Go watch the videos of GothlaUK 2010 online at the GothlaUK website.

The hafla performances have been divided into three sets, and Open Stage has been divided into two sets.

Enjoy!

Sue

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

Bridie has one ticket returned for Morgana’s masterclass on Friday 16th July between 2-5pm at BTDA/IAC.

Morgana will be demonstrating moves in her Pirate Choreography which she will perform at the evening hafla. Masterclass participants will be welcome to join her on stage in the performance.

First come, first served!  Please write to Bridie asap.

Here’s Morgana’s introduction to the class:

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

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

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

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

First of all, a HUGE thank you to everyone who wrote to us expressing their support for Gothla, and who voted in the survey.

As it happened, news that Raqs Britannia was booked for June emerged just after we asked you all.

But the BIG news is that GothlaUK 2010 is confirmed for the weekend 16th, 17th and 18th July in Leicester.

Performers and instructors include, but are not necessarily limited to, Ariellah, Morgana and Princess Farhana of Hollywood.  Also featuring: Her Royal Hellness Lucretia, Emma Chapman, Fulya, Elin Kaven (Norway), Silvia Colombara (Italy), Nadia (Spain),  Tree Russell, Beverley Spracklen, Molly and Darkstar.

We have managed to secure the International Arts Centre (BTDA) once more, with workshops there on Saturday as well as the Masterclasses and Hafla on Friday, and all classes on Sunday.  Studio 79 will also be a venue on Saturday.

Redeemer have teamed up with us for Open Stage and Club Night.  Thus Open Stage will begin in Redeemer at 8.30pm on Saturday 17th, running into Club Night from 10.30pm.  A buffet meal will be served at Open Stage.

Online bookings are not open yet.  It will take a little while for the timetable to be sorted and the website updated.  As soon as it is, you’ll be the first to know!

Looking forward to seeing you at GothlaUK 2010.

Sue

Hello one and all

Halloween is almost here!  Lots of haflas in prospect.

A rumour has reached the Gothla UK team that Raqs Britannia might move its timing to July.

We’ve found that mid-July is probably the best time to hold Gothla UK in Leicester, because it’s the traditional holiday season in the city.  This makes it easier to secure venues.

We’d be really grateful if you would answer our poll on this subject.

If Raqs Britannia moved to July, would you still attend Gothla 2010?

Please follow the link and vote.  The responses will help us significantly with our planning.

The responses will be anonymous so we will not know how any one  individual has voted.

But you can always write to let us know what you think too.

Very many thanks.

Sue