Nizana El Rassan For many years, I had looked into going to CSQ and it never worked out, partly because I’ve most currently lived on the opposite coast. This year, however, was the year, and I am so glad I made the trek! It has been a while since I’ve been to a festival like this after attending so many over the years and it checked off all the boxes.
So where to start? Workshops with a wonderful variety of instructors to choose from! I took a workshop with Khadijah on Friday night that I enjoyed that was part lecture, part dancing, part listening to the music and rhythms. I also really wanted to take Zara’s Saidi stick workshop, but my prop hand was still recovering from surgery. Workshops ran from Thursday-Sunday with instructors also including Jillina, Zoe Jakes, Sonia Ochoa, Issam Houssan, Jacques Al-Asma, and Rachel George!
Friday night was Jillina’s Bellydance Experience: Alice in Wonderland. What an entertaining, creative and energetic production! I had been wanting to catch one of these shows, and the timing with Cairo Shimmy Quake worked out perfectly! It was colorful and theatrical and well received by the audience.
Vendors galore filled half of the room throughout the weekend and included videographers, costumes, accessories, jewelry, henna and much more. Lots to choose from! There was also a food vendor there throughout providing food, drinks and desserts. (Yummy baklava!)
Prior to entrance, live music with some sprinkled in dancing under a tent was set up next to the photo op backgrounds. The musicians were great and that was really nice to have set up there! I had a microphone put up to my face so I had to sing the chorus to Habibi Nour el Ain…That was too fun, good audience interaction getting people to sing and dance in the line before the Sat night gala.
The Saturday gala was full of a variety of performances, with many of the workshop instructors, soloists, troupes and some live musicians. Headliners Zara, Khadijah and Zoe performed more than once, each bringing diverse styles and flavors. It was a great show!
There were stage performances throughout the weekend, and what a nice venue with a great backdrop. I performed early Saturday afternoon, and I got to watch a lot of other dancing, including a number of my friends. It was awesome to meet some of the Night in the Global Village dancers in person! I was able to get some great pictures and I ordered a video of my performance.
CSQ and Diamond Pyramid really know how to run a festival. It was organized, relaxed, had something for everyone, was reasonably priced and was set up in a great venue and location. Big thank you and shout out for a wonderful time. Congratulations on your 10th Anniversary! CSQ is on my calendar for next year!
Interview w/Cairo Shimmy Quake Producer, Diamond Pyramid
Nizana: Thanks again for such a wonderful festival and thank you for agreeing to do this interview! Cairo Shimmy Quake just completed their 10th anniversary event in June, congratulations! Year 11 is in the works and I see you have Aziza of Cairo as one of the headliners!! Who else have you confirmed for next year so far and will the agenda be similar to this year’s?
Diamond Pyramid: Yes, we are very excited about 2025! We have Suhaila Salimpour, & Sonia Ochoa along with some more exciting instructors to be announced later . The agenda will be the same "Friendly and Family oriented!"
Nizana: That is awesome and I am planning to attend again if all goes right! What made you think to start CSQ way back when? Realizing things can change, do you plan to continue CSQ for a while longer? Any forthcoming changes or sticking to the tried-and-true format?
Diamond Pyramid: Oh yes! We are definitely planning on continuing with CSQ! The community continues to show us so much love and support throughout the years! Sticking to the tried-and-true formant! Hey, if it ain't broke, right?!
Nizana: Right! CSQ is on my fav festival list. I certainly appreciate how organized and well run CSQ is and I look forward to returning! I have produced several in-person and online haflas as well as restaurant and theater events, all of which are a lot of work. A festival of this magnitude has got to be a real labor of love! What have been your favorite successes when faced with challenges during this endeavor?
Diamond Pyramid: Oh yes! Definitely a labor of LOVE! The biggest challenge as you may be aware of was during the "C" time, you know what I'm referring to. We actually had to figure out something and started the CSQ VIRTUAL, at one time we had over 30+ Teachers via LIVE STREAM.
Nizana: That is so awesome, way to improvise! Sounds like you have a great team of volunteers, too! What is your favorite part of CSQ?
Diamond Pyramid: Favorite part - Seeing ALL the happy faces!
Nizana: There were LOTS of happy faces, including mine! What are one or two of your favorite CSQ memories?
Diamond Pyramid: Would be hard to just select one or two great moments so, I will say ALL moments at CSQ are amazing!
Nizana: Great memories, for sure! Anything else you would like to share with our readers regarding being a festival organizer and Cairo Shimmy Quake?
Diamond Pyramid: To just keep CSQ on their Calendar, we are always happening the first weekend of JUNE!
Nizana: Thanks again for this interview and all your hard work at CSQ, big hugs til next time!
Diamond Pyramid: No, Thank you for thinking of us and see you in 2025!!
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