See the timetable for GothlaUK, running from July 15th-17th 2011 and book your tickets.  We are now able to offer 200 tickets for the Friday showcase performance at the Y! Theatre in Leicester.  Workshops will take place both at the Y! and at Studio 79 which has moved to much bigger premises, 5-10 minutes walk away.

The venues page has been revised to show the locations of our new venues this year.  A video giving you some idea of the neighbourhood will be shot and uploaded once the weather gets better, aiming to show you the route between the Y! and Studio 79.

A reminder of who does what in the GothlaUK team:

Bridie – responsible for bookings and customer relations

Rosie – marketing and Open Stage coordinator

Christine – souk and vendors

Sue – website and newsletters

Heike – liaises with performers.

Find our contact details on the website.

We think that this year’s line-up is a must-see, must-do. And remember, last year, tickets went fast. Don’t delay, look at the timetable today.

Sue

From Bridie

On Friday afternoon, we have three  masterclass offerings for you: Sera Solstice will be teaching the first of her 3-hour workshops of the weekend, on her Solar dance style, Sashi will be teaching a 3-hour masterclass in her signature Ascend Tribal format, and Morgana and the Excalibur Dance Company are bringing ‘the Matrix’ to the stage with the first of a series of martial arts/dance workshops.

Friday evening sees our gala showcase, featuring performances by our star performers and guest artists at the Y Theatre.

Well, hello again!  After some time off, the Gothla UK Team are back, and preparing for Gothla UK 2011.

But before we usher in our fifth year (WOW!), we wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who attended, danced, took workshops, bought stuff and helped out at Gothla 2010.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As organisers in the eye of the storm, it’s sometimes hard for us to judge how things are going, so we rely heavily on your feedback.  And feedback we got!  So thank YOU!  Overall consensus seemed to be that everyone had a fantastic weekend and were completely shattered, but excited about the new things they’d learned, new friends that they’d made, old friends that they’d got to catch up with, acts they’d been waiting to see, and some (*ahem* Kate Blush) that they hadn’t seen coming!

We will soon be announcing information about next year’s event, so please keep an eye peeled for updates!

In the meantime, Gothla festivals are now cropping up all over Europe:

The amazingly talented Morgana is coordinating Gothla ES 2010 in Madrid on 30th October – 1st November.

And our very own Bridie attended Italy’s Gothla IT back in March.  The host, Rea Silviah is hoping to host a second offering next year.  More details will follow.

If you know of any other Gothla festivals happening around the world, please let us know so we can help promote them for you, and for those interested in learning more about the Darker Side of bellydance!

In the meantime, THANK YOU again for making Gothla UK what it is! We couldn’t do it without you!

Best regards, and darkest blessings,

Rosie, Bridie, Sue, Christine and Heike!

xxx

Hi

That man Hems from the Brazillia caff on the corner of Belgrave Gate, opposite Quebec Club, has offered GothlaUK the use of his upstairs office for our HQ and souk next weekend.

We know it will be a bit of a squeeze, but hey, with a big breakfast going all day for £3.50, who’s complaining?

Hems would like it to be known that his breakfast packs in more than twice as much as that at the Campanile, which sells at £6.75.

He realises that service was slow last year, but he’s invested in equipment over the winter and can now make eight breakfasts at a go, instead of two.

He opens at 8am, and will close at around 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday, unless there are  some waifs and strays who need somewhere to stay until their train is due.

We’ve been able to accommodate a couple of traders.  There will be space for the dance instructors to spread out material, and you’ll also find a member of the GothlaUK team on hand during the day, to answer questions and to direct you to venues.

Here’s the map link, and you’ll also find Brazillia on Google Street View.

Write to Bridie for last minute questions about bookings, Christine about the souk, Rosie about Open Stage, and Sue for website and newsletter stuff.

Looking forward to seeing you next weekend.

Sue

If you would like to make a last minute booking for this year’s Gothla UK, please contact Bridie directly.

Online bookings have now closed, although you can still see the programme of classes.

Those of you waiting for your tickets, do not worry, Bridie has been stuffing envelopes this week while Sue has been guillotining the card.

Only two weeks now until THE gothic bellydance festival of the year in UK.  We’re looking forward to meeting everybody.

We haven’t laid on a dinner in 2010, because with so many people lined up for Open Stage, we’re opening the show earlier. This also gives time for you to prep for the night.

Remember that everyone will need a ticket to enter Open Stage, including performers, because Redeemer takes the major cut as Open Stage segues into Club Night.

The management of The Village has been equivocal about whether it will actually be open. So we can’t rely on The Village being our social centre this time. There should be a downstairs bar open at Redeemer.

A decision remains to be taken about where the souk will be based.  We’ll let you know, if not beforehand, then by announcement at the hafla on Friday 16th July.

The shop is open for sales of t-shirts etc

See you soon.

Sue

Thanks to all of you, our faithful fans, the hafla on Friday night is sold out!  Please contact Bridie if you would like your name added to a reserve list in case of cancellations.  This has been so overwhelming that we realise that we must try to find another performance venue for the future.

We’ve also sold out all of Ariellah’s workshops, plus five others, with limited spaces on a few more.

We’re delighted to have Princess Farhana of Hollywood back with us again this year. Those of you who were at the first ever Gothla UK will recall her sheer mastery of the art.  She has real presence. Don’t miss the opportunity to share a class with her.

Just a few places left on her Orient Noir workshop on Saturday, but still time to book for ‘Drama Queen: Exploring Theatrical Oriental Dance,’ on Sunday morning.  Will you be up for it after Club Night at Redeemer?

Rea Silviah from Italy will be teaching use of fan veils for Gothic dance while Elin Kaaven draws on her Saami background and the myths of the Saami people (her grandfather was a Saami shaman) to teach her class on tribal fusion.

Beverley Spracklen (aka Amethystine) has only a step or so to come from Yorkshire to demonstrate gothic-style tribal combos and improvisation.

Christine Emery, always putting the humour into her presentations, will be ‘Drilling with Rammstein’ on Sunday. Tree Russell teaches the dance of ‘Khali Ma’ using Thai Fingers on Saturday.  Emma Chapman provides an intriguing counterpoint to Ariellah’s ‘Don’t Just Stand There’ workshop by focusing on the intensity and emotional connection that you need to bring to your dance in the moments when you are still.

So still some very good workshops left if you still need to book.

Open Stage on Saturday night is shaping up very well with many bids for performance and lots of tickets sold already.

Contact details for the Gothla UK team.

Looking forward to seeing you in July, and yes, this year I should make it!

Sue

As many of you may know already, we have had to cancel Shakra’s workshops at GothlaUK.  They were turned away at Heathrow Airport yesterday morning.

Bridie has been in touch with as many participants as possible to offer workshop swaps or full refunds on Shakra’s classes.

If you are concerned about your workshop status or want to find out what’s available, please phone Bridie on +44 (0)7796095232 or email her.

The hafla is sold out and plenty of people are wanting to perform both there and at Open Stage on Saturday.  We’re very grateful for all your support.

We look forward to seeing you next weekend.

Sue and the GothlaUK team

A big apology to everyone. Having announced that 3 tickets were spare on Ariellah’s masterclass on Friday 17th July, I forgot to unblock the bookings page. Sorry.

Anyone who is interested, please phone Bridie on +44 (0)7796095232

Bookings

Less than one month to go now before this year’s Gothla UK!

If you’ve booked already, great. If you haven’t, there are just a very few places left on Morgana’s, Shakra’s and Ariellah’s workshops. Asharah is booked out. We still have places left with our UK teachers.  Only 20 tickets left for the hafla.  And you remember what a great performance that was last year.  So don’t miss this year’s.

See what’s left on our bookings page.

Please note that we shall close online bookings on 13th July.

Dinner

Will you be joining us for dinner on Saturday evening just before Open Stage? I realise it’s a bind if you’ve already booked your workshops but we really, really would be grateful if you would sign up for dinner in advance.

The restaurant, Haveli, needs to know numbers, and we know that it’s going to be hectic while Gothla is going on to take your names, and your money, for dinner.

Please help us to help you. You’ll find a Pay Now button on both the bookings page and the dinner menu page.

Tickets

This year, we’re only issuing tickets for the hafla on Friday night. We’ll be checking names at workshop entrances instead of taking tickets.

Please bring your PayPal receipts with you to show at the workshop entrance.

Bridie will start mailing out tickets and information at the end of June. Overseas participants will be sent their packs first.

If you haven’t heard from Bridie by 13th July and are expecting a hafla ticket, please email her.

Souk

Yes, there will be a souk. HRH Lucretia has been busy organising vendors. Lots of goodies to pore over.

It’s getting close now. See you there.

Sue