#balanat

I submitted my audition for Bal Anat in Fall of 2017, and said I could commit to 4 of the 7 world wide dates, all the American stops which were Ft.Lauderdale, Florida in April, El Cerito California in August (the MOTHER SHOW) , Atlanta, Georgia in September and finishing with Chicago, Illinois in November. I had come to the conclusion that I would love to be in a couple dances, but would be OK with just being in the back line of Bal Anat, there was NO WAY I would want to miss out on this epic piece of Bellydance History. I did not think I 'deserved'  to be in any particular dances, I admire and respect all my colleagues at the Salimpour School and knew Suhaila would do what would work best for the show. To my surprise I was cast in 4 dances!!

THE GAWAZI

 Here I am with my girl Lisa Price,  I absolutely LOVED becoming the sassy Gawazi Character, we open the show right after the Epic and emotional mother goddess and show the audience how to PARTAY! ISMAOUNI In this smouldering hot finger cymbal piece we wore "Turkish Run Throughs" style pant that is literally I piece of fabric that run through your legs, we ended up loving calling them the "golden diapers". Here's me and Janelle Rodriguez from Santa Cruz💜

POT DANCE 

The Pot Dance is a classic, it is the 'initiation' dance for many a new member of Bal Anat. Everyone makes their own pot and I love to see all the different shapes and sizes. "Pot dance" has a whole new meaning since leagalization happened here in Canada October 17th.  I only had to do pot dance in Florida, but was back up and brought my pot To Atlanta.  I had also been a Pot Dancer for my First Bal Anat in 2015  in California.

THE ALGERIAN  The Algerian is a Crowd favourite- we are the madams of Bal Anat and you are NOT getting a smile for free, they cost you extra. My Husband referred to this dance as: The boner killer ! LOL it was challenging to stay in character until the very end of the show!

I even had to do an emergency fill in for one of the tour stops as another cast member could not get the time off and had to quickly re-learn

SALLAM ALLAY 

Here's my and Ciana Boetus, a dynamite babe from Florida. She was too fun tooooo be partnered up with.

All this Variety in ONE SHOW- and on just ONE performer, so this is why when people ask me what style are you I just say " What style do you think I am?"- and let them decide whatever they are going to decide. In the Salimpour of dance we are trained to do it all <3I can never thank Sheila Enough for the opportunity to work along side her this year. She was too strong, considering her mother was SUPPOSED to be here to see the 50th anniversary show, but we all know she is smiling down on us, I hope we are making you Proud Jamila!! 

I was too moved by the energy of Bal Anat that I had to create a gift.... and that was to have my magical seamstress Celine Chaisson recreate a Banner, for us to tour With.The Original Banner was made by Jamila herself, and could not be toured with because it was becoming fragile. SO, I got Suhaila's permission to take that on.....and We were all amazed with the result....