Raqs Britannia at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. June 5th - 7th 2009
By Mark
For most of those ladies who attended this event is one of the highlights of the belly dance year. Here’s a different perspective from a bloke. My lovely wife will add her own perspective as a participant when exam marking and end of year reports are finally finished.
I’d been looking forward to our first Raqs B since it was announced and had been giving it publicity on this website since I got the first details. I saw it as an opportunity to meet some of the people I’ve corresponded with by email and Facebook since this website was launched in March and to get together with old friends. I was particularly looking forward to indulging in my photography hobby and hopefully getting some good shots for this website.
We arrived at the venue in good time for Connie’s first workshop on the Friday morning after a three hour drive and as we checked in I asked the very friendly and helpful young lady on the desk if there were any restriction on photography; she smiled brightly and replied that there were none that she knew of apart from during the BDSS shows and workshops. Great! Photos during professional shows are normally verboten and I never take photos in workshops anyway, a bloke wandering around with a camera is guaranteed to be unpopular with ladies in their workout outfits who are sweating and straining and not looking their best.
As is my normal practice I found out who was in charge, introduced myself to Dave and mentioned that I’d be taking photos for the website. The reaction was not far from what I imagine it would have been if I’d announced that I planned to wander round the venue abusing children and small furry animals. Dave consulted with Miles and the verdict was that no photos are allowed in the shows, or workshops, and in addition, no photos for publication are allowed anywhere within the areas controlled by Raqs Britannia: not of the open stage, not of the fashion show, not of the competition (understood on that one, most will be under 18) not of the souks etc., etc. I explained that I was planning a review of the event and was told that I could take photos for publication in conjunction with a “journalistic piece” but that I must submit them for approval by email before publication. Dave was very polite and businesslike and explained that they turn a blind eye to photos taken by participants for their own personal use but photos intended for publication fall into a different category. I suppose I should have been complimented to be placed in the same category as Hello magazine and the News of the World, I’d never thought of myself as a journalist before!
My enthusiasm for the event went out of the window at that point and didn’t recover. I was prepared to go along with the rules (even if they hadn’t been mentioned in either the brochure or the website that I could find) but I’m so used to watching belly dance events through a viewfinder that I was lost.
I wandered around the souk for a while after it opened (looking for children and small furry animals), took a few photos and then went out into Blackpool shopping before returning to our hotel to read. Saturday and Sunday followed the same routine. We did the show on Saturday night (I even left my camera at the hotel like a good boy) and I was slightly peeved when Miles Copeland announced that we were going to see part of their new show, “The Art of Belly Dance.” The Raqs B website said “…the show will feature ONLY THE BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS and their new show "THE ART OF BELLYDANCE." Nothing in that had led me to believe we weren’t going to see the whole thing and I couldn't help wondering who gets to see the whole show? A minor peeve and a bit picky of me but I get that way when I feel I’ve been made as welcome as a bacon butty in a mosque.
The show we saw was brilliant and up to the usual BDSS standards. I can’t comment on individual performances because I can’t recognise individual dancers from the peasant seats at the back of the balcony without opera glasses and there was no programme. The only possibly negative thing I will say about the show is that it was too much of a good thing. Too many brilliant performances all going on at the same time and I couldn’t make my mind up which group of dancers to focus my attention on. The term Three Ringed Circus came to mind and I’d say it’s a show guaranteed to wow the most world-weary audience in Las Vegas. Sometime I’d like the opportunity to watch some of the BDSS dancers perform as individuals; I suspect that even the most junior member of the chorus line would knock my socks off.
We skipped the after show do (featuring Oojami and Beats Antique) as I was suffering from old age and Connie had more end of year reports to write (never become or fall in love with a teacher is my advice).
Sunday was more open stage and the 1st Junior Belly Dancer Competition (open to under 19s). Excellent performances were put on by all who took part and three young ladies walked away with prizes ranging from a £75 BDSS shop gift certificate to a £500 BDSS shop gift certificate and a years worth of lessons with the teacher of their choice. Kudos to Miles for this one as it should be an encouragement to young dancers to hone their skills. One point that Miles made after the performances and before prizes were awarded should be passed on to all future competitors and teachers who have a potential competitor: that is that the use of props went against performers in the judging. Routines based on the use of veils, fans and Wings of Isis etc normally only allow a dancer to showcase one aspect of her skills, what the judges were and will be looking for is all round belly dance skills.
Overall I felt that Raqs Britannia was the most commercially oriented event I’ve been to in four years of being involved in the UK belly dance community. It’s a good event, well organised and despite the reported large numbers in some of the workshops, no-one I spoke to felt that they hadn’t received their money’s worth. That says a lot for the skill and professionalism of the BDSS teachers. Connie was highly impressed with all the classes she attended. In the unlikely event that any BDSS stars ever read this review, kudos to you all.
I did get to meet a few of the people I’ve come into contact with online but not as many as I would have liked to meet. I also met some new people and made new friends as well as touching base with some old friends. Connie thoroughly enjoyed all her workshops and her view of the weekend will be coming sometime after she’s finished writing reports.
Would I go again? My thinking at this point in time is probably not, if I’d known that photography for publication was banned I probably wouldn’t have bothered going this time. If Connie wants to go next year she can find a friend to share accommodation and travel with and cut our costs (for what can be a VERY expensive weekend away). For what we spent on a weekend in Blackpool with workshops, passes, show tickets and shopping we could probably have had a week in Morocco in the off-season. Whether it’s value for money or not is a matter of individual perspective.
There are a couple of things I must add, firstly, the staff at Raqs B with their black and gold sashes couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly and secondly, thanks to our hosts Dave and Allan at the Draytonian Hotel. That was a great place to stay, quiet, within walking distance of the venue with one of the most comfortable hotel mattresses I’ve ever slept on.
Finally, where are the photos I took? Being a stroppy old sod I decided to stand on my principles and that I’d be bu****ed if I was submitting my photos for approval. This review will be fine without and as my personal opinions and observations, isn’t subject to censorship.
By Mark
For most of those ladies who attended this event is one of the highlights of the belly dance year. Here’s a different perspective from a bloke. My lovely wife will add her own perspective as a participant when exam marking and end of year reports are finally finished.
I’d been looking forward to our first Raqs B since it was announced and had been giving it publicity on this website since I got the first details. I saw it as an opportunity to meet some of the people I’ve corresponded with by email and Facebook since this website was launched in March and to get together with old friends. I was particularly looking forward to indulging in my photography hobby and hopefully getting some good shots for this website.
We arrived at the venue in good time for Connie’s first workshop on the Friday morning after a three hour drive and as we checked in I asked the very friendly and helpful young lady on the desk if there were any restriction on photography; she smiled brightly and replied that there were none that she knew of apart from during the BDSS shows and workshops. Great! Photos during professional shows are normally verboten and I never take photos in workshops anyway, a bloke wandering around with a camera is guaranteed to be unpopular with ladies in their workout outfits who are sweating and straining and not looking their best.
As is my normal practice I found out who was in charge, introduced myself to Dave and mentioned that I’d be taking photos for the website. The reaction was not far from what I imagine it would have been if I’d announced that I planned to wander round the venue abusing children and small furry animals. Dave consulted with Miles and the verdict was that no photos are allowed in the shows, or workshops, and in addition, no photos for publication are allowed anywhere within the areas controlled by Raqs Britannia: not of the open stage, not of the fashion show, not of the competition (understood on that one, most will be under 18) not of the souks etc., etc. I explained that I was planning a review of the event and was told that I could take photos for publication in conjunction with a “journalistic piece” but that I must submit them for approval by email before publication. Dave was very polite and businesslike and explained that they turn a blind eye to photos taken by participants for their own personal use but photos intended for publication fall into a different category. I suppose I should have been complimented to be placed in the same category as Hello magazine and the News of the World, I’d never thought of myself as a journalist before!
My enthusiasm for the event went out of the window at that point and didn’t recover. I was prepared to go along with the rules (even if they hadn’t been mentioned in either the brochure or the website that I could find) but I’m so used to watching belly dance events through a viewfinder that I was lost.
I wandered around the souk for a while after it opened (looking for children and small furry animals), took a few photos and then went out into Blackpool shopping before returning to our hotel to read. Saturday and Sunday followed the same routine. We did the show on Saturday night (I even left my camera at the hotel like a good boy) and I was slightly peeved when Miles Copeland announced that we were going to see part of their new show, “The Art of Belly Dance.” The Raqs B website said “…the show will feature ONLY THE BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS and their new show "THE ART OF BELLYDANCE." Nothing in that had led me to believe we weren’t going to see the whole thing and I couldn't help wondering who gets to see the whole show? A minor peeve and a bit picky of me but I get that way when I feel I’ve been made as welcome as a bacon butty in a mosque.
The show we saw was brilliant and up to the usual BDSS standards. I can’t comment on individual performances because I can’t recognise individual dancers from the peasant seats at the back of the balcony without opera glasses and there was no programme. The only possibly negative thing I will say about the show is that it was too much of a good thing. Too many brilliant performances all going on at the same time and I couldn’t make my mind up which group of dancers to focus my attention on. The term Three Ringed Circus came to mind and I’d say it’s a show guaranteed to wow the most world-weary audience in Las Vegas. Sometime I’d like the opportunity to watch some of the BDSS dancers perform as individuals; I suspect that even the most junior member of the chorus line would knock my socks off.
We skipped the after show do (featuring Oojami and Beats Antique) as I was suffering from old age and Connie had more end of year reports to write (never become or fall in love with a teacher is my advice).
Sunday was more open stage and the 1st Junior Belly Dancer Competition (open to under 19s). Excellent performances were put on by all who took part and three young ladies walked away with prizes ranging from a £75 BDSS shop gift certificate to a £500 BDSS shop gift certificate and a years worth of lessons with the teacher of their choice. Kudos to Miles for this one as it should be an encouragement to young dancers to hone their skills. One point that Miles made after the performances and before prizes were awarded should be passed on to all future competitors and teachers who have a potential competitor: that is that the use of props went against performers in the judging. Routines based on the use of veils, fans and Wings of Isis etc normally only allow a dancer to showcase one aspect of her skills, what the judges were and will be looking for is all round belly dance skills.
Overall I felt that Raqs Britannia was the most commercially oriented event I’ve been to in four years of being involved in the UK belly dance community. It’s a good event, well organised and despite the reported large numbers in some of the workshops, no-one I spoke to felt that they hadn’t received their money’s worth. That says a lot for the skill and professionalism of the BDSS teachers. Connie was highly impressed with all the classes she attended. In the unlikely event that any BDSS stars ever read this review, kudos to you all.
I did get to meet a few of the people I’ve come into contact with online but not as many as I would have liked to meet. I also met some new people and made new friends as well as touching base with some old friends. Connie thoroughly enjoyed all her workshops and her view of the weekend will be coming sometime after she’s finished writing reports.
Would I go again? My thinking at this point in time is probably not, if I’d known that photography for publication was banned I probably wouldn’t have bothered going this time. If Connie wants to go next year she can find a friend to share accommodation and travel with and cut our costs (for what can be a VERY expensive weekend away). For what we spent on a weekend in Blackpool with workshops, passes, show tickets and shopping we could probably have had a week in Morocco in the off-season. Whether it’s value for money or not is a matter of individual perspective.
There are a couple of things I must add, firstly, the staff at Raqs B with their black and gold sashes couldn’t have been more helpful or friendly and secondly, thanks to our hosts Dave and Allan at the Draytonian Hotel. That was a great place to stay, quiet, within walking distance of the venue with one of the most comfortable hotel mattresses I’ve ever slept on.
Finally, where are the photos I took? Being a stroppy old sod I decided to stand on my principles and that I’d be bu****ed if I was submitting my photos for approval. This review will be fine without and as my personal opinions and observations, isn’t subject to censorship.
