PRINCEVILLE — Three days of Middle Eastern-style dance kicks off Friday with the Garden Nile Belly Dancers’ Silence of the Nile showcase at 7 p.m. at Princeville’s Church of the Pacific. This year, the group’s annual production will feature award-winning
PRINCEVILLE — Three days of Middle Eastern-style dance kicks off Friday with the Garden Nile Belly Dancers’ Silence of the Nile showcase at 7 p.m. at Princeville’s Church of the Pacific.
This year, the group’s annual production will feature award-winning German belly dancer Khalida.
“It is very seldom that the Kaua‘i community has the opportunity to experience a performance of a belly dancer of this caliber,” Dixie Prichard of the Garden Nile group said.
Supporting Khalida — who earned the title of Bellydancer of the World in 2007 — will be Gypsy Rose, Sudeeka, Cheryl, Al Farashat, as well as Sweih and Laura from the Hands of Fatima troupe on the Big Island. There will also be a performance by Prichard, Nelleke Pielaaf and Krystal Juarbe, the trio who make up the Garden Nile Belly Dancers.
“The audience will enjoy multiple styles of belly dance, such as American cabaret, tribal belly dance, Egyptian style belly dance, fusion and Spanish-influenced belly dance,” Prichard said. “Veils will swirl, wings will fly and finger cymbals will chime with the beat of the music.”
In addition to her performances during Friday’s showcase, Khalida will lead a series of workshops Saturday and Sunday, along with a semi-private Master Class for serious, experienced dancers.
“It’s her first time in Hawai‘i ever,” said Pielaaf, who met Khalida while performing at events and competitions on the Mainland. “We’re very excited.”
While there are a variety of styles of belly dance, Pielaaf said cabaret is Khalida’s specialty.
“She’s especially known for her elegance,” Pielaaf said. “We are just very proud to have her here.”
Born in Belgium, Khalida is known for her musicality, stage presence and technique, and has quickly become a sought-after performer and teacher in the belly dance community, according to her website. A world traveler, she has been featured at events in Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, the U.K., Israel, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Turkey, Canada and the U.S.
Each year, the Garden Nile Belly Dancers organize a large performance, bringing together both local and off-island belly dancers. Last year’s showcase, The Mirage, featured Kalae from O‘ahu’s Shakti Dance Movement.
“It’s good to have a dance community and do things together,” Pielaaf said. “It makes for a more interesting show.”
Tickets for Friday’s showcase cost $10 in advance, $15 at the door. The Church of the Pacific is located at 5-4280 Kuhio Highway, in Princeville.
Saturday’s workshops with Khalida include Belly Dancers Workout from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Drum Solo Choreography from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. On Sunday she will lead B is for Belly – Abdominals from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and a semi-private Master Class from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
All workshops will be held at A Joy of Movement Studio, 4504 Kukui St., in Kapa‘a.
For additional information, to purchase tickets or to register for workshops, visit the website www.gardennilebellydancers.com/khalida or contact Nelleke Pielaaf at contacts@gardennilebellydancers.com or 651-8238.
