Tag Archives: Rakkasah

RECAP! Rakkasah Spring Caravan 2012 (Accio Belly Dance: Harry Potter and the Bothering of Snape)

17 May

WHERE DID APRIL GO?! Eh, I’ve been a bad kid with some internet issues for the past month… so let’s post “ALL THE ARTICLES”  I’ve wrote for the past month in one day! Huzzah!

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Two weekends ago was Rakkasah Spring Caravan near NYC.

 

As mentioned in previous posts, there are 4 Rakkasah events, each unique and different on their own.

“Rakkasah West” in California in March.

“Rakkasah East” in Somerset NJ in October.

“Rakkasah Winter Moon” in California in Jan/Feb.

“Rakkasah Spring Caravan” in Somerset NJ in April/May.

Rakkasah Spring Caravan is a belly dance fusion festival/convention in Somerset NJ (Rak East is more for the “traditional” style Bdance). Last year we performed a 7 min version of “Super Mario Belly Dance World”. This year we performed “Accio Belly Dance! Harry Potter and the Bothering of Snape”.

It was so much fun! We set up the dance to be in a “double potions class” with Slytherin & Gryffindor students with Snape as the professor. When class is over, Snape was supposed to touch his dark mark while Harry’s Scar is reacting, all for Moldy-Voldy to come out and battle Harry. Snape was supposed to come in at the end and do the spin sequence with two fanveils in the middle of the battle… but sadly 2 weekends before Termariel broke her foot! Eep! I had to step in and do Termariel part, and rewrite the story a bit. I think it still turned out great! In the video you can’t tell, but when we came out for the 1st song everyone was SUPER confused and muttering- “Are they witches? Are those wands? Is that Harry Potter?” wondering what was going on. During the 2nd song when the theme for HP came on, it was hilarious that quite a few people started to laugh or scream out as they realized we were doing Harry Potter (one of those light bulb/ “Ah-ha!” moments). For the 3rd song, “The Mysterious Ticking Noise” I was a bit nervous and trying hard to suppress a laugh- especially when a woman shouted “I LOVE SNAPE”, my beat was definitely thrown off. Totally worth it.

After our performance Anasma (left) went on  she did a cat themed belly dance, I can’t explain how amazing her style of dance is! She bring comedy to the dance world, and we love to help out!

We were also invited to dance in the Penn State Belly Dance Club time slot that night. Merika & I did a Poi & Double veil duet (respectfully). It was a bit of a stressful weekend jammed with workshops everyday, practice, amazing shows, shopping, and 2 performances… but it was fun.

I’ll have to post the Professional Photos when I get them! 😀

Thanks for reading!

Cheers,

Ayla

P.S. We got our photo in another blog! ..and now that I put up the 4th post that I’ve been slacking on- it’s time to read Nara’s posts! Huzzah!

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Rakkasah Spring Caravan

25 Feb

With living in Upstate NY it’s hard to find other belly dancers in the areas- compared to say NYC. Trying to look for Workshops, and Hafla’s to meet other dancers while going through the Internet, Calling around, Bhuz websites… and once you find them it’s not so easy to hear back (still waiting for Club Bellydance and a few other possibilities 1-2hours away). I’d  like to find some one that can help me expand my dance talents, as well as maybe join a semi or professional troupe- I’m tempted to start taking monthly classes in NYC- that’s only a 2.5 hour train ride to Manhattan.

I enjoy performing at anime/ sci-fi/ gaming cons, but that’s a different story for a different blog entry 😉

One performance (and  set of workshops) that are always fun, is Rakkasah Spring Caravan.  It is the largest belly dance convention on the East coast. http://www.rakkasah.com/spring/

Rakkasah Spring Caravan had their call in for live music was today, tomorrow is call in for CD music. I offered to help the Penn State Belly Dance call in for them (even though I have no clue what they’d be dancing). I also voluntold Domo to help out too, haha.

Antipode will be performing 5:24pm Saturday evening- we will be doing a surprise! 😀 Deals with a pop-culture set of books and movies, reaching a wide audience. Last year we did Super Mario Belly Dance World.

I’m super excited for all the workshops. Anasma & Sera (whom I’ve taken workshops  before) will be there and many other new instructors! I really enjoy last Rakkasah’s workshop from Anasma- Wu Shu Belly Dance Fusion. Yes, it actually worked well. It put even more inspiration for me to do a Red XIII’s Theme fusion (Final Fantasy VII). I was going to do sword dancing, and add Tribal fusion elements- but I’d like to learn more & have more experience in tribal fusion. I’m more of a cabaret & folkloric dancer, but I’m still learning!

Thanks for your time.

Cheers,

Ayla

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