Last August, Annette and I went to the coast for a special event – Ireta’s Beachcomber’s Belly Dance. It was an all-day festival of workshops, festival dancing and souk, with an evening show. There were many vendors present, Saqra, Halima, Gaylene and Ireta among them, with all kinds of beautiful things for sale. There was costuming, jewelry, music, videos…..everything a shopper could wish for!
Workshops were given by Saqra (shimmies and techniques of choreography) and Wedad of Portland (isolations and belly rolls), with a special costuming class given by Gaylene. The festival dancing featured performers of all levels, including some very first performances which are always fun to share with the baby dancers. Annette wowed the audience with her performance of Alf Layla Wa Layla. Then there was the evening show, led off by a beautiful performance by Ireta herself, and featuring a whole evening of dancers including myself (lucky me).
The setting at the coast for the festival was ideal. The event was held at the Lincoln City community center, the former Delake School, right on Highway 101 in town and convenient to dining and lodging. The venue was really lovely, with ample room for the vendors, separate classrooms for the workshops, and a beautiful stage for the performances. And then, the next day after the festival, we still had the beautiful Lincoln City coast! Needless to say, we took our time coming home that day.
Then, in November, we went on another dance getaway, this time to Oasis Dance Camp on Vashon Island in Puget Sound. Accompanying us on this trip was Marianna, a friend and former dance colleague, who used to be a Eugene resident but who now lives in Ashland. We arrived Wednesday evening, just in time for dinner and to get settled for the next four days of intensive dance. The teachers were Cassandra of Minneapolis, Kay Hardy Campbell, drummer Nicole LeCorgne, and the Northwest’s own Hasani of Gig Harbor, Washington.
Each day started with sunrise stretches by Cassandra, followed by breakfast. Then down to the main lodge for a day full of dance. Hasani led off with warm-ups and turning. This was followed by an hour of khaleegy (Saudi) technique and choreography with Kay and another hour of technique with Cassandra. After lunch, we split into two groups for more intensive choreographies with Kay and Cassandra, one and a half hour classes with each instructor. Other classes were offered, including several drumming sessions with Nicole. Each evening featured a different event to fill out our day – one evening was a special Hafla night with performances by the instructors and the campers ourselves.
After the first day of a minimum of five hours of dance, I thought I would not survive! However, by the last day of camp I had gained in strength, endurance – and optimism. The last day was spent in performing the choreographies we had learned, and we left for home full of the fun of sharing the dance with others who love it too.
