Raqs Britannia 2008 – The Bellydance Superstars in Blackpool, UK

In June 2008 I went to a big belly dance event held in Blackpool, UK. The event was part of a European tour from the Belly Dance Superstars and included belly dance shows, a lot of bellydance workshops and a big bazaar selling everything that belly dancers may need. The event, called Raqs Britannia, was held in the Winter Gardens, a big theatre complex in Blackpool.

The Winter Gardens are absolutely huge, with a lot of venues and halls, so all belly dance events and workshop were held there during the weekend. Raqs Britannia was organised extremely well with support staff giving clear directions to visitors, who otherwise may have got lost in the maze of halls and corridors.

The Raqs Britannia belly dance weekend lasted three days, from Friday afternoon to Sunday night, but I could only go for one day (the whole of Saturday). Raqs Britannia was not cheap, as each workshop had to be booked and paid for separately, unlike the Belly Dance Congress where you buy an all inclusive pass for the full weekend (by the way, the next Belly Dance Congress is due in September 2009). However, it was worth attending Raqs Britannia. I really enjoyed the show in the evening with the Belly Dance Superstars; Suahila Salimpour and her daughter; Morocco; Fahtiem and other international belly dancers.

I also enjoyed the concert by Natacha Atlas and the evening buffet, which was good value for money with three courses at about £12. Also, the Raqs Britannia this year was particularly special as it was the first time that Suahila Salimpour (the inspiration behind the Belly Dance Superstars) came to teach in the UK.

During Raqs Britannia 2008 I attended four different belly dance workshops in one day: two with Suahila Salimpour on Suahila’s technique and on her belly dance – jazz fusion; one with Morocco on finger cymbals and one with Leyla Jouvana and Rolando on shimmies.

(A quick and shameless plug for my husbands new Barcelona vacation rentals site - and happy birthday too).