We're Off to the Intensive!

Desert Gypsies will be at the Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive today! We're looking forward to seeing some dancing, then performing at 4:20 PM. We hope to see you there!

Desert Gypsies
Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive 2013

Anticipating the Intensive!

The Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive and Festival is one of the events we look forward to all year long! We enjoy performing, but we also love seeing other dancers of all styles and skill levels, taking workshops, and of course, checking out all the vendors and doing a little shopping. There's something for everyone at the Intensive!

We'll be performing on Thursday, September 4th, at 4:20 PM. We'll be sharing a new choreography that we've only performed once, at Atria Seville. We'll also be dancing to "Yalla Sarah," which is a choreography we don't perform at the Ren Faire in October. So, we hope you can be there Thursday to catch our performances! We'll also be there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to socialize, shop, and learn, so we hope to see you around.

Need more information? Check out the LVBDI Website at www.bellydanceintensive.com to learn more. Lilililililiiiiii!



"Yalla Sarah"
LVBDI 2013

Quinceanera Fun!

We had the privilege of performing at a friend's quinceanera last weekend, and we had a terrific time! It was also a perfect opportunity to explore some new choreography and costuming, and delve a bit deeper into flamenco and gypsy music and dance. We'll be revisiting this costuming, and much of the music and dance, at the Renaissance Faire in October. Until then...!Jale!

Word of the Week: Habibi

Many years ago, I was at a Persian restaurant with a friend, and got to chatting with a man who spoke Arabic. I asked him what habibi meant, as I'd heard it in practically every Arabic song, and thought it'd be good to know. He told me habibi means darling, sweetheart, beloved, etc., so it's no surprise it's an oft-used word!

Sometimes you'll hear the phrase ya habibi. In Arabic, "ya" is used before a name or endearment to clarify that you're speaking directly to someone. A reasonable translation to English would be "My darling."

Recipe: Mediterranean Potato Salad

This Mediterranean take on classic potato salad makes a cool, refreshing side dish for a hot summer's day. I like to serve it on top of a bed of chopped greens and garnish it with chopped tomato to make it a meal. Enjoy!

Mediterranean Potato Salad

Ingredients:

2 pounds potatoes, waxy-type
1 cup Greek yogurt
1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced
1/4 cup onion, minced
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
1 teaspoon whole coriander, crushed
1/8 teaspoon fresh-ground peppercorn mix

Directions:

Boil potatoes until just soft. Drain and cool. Chop into 1/2" cubes.

Place potatoes, yogurt, celery, onion, dill weed, coriander, and peppercorn mix in medium bowl, and gently stir to combine.

Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive!

The Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive (LVBDI) is an international celebration of belly dance, offering classes from renowned instructors, professional shows, amazing vendors -- and the Desert Gypsies! LVBDI opens its stage to the public during the day, so you can enjoy every imaginable style of belly dance, offered by every caliber of dancer.

The open stage is free to the public, and we invite you to visit the stage on Thursday, September 4, at 4:20 PM, to see Desert Gypsies perform. (We encourage you to arrive early and stay late, so you can enjoy other shows, too!) Want more information? Check out LVBDI's Website at www.bellydanceintensive.com for directions, details, and much more!

Now, for a quick Thursday Throwback...Here we are at the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive 2013!

Thursday Throwback: Atria Sutton

We're going way back in time today, to a Christmas performance at Atria Sutton, back in December 2009. This was about a year before the founding of Desert Gypsies: You can see two of my future troupe members in the background in street clothes, watching the show. Enjoy!