Hossam Ramzy Weekend – Chester 2013

Well who would have thought it – Ya Raqs sharing the bill with Hossam and Serena Ramzy! But that is exactly what happened the weekend of 14th and 15th September.

Meroe was lucky enough to persuade Hossam and Serena to come to Chester to do a full weekend of workshops. It was great. Serena taught two fantastic routines – a Saaidi stick on the Saturday and a drum solo on the Sunday. It wasn’t just a case of learning the steps - Serena and Hossam took the time to explain the music and how you interpret the music so the routine is both fun for the dancer and fun for the audience, but more importantly true to the music!

As part of the weekend there was a hafla in the evening which was a sell out – no great surprise given the line up. Meroe and the other dancers who had been at the workshop worked a minor miracle to transform the hall into a little piece of Egypt.

Highlights from the evening for Ya Raqs was a solo from Meroe, and the chance for Kebi, Aisha, Naima and Phoenece to dance a Bedouin routine with Serena – completely unchoreographed, although you would never have guessed it.

Dancing with Serena

It was a fantastic night, with some amazing dancers – thanks to all those who performed Mina Bryant and her group, Caroline Thorpe, Jane Hammond, Rhiannon Garrett, Heather Honeyman, Cecile DaSilva, Mark Carylon and particularly to Serena and Hossam Ramzy.

Meroe and Serena

There will be more events like this to come – in fact we are plotting and planning to bring a similar event to Manchester in 2014 – so watch this space!

Ya Raqs at Wellingborough - the movie

Click here to see Ya Raqs dancing with Serpentyne at the Wellingborough Medieval Festival in July. Thanks to Maggie Sand of Serpentyne for the video.

Doncaster 2013, posted by Kebi

Autumn has arrived, so it was off to Doncaster for the Ya Raqs girls, for the last outdoor event of the year, the St Leger Festival. It was wonderful to meet up with the boys and girls from Deva Victrix and the VIII Augusta. We had seen very little of them this year.

The Saturday was somewhat windy and cool, a bit of a shock after the wonderful weather we have had this summer. Nevertheless the awning went up in record time and we were soon dancing for the entertainment of passers by (and to keep warm).

The girls managed the Dance of Death wonderfully, with veils that at times seemed to want to take flight. Naima did brilliantly on her first performance of the dance, in difficult weather conditions. The gladiators were on form and the show went very well. But not everyone was happy! More on that later.

Naima ready to dance

The Dance of Death - with gladiators

Saturday night involved yet more dancing; of the night club variety. The Buzzcocks were playing in town, so we decided to head out for a meal and go watch the concert. We had a wonderful Sicilian meal in Fratelli’s. The waiter was Tunisian, so we showed him some photos of our Tunisian costumes. He was really impressed and quite emotional that we loved his country’s music.

At Fratelli's

Later, we were on our way to the concert, and just popped into a bar, which was playing music from the 60s 70s and 80s. We had such fun dancing, we missed the Buzzcocks! (Some of the Romans went and said they were fantastic.)

Dancing the night away

The Sunday started a little warmer and sunny. We danced all afternoon, the children loved dressing up and joining in. One lady arrived at 10 am with her chair and a picnic and sat all day waiting to dance in Meroe’s workshop.

Taking a break

A group of children sat happily watching the gladiator show, yelling support for Leonidas, and calling for his opponent to die horribly. The look on their faces as they got what they wanted was priceless. Their jaws practically hit the floor.

After the trainer had tamed the bear, and the gladiators that the bear had dispatched had been removed, the bear reappeared with a sign on his back, "Equal rights for Bears!" He was not happy about being left out of the Dance of Death. So to the amusement of everyone, he had his own mini version of the dance performed by Meroe.

The day ended with Aisha leading the performers in a dance to Way Down by Elvis Presley. It's funny how they were somewhat reluctant to come into the arena yet when they were there we couldn’t stop them dancing.

Doncaster was as much fun as always. We were well looked after by the Premier Inn staff, (who remembered us, even out of costume) and the staff of Doncaster council. It is a lovely way to end our season.

Ya Raqs in the spirit of baladi, posted by Meroe

The weekend of the 17th and 18th of August was the first of two weekends of training for members of the Ya Raqs dance troupe. Phoenece and I went off to Haileybury for an amazing dance weekend organised by Juliana Brustik and Judy Hammond – dancing the spirit of baladi with live music. What made the weekend really special was that Noor was able to join us – proving the point that once you are a Ya Raqs girl you are always a Ya Raqs girl!

The course was run at the incredibly impressive Haileybury and Imperial Service College in Hertfordshire. We started off on Friday evening with a gentle relaxation class to get ourselves ready for what was going to be a really busy dance weekend.

Haileybury College

Phoenece and Meroe in the dining hall

The whole thrust of the weekend was to have a great understanding of baladi music and how to react to it. Judy and Juliana spent the first day with us and in the afternoon we danced to live music from Tim Garside. The last class of the day was a drumming class with Tim where he managed to get us all sounding incredibly musical! After a quick tea and change into our party outfits, we spent the evening dancing away to live music from Tim. Unfortunately Tim had to leave about at about ten o’clock, so that is when we put the CD’s on and danced – not quite ‘til dawn – but ‘til very late given how tired we all were!

Dancing to live drumming by Tim Garside

The next day was a real treat: a dance class with Anne White from Planet Egypt, supported by three incredible musicians – Guy Schalom, Gamal el Kordy and Louai Al Henawi. Anne helped us to feel more confident with our dancing and with interacting to live music. Absolutely brilliant.

It was a wonderful weekend and we learned a lot, but what made it even more wonderful from a Ya Raqs point of view was cake – yes they pretty much had cake on tap! Great food, great venue, amazing teachers and cake – what more could you ask of a dance weekend? Can’t wait until the next one.

Licensed to Thrill in Medieval Wellingborough, posted by Meroe

The last weekend in July took Ya Raqs to sunny Wellingborough in Northamptonshire. The weather forecast for the weekend had been dire, and we debated for some time over whether or not dancers in Medieval England would have worn wellies! Deciding probably not we headed south with everything crossed, praying we’d have at least some dry, sunny spells during the weekend.

The trip down was great and the prospect of probably missing out on our now traditional ice cream meant that Meroe, Phoenece and Tameri felt justified in sharing an enormous Eton Mess while the sun was actually shining.

Meroe and Tameri, with yet more ice cream

In Wellingborough our accommodation for the weekend was the Hind Hotel – thought to have been the stopping off point for Cromwell before the battle of Naseby – and complete with ghosts of those who overheard Cromwell’s plan and who were either murdered, or killed themselves as a result! Having had a very nice meal in the Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, in Sheep Street, we went back to the Tithe Barn to sample some mead to get us in a Medieval mood!

We woke on the first day to glorious sunshine – hot sunshine at that – and set up our home-from-home in front of the 15th century Tithe Barn.

In front of the Tithe Barn

What a busy day; I don’t think we sat down for longer than five minutes. First set in front of the Tithe Barn, then one up in town centre; a third near the Bewitched Café and then two more back at the Tithe Barn. All this in between mini-me dress up, workshops and lots, and lots, and lots of henna! Thanks to the incredibly tasty quiches and homemade cakes from the local scouts we kept going (but we did have to eat lots of homemade cake!).

Lots of visitors to our tent during the day including the court jester Devilstick Peat who joined us for a well earned rest at the end of the day and helped us polish off the last of the mead!

With Devilstick Peat

Exhausted, but in a good way, after day one, we treated ourselves to a very nice meal at La Rocca.

Given what a super, sunny day Saturday had been we were a little apprehensive about Sunday, but we woke to clear blue skies. A slightly easier day on Sunday; only four dance sets rather than five! Still lots of mini-me and lots more henna, all interrupted only briefly by a heavy shower that lasted no more than about two minutes. At least today we had been presented with our licence to dance by order of the Kings Justiciar.

The licence, with the (not very) small print

The trouble is we hadn’t read the small print where it clearly says that we were only allowed to dance from Monday to Saturday, so we were on pushing our luck dancing on the Sabbath! Not only that, but on this particular day the court had set itself up right in front of our tent, so we couldn’t even sneak a dance or two in without them seeing us! Thankfully the Sheriff was suitably entertained, so turned a blind eye!

The highlight of Sunday has to have been dancing with the fabulous Serpentyne – a medieval Folk Rock group. They had invited some of the Ya Raqs girls to dance to two of their songs. This was going to be interesting since neither group had worked together before, nor had any of the Ya Raqs girls heard the songs before – but it worked really well. So thank you to Serpentyne for asking us to dance for them.

Dancing with Serpentyne

All too soon the weekend came to an end and we had to pack up our little home-from-home and head back. We had a great time. Our thanks to the organisers of the Wellingborough Medieval Festival for asking us to be part of such a brilliant event; and most of all to the people of Wellingborough for making us so welcome. Hope we get a chance to see you all again next year.

A job well done

Much as we enjoy the events we attend, it's always nice to hear what other people think, and Meroe has received some great feedback from the organisers of the Hope, Caergwrle & Abermorddu Carnival.

Ya Raqs was fantastic. An entertaining, and colourful addition to our event.
Thank you very much for your contribution to the success of our carnival.
It would be great to see you again next year.

We really enjoyed the day, and would like to thank the Carnival Committee for inviting us. The carnival is always on the first Saturday of July, so hopefully we'll see you there next year!

Dancing at the carnival: Meroe, Phoenece, Kiya, Tameri, Aisha and Naima

A very warm welcome at Yr Hob, posted by Kiya

Hope, Caergwrle and Abermorddy Carnival; three villages, one community.

We arrived early Saturday morning to set up our ‘home from home’ next to the Romans, in the beautiful village of Hope (Yr Hob) Flintshire, Wales. The scorching hot sun brought out the crowds who joined in the colourful opening parade with Deva Vitrix, carnival queens, pirate floats and a marching band. The Carnival was opened by X Factor star Chris Maloney and the crowds mingled with Vikings, Romans, mini Druids and a giant Monk!

Aisha partway through a henna tattoo

A constant stream of visitors to our base kept Meroe and Aisha busy with henna tattoos all day, but there was always time to stop for refreshments and a catch-up with our friends and neighbours, and with the many passers-by who stopped to chat and exchange stories. One recalled memories of Cairo and dancing girls in the 1950’s, whilst a very cheeky visitor used the tent as a vantage point taking in the beautiful views of Hope Mountain and the surrounding woodland. He didn’t stop long enough for a henna tattoo and reluctantly returned to the arena for the remainder of the Falconry Display.

An unusual visitor

After some dancing outside the tent we retreated to its cool interior for some lunch and relaxation time before our performance in the main arena.

Aisha, Meroe, Phoenece and Naima

The scorching heat didn’t stop the audience joining in with the final dance as Meroe and the rest of the Ya Raqs ladies encouraged people to have a go!

Tameri, Phoenece, Aisha, Kiya and Meroe

Just time for some refreshments and to cool off with ice creams before packing up and returning home after a wonderful day.

Kiya, Meroe and Phoenece posing before their ice creams melt!

We would like to thank the organisers for inviting us and everyone who participated for making it a truly wonderful Carnival.

A Mid Summer Riddle, posted by Meroe

What do you get if you cross some angels with some devils, add in a couple of Romans, a dash of a samba band, a liberal sprinkling of pirates and just a hint of Arabia?

Well the answer is obvious – it’s the Midsummer Watch Parade in Chester 2013!

Getting ready for the parade

I have to say when I saw the weather forecast for the weekend I was worried – very worried in fact. I could see no way that we were going to walk round Chester for an hour on either Saturday 22nd or Sunday 23rd June and either not get very wet, or get blown away in the strong winds. But... the gods of Chester were clearly smiling down on everyone because it certainly didn’t rain on this parade!

The unicorn

What a brilliant turn out for what was rumoured to be the biggest Midsummer Watch parade ever – and there have been a few in the past 600 years! Romans, pirates, school children, angels, samba bands, tumblers, giants, ravens, fish – you name it, it was there. And right at the heart of it the ladies of Ya Raqs.

On Saturday we were strategically placed between the camel and the elephant – naturally, where else do you put a group of Arabian dancers? The camel behaved itself, not a moment’s trouble from that direction but the elephant? Well, poor Phoenece very nearly got mowed down on a number of occasions! It could have been the excitement, or even the fact that Phoenece simply wasn’t quick enough on her feet, but I think it was more to do with poor brakes on the elephant! Still Phoenece, and the rest of us, survived to tell the tale. Day one of the parade completed and celebrated with a very nice slice of cake and welcome cup of tea in Chester before heading home.

Meroe, Kebi and Naima with the well-behaved camel

Sunday was equally successful, if a tad more breezy, but the important thing was that we didn’t get wet! And where were we today? Well, in view of the events of Saturday and not wishing to traumatize Phoenece anymore, we opted to put the camel between us and the elephant – and it worked out just fine.

The crowd were amazing, the rest of the participants in the parade were amazing and the weather – well not what you’d call amazing but not bad given the forecast.

We are grateful to Russell Kirk from Midsummer Watch for inviting us to join them all and are very much looking forward to the Midwinter Watch in December – these parades really are something to see so make sure you are in Chester for the next one.

Wirral Folk on the Coast, posted by Phoenece and Tameri

The sun seems to be following us this year, and Saturday dawned a beautiful day as we headed off for sunny Whitby in Ellesmere Port.

After putting up our awning for shade(!) and wearing our vibrant black and red costumes, we got the crowd tapping their feet to the beat of our new Bedouin routines.

Many people were soaking up the sun on the green and in true Ya Raqs style we persuaded them to join our mini workshop and then dance with us.

Phoenece, Mish Mish and Naima get the audience up to dance

We were also joined by a guest from Australia, who had a splendid time modelling one of our new Bedouin costumes.

Phoenece and guest

Modelling the Bedouin costume

Going home we were sun-soaked and very happy. We returned on the Sunday afternoon, wearing another of our colourful costumes. We managed to erect our awning in record-breaking time - less than 10 minutes - which was admired by some of the crowd!

We then performed outside in the sunshire to a cheerful, appreciative, audience who joined in with the festival atmosphere.

Performing

Kiya and Mish Mish dancing with the crowd

We rounded off the day with well-deserved drinks and ice cream, which were appreciated with the sun at 24 degrees!

Much-needed shade and refreshments for Phoenece and Meroe

Wirral Folk on the Coast, posted by Naima

Another great weekend with Ya Raqs at Wirral Folk on the Coast Festival at Whitby Sports and Social Club in Ellesmere Port on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June.

The weather was glorious once again, maybe a little too warm at times, but we had our Egyptian home-from-home to shade under. Very cosy....

L-R; Tameri, Kebi, Phoenece, Mish-Mish, Meroe, Naima, and Kiya take refuge in the shade!

We had a full day on Saturday, starting at 9.30. With busking in front of the tent, lots of henna again and dressing little girls and boys up in the mini me costumes.

Henna tattoo

After our performance in the Members Lounge, we relaxed for a little while over lunch, while we listened to some great bands that were playing. Then once again we began to do what we do best; performing for the lovely people who had come to watch us in the glorious sunshine. Meroe even managed to get some lovely ladies and little girls up to show them a few moves, then they joined us for an improvised show.

Meroe (with microphone) leads a workshop

On the Sunday, we had a later start, again the weather was kind to us. After we had performed our last routine, we took a well earned break and enjoyed ice cream in the shade of our awning.

Phoenece enjoys an ice cream

We also joined forces with another group of ladies, The Northern Belly Dance troupe, who invited us to join in with one of their routines. I think it went down well with the audience.

The two new recruits, Kiya and I, would like to thank Meroe for giving us this opportunity to join Phoenece, Mish-Mish, Kebi, Tameri and Aisha in your lovely group.

Naima and Kiya

Everyone has made us feel very welcome, and you are all like sisters to us.

Brook Street Carnival 2013

Well what a way to start our 2013 season with a brilliant event at Brook Street, Chester! This is rapidly becoming a very popular local event and this year saw huge crowds – thanks partly to the final arrival of summer!

It was a great start to the year – new members of Ya Raqs, new costumes, new routines and to top it off, we were very lucky this year to be sponsored by Istanbul BBQ. We set up our little home-from-home right outside the restaurant and used that as a base for some impromptu performances and lots and lots and lots of henna!

The new costumes in action! Phoenece, Meroe and Tameri

The day started with a procession that included giants, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Irish dancers and Ya Raqs in our fantastic new Bedouin costumes, all led by the dragon who blew red smoke over everyone as we made our final march down Brook Street.

Taking part in the procession

We seemed to spend all day busking – two sets at the Chester Lodge Nursing home to the delight of residents, and even managed to get some of the carers up and dancing – they did brilliantly. We then did a number of short performances up and down Brook Street, in between doing lots of henna – I could be wrong but it felt like we hennaed just about every ankle and wrist that passed by our door!

L-R; Phoenece, Mish-Mish, Kiya, Kebi, Meroe, Tameri and Naima

Our final “official” performance of the day was in front of the main stage and went down really well in front of a very appreciative crowd. But as a “Thank you” to the Istanbul BBQ Meroe performed two sets in the restaurant just to show that not only can we do the folk stuff, but we’re not bad and the cabaret stuff either! Some of the Ya Raqs girls finished off the day be staying for a meal at the restaurant and it was fantastic – so if you’ve not already been you should!

We’d like to say a very big thank you to Stu Stevenson all his fellow organisers from the Brook Street Carnival, not only for inviting us, but for organising such a wonderful event. And finally to our sponsors Istanbul BBQ and all their staff for looking after us so well during the day.

New Bedouin costumes for 2013

Here at Ya Raqs HQ we try to do our best to research all the dances and costumes that we put on show to the public. For this coming season we’re very excited by our new Bedouin costumes; one of which is beautifully modelled here by Tameri. In fact they are so new that only two of them are finished!

Meroe and Phoenece have been beavering away for weeks with their trusted sewing machines – or not so trusted in Meroe’s case as both sewing machine and overlocker have bitten the dust, but her mum has come to the rescue and has handed over a spare machine on long-term loan! But a lot of the detailing on the costumes, and all the decorative panels have been applied by hand, so lots, and lots, and lots of handstitching.

The basic Bedouin costume is a dress or thawb; this is a loosely fitting robe with sleeves and would have varied from region to region. Often this would have bands of decoration and decorated seams in colours that indicated that the wearer was either married, in which case red was used, or unmarried in which case the panels would be blue.

The embroidered ‘bibs’ or qabbeh on our costume are a mixture of shapes; some are square, which is more like the Palestinian style, others come to a point, which would have been more common in Syria.

On our heads we have a typical red and black veil or shambar, which would have been more common in southern Palestine. We’ve added a band around the veil for practical reasons, to help keep it in place while dancing, but in old photographs of Bedouin many of the women have head bands. Often these headbands are in addition to a saffe or smadeh; a band of coins over the forehead; an indication of personal or family wealth. Often these gold or silver coins would be their bridewealth money. The more coins, the greater the wealth and prestige of the owner. One observer noted that occasionally you can see a gap in a row of coins which have been the result of a doctor’s bill!

We decided that although it would be a great excuse to get even more jewellery, this might detract from the delicate embroidery and beadwork that Meroe and Phoenece have done, so this is going to be a fairly bling-free costume for us. But I hope you will agree that they will look amazing when they are all finished.

We’ve already got two routines up our sleeves that we can dance in these splendid costumes – one of which is new for 2013, but Meroe has even rather rashly promised a third. So watch this space!