Oasis Home: Updated: APRIL 16, 2026

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*(3/11)  FINALLY TURNING THE CORNER AFTER MY WINTRY ILLS, HERE'S HOPING TO A BETTER REST OF 2026...

Have ya ever had a nagging cough that lingered with ya for well over a month? And, having to work through it in the daytime while coming home and suffering through endless medication OTC to make it through the nights? It was SO bad, I had to ''avoid'' attending a lot of good events that took place over the past few weeks, including the WAEL MANSOUR extravaganza this past weekend in NoVA.

As you can imagine, barely comfy at home after long days at work with a ''lingerer'' made trying to get on here a walking (and sitting) hassle, and kept my major focus on my Bellydance Nation FB group as well as the SOVABA (Southside Va BD Alliance).

Fortunately, I did get a chance to catch the lovely MARTA KORZUN's weekend wild ride with Rachel Kay Brookmire and Sahara Dance, held at the spacious and alluring Bacchus of Lebanon (Bethesda) on 3/1st. The gala that lasted into the twilights of the evening featured many of Sahara featured facuty members and those newbies who also took classes with Marta during the weekend gatherings.

With all of the snow now out of the way and warmer temps arriving as Spring will (sans a couple of days of questionable weather early next week), I am just days away from not only a major springtime vacation (for 2 weeks at that), but my 1st ''real'' attempt to see some real bellydance action, starting with the NY Bellydance Festival in midtown Manhattan (3/20-23), followed with the annual getaway for me to the OC (Ocean City, MD) for Art of the Belly's sweet 16 weekend at the Carousel Hotel & Condominiums. In my 35th anniversary year of celebrating local area bellydance, I've never done back-to-back bellydance festivals in consecutive weekends before.

NewsFlash: Due to unfortunate cirumstances, DIVA DARINA (UKR/BRZ) was forced to back out of the NYBDF, but will offer classes via online set-up the same weekend. It was also announced on their IG page that Badra will come to NYC to teach and perform in her place.

In switcheroo news, ASHLEY LOPEZ had to bow out of AOTB herself, and Patty and Naimah went west coast to bring in KAMI LIDDLE who was nice enough to fill in and offer her own tribal fusion taste of awesome, and looking forward to trying to pull both off and have an extra feather in my 2026 cap. :)

Feel free to click HERE for pics that I took at the Korzun gala and enjoy those who participated. I hope to be more active on here later this week as I get closer to my vacay and have a lot more free time on my hands...

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*(4/16) YEP, I ACTUALLY DID GO ON THAT VACATION LAST MONTH :)~~

While scheduling may be of issue for 2027, this year's 2x header of festivalness was a treat for both mind and spirit at a time when I could have really used it, with a dash of newfound allergy do deal with notwithstanding.

The 1st weekend of my vacay was spent in downtown Manhattan (NYC) enjoying my 1st ever presence of teh MY Bellydance Festival, a work of Samantha Diaz (Orlando BD Convention fame), bringing together the brightest of the Big Apple and Tri-State area for 3 nights of glorious performances, led by Lebanese Simon (TX), Sadie (CO), Samantha herself and Badra (Egypt), who filled in for Diva Darina (UKR), who had to last-minute bow out due to personal reasons out of her control.

From Friday's opener show at the Beechman Theatre to the main events and after party at EPA Dance Studio (one with PLENTY of room) The localites, led by Kelvia (CT) and her MEDA girls  and Layla Isis (NYC-whom I got to meet for the 1st time ever) took over showcasing the best of what the region has to offer, and did so with an A+ flair.

For more info from my excursion, go to:

*NY BELLYDANCE FESTIVAL YouTube Playlist

*FB FRI Nite Show Phots & Video

*FB SAT Nite Empire Raqs Gala Photos & Video

*FB SUN Nite Golden Apple Gala Photois & Video

After unwinding and uploading for the next few days, it was my always annual honor to  prepare to enjoy the wacky assed weather that was Ocean City, MD and the Art of the Belly Festival inside the Carousel hotel & condominims alongside the Atlantic Ocean, which did its very best to serenade all that Mother Nature had to offer, from the outdoors that is, lol.

From 1st call to ''Piratude'' closing up on Sunday afternoon, there was a magical sense of performing brilliance, in the air as well as on-stage, as there was a sense of pride and honor that took place inside the tent surface, aka the ''NaimahDome'', herself and troupe Amandari raq-ing out da house and then some with new members performing in 2026 during their Saturday turn.

Outstanding representations abound on the instructional side, including AArielle (Egypt),  Drake von Trapp (TX-wonderful rendition tribute to John Compton and da days of Hah'bi Ru), Elizabrth Khard (NYC), Rin Ajna (MD), Khadijah (CO) and many more. Local instructors also shined, including April Monique (MD), Leilah Moon (DC) and Miasia (DC).

As of this posting, the uploads are still trickling on YouTube, with many more in the Facebook AOTB group, and did the justice of getting TONS of pics during the 3-day getaway that has garnered humbling praise...

For more, check out...

• My 2026 AOTB YouTube Playlist

• FB AOTB FRI Nite Photos

• FB AOTB SAT Nite Photos

• FB AOTB SUN Afternoon Photos

This was the 1st time I've ever taken a 2-week vacation in the Spring, also the 1st time in ironically my 35th anniversary year have attended back-to-back bellydance festivals, and it was a wonderful experience. The art form is in a solidified, yet professionally fragile position depending on ya region(s) of choice, but this scenario showed that the art form is thriving for those willing to travel to see top talents, if/when you can provide them. This bodes well for putting together AOTB 2027, which intensives announced to be headlined by local love Ebony (DC/CA) and Aziza (CAN).

Thanks to one and all who helped to make it as pleasant as it went...

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*(4/16)  WELCOME TO MY (NEW) WORLD...

This has been (maybe) the 1st month where my allergic and nasty coughs has come more under control, mostly through OTC meds. During my vacay, I got both the updated COVID booster shot and added a pneumonia one as well, just for good measure,  as I'm now adhereing to my body and needing to focus on keeping a mask nearby me at all times if flare-ups kick in. Other than that, with warmer temps, I'm going to be (somewhat) in the clear to attend more outdoor events going forward....that is....

...if my job lets me. You really can't make this up as I'm now transferred to Wheaton, MD at the grocery chain I work for (away from Georgetown), and looking in to settling in to a more routine AM schedule going forth, hopefully starting next week. I've had to put a few shows on hold until said new schedule comes out as of tomorrow afternoon, but my new times kinda screws me over from doing like a Vera brunch hafla unless I actually take off on a weekender to do so (for now). Of cojurse, having a job with hangups goes much farther than not having one at all, especially in this topsy-turvy economic roller coaster being riden. But as for now, I can at least put the aches of the past winter season in the rear view mirror and use what happened as a tutorial of how to prep for the next one....we'll see...

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