Exotic Dance Festival "Magic Carpet"

A thoroughly lovely event took place on 12 July at the Madona Culture House. Dance studio Mantigra, in cooperation with Madona City Council, organised the 1st Exotic Dance Festival.

The programme was wide-ranging, as a great variety of southern and eastern dances was presented on stage. Dance studios from across Latvia took part: "Mantigra" (Madona, Lubāna), "Malika" (Daugavpils, Krāslava), "Inda" (Jēkabpils), "Alegria" (Riga), "Horeo" (Riga, Gulbene, Balvi, Smiltene), "Dana" (Madona), "Oriental ladies" (Jelgava), "Alfi Leila va Leila" (Madona), "Haidar" (Valmiera), "Raida" (Riga), and others.

The hot-blooded Andalusian and Gypsy dances, which perhaps were not represented in the classical sense, but rather as a fusion of rhythms from Spanish flamenco, gypsy dance, and belly dance elements.

The Horeo studio's dancers, with their talented director Lienīte Lapsa at their head, revealed to audiences a wide variety of dances, from the rhythms of Andalusian dances to the sinuous belly dances. About the studio and the positive effects of belly dance on women's health: http://www.bellydance.lv/ra/?rid=30&mid=86&o=1&id=9

A wide range of belly dances, accompanied by both Egyptian and Arabic musical rhythms.

A distinctive variant of belly dance that originated in America - tribal dance. The dancers dressed in black in a gothic style, resembling creatures emerging from the depths of the earth and swamps. Lithe as snakes, they wound to peculiar music. Excellent dance technique, but not a gram of emotion. The world's most well-known performer of this style is Rachel Brice.

Indian dances, little known to Latvian audiences but attracting interest and attention. The Alegria studio's dancers introduced the audience to them. More about the classes and the philosophy of the dance itself can be read at: http://www.alegria.lv/indiesu.php

Thanks to the organiser for the lovely Saturday and the opportunity to watch the exotic dances! The splendour and variety of dances amazed and delighted. The event hosts were also not lost for words. During the brief pauses between dances, a children's drawing competition was organised, as well as competitions for adults such as "Carrying Fatima", "Seducing the Sheikh Through Dance", and others. Of the activities, I personally enjoyed "Carrying Fatima" - as I ended up in the role of Fatima, who was rolled up on stage from head to toe in a colourful blanket, and then the sheikh dashed with me over his shoulder around the hall. There was also a small gift from the sponsors specifically for Fatima, as she naturally had to put in the most effort in the competition. :)

The event seemed a little too long, from 13:00 to nearly 19:00, because however lovely the performances succeeded one another, the rows of audience members began to thin noticeably around 17:00. For the final dancers from Valmiera, after the long wait, a certain tiredness was already visible, and there was also no great satisfaction in dancing for only the one remaining row of the audience.