Fat Cat Belly Dance   Bringing joy and laughter to dance

  I’m very pleased and honoured to be volunteering once again, by teaching a class for Breast Cancer Action Ottawa, as part of their ‘Go With The Flow’ fitness program for the spring session.   Our classes will be held at the new Maplesoft Survivorship Centre    For registration info, please click on my CLASSES page, or contact me here.  It will be wonderful to reconnect with familiar faces, and hopefully get to meet and dance with some new, aspiring divas…can’t wait!!

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  Hello Everyone!   Spring is in the air..Time for me to start getting busy again.  Tomorrow, I’m excited to be teaching a private group of newcomers to Canada..welcome newcomers!   If all goes well, I may have this class twice a week for two months.  On St. Patricks’ Day, I’ve been given the opportunity to teach a class at the Greenboro Community Centre, as their Coordinator is hoping to gain enough interest to run a belly dance program in the fall.  I’ve been told to expect 40 students..wow!

Keeping my fingers crossed that classes will run for the spring session at Canterbury Community Centre, and also for the Breast Cancer Action group.  I will post registration information under the “Classes” page, as soon as I’m given the green light from my bosses…wish me luck!!

Hello everyone!   I’m back from vacation, and ready to offer some of my treasured costume items for sale at the upcoming Tav-Creations Dancers’ Bazaar.  Don’t miss this awesome opportunity to browse, meet professional dance instructors, and shop for new and gently used items to accessorize and enhance your amazing curves!  This event will be held on Sunday, Feb. 26th, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 260 McArthur Ave.  Free parking and admission, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.   In order to keep costs down, most sales are cash only; so you’ll find items for every budget, from basic beginner to professional level.   My friend Wendy and I are sharing a table as vendors.  She has gorgeous costume pieces in sizes 8 to 10, and mine range in size from 12 to 14.  Drop on by to say hello, or try some stuff on (no sales pressure).   We’ll offer honest advice, and the best prices possible…got questions?  Contact me…hope to see you there!

  Well, registration didn’t turn out quite the way I had planned; unfortunately, not enough ladies signed up, and winter classes at Canterbury won’t be running this year.  So, I’m using this free time in a positive way, and signed up for daily aerobics, zumba, and weekly intermediate-level belly dance classes with Safiya.  Also treating myself to a long-overdue vacation in Cuba, and can’t wait to hit the beach.   Private or group lessons are still available, and hope to be teaching again at Canterbury in April.  I’ll keep my “Events” page up to date, so you can check out upcoming shows and shopping opportunities.  Looking forward to seeing you all again in the Spring!  

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  Happy New Year!!   All set  for student registration at Canterbury Community Centre this week,  and hoping to see returning student divas, and some new faces when classes start next week.    If you’ve ever wanted to try belly dance, now is a great  time to start;  keeping active helps alleviate the winter blues, and we’ll have some fun learning the basics and beyond in a relaxed, non-competitive atmosphere.  Detailed registration information is posted on my ‘CLASSES’ page.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me – just click above my photo on the left, or e-mail:  fatcatbellydance@gmail.com   Hope to be dancing with you soon!

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  Well, the fall session has successfully concluded with a huge fabulous class party hosted by Halyma, at the Ottawa University auditorium.  I was honoured to take part in this event, dancing with my classmates and our lovely, diminutive teacher, Safiya.   Two of my students performed with other groups, which made me very proud.  Looking forward to the winter session, but for now, I’d like to wish all my friends, students and teachers a very Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and best wishes for the New Year!

Wow!  Last night I hosted the Canterbury Class Party, and it was the biggest one yet.   Three student groups, including my amazing beginners, Zeevah’s Ziraleets, and Halyma’s Bellywood beauties, all performed their group choreographies with great success.   Big thanks to good friends Michelle and Eric, for doing an excellent  job as Emcee and DJ, and big hugs to my mentors, who continue to inspire me to be a better teacher.  The audience was treated to a lovely duet by Vera and Rebecca, and fabulous solos by Zeevah and Halyma.  The Bellywood crew put on a rousing demonstration, and everyone got up to dance for a finalé.  We had delicious pot luck snacks, and the event was a colourful, festive, and fun celebration, to end the fall session.  I’m very proud of all the hard work these students put in, and happy to be able to give them the opportunity to share their creativity and accomplishment with family and friends.   This is why I love my job so much!

Another busy week has come and gone.  I was honoured to be invited to an Eid Party, held by the Arab Seniors Group, but was actually kind of nervous to be dancing for them…I don’t normally perform solos, so had to battle a bit of stage-fright and just do my best.   In other news, planning for my upcoming class party is in full swing, and it’ll be the biggest one yet!   Students are polishing choreographies for their debut; and I have a wonderful lineup of special guest performers coming  –   Zeevah, Vera, Farasha, Bellywood students…and…Halyma!!  

Canterbury Class Party – Friday, November 25th, 2011.  Time:  7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.   Canterbury Community Centre, 2185 Arch St.  Pot luck snacks.  Students, friends, family welcome.  Free admission and parking.  Come and join us for a fun-filled evening of family-friendly entertainment;  featuring student groups, and  professional performance artists.  Time to celebrate the joy of dance!! 

Need more details?  Contact me!

We’re already at week #6 for the fall session, and my dancing divas are working very hard on their choreographies.  I’m starting to plan for the class party at Canterbury, on Friday, November 25th, with some VERY special guests expected to perform for us.   A busy weekend ahead, with parties galore; and I’ll be making my debut as a beginner burlesque student, dancing with members of my “Dance With Alana” class and our instructor, Miss Koston Kreme, at the Rainbow Lounge on Sunday night..should be lots of naughty fun!  Hope everyone has a great weekend, and a very Happy Hallowe’en!

 Another busy week of classes with my lovely students.  The level 1 group and BCA gals are learning a Candle Dance;  the level 2 group and Arab Seniors are learning a folkloric dance called ‘Nostalgia’.   It’s great fun to see my very own choreographies develop, and the students get the opportunity to take part in adapting the moves and offering suggestions, to help make these dances come to life.   Don’t forget:   this Sunday, October 16th, the Dancer’s Bazaar is happening, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 260 McArthur Ave, from noon to 4:00 p.m…(see events page)…c’mon by..browse and shop to your hearts’ content..fabulous items for sale..hope to see you there!