Coming home.. Well… it’s been so long since I wrote in my blog that I’ve almost forgotten how.. and 6 years since I left Egypt... I need to update the header for the blog too!! Hello again! Guess what? I’ve been back in Edinburgh after my 10 years in Cairo for quite some years now.. but it’s only now that I feel I’ve truly come home. The reason?  I’m setting up new weekly classes!   For the past 16 years I’ve been an international performer and have been teaching workshops around the world as well as teaching some online private classes. Before all that I used to teach 25 ..read more

I cannot believe that it's been over a year since I last wrote on my blog! How did that happen? Life took over I guess... sorry folks! If I was to cover all I have been up to in the last year it would take too long... so instead I'll give you a wee outline of what's ahead for me in 2018... It's going to be a jetsetting year- so get your diaries out, heres a wee view of mine.... Edinburgh- There is a new Moroccan restaurant in Edinburgh (south Clerk St) called Souq, and they have a bellydance show every Saturday night. Natalie, Moyra and I are the resident dancers... so if you come along you ..read more

Another year has started... and with it we all have made our New Years resolutions.... to get fit, to lose weight, to learn a new skill, to write more in our blogs, etc etc.... My main resolution is to DANCE MORE  (as well as some of the above!)  So, help me out, and yourself too, if this appeals to you.... I've been asked by many of you for this for years. Now it's finally available-  1-1 Online Bellydance Coaching sessions!  Whether it's on FaceTime or Skype, now you can dance with me in my own home, while you're in your own home!  Work on your technique, arm ..read more

Welcome back to Part 2 of my Edinburgh Fringe Review where I have reinterpretted what I saw in each show into Bellydance terms! Triple entendre- Female Trio performing original songs and sketches.  When I saw these these three young women walk onto stage I have to admit, I had initial doubts about the quality of the show to come. No offense intended, but they just looked like students. Young, pretty, but nothing like the bling or stage 'costumes' that a bellydancer is used to seeing.  By the end of the first song, their massive personalities, material and amazing talent swipe ..read more

One of the most fabulous things about living in Edinburgh once again, is the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival. It is huge. Officially the largest festival in the world. 50,266 performances of 3,269 shows in one city within one month.  Music, drama, dance, comedy, you name it. It's all there. Some shows are huge and pricy, some are completely free. There is something for everyone.  I decided long before August came around that I was going to dedicate the month to seeing shows rather than performing them. Being entertained instead of doing the entertaining. Before I lived in ..read more

I am just back from my two week 'holiday' in Cairo and am exhausted!  The reason for this particular trip- I'm one of the regular teachers at the Nile group festival. I unfortunately didn't make the entire week since I'd been invited to be the star guests at Shona Hagan's Torquay summer spa weekender. That was an amazing weekend with lots of fabulous fun woman and I laughed even more than I danced!  It was frustrating to miss the lions share of the Nile Group festival, but I cannot deny that it is also lovely to be in such demand! So Nile group closing gala was an amazing and ente ..read more

Here are few of my China inspired dance related thoughts as promised! - Tarab. In many places around the world dancers might describe a dance style or music style as Tarab, however, Tarab is a feeling, an emotion, rather than a category. Certain music might be more likely to inspire Tarab in the listener however it shouldn't be classed as 'Tarab music'. On trying to explain this in my Beijing workshop, I was attempting to describe what athletes know as 'the zone' and dancer might think of a 'flow'. When the end result is greater than the sum of all the parts involved. When you are lost in ..read more

I have just had the good fortune to Beijing for 4 days and although I knew I'd like the city, I did have a few surprises along the way... These are all very tourist based. The dance version is for my next blog entry (I thought I could combine them, but am surprised while writing them how many there are!!!!) 1. Blue sky! Yes, renowned for its horrific Beijing pulled out all the stops for me and I was lucky enough to have warm blue skies everyday! When the pollution in China is bad it swamps even the sandstorm days in Cairo, so I felt very relieved that you lungs were to get a break these days ..read more

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