I usually write up a thank note of sorts here on my blog after whatever latest event I have organized has taken place and we’ve all started the recovery.
And this is sort of that, but I wanted to explore some of the other aspects of the event organizing business and maybe it should be separate, but we are all busy, so let’s get that stuff out of the way first.
Community verging on family:
That’s what our Ottawa Belly dance Community feels like for me.  We  cannot all be at the family reunions, we sometimes get irritated with each other, once we know each other really well, then we say things without reservation, and most of the time that’s great, and then sometimes it’s like the proverbial family sitcom where the journey is full of ups and downs.
But we all come through it in the end because we support each other. There will always be things that happen at any event both seen by all as well as behind the scenes, and we have to deal with it in the best way we can.
I want to send my first thank you to the folks who took care of a lot of little, and maybe not so little, things that took place without my knowledge. These women, who are my friends and chosen family, know me well enough to see the twitching near my eyeball and save me from the “1 more thing to deal with” that might take me right over the edge.
Anyone who has organized an event knows how many balls are in the air the whole time and you do your best to keep them going where they need to be, but it’s a lot easier to do when you have great friends who are there to step in and grab the balls that are heading for the floor before they shatter. < not a ball joke, A&S Advanced class, I swear!>
Honour system:
How cool is it that the wonderful system I go with for ticket distribution and collection works on an honour system. That sense of community allows me to trust that yes, everyone who has accepted responsibility to sell tickets and return either the tickets or cash on the night of the show, works. It just does. BTW – if you were supposed to pay for tickets and forgot, just send me an email interac payment 🙂
” My little sandbox”:
One comment I got on Facebook overnight was from a dancer I have known for years, but this was the first time her group was able to join us and dance at the OCCP. Being an invite-only party with a limited amount of time and space, I cannot always include everyone I would like to, and sometimes if people are not in my face about wanting to dance, they slip through the cracks.  So I was very pleased to be able to add new groups and Rogue dancers to the show this time around to mix things up and give others a chance to show us how great they are.  And her comment about playing in my sandbox { it was positive} reminded me that yes, I am a dictator < hopefully benevolent> , and yes, as much as it could not happen without a LOT of help, the OCCP is still my baby, my turf, and I am ok with that.
A LOT OF HELP:
Ok- outright thank you time! Thank you all for playing your own special role in making the evening great!
From the door help: Linda, Michelle, Erika, Laura, Gailene, and even Robert for a while; to stage manager: Catharine; to Decor: Michele; to photography: Robert, Yasmin and Ivy; Video < and general life support>: Tom; to food: Anna and Safiya and Melissa; to cleaning up afterwards: Emilie, I could not imagine how things would go without you all doing the things you do!
The teachers who spend months working with their students, the Rogue Dancers, who spend extra time working on their own routines, the performers, who should take so much pride in their accomplishments – from beginners through to pros, you all keep raising the bar for this show and I am so grateful you take advantage of this opportunity to be creative, exploring different inspirations and then sharing it with us.
The Sponsors who donate their gifts to add that little something extra to the event – go support them the rest of the year, ‘kay?
The guests- friends and family of our dancers who come out on a weeknight, staying out past bedtime, who come to support one friend and then share their enjoyment of the entire show and support everyone who dances – you are wonderful!
Thank you all.
AND FINALLY:
If you performed and wanted a DVD but did not get a chance to order one, email info@darnermedia.ca and make arrangements with Tom directly.
Unclaimed Doorprizes:
Ticket Number 25 { you are one of my students, but I don’t know who! }: Scream A Little Dream Dvd and a Gift Certificate from Dunyia Dance Studio for one 4 week Registration.
Ticket Number 97 {You are one of Bahiya’s Students}: 1 set of weighted veils from Zamira of the VeiledEye.com including a 1 hour lesson plus 1 free ticket to the upcoming Summer Sizzle in July!
Please message me to figure out a good day/ time to get your prize to you! email: halyma@bellydancingforfun.com
Share your photos on flickr.com:
Yes RSV Photography has spoken to most of you about the option to eventually put pics up on his pages both his private website to start and then Facebook, but I am a fan of flickr – it’s free, you get lots of space, and you maintain all of your rights for your photos.
So I have set up a semi-private Flickrgroup where if you can PLEASE share any shots you took, and share them with others who attended. When you click through, just request to join and upload your photos.  If you are unsure of how to do that and prefer to send me your shots and I can upload them, giving you credit of course, that’s great too!
UPDATE: The Dvds have been shipped – if you missed your chance that night to order one { And are a performer} message info@darnermedia.ca and make your request before June 20.  Let Tom know which performance you were in!

Some of my lovely friends in dance spent last evening with me at the latest For Love Of Dance charity fundraiser.
Along with the professional dance troupe I work with, Bollywood For Fun, ( yes, Sugandha, you have enlisted in a professional troupe!), I also love playing with my Bellywood students ( last night known as, “Bunnywood for Noms”- you had to be there).

 
 

And with loads of fun backstage happening, we also get to see other dancers performing their styles with flare and energy and fun!
Thank you to the ladies who were able to come out and perform with me, and I know there will be more photos soon – I’ll add a link when they are viewable!
A quick note on unpaid dancing:
I volunteer dance A LOT. I don’t do a lot of other charity work, so if I can dance, contribute my time and energy to making people smile, and have a blast while doing it, I’m ok with that. I choose the events that I dance at, and the whole concept of ” it’ll be great promotion for you” is whooey in my mind. My website is great for promoting me. My previous clients and friends are great for promoting me. My volunteer dance time is great for making me feel good about me. 

This happened to be a Bellywood related performance, but this applies to when we belly dance too!

Saturday, May 31, 2014
6:30 PM to 11:00 PM

Where:
1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa.

Website:
http://www.all4onecharity.com/

 

May 31, 2014
All 4 One Charity presents…”For the Love of Dance”!
Multi-Cultural Dance Show & Fundraiser
Saturday May 31, 2014
Algonquin Commons Theatre (1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa)
Doors Open 6:30 pm – Show Starts 7:00 pm

** Free parking

Join us for an exciting evening of dance entertainment, featuring styles from around the world! Hip hop, Tribal, Spanish, Swing, Bellydance, Salsa and Bollywood are just some of the high-energy performances you will be treated to!

Tickets are $20-$25 (half-price for kids 12 and under), and all proceeds will be donated to the Ottawa Hospital’s Cancer Patient Emergency Needs Fund.

This fund is administered by the Psychosocial Oncology Program at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Center and helps patients with financial issues during their cancer journey.

Tickets can be purchased online at , or in person Monday-Friday (3-7 pm) at the Algonquin Commons Theatre (1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa).