A present for the person who has everything

Our beautiful little 3 year old son Tobias has been diagnosed with Autism and Williams Syndrome.  Autism is a debilitating developmental disorder which affects approximately 1 in 170.  We have been accessing an amazing, intensive program through CARD (Centre for Autism and Related Disorders) for the last 8 months which has made a remarkable difference.  He will need to continue in this program for approximately 2 years with the aim of 'recovery'.  It is certainly possible.

The Australian Government also believes that a minimum of 20 hours per week is required for all pre-school aged children with Autism yet funds only a small portion of this eg. 2 hours a week. 

Tobias' program involves one on one therapy for 30 hours a week which is currently costing $41,600 a year.  We are fundraising to meet this yearly target and are offering the opportunity to purchase therapy sessions for Tobias in the name of another.  This gift will make a very real and valuable difference to our son's life.  Purchases can also be made as a one off donation or as a regular payment.

You will receive a personal card from us describing Tobias' program, who is involved and exactly how your gift will be used.

Please specify if your purchase is a gift and the type (birthday, anniversary etc) or donation.  If you wish to donate a different amount to those listed, would like to make a regular payment or if you would like further information please contact me on; soulfulsista71@yahoo.com.au or 0412 665 129.

Please pass this post onto as many people as you can.  With your help, we may just make it!

Festival fever and broken hearts

Welcome everyone!

Here we are coming to the end of another year and boy, has it been it been prolific.

We prepared for the festival well and truly in advance due to being due to give birth in March.  My first son was born 5 weeks early so was expecting a repeat performance, but Judah held on till the bitter end. As far as births go, it was a pretty positive and peaceful one and he has a sweet and gentle, little soul.

I asked Merilyn Hyde to co-host the festival with me this time so we prepared as much as we could before February.  We were fortunate to have Jacqui Peperkemp, Dani Sansom and Dayl Workman on the festival committee.  Bookings for the All Day Soiree filled in under 3 weeks which I was very excited about.  The All Day Soiree is my favourite part of the event where we get to support our Tribal Sisters in their dance.

On the 1st September, with less than 2 weeks till the festival we received the distressing news that little Judah's heart was in serious trouble.  We spent the next 3 weeks in hospital.  The staff were incredible and helped to put him in somewhat better shape for surgery on the 20th September.  Judah had major, open heart surgery, 3 days in Intensive Care on a ventilator with innumerable tubes coming out of him and somehow we found ourselves home within 7 days.  Simply impossible to believe how a little person can heal so quickly.  He is continuing to astound us with enormous weight gains and his happy little soul is back with us.

Amongst this we held the 3rd Australian Tribal and Trance Fest.  24 workshops were held over the 10th and 11th September at Connect Studios in Parramatta with our international guest Elizabeth Strong running 4.  She is a very sweet person and delightful teacher with isolations to die for.  Workshops held were geared toward fusing international dance forms with tribal elements.

The Red Carpet Night was held in The Riverside Theatres which was completely professional and shmick.  We even had a tv in the green room where we could watch the stage woohoo!  It was lovely to dance with my dear friend Dani Sansom again :o)  We had put together a choreo via Youtube and had a chance to polish it up in between workshops.  There were so many other favourite performances for me but one in particular was Tribal Jewels piano shawl piece. 

The All Day Soiree was a full on but lovely day.  Tribal Spirit danced strongly and elegantly.  Even Sue was able to unwrap herself with aplomb which she became wound up in the backdrop :o) 

Merilyn had put together an exceptionally thorough program and we received lots of positive comments about it as well as the standard of the festival.  A huge thankyou to Dayl who MC'd the Red Carpet Night and All Day Soiree, Dani for running the Market Day, Kim for compiling the All Day Soiree performers list, Jacqui for organising the volunteers, the volunteers themselves and Merilyn for all her work.

Nafoura Magazine ran an article on the festival.  Have a read of the September issue at www.nafouramagazine.com


Since then Tribal Spirit have danced at Oatley Fest (in hurricane like winds), Lugarno Festival, the last soiree held in Macquarie Fields and the Bellydance Expo at Sutherland.  Please keep an eye on my website's 'Watch' page for more info. 

I danced recently with Tribal Jewels at Rockdale's Food & Groove.  I truly love dancing with those girls.  Their technique is exceptional and they have a real community sense about them.  That community sense is the reason I love tribal so much.

Well people, it is time I signed off.  Happy dancing.

Deb x