Charlotte Blignaut
South Africa
Email: charlotte@bellydance.co.za

Beirut , Lebanon ....

The Amani Festival was a great success!  I have been appointed as her official representative for South Africa , so let us hope that 2006 team of our dancers will be chomping at the bit to participate.  A definite must for all advanced, performing dancers and teachers! 

The festival was so professionally run! - Amani is truly a woman dedicated to her work and her standards - felt like I was looking in a mirror!  She is a gorgeous petite yet delicate redhead with a fire element of note!  What an absolute pleasure to watch as she is a wonderful dancer and organizer.  Integrity and her values rule!  YIPP EEEE !  Her associated teachers and choreographers are from the highest background in dance and theatre!  That says it all re respect to her and her work within the industry does it not?!!  Such a wonderful glow I feel for this trip girls really special.

The workshops were back to back - HECTIC - I have never done so much exercise in such a short space of time!  It was brilliant to feel that (as a dancer) I was really alive as my body groaned at the end of each day ... or is that an age thing.

Each teacher/choreographer had something unique to share with us... all the training was done in the theatre or in a ballroom - need I tell you how huge the attendance was?  It was truly an honor to see so many dancers with such great body isolations and moves - from all over the world!  Brilliant and so exciting to see such dedication and mixed cultures now adopting this vital feminine dance form from the Middle East !  An awesome experience!  Watch website for pics....

ps - we are planning to bring her out to South Africa for the South African dancers to get a taste!! Hold thumbs everyone!

Charlotte and Amani

Regards, Charlotte Jewels of the Nile Celh;