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!
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
