World Belly Dance Day 2008 Trinidad and Tobago

"All in all the event was beautiful and positive and had a remarkable outcome which we hope to make into an even bigger and better one next year!" -- Mya Alexander

This year was the very first year that World Belly Dance day was recognised in Trinidad & Tobago. When i had frist started organising the event earlier this year, I had very little support which waned very quickly. I had all but given up on it until my long distance dance-support in South Africa renewed my inspiration (thank you Anna). Three and a half weeks before World Belly Dance day I was again starting from scratch but I was able to achieve amazing things in that time.

3 other beautiful and amazing ladies agreed to sponsor their time to dance for the event -

Nneka Matthews, Ghabaie Jobity and Renee Weekes.

Shortly thereafter, I was able to secure a location at one of the premiere entertainment complexes in Trinidad - the Fiesta Plaza at Movie Towne (www.movietowne.com) We are eternally grateful to Natrasha Watson and the management of that establishment for their sponsorship of the location - without them it would have never happened!

Thanks to the support of students and friends Paula Poon and Rena Naipaul the following preparations were made far easier. Many letters for sponsorship were sent via email and post to corporate and individual entities in Trinidad and Tobago with generous donations of $900 TTD being made from Magic Mist Services Ltd. and AVIT Support Ltd., $600 TTD from Republic Bank Ltd and $300 TTD each from individual sponsors Martin Owen and local celebrity - soca star Shurwayne Winchester ( www.shurwaynewinchester.com ) and a promise of donation from local up and coming fashion designer Ecliff Elie ( www.ecliffelie.com ). Through these and many others, we were able to raise $3700 TTD for our charities - Operation Bag Pack and the Rotart Club of San Fernando South - both of which are targeting underprivileged children in our society and seeking to provide more equal education opportunities for them. We thank both of these organisations and their representatives for their support and of course biggest thanks to all of our sponsors.

The night itself was beautiful - the plaza was amazing and more thanks again to Mr. Scott Farfan and DJ Giles of Fiesta Plaza who made sure that our lighting and sound was in order. There were 5 performances over a space of 1.5 hours. 4 solos, each with a different prop / different style and a short explanation about the prop/style so that people would at least start to have an understanding of the dance and where it came from. Ghabaie gave us a great display of assaya, Nneka some lovely Egyptian Cabaret Style, Renee some elegant veil work and i myself did sword. We drew quite a decent crowd for an event that was barely advertised due to time and cost constraints and they were very responsive.

The Trinidad Express covered the event and pictures were printed in their newspaper. We were also photographed and an article written on us for the Express Women's Magazine which was published a week later. As a result we were also featured on the Gayelle, a local television station - an opportunity which again we chose to make about the dance rather than the dancers and the company.

All in all the event was beautiful and positive and had a remarkable outcome which we hope to make into an even bigger and better one next year!

Mya Alexander