One of the most exciting annual belly dancing events in Scotland, the Pyramid Awards Belly Dancing Competition, took place on the 20th of November at St. Thomas of Aquins High School in Edinburgh. In addition to the competition, the evening included Farida Dancewear fashion show and a hafla, as well as free boogying with DJ Persian Cat and a belly dancing bazaar. The event was single-handedly organised by Fereshteh Hosseini, an award winning belly dancer and belly dancing teacher from Edinburgh.
 
Something I really love about belly dancing is the overwhelmingly encouraging atmosphere present in both belly dancing classes and haflas. Everyone is beautiful, everyone’s dancing is beautiful and there is a great sense of sisterhood that springs from sharing the joy of dancing together.
 
Yet I must admit there are some downsides to this attitude: it can be challenging to get critical feedback of your dancing, yet it is difficult to improve without any. There is so much more to a good performance than the moves and the technique. The spirit, joy and the communication with the audience are impossible to gauge in the mirror.
 
Fifteen dancers had originally signed in for the competition but unfortunately four of them had to cancel. The eleven of us left to compete presented a very diverse group of belly dancers, with a range of styles and dancing experience, as well as a spectrum of cultural backgrounds.
 
I was curious to see how the atmosphere at the back stage of a belly dancing event would be altered in a competitive situation. To my relief and joy, it wasn’t. The same sense of mutual encouragement and sisterhood still prevailed, and it was such a pleasure to be there as a part of it.
 
The competition was deservingly won by Kerimeh Irvine from Glasgow with her stunning performance. The second place was rewarded to Sarah Malik from London, who danced with beautiful fluidity and softness and Kimberley North from Glasgow  came third with her lively and elegant dancing. The competition was judged by Vanessa Gooding and Shona Hagan, both JWAAD-trained dancers and teachers, and our host Fereshteh Hosseini.
 
Both traditional belly dancing and American Tribal Style were presented in the hafla, which included fabulous performances by Dierdre MacDonald and her troupe, Caroline Evans’ classes, Nikki and Liz, Elspeth’s class, Shona Mclean,  Sarah Pullman and her Class, The Mind and Body Belles, Maureen Phyllus and her Troupe, Jackie Young and of course our host Fereshteh, amongst others.
 
The evening certainly left me for wanting more of the kind. As much as I love the free form, free flow haflas where everyone is a star, I believe that well directed, critical feed back can actually greatly improve your confidence as a dancer. It’s difficult to find a way forward if you don’t first find out where you are now. A judged performance gives an unique opportunity for that landmarking process.