Belated “Thank you” to Dani


It was a wonderful end of term party, so thanks again to Dani and friends for all their hard work.  Yet again the “Winter Warmer Hafla” lived up to expectations: good company, good food, good music …… We couldn’t possibly close for Christmas without a final swish of the “Hot Stuff”!

Of course, those of you who have never been will have no idea what I am rambling on about, but Dani’s parties are just a little bit different.  Anything goes! (in fact, I might bully her into creating a Choreo for that one, now I know that the roots of Charleston are buried in traditional Belly Dancing!).  We also reap the benefits of a professional “sound man” in the shape of Dani’s son, so the evening becomes a veritable “son et lumière”.  All this for just £5!

OK so if you don’t know, Dani’s approach to Hafla is very traditional and relaxed.  Join in and do what you will as long as you laugh and have fun.  We        have some regular party pieces (this is where Hot Stuff comes in - along with a touch of the old Tom Jones’ Sex Bomb).  You don’t have to know the moves, or - in the Eric Morecambe tradition, you may be getting them all right, but not necessarily in the right place at the right time!  Who cares?

We always love to see a solo, and we are a very supportive audience if you want to try out something new or perform for the first time.  Thanks very much to Margaret, our visitor from Folkingham group, for her beautiful contribution this year.

So a big, heartfelt “Thank you” to Dani and her team for all their efforts and a “Merry Christmas & Prosperous New Year” to them and belly dancers everywhere.


Belated Thank You part II


Just to round things off (and leave us with some homework for the festive season), Dani organised a final Wednesday night treat for us all.  By special request, she laid on a “Performing with Props” workshop to help us look just a little more graceful and save us from some typical errors. 

Now, a prop can be a good thing - take a beautiful floaty veil, for example.  But it can also turn into a monster!  I well remember a minor glitch when I ended up looking fit to rob a Post Office as I let my veil get just a little out of control!  Anyway, that is now all in the past - I have learned to flick and float, wrap and ripple, pick up and put down - and still smile whilst doing it!  We swooshed and swashbuckled our swords, tinged and chinged our zils, cavorted with canes and undulated with urns - all with grace, decorum, passion and - above all - control.

So thanks again to Dani.  If you missed it, perhaps we can persuade her to do it again some time.  We had a ball!