Combining Bellydance and fire for performance

November 30, 2019 admin

It’s hard to explain what I do sometimes.. so I end up with ” I combine bellydance and fire” and I’ve been doing that for over 5 years now.

So sometimes I stuggle with the word “bellydance” as it is such a big term that encompasses many styles. As a dancer who’s been dancing in various middle eastern styles ( Bellydance or bellydance) for over 20 years and my journey has been long and windy (but the best journeys often are).

I would not call my style cabaret – though I have in the long distant past worked in restaurants in that style, I have also studied and loved Egyptian (Ghwazzee- yes I’ve actually danced with one) and Turkish and Indian (Kalbeliya) folk traditions with a focus on ROM /nomadic & gypsy culture .

It was through American tribal style (ATS) and tribal fusion that I started to first combine Bellydance and fire for performances and at its core my dance and costume reflect that. I’m interested in being a fierce and wild female presence an untamable force of nature, like the fire I play with.

I work with a variety of props :

Fire fingers – a loverly light prop that emphasises finger gestures (flamenco or Kalbeliya)

Palm candles – Great for crowds/ intimate spaces and troupes

POI – bigger flames that make beautiful shapes as you dance and require more skills.

Fans – I have two types of fans ( small and HUGE) the huge ones are somewhat of a crowd-pleaser there’s A LOT of fire. Technically they are Russian grips – they integrate well with both bellydance and flemenco fusion styles.

Sword – I have a few types of fire sword too! balance swords for traditional Bellydance and battle swords….yes battle swords ! as well as a katana (Japanese)

Dragon staff – I’m working on it ! it takes little time to be skillfull enough with a prop to light it on fire.

led, Roving characters

#Bug: roving LED character

July 6, 2019 admin

Great for festivals and events

Bug is my STEAM /STEM character.
Not only will she amaze you with her majestic colours and blinky lights, as she flutters her beautiful but possibly toxic wings though crowds.

She simultaneously delights and terrifies, a creature of the dusk and dawn accompanied by the never-ending sounds of summer she will swish and float through any crowd.

Shes coded hard coded and art coded there are if statements on her wings curly brackets and wild card statements {*}.

Bug is a tribute to 1944 Grace Hopper, a female mathematician found the reason why her computers were not working was a moth had got stuck in a relay. She found it and taped the moth into a log book with the word bug next to it and since then we have been using the term “bug” for computer issues.

As a female person who works with computers in an artist mannor i often struggle with the perception that all programmers are male. We talk so much about stem in schools in Australia and it annoys me ..

firstly it should be steam ( lets put the art back in ! ) because without art there’s no design thinking. and honestly, design is just as important as code.

Secondly, there’s no way you’re going to encourage young women to code if all the projects are cars, rocket ships and male-coded. We need projects that females would want to make!

# Bug is driven by ardinos (flora’s) – I soldered and programmed them to make her lights that’s as much part of her as her performative aspects.

#bug at night – LED Antenna and glow /uv wings

Busking, fire, Troupe

Busking at honeysuckle

March 22, 2016 admin

We’ve been busking down at Honeysuckle on Newcastle Harbour Its loverly when we all get together and play the season has ended now but hopefully they will ask us back again next year.

Roving characters, Solo

The Red Queen

March 22, 2016 admin

The red queen was developed with soulfire circus for private parties and events. She is part of a larger alice in wonderland themed show and features a fire finger performance and the most amazing costume.

Electric Naga, led, Roving characters

Electric Naga

January 28, 2015 admin

An led character available for both dance and roving characters. The naga is part snake part human armed with beautiful hypnotising led lotus she will both delight and frighten.

Stories involving the nāgas are still very much a part of contemporary cultural traditions in predominantly Hindu regions of Asia (India, Nepal, and the island of Bali). In India, nāgas are considered nature spirits and the protectors of springs, wells and rivers. They bring rain, and thus fertility, but are also thought to bring disasters such as floods and drought.

Nagas are snakes that may take human form. They tend to be very curious. According to traditions nāgas are only malevolent to humans when they have been mistreated. They are susceptible to mankind’s disrespectful actions in relation to the environment. They are also associated with waters—rivers, lakes, seas, and wells—and are generally regarded as guardians of treasure.

This naga is made of e-waste : disused computers , circuit boards and devices.post consumer waste. Made from found objects,post consumer waste, old keyboards, plastics, rope, toys ,thrift shop finds and many other things. Literally made of garbage.

fire, Ifritah

Ifritah- djinn of fire

January 28, 2015 admin

15 -20 minute fire show with a dark arabic feel. Inspired by the myths and legends of the middle east and india. It will begin like any good story slowly building up to a whirling dervish of flames.

Props used :

fire fingers
palm candles
Fire fans
Poi

fire

light the spark

January 16, 2015 admin

So I’m a fire performer, dancer artist and educator among other things.

A small child pointed out recently while I was busking “your job is great fun but the pay is really bad ” So I’m starting this site to rectify that situation.
from a small spark a great fire can start but it has to start somewhere.

Ifritah

Hunter Valley- fire performers and dancers