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HOT OFF THE PRESS! 2009 has already been a busy year for The Princess, full of shows, workshops and DVD shoots, many of which will be released in late spring and early summer-scroll down for more info on up-coming DVD releases. Her Majesty has performed and taught in Hawaii, at Gothla US, completed a two-week UK tour , choreographed a trance dance for a horror movie shot in Italy, and currently dates are now confirmed for Egypt, Alaska, Missouri, UK, Nebraska and Northern California with many other dates pending. For information about booking Princess Farhana for workshops, performances or special events, please scroll down to the bottom of this page. HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL BLOG Her Majesty has a brand new blog, “Missives From The Royal Palace” featuring extensive articles on everything belly dance…as well as glitter and make-up addiction, costume construction, crazy stories and general mayhem! Please visit: www.princessraqs.blogspot.com BRAND NEW INSTRUCTIONAL AND PERFORMANCE DVD’S In June, 2009, watch for many instructional and performance DVD’s featuring Princess Farhana, including Hollywood Music Center’s double disc set, “Tales Of Desire”, a live performance Tribal Fusion DVD and Cheeky Girl’s Productions’ instructional DVD “Combo-Nation” and “By Dancers, For Dancers Vol. 5”, a performance DVD. Shot and edited by Michelle “Champagne” Joyce, these DVD’s feature many of today’s top belly dance artists. In addition to the Princess, you can view performances and lean cool combos from Aradia, Shoshanna, Bahaia, Lotus Niraja, Oreet, Sandra, Kristina Canizares, Michelle herself and many more lovely dancers. In July 2009 look for Her Majesty’s new instructional DVD, “Armed And Dangerous: Hand And Arm Technique For Belly Dance”, which covers technique suitable for many types of belly dancing, folkloric dance or fusion… including drills for graceful hands and arms, posture, framing, ethnic gestures, a finger cymbal drill, and more- plus two performances. This DVD was directed by Steve Balderson, and shot at the lovely historic Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas. The Columbian Theater itself contains many large oil paintings and architectural relics from the 1893 World’s Fair (where Little Egypt brought Oriental Dance to the United States for the very first time) and there is a virtual tour of these magnificent works of art and their history included as bonus footage on the DVD’s. To purchase these and numerous other DVD’s , as well as T-shirts and accessories, please visit the “Videos” page on this website. MORE NEW DVD’S AVAILABLE NOW: “Abs-Olutely Fabulous”which is the first-ever DVD devoted entirely to abdominal technique for belly dancing! “Abs-Olutely Fabulous” features over an hour and a half of belly work and abdominal technique, and abdominal layering plus three performances and bonus footage. “Fan-tastic!” provides dancers with introductory technique for dancing with all types of fans- from Flamenco Pericon hand-fans to Asian Mulan fans, fan veils, to huge Sally Rand-style ostrich plume fans, as well as fan care, repair and construction tips. “Lovely Layers” concentrates on strong technique for layering shimmies and illustrates many amazing isolations and combinations. “Princess Farhana’s Greatest Hips” is a performance DVD, over and hour long featuring pieces shot live at a variety of theatrical events as well as in the studio, including Egyptian style cabaret and fusion dances; fan-fusion, raks al shamadan, raks assaya, taxims, and some bonus footage! SEE THE PRINCESS ON YOU TUBE: There are some new videos posted from the Royal Performance DVD, “Princess Farhana’s Greatest Hips”: Live footage from Princess Farhana’s performance at “Arabia Exotica” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJVcIbSdon4 Princess Farhana performing Raqs Assaya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftZa8e-TEcM Princess Farhana performing Raqs Shamadan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DItyalhUMY4 HOT DATES 2009: PRINCESS AT AHLAN WA SAHLAN Festival, CAIRO, EGYPT: JUNE 24-JULY 8 2009- visit www.raqiahassan.net for more info on this fab festival and workshops with The Princess!Princess Farhana will be in Alaska for workshops and shows in August of 2009: in Juneau from August 6-8, and the following weekend in Anchorage. Also, the Princess just got added onto Tribal Dreams in Lincoln, Nebraska, which makes her third year of teaching at that festival. Other instructors for 2009 include Samantha Riggs and John Compton. PRINCESS FARHANA ON THE SILVER SCREEN… OR YOUR TELEVISION! You may have seen Princess Farhana on a movie or television screen … and if you haven’t yet, you will soon! In May 2009, the Princess will go on location to Macon, Georgia to shoot Steve Balderson’s “Stuck!”. A cinema noir homage to vintage women’s prison films, “Stuck!” will be shot in black and white , and also starts cinematic legends Karen Black and Mink Stole. The film features classic “ broads behind bars”: a wrongly accused heroine, machine-gun quick hipster dialog and death-block cat fights, and will be released early in 2010. Also from director Steve Balderson: the fabulous dance documentary feature “Underbelly” spotlighting Princess Farhana’s career. The features Her Majesty in performances from around the world, as well as behind-the-scenes footage at theatrical shows and dance workshops and festivals, with folks like Kajira Djoumahna, Rachel Brice, Margaret Cho, Jim Boz, Tempest, Zoe Jakes, John Compton, Atlantis, Samantha Riggs, John Compton, burlesque artists Dirty Martini, Jo Weldon and many more. Filming began in November 2006 at Tribal Dreams in Lincoln Nebraska, and will also feature footage from Tribal Fest 2007, the Sun Bellies Mexican Riviera belly dance cruise, and workshops and festivals across America and in Europe. Order “Underbelly” on www.amazon.com Her Royal Highness also had a hand in the feature film “Charlie Wilson’s War”, acting as choreographer Fatima Robinson’s assistant. The film is currently available on DVD.. The Princess can also be seen playing “hoochie coochie” dancer Estelle in “Firecracker”, directed by Steve Balderson, starring movie legend Karen Black and rock star Mike and is now available for rental at your local video store, or on www.netflix.com Go to www.dikengafilms.com for info on the latest info. Augusta’s documentary film The Velvet Hammer Burlesque, shot at various Velvet Hammer Burlesque shows during the troupe’s decade-long career, is now available as a two-disc set and is available for purchase through Augusta’s website, www.itsachick.com Princess Farhana performs sword and is interviewed in this fantastic movie, which was lauded by both Variety And The Hollywood Reporter. See the trailer at: www.itsachick.com. PRINCESS IN PRINT There are quite a number of new articles written by Princess Farhana up on this site now, and Her Majesty has been contributing regularly to belly dance magazines Jareeda, Zaghareet, The Chronicles, The Belly Dancer, www.larqs.com and www.ishimmy.com To find out more about Princess Farhana’s writing (she is author of six books under her given name, Pleasant Gehman) and literally thousands of articles (published under both Princess Farhana and her given name of Pleasant Gehman) please log onto her website www.plezonline.com, or just do a Google search and see what craziness you come up with! As far as the literary life goes, the brand new edition of “The Underground Guide To Los Angeles” (co-edited by Pleasant Gehman and Iris Berry) is now available in bookstores nation-wide, www.amazon.com, and from www.manicdpress.com. The Princess has her own chapter in Pamela Des Barres’ hot new book on rock and roll and groupies, “ Let’s Spend The Night Together” which is available internationally. Also look for numerous photos (both backstage and on-stage) and some writing by the Princess in the brand-new coffee table/art book “The Velvet Hammer Burlesque”. And see early-Punk scene pictures of the Princess (in her pre-belly dance days!) in these two new books: “Live At The Masque” by Brendan Mullen, “When Punk Was Fun” by legendary rock photographer Jenny Lens and “Poisoned Heart: Surviving The Ramones” by Dee Dee Ramone and Vera Kauffman…all of these books are currently available from www.amazon.com
SPONSORING THE PRINCESS …Princess Farhana is available worldwide for workshops, seminars and performances, and is currently booking for 2010. If you are interested in a booking a show, workshops or classes, or receiving information on rates and curriculum, please send an email to: pgehman@earthlink.net, princessraqs@gmail.com or call (O1) (323) 460-4890. Written workshop and show inquiries may be sent to: Princess Productions, PO Box 29504, Los Angeles, California, and USA 90029-6504.
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