By Maia Owen
Volume 7 of the Harem Bellydance show series will take place on Tuesday, July 28 at the Casbah in downtown Hamilton. The event is being organized by Eshe, an award-winning, Hamilton-born bellydancer who spent the last dozen years living abroad in Japan and South Korea. Her Harem nights were originally organized around her visits to Canada. This past spring, Eshe decided to move back to Hamilton. Harem volume 7 is her first proper hometown show since returning.
“I love that Hamilton has really embraced its local talent,” says Eshe when asked why she’s excited about residing in the city again. “I love the resurgence of interest in our beautiful city. I think it’s a really exciting time to live and offer art here.”
Tuesday night’s performance will feature dancing from Eshe along with sets from Joharah and her Ala Nar troupe (of which Eshe has recently become a member), Shades of Araby, and Ya Amar.
“We’re going to have a showcase of some of the area’s best local bellydancers,” says Eshe. “We have three acclaimed troupes performing. BellyUp Studio’s Ala Nar won first prize in the group category at this year’s Star Bellydancer of Canada Competition. They traditionally do Egyptian – and do it very well. Ya Amar are a new trio of talented performers based in Toronto. They excel in both traditional and fusion styles. Shades of Araby will be performing American Tribal Style, which is a group improvisational danced cued by looks, gestures, and arm placements.”
Eshe has begun teaching a Turkish bellydance class on Monday nights at BellyUp Studio’s Oakville location. And she’s hoping to begin offering classes in Hamilton in the not-too-distant future as well. Now that Eshe is living in Hamilton again, does that mean she’ll be hosting Harem events on a more regular basis?
“Yes, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to offer Harem regularly,” she says. “There’s a lot of talent in Hamilton. I’m very happy to be here. BellyUp is planning to share more classes in Hamilton and I hope we’ll have even more local dancers up on the stage in the future too. I’m yearning to add some live music elements into the shows in the future as well.”
Harem volume 7 takes place on July 28 at the Casbah (306 King Street West). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. For more information, check out the show’s Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/
