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Friday 29th May – Sunday 31st May 2026
What an amazing weekend with a bunch of incredible women in a fantastic setting. It always leaves me inspired and full of dance – join us and see for yourself.
We are returning to Borwick Hall in 2026 for the Farida residential belly dance weekend. Borwick Hall is a quirky building full of character and set in a beautiful little village near Carnforth in Lancashire (Carnforth is the nearest train station). It has become our home for this very special weekend.
Here are a few quotes from some of our participants this year: ‘It was all fabulous. The venue, seeing friends, making new ones, loved the teachers showcase, disco, souks‘, ‘My highlight: friends reunited and a lovely atmosphere‘, 
‘Loved every class I took and learned so much’, ‘Dancing, dancing, dancing …. and great to see everyone‘, ‘Gala show with teachers was amazing … and loved the chance to dance socially with everyone again‘.
Keep up to date on our northern bellydance residential weekends at #SupN
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1445887955504854/
Check out the ‘Teachers’ link for our full line up. We have some of our ever popular regular teachers like Anne Kingston and Moyra Banks. I am delighted that the fabulous Sara Farouk is joining us again to bring some Cairo magic to Shimmy Up North. And Candi Bell – who joined us at Ford Castle but I think this will be her first time at Borwick. Joining us for the first time is Helena – founder of ‘Orientale’ dance company based in Leeds.
This weekend is a great mix of classes – from fun introductions on Friday evening to technique and style classes at different levels.
Friday evening there are fun introductory classes followed by a participants showcase and the chance to boogie. Classes all day Saturday and Sunday. Gala show with our teachers on Saturday night followed by disco and chance to let your hair down. We often have a fun fashion show. There is also a souk with an amazing array of sparkly things for sale. This weekend is a great combination of learning and fun.
Accommodation is quite basic with a mix of single, shared, treble and dormitory accommodation – the dorms are very basic. Borwick Hall is an outdoor activity centre mainly used by school groups.
Food is tasty and plentiful …. you will not go hungry. The cooks are great at catering for a variety of dietary requirements. The weekend is fully residential so all your meals are included. A non residential weekend might initially seem cheaper but once you add up everything you have spent, this is great value.
There will of course be a souk. Jerrys bling will be back as well as Dennie / Nyla and her goodies, Eva and her unique designs and of course the Just Because stall.
2026 is booking up fast. We have limited single rooms. Why not share a twin room with another dancer? Make new friends and have a girly weekend. If you want to keep up to date on what is happening join ‘Shimmy up North’
Any further information on Farida residential weekends please email [email protected] or ring us on 0191 2451570 (Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5pm)
Choose a room option from the drop down menu to see the different prices. Pay your £50 deposit to reserve your room.
The prices are per person, not per room. You can book a twin or a group room and we will pair you up with other dancers. A great opportunity to bond with new belly buddies.
Meet our fabulous teachers for 2026
BELOW ARE THE TEACHERS FOR 2026.
Join our facebook page ‘Shimmy Up North‘ for updates.
Kay Taylor
Does she need an introduction? Kay is the organiser and 
force behind Farida Dance and the residential weekends.
A qualified JWAAD teacher and director of ‘Bellydance Now’, Kay believes in giving students a thorough grounding in Egyptian Dance while also making classes fun and accessible for the wide range of women attracted to this great dance form. Kay travels regularly to Egypt and has links with most of the top dancers and choreographers there. Kay is in great demand throughout the country and has taught at many events nationally and internationally… this time she is teaching at her own event!
Kay is also choreographer for and mentor to the Helwa Belly Dance company and has written their new show ‘Belly Dance: A True Story’, part narrative, part dance.
Through lockdown Kay started ‘Shimmy Camp’ an outdoor fitness class which she took to Borwick: ‘Lovely to be outside. Really enjoyed this – a great way to start the day’. Another said: ‘ Shimmying on the lawn to the latest Egyptian hits in an amazing setting – it doesn’t get any better than this’.
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Our International Star:
Sara Farouk
Joining us from Cairo, Sara is a font of knowledge. She has lived in Cairo for over 20 years and has mentored several professional dancers there. Sara also helps Randa Kamel run both her course and festival. Sara knows Egyptian dance. She has her own unique way of helping dancers access that authentic Egyptian feel and has inspired many dancers over the years. I am delighted Sara is joining us again.
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Our Amazing UK teachers
Helena
New to Shimmy Up North: Based in Leeds, Helena teaches regular classes. Her performance troupe, ‘Orientale’ have wowed audiences at many festivals, events and weddings. Helena is an inspiring performer and teacher. As a performer, she is in demand at restaurants and for weddings ….. as well as festivals like DanceJoy and Fantasia. As a teacher she brings so much to her students. Technique, emotion and fabulous musicality.
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Anne Kingston
A firm favourite and great friend of ours, Anne Kingston has a wealth of experience of teaching and performing and is a joy to watch. As well as her love of Egyptian Dance, Anne is very knowledgeable on other types of African Dance and also likes to incorporate a more spiritual side of things. Anne also organises Desert Dance Healing trips, where you can relax and recharge with dance, drumming and fun.
Hot from 2 years of study and graduating with a ‘MA in Dance and Somatic Wellbeing: Connections to the Living Body’, Anne is keen to introduce embodied wellbeing at Borwick. Somatics in particular can help you move with more ease, become more comfortable in your skin, become more accepting of your body, can help calm your nervous system, increase flexibility, bring a sense of wholeness, ease worries or concerns about body and past traumas and can help you develop ease and relaxation within your whole life.
One student said of Annes somatics class in 2022: ‘Such a wonderful, informative, stimulating yet relaxing session. Anne is a lovely caring teacher’.
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Moyra Banks
Moyra is based in Edinburgh where she teaches regular classes. She is one of the principle dancers in the dance company “Helwa”, based in North East England, who recently enjoyed a sell-out run in the Edinburgh Fringe 2018. Moyra regularly travels to Cairo and elsewhere to train and keep up to date with the latest trends and her aim is to introduce as many people as possible to Egyptian dance and share with them the joy that she gets from dance. In each workshop Moyra aims to give each participant something to suit their level and to inspire them to add into their own dance. One student said ‘I love the combinations Moyra puts together – they are so inspiring and Moyra is an amazing teacher’.
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Candi Bell
Candi is a veteran of the UK bellydance scene. She has taught many workshops at festivals nationwide and abroad. Thirty years of performance experience has left her full of useful tips you can add to your own dancing and lots of funny stories!! She is passionate about the Egyptian cultural background to the dance and is regular visitor to Cairo. Her great dance loves are shaabi music, shamadan and a real showbiz style magency. She aims always to make Egyptian bellydance accessible and fun.
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Rachael Borek
Rachael is an experienced and inspiring teacher of Egyptian Dance based in Manchester and online, and she’s also a professional performer, dancing at events around Manchester and the North West.
As an instructor, she’s on a mission to make bellydance an accessible and uplifting experience for everybody. She’s committed to excellence in dance technique and artistry.
As well as teaching dance, Rachael is also a fully qualified Pilates matwork instructor. Studying Pilates has helped her to completely transform her own dance technique and body awareness, and now she’s excited to bring this knowledge into the dance community to help other dancers do the same!
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Sue Baker
Sue joined us at Shimmy Up North for the first time in 2022. She loved it so much – and you loved her classes so much that she is coming back in 2025 . Sue is a well known teacher in the Cambridge area where she runs popular classes. I am delighted Sue is joining us and teaching again.
One student said: ‘What a marvellous teacher! Sue taught us with great skill, patience and humour’.
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Debbie Phillips
Debbie dances under the name of Nyla. She attended ‘Shimmy Up North’ and taught in 2022. Debbie brings a splash of tribal fusion style to the weekend. We like to have a range of options. Debbie is a qualified JWAAD teacher and also has a stall in the souk. One student said of Debbies class: ‘I was looking forward to Debbie’s class as I’m interested in fusion. She didn’t disappoint, in fact what she taught far exceeded expectations’. We are delighted that Debbie is back for 2025.
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Samantha Sparkles
Sam joined us for the first time to teach Isis wings in 2025. The feedback on her class was excellent so she is coming back to teach more ……. Based in Richmond, Sam completed the JWAAD Teacher Training some time ago and is just now starting to spread her teaching wings!!
Elizabeth Aitken
Based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, Elizabeth teaches weekly classes and workshops. She enjoys a range of styles from folklore to modern Egyptian. She also loves to experiment with bellydance fusions such as Tango, Jazz and Bollywood.
Elizabeth is a qualified JWAAD teacher – her classes are fun and informative.
