It’s back! The Fire in the Belly Festival is back in 2009 from Friday 16th of October to Sunday 18th 2009 at Wodonga, Victoria, Australia.

Fire in the Belly is a "bellydance" festival for anyone wanting to experience this exotic dance form right here in our own backyard. There are workshops to learn how to bellydance from the beginning through to the experienced dancer just wanting more............... Local dance groups have been gathering together for over 10 years for this weekend of frivolity, so why not join us to either participate or just sit back and revel in bellydancing at its colourful, artful and alluring best.

Now it’s time to study what’s on offer and get your booking in.  Workshop sizes are limited so it’s still a case of first in - best dressed.

We are again offering as a special incentive to book early, everyone who books and pays for their workshops before September 15 will go into the draw to have their entire workshop payment reimbursed.  This could be a saving of $140.  More money for shopping!

The weekend will kick off with a meet and greet on the Friday night at a local restaurant. Workshops kick off at 9am Saturday. They are all 2 hours and all $35 per person. The Market will continue throughout Saturday. Saturday night we have the Hafla Cabaret with performances from our teachers, a dance competition for our participants and time for free-dancing and lots of family fun.  This year we have a much bigger venue, so bring all your friends and family. This will be a BYO soft drinks and nibblies. (A bar service will operate for alcoholic beverages, but we have suggested that they stock up on bubbly to cover your needs). On Sunday, workshops start at 10am so there’s time for a bit of a sleep in.

Shamira

Based in Adelaide and principal of the Belly Dance Arabesque, Shamira is undoubtedly one of Australia’s premier Belly dance artists. Shamira has dazzled us with her graceful and mesmerising performances at several of our Fire in the Belly festivals. The fact is, we just can’t get enough - so Shamira is back in 2009 by popular demand. (www.bellydancearabesque.com.au

Andrea

Based in Melbourne and member of the stunning Underbelly troupe, Andrea is a versatile and popular teacher of a wide range of belly dance styles, particularly fusion styles. Hugely popular in 2007. Andrea returns with some exciting new fusion workshops and a reprise of an old favourite. (www.underbellydance.com)

Fiona

Fiona is the Artistic Director of Tribalista (www.tribalista.com.au) based in Canberra. Fiona has been dancing, teaching and performing most of her life but has found her passion in bellydance, now specialising in ATS and alternative styles. Fiona teaches her own style of Neo-Tribal Fusion which is a ‘mash-up’ of bellydance with Hip-Hop, Jazz, Gypsy, Bollywood and sometimes incorporating theatrical techniques from Burlesque. Fiona dances under the name FiFi Noir- (dancing darkly).

Devi

Devi is the Artistic Director of the award winning Ghawazi Caravan based in the Blue Mountains and is one of Australia’s premier American Tribal Style dancers and teachers. Devi is the only person in Australia to be accepted into Carolena Nericcio’s intensive Teacher Training Course in America. Devi has earned a reputation as a patient and thorough teacher. As a performer she is renowned for her strong stage presence, as well as her innovative and colourful choreographies.
 (www.ghawazicaravan.com/devi)

Shayne

We have Shayne Willis from www.essentialrhythms.com running a drum workshop on Saturday afternoon and he and some friends will be drumming at the Saturday Night Performance.  What a great opportunity to dance to live drumming. For more information on Shayne please visit his website.