World Fusion Concert

A personal journey…… by Shameela

With anticipation in the air the curtains open to the sounds of the sitar and flute.  As I move onto the stage the chimes of a Tibetan cymbal ring out to the beginning of my Fusion journey.  I ripple and snake weaving in and out of the Mudras and centre myself into a Lotus tree temple pose. Here are my roots and from my centre I reach out through dance to the world expressing my spirit and love for all that is.  My body starts to pulse to the sounds of the tabla and the familiar locks, pops and bellyrolls rolls play and tease the drum with the sitar and flute working their way to a frenzie I shimmy and spin in joyous unison.  My journey within and without is complete as I come full circle back to centre I hear the joy of my sister dancers whom without this journey would not be possible.

Fusion Bellydance Weekend

Only 3 weeks until our exciting inspiring weekend! Costumes and dances are having their final adjustments for the World fusion concert, workshops are brimming with participants and teachers ready to share their knowledge.

This project has been a year in the planning and I’m very proud of how it is all coming together and the support I am receiving.  For those of you still wanting to attend their are still some spaces left. Friday nights dinner at Kantara House will be a great social evening with Gabbriella’s Acu points for dancers mini workshop and Pete’s drumming and percussion all in a beautiful rainforrest setting.  Or come along and join us at the Gosford RSL for our spectacular concert on the Saturday night.  (have a look at our events page for all the info)

See u there!

Shameela

Bollywood at Avoca Beach Theatre

The scene was set in the old Avoca beach theatre with it’s beautiful decore and ambience. As everyone mingled chating and drinking wine I was thrilled to hear we had a full house of 280 guests. The theatre staff and owners were very friendly and were also delighted with the turnout.  As we performed on the stage our faces glowing from the warm lighting I noticed how silent everyone was eyes all fixed on us. Our colourful costumes sparkled and glowed almost as much as the joy in our hearts. Thank you Gabriella, Donna and Jodie for your inspiring dancing.

The movie of cause was a love story with quite a bit of comedy throughout “Jab we met”. What amazed me was that everyone stayed right till the end of the move at 11.30pm. There is certainly something that captures the minds and hearts of audiences in Bollywood movies.  I loved it.

Thanks to my friends and students who came along and supported the evening.

Shameela

Happy New Year

Happy Blue Moon New Year to everyone.  The end of 2009 for me couldn’t have been more special with 2 days of celebrations at The Peats Ridge Music and Arts festival.  We are so fortunate in having it held 20 minutes from where I live.  The atmosphere is always so friendly and I had so many enthusiastic participants in my Bollywood workshops.  It was great to see so many of the guys up dancing as well.  New Years Eve I was fortunate to spend on Sydney Harbour with ringside seats for the best show on Earth.  I would say it was the most spectacular fireworks I have seen on the bridge and loved the Yin Yang symbol at the end. Where ever you were I hope you had a great night and that your year ahead brings you harmony and joy.

Xmas Hafla Celebrating 2009

What a way to finish an amazing year of dance.  The Rhythm Hut was perfect for our end of year party.  Atmosphere was perfect with lighting and rich fabric decorations as well as all of you beautiful ladies who came to perform in such a diversity of costumes.  We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of muscians who also made the night special giving us the opportunity to do Tribal  and Bellydance improv. Thanks Susan for bringing your tribe down from Newcastle and Dani and Rose for your inspiring dancing.  We also have a wonderful local bellydance community who all participated in some way making the night a real community event. The diversity was amazing with Alantia’s cheeky Gypsy dance and her modern fusion Indian with Jita as well as a Gypsy Fusion Tribal performed by Anita and Daya. My Bollywood and Oriental students were dazzeling with their uplifting cheeky performances, it’s just wonderful to see how you all encourage and support each other.  And to end the night with our wonderful band “Nothing Sacred” was perfect.  Thanks Robert, Brent and Carlton.  YOU ROCK!

Thank you to all of my students for your smiles and dedication in sharing this wonderful dance with me.  I would also like to thank all my friends and Husband Robert for all your support this year without this support these dance events could not happen.

Watch this space for all the exciting events for 2010.

Xmas Blessings to you all.

Shameela

Bollywood weekend

Even as hot as it was the Bollywood weekend at Satyananda Ashram Mangrove Mountain was a wonderful experience. I met some beautiful ladies who were very enthusiastic to learn my Bollywood choreographies and we all had so much fun dressing up on the Saturday night and performing for the residence at the Ashram.  We even had a couple of the men join in for the finalee  circle dances.  The food was yummy and fresh from the garden and I enjoyed the meditation and the chanting.  Thank you to Mangalananda for organising such an enjoyable weekend.

November 2009

What an amazing weekend we have had.  Thank you to all the students who participated in the Fundraiser event for Hilary Friday night at the Breakers Club.  We added lots of colour, smiles and shimmies with Veils, Wings, sword and fan veils.  We all got a bit teary when Hil’s husband said a few words but dryed the eyes when the Kath and Kim comedy impersonators came on.

Saturday’s Soiree was hot in more ways then one.  Thank you to Susan from Black Diamond in Newcastle for hosting such a great day.  What a beautiful backdrop the girls had put up for us to dance in front of. There was a great vibe and atmosphere with lots of great dancing, yummy food and thing to buy. Thanks to all the ladies who bought our wares from our Indra store.  The Tribal Tye Dye pants went like hot cakes. Gabby and I hope to have the pants plus other goodies up on the website soon for you to purchase so please be patient.

Then it was back to the Central Coast to dance and teach at a Bollywood party. Everyone went way out with their costumes… the girls in beautiful saris and the guys with white tunics and turbans.

Sunday it was Newcastle again for Fee’s Neon Tribal Fusion workshop.  Fee shared one of her Choreographies with us which had everything in it from Industrial to Indian Mudras. Fee is an amazing dancer and teacher and we are lucky to have such a giving lady in our dancing community.  Even though I couldn’t stay for Jacqueline’s Fan veil workshop the feedback from Gabby and Marg was very positive who said they both learnt so much.

I finished off the weekend filming Kim’s Hafla at Davistown “Sahara Stars”. Congrats Kim the girls danced beautifully and it was lovely to see them happy with the costumes they had bought from the Indra Store.

This weekend I’m off to teach Bollywood at the Mangrove Mountain Ashram.  There are still spaces available if anyone feels like coming along.

September/October Updates

What an amazing term we have had with our Winter Hafla exploding with joyful, colourful performances by everyone. Everyone supported each other and the dancing was awesome! Congratulations to all who participated and a huge thank you for those of you who helped to make this event a success.

The last three months has been a wonderful experience travelling around meeting other dancers and teachers and being a part of their events, performing, teaching and selling our goodies from our Indra Bazaar stall. From the Canberra Tribal Soiree to Dee’s Feast of the Senses in Brisbane where Gabby and I represented our School in a fabulous Tribal concert. Then it was Jacqueline’s Tribal Mosaic at Govinda Spiritual Retreat and of course the fantastic Mid North Coast Festival at Kempsey.

Kempsey was probably our highlight with some of the Bollywood ladies performing with me at the Sunday Bazaar. We all participated in various workshops and danced the night away at the Belly dancers ball. Thank you Margaret, Joe and Rosemaree for your support on that weekend and helping me out with the stall. Couldn’t have done it without you.

We now have an enthusiastic Monday night Bollywood fusion class at Berkeley Vale, welcome to all of you and hope to see some of your faces back for a last term of the year. I am also excited about our new Tribal Fusion class on Saturday mornings at the Rhythm Hut in Gosford. The Rhythm hut has a great environment with creative musicians and drumming classes in Djemba and Taiko and as you can see by our events calendar we will be holding our end of year xmas show/party there. Check it out www.rhythmhut.com.au