Join us for a bellydance show, featuring Kiyaana's students, on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the downtown Fredericksburg library at 1201 Caroline St, 22401.

Doors open at 2:45 pm, show starts at 3:00 pm. Attendees must wear masks. Admission is free.

Join me on Saturday, September 11, 9 am and 10 am for free mini classes. Meet me by the LOVE sign at Hurkamp Park in downtown Fredericksburg, VA. The Farmers Market is hosting Community Day, so be sure to check out the wonderful local non-profit organizations as well as the market vendors.

Need a water jar (ballas) for your Fellahi dance performance? Real jars are heavy, you can buy lightweight theatrical versions made from foam, but I decided to make my own for a show. I estimate that the process took five days, due to drying time between layers of newspaper and coats of paint. (Each evening I worked for 2-3 hours because I made four jars, as reflected in the photos.

Photo on the right by Aimee Custis for the August 2019 Al Massraweya show in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Materials
thick paper (weight similar to cardstock, lighter than poster board)
hot glue gun and glue
balloons 
painter's tape or duct tape
newspaper (or roll of newsprint)
papier mache' paste (recipes here for flour/water or glue paste)
paint brush/sponge
gesso (purchase or make it)
light brown acrylic craft paint 
gold metallic acrylic craft paint (optional)
spray bottle (optional)
thin foam sheet in coordinating color (optional)

1. Decide on your finished shape. I went with a typical jar shape. I'm happy with how they turned out, but honestly, I would make mine slightly different now, more like this example. I went the easy route and did not include handles, but they could help with holding on during performing. Search for "fellahi dance" or "fellahi ballas" etc to see shape options. Some will be easier to duplicate than others. Remember that your finished jar needs to be easy to prop up on your shoulder and hold with one hand.

2. Using the thick paper, make a truncated cone for the base of the jar. The balloon will sit in the cone, so blow up a balloon and measure the diameter of it where you want it to join the cone. I used this website to make a template. Depending on your desired final shape, cut a strip of cardstock and create a cylinder for the opening of the jar. (I added an additional truncated cone on the top.)

3. Cut out a circle from the thick paper to fit the bottom of the truncated cone. Use hot glue to affix the circle to the cone. (I also used hot glue to attach my cylinder on top to the additional truncated cone.)

4. Blow up a balloon to fit the cone as well as possible. Depending on your desired final shape, you might position the balloon tie down or tie up. Place balloon in cone and secure with narrow strips of tape. Attach cylinder on the top with tape.

5. Tear newspaper into narrow strips, about 1.5 inches wide. You will use at least three layers of newspaper, so keep tearing!

6. Now the fun begins! Apply the strips of news paper with the paste to the balloon jar, overlapping edges. After it is completely covered, allow it to dry overnight. Should you apply the newspaper on the top of the balloon, inside the opening? I have seen it both ways. I decided not to. Repeat with 2-3 more layers of newspaper. (You can add more layers for extra strength, if desired.) You want the sides to be VERY stiff. You shouldn't be able to easily indent where only the balloon is providing the structure.

To pop or not pop the balloon? I did because I wanted to be sure that the vase/jar could hold its structure without the balloon. Over time the balloon will deflate, anyway, and I didn't want to take any chances. I punctured the balloon and gently pulled it away from inside to remove it.

6b. If you are adding handles, this is where/when I would do it. 

7. Apply a coat of gesso to completely cover newspaper. Even if you are using blank newsprint, don't skip this step. It will act as a primer for your acrylic paint. Allow to dry completely before applying paint.

8. Paint completely with tan acrylic paint. Dry. Apply another coat. Dry completely.

9. Optional - If you want a slight gold sheen, mix some gold metallic paint with water in a spray bottle. Mist the jars, rotating to cover evenly. Dry completely.

10. Optional - Trace the bottom of the jar onto the thin foam sheet. Cut out the circle. (The bottom of my jar was slightly wobbly, so I cut another circle from the center of the foam circle, which worked perfectly to level it.) Hot glue the foam circle to the bottom of the jar. 

While most will use GPS to find their way to the studio, I thought these photos might be helpful to give you an idea of what to expect. See you there!

The address for Strictly Ballroom is 125 Olde Greenwich Dr, Fredericksburg, VA 22408. It is located in the Lafayette Square office park, off of Lafayette Blvd, which starts in downtown Fredericksburg and runs southwest to Rte 1. (Lafayette is also labeled "Bus 1" on maps.) Once you find the Lafayette Square office park, look for Strictly Ballroom in the corner of the "L" shape of the building.

If you are traveling from north of Fredericksburg, take exit 130A off of I-95. Drive on Rte 3 east for 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Lafayette Blvd. Drive 1.4 miles and turn left into Lafayette Square.

Traveling from south of Fredericksburg, take exit 126A off of I-95, onto Rte 1 north. Drive on Rte 1 for 1.2 miles. Turn left onto Lafayette Blvd (at the Pohanka dealership) for 1.4 miles. Turn right at the light, then left into Lafayette square. OR just past the light, turn right into Lafayette Square.

There is a D Mart on Lafayette, across the street from Olde Greenwich Dr. If anyone needs to fuel up, there is a very new Sheetz just south of Olde Greenwich, on Lafayette (great gas prices, recently!) Oh, and there are plenty of parking spaces right in front of the studio.

This photo (from the south, on Lafayette) of the light at Olde Greenwich Dr may be helpful, too: