NEW BEGINNINGS

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope your holiday season was fantastic, and that 2011 is off to an amazing start for you! A new year is always like beginning, a time to start a-fresh. It’s a time to set goals, and take joy in sticking to them….a great time to start new projects. I always feel so revitalized when a new year begins.

Almost everyone I know was so “over” 2010. It was a very intense year for a lot of people, in many ways. It seems like 2010 was a year of extreme highs and lows- and followed the pattern set by what is supposedly an ancient Chinese wish ( maybe that’s “curse”?) “ MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES! ”.

Speaking of China: I started off 2011 teaching and performing in Hong Kong and it was an incredible whirlwind... the city itself is intense and wonderful, and all the dancers I met were well-trained- not to mention sweet, enthusiastic and very talented and dedicated. Expect a full blog post about that very soon- as soon as my jet-lag wears off!

I am also very excited about The Eternal Egypt Tour for 2011. This is the second year I will be leading the tour, with my partner Zahra Zuhair. We are centering our tour around one of the world's largest belly dance festivals, Ahlan Wa Sahlan in Cairo, Egypt. There is tons of sightseeing, shopping, and of course non-stop belly dancing classes and performances! Our tour runs from June 24- July 8, 2011. For more info, please visit http://www.eternalegyptours.com ....and definately shoot me an email if you'd like to be added to the mailing list! princressraqs(at)gmail.com

In the meantime, I am getting ready to go to snowy Europe for a two-week tour. Travel has been a huge part of my life- for the past thirty years I’ve spent a lot of time living out of a suitcase! But it’s always rewarding getting to meet new people, and sharing perspectives on dance and life in general.

I am looking forward to meeting a lot of wonderful dancers in Europe this February! Here is my schedule for what I am now calling “The Br-r-r-r Tour”:

2011
February 1-5, 2011 HELSINKI, FINLAND
Helsinki Burlesque Festival
Burlesque & belly dance workshops Feb 1-3
Performance at Kuultraareena Gloria Feb 5
www.helsinkiburlesque.com

February 7-8, 2011 TALINN, ESTONIA
Workshops Feb. 7
Show Feb 8 at Club Prives 6 Harju, Tallinn, Estonia
Info: Aicha info@mystika.ee


February 11, 2011 MUNICH-NEUHAUSEN, GERMANY
Workshops ( pin-up photo poses & burlesque)
Info: Silvia: mail@silviaplankl.de

February 12 & 13 MUNICH, GERMANY
4 workshops, 2 per day ( traditional oriental dance & fusion)
Performance Saturday, Feb 12
Info: www.tanz-zentrum.de


Home again, home again...jiggety-jig!

February 19 & 20, 2010 LONG BEACH, CA
Belly Dancer Of The Universe Competition
Workshops & performance
Workshop “Volatile Combinations”
Oriental Fusion 11:00am-12:00 Noon
Info: www.bellydanceroftheuniverse.com

March 12 & 13, 2011
All-Starr Burlesque Presents:
SALLY RAND FAN DANCING INTENSIVE:
TECHNIQUE & CHOROEGRAPHY WITH PRINCESS FARHANA
Info: http://itsachick.com/burlesque_classes/classschedule.html