Hathor Dance Studio

WHAT’S THE GOSS, GIRL? … PART 2

Well, I did say there was a little dance news coming your way… so here are the first two little bits of goss.

FIRST UP….WE’RE PERFORMING!
This Sunday, 30th August, I’ll be hitting the floor with my Hathor Hills girls at Bellydance Karaoke at Kiss My Brass, Marrickville. We’ll be doing a fun Shabbi piece.

Doors open from 2pm, performances from 2:30pm, FREE entry and an open dance floor to wrap things up. Come along, cheer on the dancers and have a boogie with us.

AND… I’VE BEEN TALKING!
I’m also rather chuffed to be featured on Iana’s Belly Dance Life Podcast Iana 🧿🪬 , Episode 389, chatting about a subject very close to my heart:

“How to Dance With Musicians Instead of Just Dancing to Music.”

But the conversation goes much deeper than that.

We talk about dance, live music, longevity, and dancing through grief, and yes, I get a little teary at one point. It’s a completely open and honest conversation and, if you know me, you’ll know I’m not particularly good at sugar-coating anything.

There are some laughs, some emotion and plenty of thoughts from an artist who has spent a very long time navigating this crazy dance life.

And anyone who knows me also knows I can waffle on about live music for HOURS…

So there you have it. Not exactly scandalous gossip, but plenty happening in my little dance corner of the world.

And apparently… there’s still more to come in Sept…Stay tuned!

WHAT’S THE GOSS, GIRL?

Well… after taking a little quiet time away from the dance hustle to focus on family, I’m slowly stepping back into my dance world.

And apparently, there’s a little bit to talk about…
Performances are coming up, teaching is kicking back into gear, workshops are on the horizon and there are a few things bubbling away behind the scenes.

It’s actually been rather nice to step away for a moment, breathe, be with my people and let dance sit quietly in the background.

But now she’s tapping me on the shoulder again…
So no actual gossip here, just a little dance news coming your way.

Stay tuned… there’s more to share. 👀
📷 Tristan Baker

The last few days have been a reminder of what truly matters.

Saying goodbye to someone who left such a significant mark on Australia’s arts and cultural landscape has been both heartbreaking and humbling. Beyond the public legacy, the accolades and the admiration, was someone deeply loved by those closest to him.

What this week has taught me is that while our work can leave an extraordinary mark on the world, it is the people who love us who carry us through life’s most difficult moments. The family we’re born into, the family we build, and the friends who become family are the ones who advocate for us, sit beside us, lift us when we can no longer stand, and hold our hand when it’s time to say goodbye.

In the midst of the chaos this week, two cockatoos came to visit us. Whether coincidence or something more, it felt like a beautiful little sign from above, a quiet reminder to pause, breathe, and find comfort in the moments that can’t always be explained.

Public legacies live on through the work we leave behind. But the legacy we leave with the people who love us is measured in something far more personal, in kindness, generosity, shared memories, and the way we made them feel.

Hold your people close. In the end, love is the legacy that remains.

Sweet TBT….One last cake for one very special chapter.

This was my little sweet thank you for the final celebration at Amera’s Palace, Australia’s iconic bellydance mecca, where dancers from around the world gathered for decades to dance, share, shop, laugh, create memories… and of course enjoy a little cake.

Some places deserve to be celebrated properly.

And if you can’t celebrate with cake… what are you going to celebrate with?

When neither your face nor your limbs got the “Kodak moment” memo.

I’d make a terrible poker player. Every emotion ends up on my face… but that’s exactly what makes a performer. Dance isn’t just in the body, it’s in the eyes, the expression, and the story you’re telling. Even if the camera catches the weird bits in between!
Thanks to my very keen photographer husband for capturing each moment, lol!

A huge shout out to these wonderful dancers who embraced the challenge of performing a Baladi Jam with the Sydney Arabic Music Ensemble as part of my Big Egyptian Day Out and Café Riche Recital.

At each intensive, I offer an optional performance opportunity. Rather than teaching choreography, I guide dancers through a collaborative creative process where movement is generated by them. My role is to shape, stage and direct those ideas into a cohesive performance. The process can be a little chaotic, but it’s fun chaos. There is process in the madness!

As this was only a one-day intensive, our focus was on musicality, improvisation and truly feeling the music. This Baladi Jam came together in just the final hour of the day.

Virginia and I provided a small skeleton of movement vocabulary for the dancers to draw upon. The rest was entirely theirs, their choices, their responses to the music, and their trust in themselves and each other.

I’d love to have more time to develop this kind of work with both musicians and dancers. This was only a taste, but what a delicious one. Inshallah, our next intensive we will explore more.

More importantly, it showed that performing to live Arabic music isn’t just for professional gigging dancers. It can be a space to experiment, collaborate, take creative risks, and discover your own artistic voice in a supportive environment.

Nothing fills my heart more than creating opportunities where dancers feel free to explore, connect deeply with the music, and enjoy the process.

Thank you for trusting me, Virginia, each other, and above all, the music.
Café Riche Recital - On Demand Replay still available! Link in bio.

One week ago already…

What an unforgettable day celebrating the beauty of live Arabic music, dance and culture, followed by an emotional farewell to one of the most iconic dance spaces in Australia.
For decades, Amera’s Palace has been a cornerstone of the Australian bellydance community, inspiring generations of dancers, musicians and audiences. It was an honour to celebrate its incredible legacy through The Big Egyptian Day Out and the final Café Riche Recital.

A day filled with learning, connection, tarab and memories that will stay with us for years to come.