.com/#!/1-Workshop-2-hours-total/p/64748412/category=18890056
BIO
Daring to follow her artistic dreams, Alyssa has been working as a choreographer, director and dance instructor for eight years. Always willing to try something new, Alyssa has developed a versatile portfolio with experience in competitions, classrooms, theatres and on movie sets. She can be seen on stages and screens across Canada, as well as sitting on the other side creating, curating and developing new work.
Alyssa’s creativity is ever reaching, crafting competitive and performance pieces for soloists and groups as well as investing in her community. Alyssa believes in helping youth grow confidence through dance. She has been asked by numerous elementary schools, high schools and community centers to run workshops and camps.
Alyssa’s approachable and bubbly personality has allowed her to extend her expertise to include offering private lessons, workshops and specialty choreography for weddings and events.
AWARDS
Certified instructor by The International Dance Teaching Standards
Member of the Professional Adjudicators Alliance
Audiences Choice winning show Bloom at the 2015 Hamilton Fringe Festival
Audiences Choice winning show, Places at the 2014 Hamilton Fringe Festival
Choreographed the Canadian premiere of Sideshow the Musical
Choreographed and curated a music video for California Indie Rockers, Of us Giants’ hit Soil
Hammer Entertainments full 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons
Hamilton Spectator’s Readers Choice Award for Best Dance Instructor in 2014 and 2015
Nominated for an emerging artist award twice under the Hamilton Arts Awards
Member of Hamilton Fringe Festival’s ALERT Collective
More at http://www.alyssanedich.com/
Mahasti – The Bellydance Emporium
422 Concession, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
eshebellydancer@hotmail.com
hamiltonbellydance.com
Closed Monday April 2 for Family Snuggles
Just a reminder friends that we are closed tonight for family snuggles.
We’re back on tomorrow with FIVE drop in classses
Tuesday
9:30-10AM Lil Movers (18 months & up) drop in $5
10-11AM Feel Good Bellydance – drop in $5
4-4:45PM Kids Bellydance (4 & up) drop in $5
6:20-7:20PM Bellydance Basics with Peggy
7:25-8:25PM Pay What You Can Beginner Bellydance Skills with Peggy
We’re now at 422 Concession, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Harem vol 30 – Bellydance show in The Casbah, Hamilton
Saturday April 21 we have our 30th Harem! Every month on the 3rd Saturday Eshe hosts this bellydance extravaganza.
Launched in 2007 this used to be a yearly event held at The Casbah. Eshe returned to Canada in 2015 & opened Mahasti in 2016, that year she decided to relaunch Harem as a monthly event instead.
Harem is a public event that is open to everyone. Each month Eshe invites professional artists to share their passion and talent. The line-up is never the same & the dances are never repeated. You’ll never see the same number twice at Harem. We host local talent as well as international acts.
This month we have The Serpentina North Ensemble of Toronto. They perform an improvisational group tribal style often with elements of classical Indian dance and Egyptian folklore they also whimsically pepper in modern dances like disco as well as theatrical staging. In the best way possible, you never know quite what they’re going to offer.
Invoketress, lead by Ishra, are another shape-shifting bevy of talent. From raqs sharqi to dance hall, folklore to fusion, they dance it all. Enchanting Guelph for over 20 years, Ishra draws from a deep well of experience and inspiration. They’re always a fan-favorite at Harem.
Wild Orchid Belly Dance are our home-team talent. Lead by Jackie Pullar, they’ve been shaking things up in Hamilton for over 10 years. Wild Orchid perform fusion bellydance seamlessly blending Reda-esque footwork, juicy Egyptian hip stylizations with playful or dramatic modern aesthetics and music.
Angela Josephine trains at The Dark Side Studio and performs with Lavish in Toronto. She pairs razor-sharp technique with breath-taking and stirring execution. Her style has been called deconstructed bellydance and is a fresh and often operatic take on the traditional.
Every month Eshe, the host of Harem, as well as her troupe Raqs Mahasti and teachers at Mahasti Peggy and Faith perform. We start working on a new show every 4-5 weeks so that we’re always offering up something new and fresh. This month Faith’s Kpop class will be sharing 2 fun and flirty numbers. Raqs Mahasti will be dancing to classics “Misirlou” and “La Cumparsita.”
In the 2nd half of the show we’re trying something different, we’re going to hit “shuffle” on the ipod & dance to whatever comes up! Want to submit a song? Upload it here (friendly reminder: there are kids at our show)
https://www.dropbox.com/request/tAR9fl45peZyIb6v34xP
The show starts right at 7PM and runs til 8:30 with a brief intermission around 7:45. Doors open at 6:30PM.
The Casbah is located at 306 King St W, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
The nearest municipal parking lot is across the street at 55 Queen St N, Hamilton.
Tickets are $15 at the door. (Capacity for the club is in the 100s we will not sell out)
Kids under 18 attend for free.
Mahasti - The Bellydance Emporium - Dance on Concession Street in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 