Hi Everyone

The GothlaUK team would really, I mean REALLY, like your feedback on what you would like to see for Open Stage.

We had 29 acts at Open Stage this year, which went 1 hour over time.

Should we cut the  number of acts, which doesn’t seem fair on all who want to perform, or find a way of giving everyone a chance to perform even if it means performing to very few?

Bridie has started a discussion on the GothlaUK Facebook group.

Venue

Would you prefer to perform/watch at The Y! Theatre or at Redeemer?

Timing

What do you think of there being continual open stage performances on stage at The Y! Theatre during Saturday/Sunday, which means there would be clashes with workshops? You might not get the audience you’d like. (Bridie suggested this as she’s seen it in action at TribalFest.)

Signup

Would you be happy to sign up online or do you prefer to send a form in the post? We can make online signup MUCH easier than it has been in the past.

What do you think of first come – first served when it comes to signing up for Open Stage?

What next?

If you’re a member of the GothlaUK group, then you’ll probably already be aware of the discussion. Will you please contribute to it.

If you’re not a member, please consider joining to tell us what you think, OR email Bridie to let her know your ideas.

Very many thanks to all those who came to GothlaUK this year. We had a fabulous time. Remember, if you didn’t come, it wouldn’t be fabulous!

I know I’ve been tardy on getting some videos out.  But they will be coming.

BFN

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.

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

Yes, it’s true, Sera Solstice, star of East Coast Tribal, will be performing at the hafla on Friday 16th July, an extra bonus for all those who have booked.

Sera Solstice is the inspirational teacher behind East Coast Tribal and Solstice Studios. She has appeared on 4 DVDs from World Dance New York, including ‘Gothic Bellydance Revelations’ and ‘Fantasy Bellydance: Mystery’, as well as two East Coast Tribal Instructional DVDs. Her choreography has been described as “complex, content-rich, sublime, technically superb, at the forefront of evolution of bellydance as an artform.” We are delighted to be able to welcome her as a guest performer at Gothla UK 2010 en route from Tribal UMRAH in France, ahead of her appearance as a headline teacher at Gothla UK 2011.

Watch this video on YouTube of Sera Solstice performing at Tribal Fest in 2009.

As the hafla sold out two months ago, the team has put its collective heads together to find a bigger venue for future haflas.  Sadly not for this year, for those who have been disappointed, but we hope to find somewhere that can accommodate everyone who wants to watch our stars in 2011.

Everyone must buy a ticket for Open Stage on Saturday evening, even performers. This is because we are holding Open Stage at Redeemer which will evolve into Club Night. We have to pay Redeemer for everyone there.  If you don’t have a ticket, you won’t be able to get into Open Stage – and that includes performers.

If you need to buy your ticket, just £3, pop along to our bookings page and pay via PayPal.

While you’re there, check out workshops that still have spaces, including Tree Russell’s ‘Dance of Khali Ma,’ Beverley Spracklen’s ‘Serpent and the Spiritwalker,’ Emma Chapman’s ‘Don’t Just Do Something! Stand There!’ Princess Farhana’s ‘Drama Queen: Exploring Theatrical Oriental Dance,’ Elin Kaaven’s ‘Tribal Fusionize Yourself,’ Christine Emery’s ‘Drilling with Rammstein,’ and Sylviah Colombara’s ‘Dark Fan Veils.’

Just one or two places remain on Princess Farhana’s ‘Orient Noir,’ Nadia Corazon’s ‘Sea Gypsies,’ and Molly Mitchell’s ‘Deshret Improvisational Combos.’ Be sure to book asap to make sure of your places.

As ever, booking enquiries to Bridie, souk enquiries to Christine, marketing enquiries to Rosie and website and newsletter issues to Sue.

Here’s looking forward to the bestest Gothla yet!

Sue

The bookings page for GothlaUK 2010, Leicester, 16th-18th July, is now live.

The news seems to have spread like wildfire, so make sure you’re on our Facebook group or subscribed to our Twitter feed.

We’re not organising a dinner on the Saturday evening this year, which we hope will give you more flexibility to find somewhere to eat and/or get ready for a night on the town.

Open Stage will launch at 8.30pm on the Saturday evening on the top floor of Redeemer seguing into Club Night from 10.30pm.

Admission is £3 and you can book tickets on our bookings page.

If you would like to perform at Open Stage, download the booking form, fill it in, save it with your name, and return it by email to Rosie.

We advise that you wear light shoes or slipperettes rather than go barefoot at Redeemer.

Please also let us know if you would be willing to perform in public rather than just in front of other GothlaUK attendees.  Redeemer will be admitting the public from 10.30pm.

Check out venues and hotels.  The Campanile, our preferred hotel, is offering rooms at £42, £4 less than rack rate, if you quote ‘GothlaUK, July’ when phoning them.

Questions?

Bookings – Bridie, Marketing – Rosie, Vendors and souk – Christine, Website and newsletters – Sue

Looking forward to seeing you in July!

Sue

Following Open Stage, which begins at 9pm at Quebec Club on Saturday 18th July, we can all troop up to the other end of the road to Redeemer for Club Night.

Redeemer is offering entry at £2.50 per person, providing you show your hafla ticket at the door.

If you’re not coming to the hafla on Friday, pick up a flyer from Sue who will be manning the GothlaUK stall in the souk on Saturday and Sunday.

So please hang on to your hafla tickets.  You’ll find them very useful over the weekend.

View our map of GothlaUK venues for locations.

All those who would like to perform at Open Stage at Gothla UK on Saturday evening, 18th July, apologies if you’ve been feeling frustrated about not being able to register.

Let’s correct that right now.  Please download this form, in Word 2003 format, and email it to Rosie.

If you have any problems with downloading the form, please contact Sue. Sue would also like to receive your photos if you would like to perform, so that we can post them in the gallery.

Many thanks.