Hi there:)
I'm just copying from the review I did for OrientalDancer.net

Hi all.. and here goes my very personal review of the 4rth (omg 4rth already) NileGroup Festival that took place at Cairo, from 16 to 22 April 2007.

I admit I'm addicted but I have reasons for it.
Its like a bellydance paradise and you are in a storm of dance and music all the week to the point you cant get more of it !!

We arrived at Cairo Monday afternoon and straight to registration.
The "we" goes to the other greeks we were together for first time more than 2. Sultana from Thessaloniki (yep Sultana IS her real name), Anastasios also from Thessaloniki, Natali from Athens, and me.
Already at Cairo was our Chryssanthi, and Natassa and her mother Martha (from Athens).
So already a big company of crazy greeks lol, and here we have to add Andreya of Cairo that lives there and her mother is greek, and Virginia (another addict of NileGroup) Greek-Egyptian Australian, and Kiki, Greek Australian living at Japan (omg we were an insane group lol).

So opening Gala Monday night.

Tito and his group from Sharm el Seih were there for the first show and WOW !!!
Liza Laziza with her band, amazing amazing amazing.
And for the end Lucy with a 30 musicians band !!!
Lucy is connected with Lisa Faker song and it was a gift for all of us to see her perform it.
Back to bed at 3 am !!!

Thusday 17 April.
My first workshop that turned to one of the best even if the title of it seems wierd.
Keti Sharif and Astrobelly. Few things about astrology but great combinations with airy, down to earth, fluid esoteric, and external feeling and movements.
Free night for all of us, so we went to Khan Halili to search for costume treasurs, coffee at El Fishai and dinner at Zamalek. A great night.

Wednesday 18 April
I must be nuts, 9 hour workshops today.
Starting with Freiz, Sha'abi style, a full class, always at Freiz's style, elegant and playfull.
After with miss Farida Fahmy, amazing workshop.
And my beloved Khaled Mahmoud giving us a drumsolo followed with Khalegee !! (my bonessssssssssssssss)

On night we had the first show, from students.
Around 30 students danced with cd or live band.
Between them 3 greeks, Sultana who did greek tsifteteli, Natasha Habibi ya Aini, and Anastasios was amazing with classic oriental. (all teachers was asking who he is etc).

Thursday 19 April
My day starts with Aida Riad and bambuti - spoon dance.
For me was exploring this subject.
well its not for me lol

On night we had the gelebia party. Busses came to take us, we went into a small oasis, under tents and had a great fun party. Dance dance dance

Friday 20 April.
Zeina gave us a fantastic drum solo workshop, great compinations, new ideas compined with old stuff.
This night was the competition and live band performances.
The level of the competition was very high and was delightfull for all of us to watch. My student Natali took place to it, and I'm very happy with how she did. First came the group Samses from Russia, second Lisa from Russia, and third (kill meeeeeee dont remember the name) a girl from Tzechoslovakia that was 3rd also at November festival.
3 greeks performed with the live band.
Chryssanthi with a classical piece, Andreya with adaweya amazed teachers and students (the days after students were asking her for privite lessons etc) and me lol with Esmaooni that loved dancing it with a live band that for someone western is so difficult to find. (also wend to make my hair and was in shock with the methods, lol, and costed only 3 euro and was fantastic job)

Saturday 21 April
Again crazy me 9 hour workshops
Dandash for the morning.
Unique experience, and I mean experience.
And very personal also between me, Andreya and Dandash (but will be kept personal).
Dawlat after gave a workshop that was challenging.
Liza Laziza gave us her fantastic teqnick first part, for oriental dance and we continued with Khalegee dance teqnics and we all danced together and she for us.

Free night for all of us, and we had arranged already (thanks Andreya) to go to Nile Maxim to watch Asmahan. Funny coincidence the girls that was at the competition was invited also from Nile group festival so we still were together all greeks.
Ashmahan was a fireeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Her Argentinian blood mixed with arab music, wow.
Leaving Nile Maxim, we went into a feluka for 1 hour cruise in the Nile, with music, tabla and dance dance dance.

Sunday 22 April.
Workshop with Aida Nour her style, and teqnics.
The class packed as always, and she gave us 2 choreo's.
First one from old time style, little fantasy and second Marouak, that is anyway one of my beloved songs.
After that sitting at the lobby, for coffee, chating with friends, having a coffee with Ahmed Fekry and discussing oriental dance, and lunch with professor Hassan Halil and Nurigua, speaking for dance and it's roots.

heyyyyyyy got to be prepared for the Closing Gala.
Nena started first, egyptian egyptian face, body and movements.
Fatima after with her more elegant style.
Hanady was a sex bomb on motion (amazing costumes also).
And after we were in shock.
Saifa, old star of Egypt the equal for Mona el Said at the late 80's came on stage and danced with the shortest dress and.... no underwear !!!
After the shock we all danced till fall down!!!

And another festival is finished.
For me it was great to meeting friends all over the world speaking about dance, about life, and enjoying the dance we all love.
The organizing part from Freiz, Aida Nour and Mohamed Abouspika was great and fluid as always.

The results of my empty pockets lol
20 cd's from workshops and Khan Halili, 7 DVD's, 3 khalegee thombs for choreo, 1 saidi gelebia, 1 dress, and 1 dress ordered on me, custom made my idea, to recieve at the next festival, 23 June where I'm gonna be there !!!

Photos to come !!!

Hope to see you next time.
Maria Aya

p.s. heard about some fantastic workshops
Lubna Eman giving Oum Kalthoum, Ousama Eman giving Saidi, Ahmed Fekry Saidi, and ofcourse as always Mahmoud Reda and dr. Hasan Khalil

Well 1.000 more things to write lol, but its never enought.
How much it costs.

Each person book individualy the flight to Egypt.
You send an e-mail saying that you are gonna be there, the dates, what room you want, single, double, trible, which workshops, and your flight numbers.
You dont send money at all, this is a shock lol, you pay when you get to Cairo and only cash (now this is a problem for some), in euro or dollars or egyptian pounds.
The room cost 230 euro for triple, 260 for double, 330 for single, 7 nights and breakfasts, including 2 dinner's, and the Opening and Closing Gala shows, also you dont pay anything if you want to perform.
Now there is no limit for the workshops at all, from 1 to how many you can afford/survive from lol.
Each workshop cost: 2 hour, 20 euro, 3 hours 30 euros.
The gelebia party is extra, 130 ep = 18 euro = 22 dollars.
Now the most money we all give them for costumes, that are amazing and right out of the workshops classes lol, we use to stay there half the day lol

Maria Aya and more photos

Also you can see me, Chryssanthi, and Donya in a photo, this is the OrientalDancer net photo !!!!