I was sitting in my study working on Alexander Burnes when suddenly shrieks came from the living room. I went to investigate and was really surprised to see Nadira’s belly dancing colleague and our friend Julia Naidenko on Britain’s Got Talent. What is more she got through!
Julia is a lovely person. A few years ago she asked me to edit her book on belly dancing, but I didn’t have time because I was finalising Murder in Samarkand. Probably a poor decision on my part! Nadira and Julia used to practice in our living room while I was writing, which may explain the odd bit of dodgy grammar. Julia is very modest, too, She was in touch with Nadira this week and didn’t mention she had been on the show.
Nadira and Julia are both very serious about their craft. I was very proud when the Observer published of Nadira’s show:
‘A subtle dancer who ripples like water under wind”.
Most of the belly dancers currently working in London (you learn some esoteric stuff on this site!) are Brazilian showgirls. While undoubtedly alluring, what they do is not really belly dancing.
Julia is a great belly dancer. There is both dedication and skill behind what you see as beauty and effortless grace.
And remember the idiots of UKIP and the BNP would have kept Julia out of the country!
Brilliant, Julia!
Well amongst the lonely girls dancing with their dogs, jugglers, and billy elliott wannabe brats, the Eastern European belly dancer certainly caught my eye!
She’s on youtube…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0dA_cmIZf4
Gosh, what a stunner (and what a dancer but……
……quote:
“Nadira and Julia used to practice in our living room while I was writing….”
Blimey, wouldn’t it have been easier trying to concentrate if you’d sat yourself down in the middle of a firing range at Bisley?
KevinB
Yep.
Nobody can ever say I have lived a boring life. 🙂
Are you doing research on Alexander Burnes Craig? Another unusual and adventurous Scot according to this entry.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Burnes
PS I pity Julia being drooled over by that revolting and unreal Cowell. She is a brilliant dancer.
Mary,
Yes, I am writing a biography.
Julia won’t mind. She dances in restaurants and is used to teasing ageing lotharios – and can put them very firmly in their place.
I know very little about belly dancing to tell this is not Arab or Egyption style. I saw only South Americans dance like this.
She was brilliant