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IN RIO DE JANEIRO I started my adventure in Rio before the Mabruk Festival with a transformation on my lay out and met FERNANDO, the best ever hairdresser who added some extensions in my hair…he was the highlight of my whole trip and I am so lucky I run into his salon in Copacabana.
He is the most creative and talented artist and did the most terrific job in my hair. I have a couple of my students who are going to fly to Rio to do their hair with him.
TEMPLE OF HORUS dance Studio in Flamengo Beach I continue my beauty adventure doing HENNA w’ the best & most fun teacher dancer ELKE from the HORUS. She designed amazing Om’s designs in my hands both sides and feet and it did attracted so much attention through the festival.
At THE TEMPLE OF HORUS- I was so welcomed and well received and the people are really so affectionate and so generous in their hospitality, that I never wanted to leave. The Studio looks like an old palace with columns all over, veils hanging, thick carpets, and pillows in all rooms, beautiful designs on the walls of Egyptian motifs, all decorated w/ so much love & care by MICHELLE the owner, beautiful dancer. A very special sanctuary of dance including, gypsy, flamenco, Indian, yoga, Greek dance, yoga and belly dance for all ages. I had the chance to watch ELKE’s class and her students so talented performing that day. It was a wonderful gift to see them. I watched a gypsy dance class and got in touch with most beautiful singer in Romany, Russian and Spanish gypsy, the musician Alexandre Flores .
THE GAIA STUDIO - CENTRO DE DANCAS ANCESTRAIS - Rua Visconde de Piraja 444 - Lj 210 owned by Marcia Gaia is located in Barra da Tijuca and in Ipanema Beach. I met Gaia a few years ago in one of my visits in Brasil and had visited her Studio in Barra. She is a super talented and beautiful teacher. I loved and had the pleasure to see her again as she performed at the Mabruk Festival with her dancers, so many different creative choreographies. One of the favorites actress in "THE CLONE" was Claudia Dias, the girl who played Kadija and always was saying …"…Insha’allah..", is Gaia’s student and was performing at the Mabruk Festival.
THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL MABRUK
FESTIVAL…. was a blast, a marathon promoted by
Deborah the most generous and courageous host, took place at the CLUBE
MILITAR in the LAGOA area. She never stopped a minute, always looking that
we were comfortable and made us feel at home. It was an intense non stop 3
days of performances and classes. We were 3 international teachers, Sarat and Gabriel Ahmed, both from Argentina and me Maja. They were beautiful .
Because they are not used to work on this style, it was innovative and very well received and also very much applauded in the show. They are really fast learners. It was easy and wonderful to share the dance with them. And speaking Portuguese helps a lot.
THE SHOW at MABRUK… The Décor of the stage looked like a temple in Egypt. We were surrounded by all the kings and pharaohs and colorful veils.
The show featured dancers from other states as Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, from San Paulo and around Rio, a Fashion Show, prizes & awards to the best groups and lots of vendors. On Friday night it ended at 3 am. On Saturday from 4 pm to midnight . On Sunday from 4 pm to midnight. It was a non stop parade of beauty, talent, elegance, and amazing dancing, and big troupes so well connected and in sync. I did perform on Friday and on Sunday and thanks to all my brasilian new friends for the enthusiastic applauses. I was grateful and very emotional. To come back to Brasil after so many years that I lived there, and to teach a Belly Dance Class in gypsy style to those incredible dancers was an honor and such a pleasure, I will treasure these days in my heart.
Here are the names of the first dancers who started all the movement of Belly Dance in Rio and the Mabruk SHOW was a special celebration to all of them & we were lucky to see them performing: Marcia Gaia, Yasmin Anukt, Salome Hanan, Samra Halima, Shadia, Claudia Sanchez, Semiramis, Luciana Medley, Claudia Hazan, Estella das Guaranis. |
Sarat
shared most rhythms moves and locks and a double cane dance, and was very
much applauded in her show. Gabriel shared all the different styles of
folklore dance there is. He is very much into the folklore and strong in
Debke. I shared the Spanish Arab fusion and some tribal combinations.
