On Thursday evening, 10 August, I attended the open class at the exotic dance centre Alegria, held at 4 E. Birznieks-Upīša Street, in the hall of the Young Technicians' Centre. Centre director Ilze Zariņa introduced four dance styles that can be learned from Alegria's teachers - belly dancing, Indian dance, flamenco, and Gypsy dance. To illustrate each dance style, there were teachers' performances (see video).
For the second year running, the exotic dance festival was held at the Madona Culture House. The concert consisted of modern belly dance performances with certain show elements, khaleeji, saidi, and oriental. Šarma had taken care to include the Hawaiian dance style in the programme. However, compared to last year, a certain uniformity was noticeable; Indian dances, tribal dance, and Andalusian dance rhythms were lacking.
Dance as a physical activity, a developer of posture, balance and movement, and a creator of physical freedom, relaxation, and outer and inner peace. Dana (meaning "black pearl" in Lebanese Arabic) has been practising belly dancing for more than 5 years. She continuously expands her knowledge with dance teachers in Egypt, Greece and right here in Latvia, Riga. She also teaches and passes on to others her knowledge of Egyptian and Arabic dance choreographies and the skill of expressing her feminine allure through dance.
A thoroughly lovely event took place on 12 July at the Madona Culture House. Dance studio Mantigra, in cooperation with Madona City Council, organised the 1st Exotic Dance Festival.
