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Tales from the Caravan Beledi Boutique is growing every day and with growth comes interesting travels and experiences. Lacy Perry, owner, will be your guide on the Beledi Boutique Caravan.
Tribal Bras: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly - 7/26
 Halleyah hosted a highly informative Tribal Bra workshop at Dominy School of Performing Arts in Conyers during which participants learned the good, the bad, and the ugly of tribal bras and were coached through the creation of their own personalized tribal bra. The creativity of the hosts, including Stacia Schmidt, and the workshop attendees was astounding. Headpieces turned into metal fringe, mirrored trims lining bra tops, Kuchi pendants, coins and beads galore. It was a pleasure to be there to provide my new DIY supplies to help them achieve their creative visions.
PHOTO: Me at my table with all the new costume-making goodies.
NERO South Carolina Gypsy Waymeet - 7/4 to 7/6
 The South Carolina chapter of NERO, a live action role playing game (LARP), hosted a weekend-long event centered around a political meeting of people from all over the Southeast acting as Gypsy characters. Chapter owner Justin Easterwood and staff put together an excellent event and, as always, it was lovely to see NERO International owner Joseph Valenti make an appearance. I was fortunate to join them for the Grand Bazaar on Saturday, followed by a delicious feast, and performances by two of Alima's students, as performed at the Summer Dance Benefit: Veil solo by Kyra and a gypsy fusion solo by Kat. I had the pleasure of being peer-pressured into performing a tribal fusion solo to Cantara by Dead Can Dance, choreographed by Oracle of Jahara Phoenix and performed as my gypsy character Zeina Allayl, which translates from Arabic roughly as "delightfully pleasant lady of the night". PHOTO: Kat, ready for battle with spell packets in hand and a sword at her belt, looks smashing in her Beledi Boutique blue chiffon gypsy top and black 25-yard skirt tucked nicely to accent those lovely leather boots! Summer Dance Benefit - 6/28
 Alima hosted Summer Dance workshops and show to benefit the Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts (GHCA). A bellydancer since the 1970s, Alima brings style and a smile to her audience as well as the students in the north Georgia area who are fortunate to have her as an instructor. At the GHCA, Alima led a challenging one-hour warm-up with zills, followed by an informative 2-hour workshop on complex staging with Lisa Wylie of Huntsville, Alabama. World dance artist Aziza Nawal ended the workshops with a 2-hour workshop featuring Middle Eastern combinations. The evening ended with a show featuring Alima's students, many performing for the first time; the Naughty Nomads and Lumani and the Lounge Lizards of Huntsville, Alabama; Mahsati Janan of Asheville, North Carolina; and headliner Aziza Nawal of Atlanta. Overall, it was an engaging day and a lovely evening. Down-to-Earth Star - 6/21-6/22
It was my sincere pleasure meet Ava Fleming, Middle Eastern Dance Artist and winner of The Belly Dancer of the Universe competition in 2004. Not only is she the most talented bellydancer I have yet to see perform up-close, she is also surprisingly (to me at least) approachable and down-to-earth. Her two-day workshop series "I Can Do That!?", "All About Tha' Caberet", and "Tribaret, You Say?" were both informative and physically challenging. I don't know about the rest of the participants, but I am still sore 2 days later, and I only did the third in the series! My sincere thanks goes out to Sha'ni and the rest of the Tiger's Eye Collective for putting together this wonderful event, featuring a Gala Show Saturday night including 2 solos by Ava and fantastic Georgia-area performers The Sashas, Ananda, Julia, "The Flame Goddess" Lee, Company Mezza, Sha'ni, Amberetta, Zuhra, Fatina, Saroya, and Majida Anwar. It was wonderful to watch and meet many of these performers, as well as all the lovely bellydancers who met me at my booth. Tribal Infusion - 6/20
Beledi Boutique has expanded its inventory with much-requested tribal costuming. Additions available include must-have light cotton, tiered 25-yard skirts in a variety of colors and designs, bra and belt sets, several varieties of metal coin belts. I will be continually updating our inventory with new tribal bras, fringe belts, Ghawazee coats, satin Galabayas, sari bodices, and ruffle bloomers. Fusion and caberet styles will still be represented and options for all styles will continue to expand in the very near future. Oasis on the Square - 6/7
Inara of Bellydance Oasis hosted local bellydancer Amani Jabril for a workshop during the day, then put on an amazing "Open Shimmy" show at Efes Restaurant on the Marietta Square. Featured performers included a member of the studio's troupe Hip Chicks, students of the studio, and Moyna Dance Company. Thanks to all who came out, but if you missed it please visit the studio's website at www.inarasbellydance.com for information about their classes, events, and troupe. For more information about Amani Jabril, please visit www.amanijabril.com. Morbid Caberet - 5/31
I thoroughly enjoyed traveling to Northwest Georgia to visit Jillana Bab-Cheshul of Merrybellies, who put on a fun poi workshop with "The Flame Goddess" Lee at her studio in Ringgold, followed by the awe-inspiring "Morbid Cabaret" show in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Featured performers included the studio's gothic fusion troupe Graveyard Dollies, Amberetta, "The Flame Goddess" Lee, and Chaotic Necrotica to name a few. Visit www.merrybellies.com for information about their Egyptian, children's and fusion troupes, upcoming events and classes. |
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