Nile Group Festival April 2008 - Page 2

Eshta · 04-29-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

Was there anything new in the bazaar this time. I was told it was bigger than usual. Apart from personal taste, what was the costume trend?

I've been trying to write up a review of the festival but it keeps ending up garbled! I will get there eventually though!

I don't know what the norm is there, but I noticed a lot of 'traditional' styles: what my friend refers to as "christmas trees" and I assume these are designed with the foreign dancer in mind. Usually a 2 piece bra & heavily embroidered skirt, I'm sure you know the ones I mean.

Caroline, I befriended Fariz & Dalia of Oriental Moon of Cairo, who were asking if I knew you! They had a superb collection of costumes, I fell in love with a different one by the day, and bought one for me and one for Nafiseh for her wedding present (2 more weeks, yikes!) and am sure I will be a regular customer of theirs in the future! I bought a costume with shorts underneath with a heavy lace skirt over the top embroidered with silk flowers & big jewelstones, I'm not describing it very well but I feel like a princess in it!

There were also a lot of more moderny more 'minimalist' designers too - Aida Nour's collection was there, and a lot of copies by other designers in similar styles. There was a lot of diamante & a lot of reflective "liquid metal" material too.

Personally, I'm thrilled to see that the mini-skirt look appears to have gone back out of fashion!

Eshta · 04-29-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'isha Azar

Dear Maariku,
What did I attend? I think two events at the Nile Festival?? I was looking high and low for you and Eshta and Stella, and I stumbled over a short set of steps and practically fell in your lap!!
I never did find Eshta, which made me feel sad.
I did not spend a lot of time at the festival, and in fact did not get to connect with Randa either, which was my only disappointment in Egypt. Liza kept trying to track her down for me, to no avail.
Regards,
A'isha

Oh ladies, I missed you all too! I ended up so busy that I didn't even get a chance to try to track you down! Perhaps next time...!

A'isha, I did see Randa Kamel dancing on the nile maxim, she took my breath away and finally I 'got' it! Having not seen her live before, I don't think her energy translates very well onto youtube...

Well, this was not the time, hopefully there will be another opportunity in the future...

Caroline_afifi · 04-29-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eshta

I've been trying to write up a review of the festival but it keeps ending up garbled! I will get there eventually though!

I don't know what the norm is there, but I noticed a lot of 'traditional' styles: what my friend refers to as "christmas trees" and I assume these are designed with the foreign dancer in mind. Usually a 2 piece bra & heavily embroidered skirt, I'm sure you know the ones I mean.

Caroline, I befriended Fariz & Dalia of Oriental Moon of Cairo, who were asking if I knew you! They had a superb collection of costumes, I fell in love with a different one by the day, and bought one for me and one for Nafiseh for her wedding present (2 more weeks, yikes!) and am sure I will be a regular customer of theirs in the future! I bought a costume with shorts underneath with a heavy lace skirt over the top embroidered with silk flowers & big jewelstones, I'm not describing it very well but I feel like a princess in it!

There were also a lot of more moderny more 'minimalist' designers too - Aida Nour's collection was there, and a lot of copies by other designers in similar styles. There was a lot of diamante & a lot of reflective "liquid metal" material too.

Personally, I'm thrilled to see that the mini-skirt look appears to have gone back out of fashion!

I know the costume you are talking about and they are gorgous! I have bought quite alot from them over the past six months. They have some really beautiful designs.
Aida Nours costumes are usually of a similar type and so are Raqias, I was curious as I know they work like carzy on the festival stuff (sometimes at the expenmse of their regular orders) to compete for something new and different.
The stuff from the local bazaars tend to be designs based on what they think the dancers want and the 'foreign' market.
Fady will be at Raqs Britannia in Blackpool for their first visit to the UK.

Aisha Azar · 05-04-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eshta

Oh ladies, I missed you all too! I ended up so busy that I didn't even get a chance to try to track you down! Perhaps next time...!

A'isha, I did see Randa Kamel dancing on the nile maxim, she took my breath away and finally I 'got' it! Having not seen her live before, I don't think her energy translates very well onto youtube...

Well, this was not the time, hopefully there will be another opportunity in the future...

Dear Eshta,
I guess we must have tried on the wrong nights to see Randa on the boat. Every time Liza checked into it for us, it was Esmahan dancing. We also could not find her at the usual hotel, either. Oh well, she does come to the states now and then. I think she is fabulous and she is my favorite of the new crop of Egyptian dancers.
I still hope to meet you some fine day!
Regards,
A'isha

Eshta · 05-04-2008, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A'isha Azar

Dear Eshta,
I guess we must have tried on the wrong nights to see Randa on the boat. Every time Liza checked into it for us, it was Esmahan dancing. We also could not find her at the usual hotel, either. Oh well, she does come to the states now and then. I think she is fabulous and she is my favorite of the new crop of Egyptian dancers.
I still hope to meet you some fine day!
Regards,
A'isha

Yes, I only went along as it was a friend's birthday and luckily enough it was Randa! I had gone there thinking it would be Asmahan.

Don't you worry, I'm still planning on taking you out for dinner, buying you a big glass of wine & then picking your brains on absolutely everything - I just don't know which continent or when it's going to happen! You let me know when you are coming to a country near me...!

maariku · 05-05-2008, 07:34 AM

Woo hoo, success at last!

So, some pics from the opening night

Leila (correct me if I'm wrong :S) - wonderful smile, wonderful dancer

Ashmahan's grand entrance

Ashmahan in a lovely costume

And, in a somewhat different costume

maariku · 05-07-2008, 07:17 PM

Some pics from the contest (if I miss someone's name, you're welcome to help out!)

Ines from Estonia

Petra from Czech Republic, a wonderful dancer (Maria, thanks for helping with the name!)

Fereshteh Hoseini from Scotland, with a lot of character! (In a good way) (thanks Eshta for the name!)

The Russian girl who came second, Alexandra, can't recall her last name, great dancer

Suheir · 05-07-2008, 07:21 PM

Thanks for the photos!

I love Leila because although she's tall and elegant and has super-shiny hair and immaculate make-up, she's capable of dancing really shaabi-style!

Ooh, that pink costume of Asmahan's - eurgh!

maariku · 05-07-2008, 07:22 PM

Khaled during the break of the contest (love-love-looove him!)

Nelly, Maria's student, I loved how she was pulling different emotions on stage

Marina from Russia, my very favourite dancer at the competition, came in 3rd

maariku · 05-07-2008, 07:23 PM

Closing party

Lucy and Aida on stage

Tito

05-05-2008, 07:34 AM	#16 (permalink)
maariku Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Estonia Posts: 1,121	Woo hoo, success at last! So, some pics from the opening night Leila (correct me if I'm wrong :S) - wonderful smile, wonderful dancer Ashmahan's grand entrance Ashmahan in a lovely costume And, in a somewhat different costume __________________ "[A good bellydancer] must express life, death, happiness, sorrow, love and anger, but above all she must have dignity." -Tahia Carioca, Last edited by maariku; 05-07-2008 at 07:11 PM. Reason: Photos not showing :(

05-07-2008, 07:17 PM	#17 (permalink)
maariku Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Estonia Posts: 1,121	Some pics from the contest (if I miss someone's name, you're welcome to help out!) Ines from Estonia Petra from Czech Republic, a wonderful dancer (Maria, thanks for helping with the name!) Fereshteh Hoseini from Scotland, with a lot of character! (In a good way) (thanks Eshta for the name!) The Russian girl who came second, Alexandra, can't recall her last name, great dancer __________________ "[A good bellydancer] must express life, death, happiness, sorrow, love and anger, but above all she must have dignity." -Tahia Carioca, Last edited by maariku; 05-18-2008 at 08:01 PM.

05-07-2008, 07:22 PM	#19 (permalink)
maariku Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Estonia Posts: 1,121	Khaled during the break of the contest (love-love-looove him!) Nelly, Maria's student, I loved how she was pulling different emotions on stage Marina from Russia, my very favourite dancer at the competition, came in 3rd __________________ "[A good bellydancer] must express life, death, happiness, sorrow, love and anger, but above all she must have dignity." -Tahia Carioca,

05-07-2008, 07:23 PM	#20 (permalink)
maariku Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Estonia Posts: 1,121	Closing party Lucy and Aida on stage Tito __________________ "[A good bellydancer] must express life, death, happiness, sorrow, love and anger, but above all she must have dignity." -Tahia Carioca,

05-07-2008, 07:21 PM	#18 (permalink)
Suheir V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Europe - London Posts: 1,227	Thanks for the photos! I love Leila because although she's tall and elegant and has super-shiny hair and immaculate make-up, she's capable of dancing really shaabi-style! Ooh, that pink costume of Asmahan's - eurgh!