Your survival guide
Here is the definitive guide to the Congress experience: explaining what to expect, what to bring and how to get the most out of the biggest bellydance event in Europe.
The Resort
A congress brochure featuring a map of the site and useful information will be available at registration. There are several different spaces for workshops, shows & haflas within the site but everything is within easy walking distance or a short shuttle service.
Food
There is a self-service restaurant in the theatre and bazaar area plus restaurants in the two hotels onsite. As well as these there is an Indian restaurant on a boat on the lake. We promise you won’t go hungry! The village of Frimley Green is a 20 minute walk away with a number of shops and pubs.
Other Facilities
Frimley Green has Lloyds TSB, HSBC, NatWest and Alliance and Leicester banks, a post office and a Waitrose Supermarket, all in the High Street. For more information on Frimley go to www.britinfo.net/index_Frimley.htm.
Workshops & Seminars
There is no need to book a workshop in advance. You may attend as many workshops as you can physically manage, but make sure you leave yourself with enough energy to dance after the show. We recommend no more than 3 workshops or seminars each day. The limits on numbers in the workshops will be according to how many each room can hold, so please arrive early for them.
Arriving and leaving
The event runs from Friday afternoon until Sunday night. Some people are able to take Friday off work and get there for a selection of workshops on Friday afternoon, others will arrive in time for the show on Friday night. Registration starts at 4pm on Friday. The weekend includes accommodation on Sunday night and many people will take Monday off work so that they can dance ‘till late after the show on Sunday night.
What to Bring
1) A pair of dance shoes – floors vary in different rooms and some are carpeted. Good shoes will protect your feet.
2) Class gear. If you intend to do 3 workshops in a day you will find it easier to learn in a crop top, leotard or T-shirt than a bra top.
3) A non-jangly hip belt. Some workshops will be big and if everyone wears their noisiest hipscarf we will all go deaf! Of course other workshops will be a lot smaller, but please have pity on the ears of the teachers.
4) A water bottle.
Top Tips
DON'T take off your wristband. They are designed to survive the shower and sweating for hours on the dancefloor, if your wristband comes off you must go to the Congress information desk. You will be charged a fee for a replacement.
Turn up a little early for the shows if you want a seat at the front.
Give us your feedback. There will be feedback forms available and even if you don't get a chance to fill one out, emailing us at info@bellydancecongress.co.uk after the event will make sure your views are heard. Whether you really enjoyed something or have some constructive criticism to offer, feedback is valuable and helps to ensure that next year's event is even better.
Be realistic about your own dancing level when deciding on which workshops to attend. It's fine to stretch yourself a bit, but the teachers will not slow a workshop down to accommodate students who cannot keep up.