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Special Star Performer Announced!
I am delighted to announce that our Star performer at Shimmy-Licious 2019 is none other than LORNA OF CAIRO (aka BellyLorna)!
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Lorna is a Scottish born international Professional Bellydancer that has performed for over 10 years in Cairo. She has performed regularly on Nile Maxim Boat in Egypt where she wowed Egyptians with her skill and talent. Lorna became the first Scot to bellydance professionally as a bellydancer in Cairo. She immigrated to Egypt in 2007.
Shimmy-Licious is our end of year Sitara Dance showcase with invited guest groups and a very special star performer too! It has a beautiful Arabian setting of camels, palm trees, pyramids and drapes. There is plenty of seating and a bar.
You will be treated to a night of captivating performances. There will be a huge variety of different belly dance styles and really is there is something for everyone.
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Expect exhilarating choreography, gorgeous costumes, breath taking performances and an evening that you will never forget!
PERFORMERS
Performance slots are by invite only and include Eastern Roses and Sitara Dance students, as well as guest groups from the local and surrounding areas, and a specially selected Star Performer each year.
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The current line up of guest groups is as follows:
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MYSTIC BELLYDANCE
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Mystic Bellydance is run by Leanne-Carrington Payne. They are based in Suffolk. The group was formed from a love of bellydance in all its forms and the group today incorporates traditional dance through to fusion styles. Embracing the bellydance community in general, but especially in East Anglia the group support events across the region and have performed in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
LORNA OF CAIRO
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Lorna is a Scottish born international Professional Bellydancer that has performed for over 10 years in Cairo. She has performed regularly on Nile Maxim Boat in Egypt where she wowed Egyptians with her skill and talent. Lorna became the first Scot to bellydance professionally as a bellydancer in Cairo. She immigrated to Egypt in 2007.
Lorna has a wealth of expertise and experience in her field. Lorna is an absolute delight to watch. Her breath-taking performances are charged with energy and joy. She is playful, elegant and funny too and will most certainly leave you with a giggle and a smile on your face.
Originally from Edinburgh in Scotland where she is now based, she travels internationally performing and teaching workshops. We are absolutely thrilled to have her as our Star!
Brace yourselves for a very special experience that you will never forget.
Christmas Shimmy-Licious promises to be an absolutely phenomenal evening for all.
SHARYN
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Based in Colchester Sharyn is a highly qualified and experienced Master teacher and performer from Romania. She is founder of the first Academy of Oriental dance and music in Romania. She has Sharyn has over 10 years of experience in teaching bellydance with live music and has even had the honour of teaching with the Mario Kirlis Orchestra Live. She has a wealth of expertise and specialises many bellydance styles. Sharyn has performed at numerous events, international festivals, parties, weddings and has even appeared on Romanian TV. She is also a member of the International Dance Council.
CURIOUS VERSES
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Samantha Valentine, Kathleen Pearlson & Nicola Wigfield of Curious Verses will be performing as a trio.
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Curious Verses is a performance and teaching collaboration of four of London’s top Tribal Fusion bellydancers who have been drawn together over the years, and have formed this collective project to share ideas and work together to create, inspire and push boundaries in their dance.
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They deliver monthly workshops in London, focusing on dance technique, expression and creativity. Each month classes are lead by different teachers, giving students access to the wonderful variety of each dancer’s personal style, individual experience and knowledge.
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We first saw them perform at London’s Fantasia Festival and were blown away by their expressive joyful and memorable performance. Known for their high energy infectious performances these talented girls will certainly leave you with a smile on your face! This is Tribal Fusion at its very best.
LYN BYWATER & MERBELLSEA
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Lyn has been teaching and performing Belly dance for many years. She has a wealth of experience and has studied with JWAAD. Lyn has travelled to Egypt many times to expand her knowledge and culture of the dance.
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She describes Belly Dance as ‘one of the most feminine of dances that a woman can do’. Lyn is delightful dancer and beautifully creative. She will also be performing with her group Merbellsea.
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Lyn is dedicated and passionate in everything she does. She was also our stage manager for the ‘Bellydance through the Looking Glass' Show at the Civic Theatre in November 2018.
THE CELESTIALS DANCE TROUPE
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The Celestials are a burlesque troupe based in Essex. The Celestials and their teacher Lady Akasha have been performing locally for 3 years.Their choreography is in the style of burlesque and cabaret and focus on female body positivity and confidence! They went down a real treat at last years Shimmy-Licous and are back this year with a new and special performance.
BELLYDANZA
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The group is run by Lorraine Pendleton and she has classes in Sudbury and Earls Colne. Bellydanza’s performances are always entertaining and full of joy. Expect beautiful costumes, plenty of smiles and glamour and well thought out choreographies that are an absolute joy to watch.
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Bellydanza also appeared as guest performers in Sitara Dance's most recent Theatre Production 'Bellydance Through the Looking Glass'.
EASTERN DELIGHT
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Eastern Delight are based in the Colchester area and have been dancing together as a troupe since 2006 after meeting through attending adult education classes in Egyptian Dance. They love to perform at local Haflas and enjoy taking part in a vast range of bellydance events.
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Eastern Delight practice regularly to maintain levels of fitness and develop technique, and their teacher, Faye Normanton, has a number of years experience both as a teacher and a dancer. Faye is committed to her development as a dancer and has attended classes taught by a number of well known international teachers and professional performers such as: Fifi Abdou, Khaled Mahmoud, Shafeek Ibrahim, Hossam and Serena Ramzy, Kazaffi, Randa, Yasmina and Lorna of Cairo, Ozgen from Turkey, Razia and Jim Boz from America, Galit Mersand from Israel and many others including Aziz, Fereshteh and Florencia Kirlis (Argentina).
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Eastern Delight have been guest performers in two of the Sitara Dance Theatre Productions in both 2015 & 2018. Their performances are creative and synchronised with great thought given to stunning matching costuming to compliment beautiful polished choreography.
MEDINA
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Medina are based in Rochester Kent and they enjoy performing all Middle Eastern styles, American Cabaret, Folkloric and Fusion.
They will be performing a fun fusion dance and will be joined by a very special new member.
Ann Hall has travelled and studied bellydance extensively with both Egyptian and Turkish Teachers. She is a qualified JWAAD teacher and loves to perform at social events. We saw Medina perform this special and unique little number at Jan's Bellyspa in Torquay this September. It is an absolute delight, you are in for a real treat!
BENAZIR
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Benazir are based in Harold Hill and the group is run by Rosie Flint.
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Benazir have been performing their eclectic mix of dances in and around the area for over ten years. Rosie's performances are always extremely creative, inspiring, and very entertaining indeed!
Rosie's students enjoy getting into character and are well known for embracing the theme!
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Expect a dance full of character and fun!
ASWAN
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Aswan are a local troupe based in Billericay. They have been together as a sisterhood for a number of years. Their passion is to create quirky choreographies through a fusion of belly dance styles combined with theatre using a diverse range of music. They love to explore Egyptian, Folk, Bollywood, Baladi, and Fusion styles, liking their approach to be 'a lit...tle bit different'.
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Aswan have been regular performers at Shimmy-Licious for many years. They have also been featured in all three of Sitara's Theatre Productions since 2011!
SCHEDULE & TICKETS
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8.00pm; Doors open
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8.30pm: Cabaret Show with Sitara Dance students, Eastern Roses & Guest Group performances including our very special star performer.
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10.45pm Disco & freestyle dancing until 11.30pm
Advance Ticket: £11.50 (available direct from Sitara in class, or CONTACT SITARA to purchase)
Entry on the Door: £12.50
Bring your family and friends to this glittering event as this unique evening is suitable for all ages. May the magic of bellydance bring joy to your soul!