Monday, December 28, 2009

Studio grand Opening POSTPONED

Due to crappy weather, the grand opening is postponed BUT classes will begin as scheduled. Additionally, in person preregistration is available on Saturday, Jan. 2 (10am-2pm) and Sunday, Jan. 3 (10am-4pm) for those who do not have PayPal accounts but wish to partake in discounted preregistration. In person prereg also enters you in a drawing for a free session of one class!

Looking forward to dancing with you...at the studio!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Today's Accomplishment Toward Opening the Studio 12/21/2009

The floor was installed tonight!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Today's Accomplishment Toward Opening the Studio

I've got the studio keys in my hand...and I'm just staring at them.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Bedouin Star Seeks Instructors

Adding new classes means adding instructors. We are looking for instructors for:

Folk Dance
Tai Chi
Flamenco
Ballet Folklorico
African Dance
Hula
Hand Drumming
Yoga
Capoiera
Hip-Hop

Oh yes, it's more than just dance =)

As an instructor you WILL BE paid. If you are interested in instructing, please contact me (Isis) via e-mail isis@bedouinstar.com or phone (402) 917 4808.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Bedouin Star Acquires a Studio!

Bedouin Star Belly Dance is now Bedouin Star Ethnic Dance Studio and Boutique. Located in Bellevue and fairly close to the HWY 75/Cornhusker exit, we will now be able to expand our class offerings and events. Of course, the space needs some sprucing up but we hope to open the doors in January. So exciting!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Choreography Progress

The 10 week Choreography Intensive that began on Thursday, October 1, 2009, is going extremely well. This piece will be presentable really soon and I am thrilled with the progress these students have made. I wrote the dance so, of course it's wonderful (LOL) but to see them actually dance it is awesome.

Ladies, I am very proud of you and am really looking forward to the end product, seeing the dance performed on stage, costumes and all =)

Your Teacher,
Isis

Bedouin Star Winter Bazaar - Nov. 28, 2009

Bedouin Star Winter Bazaar
Saturday, November 28, 2009
10:00am - 4:00pm
4911 S. 72nd Street
(72nd & L, the old Rod Kush Cash Advance)
Omaha, NE

THIS IS A FREE EVENT!

This is a full day of buying, selling, and trading old and new dance items and of course, if space permits, DANCING!. Clean your closets! This is a chance to get rid of those costumes you will never wear again, props that haven't seen daylight in years, jewelry that's been collecting dust, and also get some cool, new stuff!. Make some extra cash for the holidays and some extra space in your closet! Are you new to Belly Dance? Why pay full price for dance items when you could get everything you'll need to get started at the bazaar at a fraction of the cost! Do you create Belly Dance related crafts? Sell them here!

THERE IS NO VENDOR FEE FOR THIS EVENT
(please see space reservation requirements below)
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
THIS EVENT DOES NOT HAVE AN ADMISSION FEE

Are you interested in selling items? Reserve a vendor space by simply sending me an e-mail stating how many tables you will be bringing (maximum 2) and a brief description of what items will be at your table. Vendor must supply table, chairs, table coverings, etc (the space is free, after all). Table length must not exceed 6 feet. Make your reservation now as space is limited!

ALL SPACES MUST BE RESERVED NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT, NOVEMBER 21, 2009. You may acquire space at-the-door BUT there is no guarantee that any space will be available. At-the-door space acquisition still requires vendor to supply table, chairs, table covering, etc. Vendors should arrive no later than 9:30am and be ready to sell at 10:00am.

As this is an all-around free event, Bedouin Star will not conduct any paid advertising. We ask that you assist in getting the word out. If you are planning to sell items, be sure to let people know so that buyers can be found for your sale items. If you're coming to shop, bring your friends!

Please direct any questions to me (Isis) and I hope to see you at the Bazaar!

Little Hafla of Horrors

TONIGHT!

Friday, October 30, 2009
7:30pm
60th & Maple
PS Collective/Pizza Shoppe
Omaha, NE

$8/person ($1 off for each pair of gloves, hat, etc. to be donated) up to $3 off

As always, more info at www.bedouinstar.com

Friday, August 14, 2009

FREE Beginner Belly Dance Class on Sept. 5!

FREE Beginner Belly Dance Class

Saturday, September 5, 2009
10:00am – 11:30am
Bellevue University Humanities Center – Room 202
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE 68005

A great form of exercise, excellent self-esteem booster, and all around fun! Find out if Belly Dance is for you. This class is absolutely FREE! For more details, please visit www.bedouinstar.com or call Isis (402) 917 – 4808.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

FREE Drum 'N Dance Jam in the Park

Yep! It's a usual event now!

Friday, August 28, 2009
6:30pm – 9:00pm
Everet Park (in the pavilion)
1451 Betz Road
Bellevue, NE

Please feel free to bring drums, pots and pans, wooden spoons, didgeridoos, zills, etc. All styles of dance and all musical instruments are welcome! You may consider bringing a folding chair as we may run out of picnic table seating. This is a family friendly event. Chilled, bottled water will be provided while supplies last.

We hope to see you there!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Bedouin Star Bazaar - TOMORROW!

With a variety of Vendors!

Dancers Oasis (Lincoln, NE) (website) Belly Dance goods
Saada Dance Company (Madrid, IA) Belly Dance goods
Zivot Art (Omaha, NE) (website coming soon) Henna, artworks, runes
Margie's Beads (LaVista, NE) (website) Glass beads
Javid's Jewelry and Gifts (Bellevue, NE) (website) Natural soap, jewelry
Joy Myn (Council Bluffs, IA) Massage Therapy
From My Father's Garden (Omaha, NE) Jewelry, greeting cards, hats
Pampered Chef by Ivy Barnes (Bellevue, NE) (website)
MIR Jewelry (Omaha, NE) Jewelry
Bedouin Star (Bellevue, NE) (website) Bedouin Star stuff

and Workshops!

10:00am Practical Self-Defense with Sensei Claudia Brown
12:30pm Kahiko Style Hula with Kumu Hula Carol Morgal
2:10pm African Dance with Melissa Kandido
3:50pm Zills: Newbies to Advanced with Isis

Doors open at 9:00am! There is NO ADMISSION fee to enter the vendor area. Workshops are $30 each.

The evening Variety Show "Menagerie of Movement" will include dance, poetry, singing, and a few surprises. $5/person, kids 12 and under admitted free. Showtime is 7:30pm.

Bellevue University Student Center
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE 68005

Park in LOT D

Looking forward to seeing you there!!!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

FREE Drum 'N Dance Jam TONIGHT!

Dancers, musicians, drummers, the general public and their families are invited to join Bedouin Star for some serious fun!

6:30pm - 8:00pm
Everett Park
1451 Betz Road
Bellevue, NE

If rain:
Bellevue University Student Center Game Room
1000 Galvin Road South
(from Everett Park, take Betz Road north, follow the curve west, park in LOT D)
Bellevue, NE

We hope it doesn't rain and to see you there!
www.bedouinstar.com

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Changes to Bedouin Star Bazaar and World Dance Day

The Capoiera instructor is unable to make the event. His workshop will be replaced with a zill workshop as there were no Belly Dance workshops originally scheduled at this year's World Dance Day.

Zills: Newbies to Advanced with Isis
Fee: $20 prereg; $30 at-the-door
No previous dance or zill experience needed. Learn basic patterns (Baladi, Masmoudi, etc) and some advanced variations. If time permits, some basic Belly Dance movements will be added to the zill patterns. Please acquire a pair of zills (4 zills) as they will not be provided by the instructor. Zills with 2 openings on top for elastic are highly recommended (example).

Look forward to zilling with you!

Masani Azura's Workshop

Yeah, this should have been posted awhile ago.

In May, a student (Rishima) and I traveled to Kansas City to attend Cirque Du Beledi hosted and instructed by Masani Azura. I met Masani when I began studying Belly Dance in 1999 and have loved to watch her dance and chat with her ever since. Fabulous dancer and magnificent woman.

This particular workshop included zill patterns, one in particular I had never worked with before. This was awesome...NEW INFORMATION!!! The workshop had a great turnout, the room was packed. Women of all levels of dance.

The workshop was followed by a show. This particular show was very interesting. At most Belly Dance workshop shows, the focus is on technique and costuming. The focus of this show was on entertainment. I enjoyed watching these ladies: a mermaid, ZZ Top impersonators, etc. Variety! Everyone did a great job. Siham Ali, Zada, of course, Masani, Zina and Tehani also danced. Was a damn good show! Video from the event can be seen here.

Masani's workshop was well worth the 3 hour drive from Omaha, NE. Now, looking forward to Siham's workshop in October.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Such a great response brings about change to FREE dance class!

My phone has been ringing off the hook and my e-mail inbox has been loaded with folks with questions about the free class next Saturday, "What if I'm not one of the first 25 people? Will there be another free class offered? Are you actually going to turn people away once the class limit has been reached?!"

Thank you all so much for such a fantastic response to the free class! Due to your phone calls and e-mails, the free class has been moved to the main area of the Student Center - same building, much larger space than the game room. This means more than 25 people can attend and no one will be turned away.

FREE BEDOUIN STAR CLASS
Saturday, May 30, 2009
10:00am - 11:30am
Bellevue University Student Center
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 30th, 10:00am!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Thanks for Messing It Up

Bedouin Star performed at Bellevue University's International Night last evening (April 25). This had to be the strangest International Night yet. During the 2nd performance of the night, a mirror was broken on stage as part of a performance. A team of volunteers attempted to clean it up but really didn't as shrapnel was left behind. The majority of the show that followed the mirror incident was dancers, some wearing shoes and some barefoot. I wasn't sure we should dance at all as 3/4 of us were wearing canvas ballet slippers. I rarely wear shoes when performing but had to, which effected my dancing.

In addition to worrying about stepping in broken glass, we were improperly introduced by the announcer. Earlier in the week, I had typed up and submitted our introduction in response to an e-mail the coordinators had sent, in which we were documented as "Bedouin Belly Dancers." I told them that were are NOT Bedouin Belly Dancers, we're not doing Bedouin dancing, and for them to PLEASE introduce us as Bedouin Star doing Tribal Fusion Style Belly Dance. How difficult is that? Evidently it's rocket science. We were introduced as Bedouin Belly Dancers which completely confused the audience, some of which actually knowing what Bedouin dancing should look like, which looks nothing like what we did. We danced Tribal Fusion style to German Techno.

Thanks to that, people who had never seen us before probably now think we have no idea what we're doing and that we are trying to pass off Fusion as traditional dance.

Side notes:
If you're going to be an MC, review the script before you hit the stage. Tibetan is not pronounced Ti-bet-ee-an. Asking how things are supposed to be pronounced is not a crime. Lastly, make sure you have all of the information.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

World Belly Dance Day - Saturday, May 9, 2009

Bedouin Star is proud to participate in World Belly Dance Day hosted by Metamorphosis Belly Dance Studio. Proceeds from this event will go to the Omaha Food Bank.

Saturday, May 9, 2009
1:00pm - 4:00pm: Shopping, dancing
4:00pm - ???: Open dancing with DJ and drumming
First United Methodist Church
7020 Cass Street
Omaha, NE 68132
$10/person; children 12 and under admitted free

This event celebrates World Belly Dance Day and features open dancing, performances, and vendors. For more information, go to www.bedouinstar.com

Friday, April 17, 2009

Bedouin Star Bazaar 2009 Registration Forms...Posted!

Printable registration forms are now available at www.bedouinstar.com. On the homepage, in the blurb about the Bedouin Star Bazaar. Preregistration ends July 10th! It seems far away but will be looking us in the face before we know it.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Preregistration for Bedouin Star Bazaar is Now Open!

Saturday, July 18, 2009
8:00am - 10:00pm
Bellevue University Student Center
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE
For more info click here!

This year's workshops are:

8:00am Parctical Self-Defense with Sensei Claudia Brown
9:40am Capoeira for Beginners with Tommy Distefano
12:30pm Kahiko Style Hula with Kumu Hula Carol Morgal
2:10pm African Dance with Melissa Kandido
3:50pm FunkStyle Hip-Hop with Antwuan "Annointist" Bradshaw

Each workshop is $20 if preregistered by July 10, 2009 or $30 at-the-door.
Each workshop
is one and a half hours in length.

Vendor tables are still available for $30 each
Information tables (non-vendors) are still available for $15 each

Bedouin Star Community Class...FREE!

Yeah, FREE! Perhaps you've been hesitant to register for a whole session? Not sure if Belly Dance is for you? Here's your chance to find out what it's all about and for FREE!

Bedouin Star Community Class
Saturday, May 30, 2009
10:00am-11:30am
Bellevue University Student Center - Game Room
1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE 68005

Class size is limited to 25. Minimum participation age is 12. Participants under 18 years of age must have adult present to sign a participation agreement. Childcare is not provided during class.

If, after attending the FREE class, you decide to register for the 6-week session to begin on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, you may do so for only $30 (regularly $40). But, in order to get the discounted registration fee, you must register immediately after the class on May 30, 2009.

3rd Friday Drum and Dance Circle

The 3rd Friday Drum Circle for April will be tomorrow, Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:00pm - 9:00pm at Metamorphosis Studio, located at 1108 Jackson Street (in the Old Market) in Omaha, NE 68102. Drumming, open dancing, and refreshments. Come and dance/drum or chill and watch. Admission is FREE though donations are always accepted and appreciated.

3rd Friday Drum and Dance Circle
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Metamorphosis Studio
1108 Jackson Street (upstairs)
Omaha, NE 68102

Introducing...

Welcome to the new way we will be keeping you up-to-date. The mail lists were epic failures as we maxed out on the allowed number of recipients, not even knowing if anybody actually read the e-mails. So, bookmark this blog and view it on your own free will.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, Isis, directly.

Thank You,
Isis
Director, Bedouin Star
info@bedouinstar.com
www.bedouinstar.com

Bedouin Star Bazaar and World Dance Day is Saturday, July 18, 2009!