Date: February 9th 2009

Greetings everyone!

Things are really hopping here at Gothfia headquarters, as we prepare for Gothla US next month! We've been very busy, so please read the following carefully!

- The Performer list has been updated again! http://gothla.com/perform.html

- You can advertise in the Festival Program - pricing is super affordable, and the deadline is Feb. 21st! Details at http://gothla.com/program.html

- Help spread the word! We have some great banners up on the website you can add to your own to help spread the word! http://gothla.com/banners.html

- The vendor list has been updated! We have just ONE space left (a wall) - to check out the awesome goodies coming your way, or to duke it out for that last spot, visit http://gothla.com/vend.html

- Have you ordered your Gothla Merch? Many of you have asked if our Steampunk Kali will be on a t-shirt or tee, and the answer is YES!!! But to assure that you get yours, we HIGHLY recommend that you pre-order the style and size you want NOW! The buttons will come down in LESS than two weeks, so get busy, get buying! Go HERE: http://gothla.com/merch.html

-In the last newsletter, we featured our Friday events. Now it's time for Saturday's amazing goodness. How good is Saturday? It's totally made of WIN! Not only do we have our daytime festival featuring well over 50 dancers, but we'll kick the day off with L.A.'s premiere Steampunk band - The Unextraordinary Gentlemen in the morning, and the amazing Jill Tracy will grace our stage in the afternoon. Saturday is your day for shopping as well - as this is the ONLY day that you will be able to experience our amazing market of dark and delightful creations.

But wait, there's more! Saturday features 3 workshops! Taught by Sashi, Asharah, and Tempest!

First, start your morning getting thoroughly woken up by Sashi, from 10am-12pm with "Body: Skins & Bones": The Skeleton of the Ascend Gothic Tribal Format - In this workshop you will learn the fundamentals of Gothic Tribal Fusion Bellydance as well as a complete and thorough introduction to Sashi's signature technique: The Ascend Gothic Tribal Format. You will learn proper posture and technique as well as the movements that set the Ascend Format dancer apart from the crowd. Proper posture includes positioning of the pelvis, utilization of the transverse abdominis and solar plexus, lifting of the shoulders and chest and placement of arms and hands. Techniques we will review include posture as is related to execution of moves specific to Ascend Gothic Tribal Format. Once these aspects are established we will learn how to combine the AGTF movements to create captivating combinations of your very own. Knowledge of basic Tribal Fusion and Gothic Bellydance is helpful. All levels a
re welcome. Bring a yoga mat and water.

Then you have an hour to recover before your next beating---err workshop, with Asharah! From 1-3pm, experience "Danse Mécanique" - Integrating Elegant and Technical Movement for Tribal Fusion Bellydance - Experience Level: Intermediate beginner and above. This workshop will help you refine your technique and add elegance to your bellydance movement. While sharp pops and locks are an essential part of the tribal dancer's repertoire, grace and polish are equally, if not more, important for conveying expression and feeling from the stage to the audience. Asharah will lead students through an intense warm-up that will prepare the body for fluid arm-work, well-defined isolations, and dramatic extension. We will drill smooth bellydance movements (such as arm waves, interior hip circles, and undulations) and hard contraction movements (such as chest locks and hip work in various directions), and Asharah will teach a short combination using these moves in a choreography, emphasizing
flow and musical interpretation.

Then last, but not least, a dramatic and powerful intensive with the "GothMutha" - Tempest from 4-6pm! While the two earlier workshops will focus on working you from the inside-out, "Dancing On The Right Side of the Brain" will work you from the outside-IN. Gothic Bellydance isn't just about unusual movements and dark costuming - it's about EFFECTIVELY telling a story and making it COHESIVE. Think you've got your body together? How powerful is your presence, how strong is your story? Far too many dancers fall short of bringing their story to life on stage. Artists, writers, and other creative folk are said to be "right-brained" -they think in pictures, images, and random patterns. Engineers, accountants, and other numerical/factoid people are said to be "left-brained"-meaning they think more mathematically, linearly, orderly. There's benefits to both sides, but most people find it hard to step out of the box and really think and act creatively. What this means for us in
dance terms is learning to not only present a technically strong presentation, but also something that is truely a work of art that comes from the soul. To present a dance that is distinctly YOU. Learn to unleash your creative side and truly be "in the moment" with your dancing. In this unusual workshop, we're going to do combined mental and physical exercises that will challenge your boundaries, push your definition of dance, and take it to the next level.

To sign up for these workshops and our Friday/Sunday workshops, head quickly to http://gothla.com/workshops.html - space is running out!!!

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! Then we have the GALA SHOW! Which will feature our Gothla US instructors PLUS JILL TRACY and more special guests!!!! Get your tickets for the show at http://gothla.com/darknights.html

Whew! Ok, that's it, really! Until the next newsletter, where we tackle Sunday's greatness!

Until then, keep smiling with evil thoughts :)

Cheers,
The Gothfia