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We enjoyed a magnificently fun, relaxed and informative weekend of belly dance tuition from Kay Taylor on 15th/16th November 2008.

Kay, of Farida Dance, was more than ably assisted by Adam Warne (aka Rhythmic Ginger www.rhythmicginger.co.uk) and her assistant Christine Emery, alias Her Royal Hellness Lucretia, renowned Gothic belly dancer, teacher and Gothla performer.

Christine had planned to offer us some workshops including a Saiidi stick and a Vampire Dance class. Perhaps it was the credit crunch, but unfortunately there just weren't enough takers, perhaps as her workshops were scheduled at the same time and therefore competing with Kay's.

The sad thing is that after Christine's workshops had been pulled, I heard several people say "I meant to book for that, but it was too late". The moral is of course, if you want something, book it reasonably in advance rather than waiting until the last minute! HRH Lucretia performed her "Living Dead Girls" piece alone at the Sunday night hafla, which was brilliant, but she said it would have been better with a troupe of us. I for one would have loved to have done it with her (and yes I was one of the few who DID book to learn it well in advance!)

Anyway, excuse my rant. It's hard nowadays for so many of us to prioritise: in good times it's possible to go for the luxury of alternative style workshops, but maybe people play safe and go more for the basic Egyptian tuition when money is tight. I hope the upcoming recession doesn't have too much of a detrimental effect on our bellydance scene, be it Egyptian, Tribal or Gothic.

I personally was only able to attend Kay's Saturday workshops and didn't learn the choreographies on the Sunday, but her Dancing with the Drummer and Technique workshops were definitely up there amongst the best I have ever experienced.

It's almost a cliche to say that Kay, or any teacher, is down-to-earth, approachable and fun - let's face it these are attributes any belly dance teacher should have, but Kay sure has it all in bucketloads, along with a quiet authority which is never intimidating but comes from her firm foundation of knowledge of Egyptian Dance.

The two Saturday workshops were very clearly defined: during the first one, accompanied by tabla player Adam Warne, we were encouraged to learn to feel the beats. From a basis of knowledge of Arabic rhythms provided by Adam, a fabulous drummer, by the way, we were taught by Kay first of all to dance "on" the beat and then around the beat in a less obvious way. A lot of improvisation was encouraged and technique was not an issue, but "feeling" the rhythm was paramount.

The second Saturday workshop, basics and beyond, was a total contrast, as Kay focused in considerable detail on Egyptian dance technique, from posture to circles to shivers. I felt as though I was having one-to-one tuition, as everyone was given intensive individual attention. I felt as I had as an absolute beginner, using muscles I hadn't realised I possessed, and realising how lazy we become, how blind to our little foibles, until someone like Kay with a razor-sharp eye and attention to detail, has a look at what we are doing.

Towards the end of the workshop Kay asked if any of us had anything in particular we would like to work on, and I "stuck my oar in" fast in asking about arms! I had been observing Kays' beautiful arms and hands with fascination throughout and Kay was generous enough to give some very useful tips on that subject which I have carried forward into my own dancing and teaching to great effect. I think I took away more from this workshop than any I have ever had: for me technique wins out every time against learning yet another choreography I will never do again!

Kay Taylor, Christine Emery and Adam Warne, North Walsham Dance weekend, November 2008 - a personal view by Dianne Davies:

I have nothing to say about the Sunday workshops as I wasn't there, but many people i spoke to seem to have enjoyed them just as much as I did the Saturday selection, and this was borne out by their exuberant performance at Sunday night's Hafla along with Kay in the lead.

So, on to the aforesaid Hafla. It was not as well attended as previous ones, partly due to a lot of peoples' personal circumstances and lives getting in the way, and who can tell how much due to necessary belt tightening? Still, there were enough people there to make the room seem full enough and it was comfortable to have so much space to dance.

The standard of dance in this area is improving to an amazing degree and the performances were in the main stunning, and so varied and imaginative. I like to think I contributed to that variety myself by doing my "Love Song for a Vampire" dance, utilising the magnificent black Wings of Isis I managed to win at our previous hafla in April. I spent so much time in the changing rooms applying and removing makeup for this piece and others I was involved in, I did miss a lot, but caught up with much of it on video (thanks Linda) from the sofa at home!

Janai did a stunning Saiidi stick piece, in a fabulous outfit as always. Jaunty, fun and very very precise as we have come to expect from her well-studied dancing. It was nice to see Tessa Kirkpatrick back performing and she did a fascinating solo too. Although I believe she was wearing little shoes, to me her feet were in the sand as she conjured up images of the desert for me!

There were several Spanish and gypsy-inspired pieces including the cool and sultry North Walsham dance choreography by Sharon Humphrey, the dizzying and whooping Gypsy piece we had learned from Dondi's visit earlier in the year, which was reprised when everyone was invited to join in. Pauline Shreeve, elegant and delicate as ever, also did a beautiful Spanish-inspired piece with veil and Gypsy skirt. Bridget Warns showed off her lovely hip moves in another smashing solo.

Kay's solo was a highlight for me, and again I was watching her sassy Egyptian technique with an eagle eye! Her second piece was a fun Saiidi number, accompanied in the second half by Desiree. Have you heard about Desiree? Well, she's a very special performer who has travelled far and wide and is a very social animal, you might say!

It was nice to see the Daughters of the East (Anglia) had taken the trouble to come our way again, and their enthusiasm for performance, spurred on by Jenny Levin, knows no bounds. It's testimony to Jenny's teaching how much this group have improved in technique and confidence since I have seen them dance.

There was a very stirring example of Arabic drumming from Alal, all the way from Morocco, and dressed in beautiful blue robes and headdress befitting the occasion, along with locals Bear and Jeff, and Adam Warne from Leeds:

I myself led a "follow-me" which is fast becoming a feature of our North Walsham haflas, in order to get everyone up on the floor and ready to boogie. Nice to see Kay and Christine right there in front of me! We have been aiming for a more inclusive and informal feel to the Haflas and I think we are succeeding as there were so many smiling faces at this Hafla, it seemed so right. Solos and performances are wonderful, but sometimes everyone needs to get up there together, bond and have a giggle, and Sharon's warm-up, my follow-me, the pure exhilerating joy that was Dondi's "Volare" with all the spinning and swirling skirts, helped to create that special rather giddy atmosphere that (IMHO) all Haflas should have.

Thanks are due to Liz Barnard who has become a much-loved fixture on stage in her magnificent dresses as compere. She did a fabulously melodramatic reading of the intro to my Vampire piece - what a fabulous voice that lady has! She is of course one of us so she joins in with the dance, notably with the Lilies of the Nile's charming veil dance, and was swirling away up there to the Gypsy Kings with the rest of us, but she is very professional as an MC and holds the evening's entertainment together really well. When Liz speaks, we listen!

Immediately following me was Her Royal Hellness herself, Princess Lucretia of Raqs Macabre, doing her "Living Dead Girls" dance. It's all very amusing and scary but I for one noticed how very cleverly she assimilates vampire and zombie moves with pure Egyptian brilliance. A very intelligent and imaginative lady with a fabulous sense of fun!

Apart from our wonderful guest teachers, the major thanks are due as always to Jane Barrett for the unstinting work she puts in behind the scenes to make all this go so smoothly. Like a swan on the water, I and all of us know that it's Jane's metaphorical legs paddling away under the surface that make these events seem so relaxed and effortless. I know so many of us appreciate her attention to detail, right down to the lovely choices of teas, coffee and biscuits at the workshops which make everyone feel so wanted. I know Kay, Christine and Adam enjoyed her top class hospitality too.

North Walsham Dance and friends swirl around to Dondi's Gypsy Dance

Jenny and the Daughters of the East (Anglia)

Dianne, author of the piece, webmistress and occasional Vampire

Janai and her Lilies of the Nile

Dracula's concubine again!

Jenny and the Daughters of the East (Anglia)

Kay and her Friend

And a good time was had by all..

Daughters of the East (Anglia)

If I've missed mentioning anyone then I really do apologise: I must have been busy getting into and out of wigs, makeup, wings, fake blood, whatever, and I simply didn't see you. Please forgive me if that's the case as everyone made great contributions to this lovely evening's entertainment.

It began with a fashion show using costumes from Kay and Christine's souk. I didn't see this as I was in the changing rooms, but I did later buy one of those wonderful dresses and can vouch that the Farida souk is one of the best in the country.

Joselyn beams for the camera - who wouldn't in such a great costume??

Suzanna did a charming drum solo piece accompanied by Jeff on the Tabla, and Nicola Snow did a very authentic and sweet baladi piece. Deborah Nichols treated us to a rather cheeky piece (in the best possible taste, of course!) involving a tambourine and her hips and derriere!

Heather Cook impressed as always with a sweet and lovely dance to a lively Egyptian love song - her facial expressions were particularly illuminated, she used her eyebrows and shoulders to jauntily express the emotions in the dance. Her dancing and confidence have come on in leaps and bounds (or is it hits and shimmies?) which is a lesson to us all. The more you get up there and do it, the more confident you get, until you are performing as soon as the fridge light comes on!