Comments in writing Jan 2010
|
Zehara has taken belly dancing to a different level, and brings her own skill and imagination into every class she teaches. I have tried other classes on the odd times she has been away and they are slow and lack the Zehara factor. Her classes are so energetic that with the stresses of life you can go in feeling worn out and come out rejuvenated and this keeps you going until the next week StraitJacket Circus
Well after a stressful day, I can't wait to get to class tonight. Nothing like a bit of shimmying to shake those blues away! By going to the classes I've also lost half a stone in January, and still ate chocolate! I would urge anyone to come to the class and give it a go. I'll guarentee several things...you will lea...ve with a smile and your face, eager to come back for more, and finally become a hugh fan of Zehara.....like me xxx Louise
I
used to be a member of a gym but found that I wasn’t reaching my goals
as I was unmotivated (like many of us) and wanted to find a fun way to
keep fit. Before my 1st session I had all the usual concerns of what
should I wear, will I be able to keep up etc but upon arriving all my
concerns disappeared because Zehara ...was
friendly and approachable and made me feel very welcome, the music
started and I just went with the flow.
|
![]() |
A small selection of e mails received about our style of Belly Dance
Dear Nikki & Jan
Thanks for the workshop last weekend it was fab! The feed back has been really good, they were buzzing about the whole experience, the energy, the music and your outfit.
Angela
Dear Zehara Thanks for the DVD of the workshop held in Bethesda a couple of weeks a go. I really wanted to write and say how much I really enjoyed the afternoon and that your workshop was exactly what I have been looking for. It is so nice to meet a teacher who has such an infectious desire to dance and share with others. I loved the pace of your workshop and the fact that we all got on and had a go at the moves, it was all about fun and if I learnt one move that day I did well. Most of all it was the fun and the desire to carry on dancing. You really made me feel that if I practice I can dance. I really hope that I can attend more of your work shops as I feel I have so much to learn from you.
Many, many thanks for a fantastic day and the fantastic feel good factor. I hope that I will more of you in the future.
Shazz
Hiya Zehara
Just a few words to express my gratitude.
I participated in the workshop in Bethesda and it was GREEEAATTT!!! I simply love it. It is a way to dance much more adapted to me than the belly dancing, to the way a feel the musica and I dance and I move.
I really like the fact that we were dancing all the time, without counting or remembering the movements (As soon as I have to think what I am doing I can't do it, the same apply if I have to count!). I was just feeling the music (which was also fantastic).
Yesterday I was all aching (I confess!!) but the 3 hours past like 3 minutes, and all what I could think the rest of the day is that I wanted to keep dancing!!
Thank you very much from my heart
Celia
I just wanted to drop you a line to say Thank You for the workshop you did for us last night. We all had a really good time and it is great that the girls have had fun and exercise at the same time.
Thanks again
Christine
i came to a workshop at topcliffe last year. it was like nothing i'd ever done before! i had a fantastic time. great to see your interpretation of the music. if you do another class in north yorkshire please let us know through basthabda. keep on dancing lou
I see you as extra special tallented people and you must continue with your wonderful dancing. You are bringing such a lot of joy and happiness to the dancers who are fortunate enough to experience your style. I look forward to my next workshop with you both.
Kindest Regards
Anne
Hi Zehara
Again, it was brilliant to dance at your class in Northumberland.
Best Wishes
Lucy
Dear Nikki & Yan
Thank you for the wonderful workshop experience at Wortely Hall. I love the energy and style of your
classes.
I would love to attend more workshops with you and hope I hear about any workshops you may hold in the future.
Sending you my very best wishes for the future
Kindest Regards
Anne
I am writing on behalf of the "hens" who attended your class in Didsbury on Saturday 19th. We had an absolutely brilliant time! The class was great
fun and we were made to feel very welcome indeed. We especially liked the "I will survive" track at the end !!
The class put us in a party mood for the rest of the day, it certainly was a day to remember.
Thank you so much for your efforts.
You may well be seeing some of us again!!
With warmest regards,
Alison.
Feedback
on SoPen Workshop with Zehara:
16 Forms completed. (All attendees completed forms)
Teaching:
13 said “Excellent”;
2 said “Very good” ; 1 said “Good”
Workshop
Overall: 16 said
“Excellent”
*Venue:
2 said “Excellent” ; 6 said “very good”; 4
said “Good”; 3 said “OK”; 1 said “poor”
* Of these, 3 ratings were qualified
by comments about the state of the floor:
1 “Excellent”; 2 V.good and 1 “
Poor” mentioned “very
dirty floor”; the “Poor” also noting the presence of broken glass.
What
did you like most about the workshop?
“All very good”
“Zehara”
“Learning to use the whole body”
“Different style”
“Learning “new”combinations”
“Everything”
“Exciting and fun - easy to learn”
“All of it”
“Energetic, fun, a teacher with
originality and style”
“The energy, new ideas for fluidity of
movement; clear instruction and demonstration”
“Energy”
“The energy”
“Good – friendly – great atmosphere”
What
did you like least?
“Nothing” x 6 similar responses
“Floor needed a wash”
“Lack of mirrors”
“My sore knee”
“The venue”
“Dirty floor” x 2 responses
“Slivers of glass on the floor and it was
very dirty”
What
would you have liked to spend more time on?
“All aspects were covered”
“Timings right for moves/choreography”
“Techniques”
“Good balance; I would like to repeat same
workshop again”
“Everything covered and explained well”
“It seemed about right to me, enjoyed it
all: music, moves and costumes. Very inspirational”
“How to move my body”
“Good balance”
“Nothing in particular”
What
would you have liked to spend less time on?
“A
good, varied schedule”
“Timings right for moves/choreography”
“Good balance”
“Nothing – could have done with more”
In
a workshop, do you prefer to (a) concentrate on technique (b) Learn a
choreography (c) Do both ?
“Technique”
1 response, qualified by comment: “I like to make my
own choreography”
“Do
both” -
13 responses.
1 of which qualified by comment: “In
this workshop, because the “group” element is important.
In ordinary Arabic workshops I like to do technique, not choreography”
and another “50% technique; 50% choreography”.
General
Comments:
“Thank
you for the sign, very helpful”
“Thank you for organising this workshop
& for providing refreshments. So pleased Zehara came over here for us”
“”Great workshop – loved it.
The floor unfortunately was very dirty! Perhaps a smart a—e
could remember to bring some wet-wipes!!”
“Thank you for refreshments – much
appreciated”
“More on costume from Nikki please”
“Another tribal workshop please”
What can I say?
Belly Dancing - I had long been drawn to making the attempt.
I had felt I would enjoy and even do quite well at this type of dancing. There was only one problem: I am an
exercise-phobe! DANIELLE FARROW
|
Dressed in gypsy tribal gear Lynne Briers © |
The Goddess Within
When Nikki said she was looking for articles for her newsletter, I wondered what I
could write about and then I thought of the obvious belly dancing of course! To be a
little more specific, belly dancing and me because this dance is one of the most
liberating things I have come across.
Like any woman in our modern society, I have grown up with the ideas of woman and
woman shape which are thrust upon us by our forms of media. And again like most
women, I developed from a young age all kinds of hang ups about bodies, a distortion
I see as endemic in our society, is my bum too big? my breasts too small? my belly
too round?
These are ideas by which women are influenced in varying degrees and to which
women try to conform, when in reality they are not particularly "ideal" and what they
do is take us away from simply being and celebrating who we really are. And for me,
this is where belly dancing came in, a celebration of who I am. Belly Dancing has got
to be one of the most feminine dances around, a dance where it doesn't matter what
size or shape we are: where if you're got it, shake it, seems to be an appropriate
maxim, a dance that simply electorates "Woman" and that can be an important step to
celebrating womanhood for me, I found belly dancing a liberating first step to making
friends with my body and to embracing myself as an embodiment of divine woman: in
my terms the Goddess within. Going even further than that, for me, belly dancing
specifically Nikki's electric tribal Belly Dance where we all have our own
"variations" also incorporates a strong sense of power: a sense of I am Strong, I am
powerful, I am here and I am now. It's fantastic! Combined with the anatomy of the
dance where the belly is central and so for women, in which the womb, our creative
centre is stimulated, it encourages our sense of creativity, not only in the outward
creation of rhythm and dance but also the trimmings of tassel and costume and even a
sense of self empowerment and self identity.
What a powerful combination! Who would have thought the hip drop so profound!
So this is a thanks: to Nikki for creating a space in which to celebrate woman and for
all of us who get on and do it.
In love, laughter and light.
EMMA