pseudoskirt
What is is...
the quick 'n dirty version...
PseudoSkirt is a free to register open invitation to dancers all over Australia. Basically, learn a dance online as part of a choreography challenge, rehearse with the entire group once, and perform at an event or festival where Ma'isah is a guest instructor and performer. Its kind of a community based troupe of dancers ready for a challenge and a little madness!
The 2010 Project "PseudoSkirt V.3 - the Pirate Project",
opens for registration January 31st 2010.
In 2010 there are FOUR PseudoSkirt project groups, one in at WAMED WA, one in the Tribal and Trace festival in NSW, as well as one for the 'Descend to Ascend Concert' in Melbourne VIC with special guest artist Sashi from the USA and then one at the Raks in Rockhampton festival in QLD. All the latest info is here, so bookmark this page and/or watch the Maisah fanpage on Facebook for all the latest info and updates.
Each group will be learning the same choreography, created using the Raqs Gothique Elysium format for gothic fusion dance, and costuming etc will also be the same direction. So to help each group learn and grow from each other, and support each other, all PseudoSkirt dancers will share a private invitation-only facebook group to talk about dance, costumes, make up, trade advice and encouragement and so on.
Because there will be larger crews to manage this year, each state will have a person that will be the on-location coordinator to liaise with me and make sure everyone in that area connects, gets together to rehearse and make costumes and so on In Victoria it will be me, with an assistant (who doesn't know it yet but is about to get bribed).
Registration this year is also absolutely vital as each group will be committing to a slightly different approach. read on for more important info for your state...
PERTH
The WAMED Festial is hosting Maisah for two Elysium workshops and PseudoSkirt is being hosted by the Free Spirit Dance for lots of dark dance goodness.
Dancers attending the WAMED Festival in Perth, WA will be coordinating with the ever delightful Princess Fee. A limit of 20 dancers or less will be observed this year and we as a strict cut off date.
Dancers that miss this cut off date can still apply for a place for up to 3 weeks after registration closes, but a place will only be available if another dancer drops out in this time.
After March 14th, no late inclusions will be available.
There will be a free special massive private performance rehearsal, details will be available closer to the event; this is compulsory for all WA participants.
DVD support will be available to you as soon as the WA registration closes.
MELBOURNE
Dancers for the Victorian group are required to attend Term 2 Elysium Priestess with Maisah, with a strong recommendation to also attend Term 1 starting Feb1st.
For rural Victorian dancers, the Elysium Temple Series in Geelong will be teaching this choreography and the relevant Elysium Technique for the months of March, April, May and June, with the option of DVD support.
Raqs Gothique and Goddess Belly Dance will be running one or two 'Pirate" Workshops in Melbourne during these months as well, and a FREE Elysium workshop at the concert for anyone attending the market and show.
A free private rehearsal for the entire PseudoSkirt group on the concert date will be provided for all PseudoSkirt dancers; this is compulsory for all VIC participants.
All VIC participants must register to be included in the performance and to receive access to the facebook group as well as any relevant DVD support.
SYDNEY
For dancers joining us in NSW, your liaison person will be announced soon, we are still collating the details for your project.
The Tribal and Trance festival is running a PseudoSkirt workshop that will be teaching this choreography and the relevant Elysium Technique, you are encouraged to attend, also this workshop will be available to everyone attending the festival, but only registered members of PseudoSkirt will join Maisah on stage.
We will also have one free private rehearsal prior to taking the stage together; this is compulsory for all NSW participants.
DVD support will be available to you as soon as the NSW registration closes.
ROCKHAMPTON
For dancers joining us in QLD, your liaison person will be announced soon, we are still collating the details for your project.
The Raks in Rockhampton festival is running two Elysium workshops as well as a PseudoSkirt project so there will be lots of Raqs Gothique goodness.
We will also have one private rehearsal prior to taking the stage together; this is compulsory for all QLD participants.
DVD support will be available to you as soon as the QLD registration closes.
For all...
Registration will secure your place in the group of your choice.
You may be short listed for three weeks [only] after the cut off date, in case anyone drops out.
You may participate in more than one group if you wish.
By registering for PseudoSkirt you agree to come together with an open mind and heart, welcome everyone as equals and participate in creating something fun and unique.
A facebook profile is strongly suggested as you will be invited to a private facebook group for PseudoSkirt 2010, sharing choreography, tips, costume ideas, make up tips and coordinating sewing bees and so much more. This is by far the easiest way to communicate with everyone participating in this unique project, and there will be unique content only released on the private facebook group.
Another final condition of registering for PseudoSkirt is agreeing to keep the choreography, all dvds, music, costumes and above all private contact info about each other confidential. Please don't leak info about our project and spoil the surprise - let 'em see all your hard work and enjoy what we create together!
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Please read the directions carefully, all info is required before registration can be confirmed.
For registration for the PERTH PseudoSkirt group at WAMED festival June 4-8, email 'Aye, I be comin' aboard in WA'
and include your name, dancers name, contact email, mb number and facebook profile name
to raqsgothique@gmail.com.
Registration for this group closes at midnight on Feb 28th 2010.
Performance will be at the WAMED festival June 4-8 in Perth WA.
For registration for the MELBOURNE PseudoSkirt group at the Descend to Ascend Concert July 9, email 'Aye, I be comin' aboard in VIC'
and include your name, dancers name, contact email, mb number and facebook profile name
to raqsgothique@gmail.com.
Registration for this group closes at midnight on March 31st 2010.
Performance will be at the Descend to Ascend Concert July 9 in Melbourne VIC.
For registration for the SYDNEY PseudoSkirt group at the Tribal and Trance festival September 10-12, email 'Aye, I be comin' aboard in NSW'
and include your name, dancers name, contact email, mb number and facebook profile name
to raqsgothique@gmail.com.
Registration for this group closes at midnight on May 31st 2010.
Performance will be at the Tribal and Trance festival September 10-12 in Sydney NSW.
For registration for the ROCKHAMPTON PseudoSkirt group at the Raks in Rockhampton festival September 24-26, email 'Aye, I be comin' aboard in QLD'
and include your name, dancers name, contact email, mb number and facebook profile name
to raqsgothique@gmail.com.
Registration for this group closes at midnight on May 31st 2010.
Performance will be at the Raks in Rockhampton festival September 24-26 in Rockhampton QLD.
This exciting project is available for your concert or festival, for full info on how you can host a PseudoSkirt project email Maisah via the contacts page.
About past PseudoSkirt projects...
PseudoSkirt was a HUGE success at the WAMED 2009 festival with the gothic/steam-punk choreography "Contraption". Congratulations to everyone involved, it was the most fun you can have with your frilly loons on!
As we are *still* collating various images and film from the festival for your viewing pleasure, allow me to take this time to acknowledge and thank with all my heart, Princess Fee and Richelle Spencer, aka Ground Control and Major Tom, for being the ground force team in Perth for me that really bought this project alive for two years in a row now. Without you, I couldn't have done it!
And of course to every dancer involved in PseudoSkirt V.2, your hard work and dedication made for a brilliant performance - hats (goggles?) off to you all!
Missed it? Have no fear - plans for PseudoSkirt 2010 are in the works - and registration will oepn soon for both the WA and VIC PseudoSkirt projects.
pseudoskirt testimonials
Dearest Maisah,
PseudoSkirt is without a doubt a fantastic project and I would recommend that anyone give it a go be it at a beginner or at a professional level. Being part of PseudoSkirt V2 was certainly not only an enlightening process to be part of but it was also fun and enriching….INDEED. The spirit and the community feeling amongst the dancers brought together by the various stitching bees, rehearsals, shopping trips and phone calls brought an opportunity for me to meet and dance with dancers of various backgrounds and experience; to try a new genre of belly dance and to meet a fellow teacher in the art form I love very much.
Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this project and I commend you on your commitment to your art and your dedication to developing the gothic/fusion genre. ~ Leyla (Perth, WA)
Leyla www: leyla.com
Through her Moorish ancestry, Leyla has had a lifelong calling to the rhythms and mysticism of Belly Dance, as well as, for the Middle Eastern culture. Leyla is dedicated to respecting the dance, is refined in her presentation, and passionate in her movements. Through this love and passion for the dance, she becomes as one with the music, transporting herself and the audience to the enchanting world of the Middle East.
the story so far...
I'm Ma'isah from Raqs Gothique in Melbourne and I've been a gothic fusion belly dancer for the past 10 years. As one of the earliest dancing (and still dancing) in this style, and is a style I continue to explore and create, perform and teach, I am sometimes called a pioneer. But that title means nothing of you can't share your knowledge and experience. In this, it is my joy to be fuison dance teacher and a invited performer and workshop presenter at belly dance festivals all over Australia.
In 2008 I was invited to WAMED (The Western Australian Middle Eastern Dance Festival) and the invitation to bring my then troupe "SerpentSkirt" was extended. As I was unable to bring the entire troupe with me across the country I asked Perth dancers to create one with me, thus "PseudoSkirt" was born as a fun way to meet new dancers at WAMED and try something different. I thought maybe I'd get 3, 4
or even as many as 6 dancers. Well...there were 13 [!!!] last year on stage at WAMED after accepting the challenge to learn an entire choreography online. The choreography was called "Diabolique" and I'm proud to say the PseudoSkirt alumni from 2008 have kept it alive by performing it since the main event in Perth and in the ACT.
about the WAMED festival
The WAMED Festival, founded by Keti Sharif, is Western Australia's Annual Middle Eastern Dance Festival
featuring international, interstate and local instructors presenting workshops in a wide variety of middle eastern, tribal, and new and emerging dance styles. With a variety of events to cater for all levels of performers and the biggest bellydance marketplace in WA,
there is something to entice most dancers.
a call to pseudoskirt alumni
If you have been a part of either PseudoSkirt V.1 in 2008 or PseudoSkirt V.2 in 2009 and you have since the main event performed the choreography at another event as a solo, duet or any type of group, I would love to host your youtube video or photos here. If you have images or links to youtube you can share, please visit the "contacs" page for submission guidelines.
PseudoSkirt choreographies are free and open source *after* the main event, all I ask is that any time you perform, put images or video on the net or make a DVD of the performance the choreography be credited to Ma'isah and Raqs Gothique and the link to this site: www.raqsgothique.com be displayed. The choreographies now open are: "Diabolique: PseudoSkirt 2008" and "Contraption: PseudoSkirt 2009". Both are available as workshops by Ma'isah.
so...what about PseudoSkirt 2008?
Last years group was the first and it was a riot! Thank you to all of the wonderful dancers who were a part of it for 2008,
many returned for PseudoSkirt V.2 in '09, and it was a huge success...ladies.
To see the maddess that was PseudoSkirt V.1, the very first project, check out these vids!
We all got together and had one huge 4 hour (semi) dress rehearsal before the performance, here is the video of the result of
that mammoth rehearsal session. (and check out the end - I did a little make up tutorial as well!)
complete with music malfunction! LOL - well it is live theatre darlink! ((quick thank you to Mel Rogers from Underbelly for permission to incorporate her "Jellyfish" move from her Red belly Black tribal format))
The choreography is called "Diabolique" by Ma'isah and the song is "Her Evil Eye" by Maduro.
The Bonus Feature.
As it was the final day of the WAMED festival, and after the success of PseudoSkirt and all the wonderful workshops I had the pleasure to teach
(and because it doesn't take much to twist my arm), I did a little impromptu improv solo to say thanks for having me!
Can I have this for my event?
Sure! If this sounds like you would love to add this to your festival or event, and remember it comes with yours truly, email me for info, or download in "Invitation to PseudoSkirt" from the Bookings page.
Let me know!
Ma'isah