Carl Sermon, also known as Ma*Shuqa's husband, is the photographer to the San Francisco Bay Area Orientale Dance community. He is known for taking photos that capture the “Golden Moments of Dance. In an article in The Chronicles magazine, Ma*Shuqa describes Carl’s photographic work with dancers and coined the term “The Golden Ya Habibi Moment”.

Carl captures that special moment in time when the dancer is: glowing, may be smiling and showing her joy and enjoyment of the dance, or may be showing her passion for the dance in taqsim, and her costuming, pose, head and facial expressions are superbly framed, her arms and torso are perfectly aligned, her veil(s) are captured in a picturesque arcing flight around her, and her hair is dancingly stunning.

The secret to successful performance photography is a photographer with over 30 years of dance photography experience who knows the music and the dance form and anticipates the best moment to capture the dance.

Carl books photography sessions with Ma*Shuqa in Ma*Shuqa's dance studio in Los Gatos, California, USA which include: makeup and costume consultation, performance coaching poses, and photography assistance to capture that perfect photo with backdrop and professional lighting for your professional portfolio. Consider booking Carl to take your photos at the next festival, hafla, or recital. Think about booking “on location” photo sessions for special photography with Carl and Ma*Shuqa.

Contact Carl at
reel.sound@comcast.net or
(408) 356-9473 and see his photos at
www.MaShuqa.com.

Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Carl:
1-8-2010 Jillina Advances Dance Theatre, A Review of Jillina’s Bellydance Evolution, by Kristina Nekyia, photos by Carl Sermon
Bellydance Evolution is a full-length theatrical event directed by dancer and choreographer Jillina, ushering belly dance into the world of dance theater. The production is a melding of narrative with a wide variety of traditional and cutting-edge Middle Eastern dance and music. I saw the dress rehearsal of Bellydance Evolution when it debuted in Glendale, California in August, 2009.

12-3-09 Division Champs of the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition 2009, photos by Carl Sermon
This contest is one of the first in the Belly Dance community and includes many categories covering different age groups, various styles and specialties.

8-28-09 Carl's Photos from The 2009 Gala Showcase at the SF/BA MECDA Event photos by Carl Sermon
Event Presented by SF/BA MECDA (the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association) Held on January 17 at the Cubberley Community Quditorium in Palo Alto, California

Rakkasah East 2009 Photos by Carl Sermon

• 7-27-09 Carl Capture Character: Rakkasah Festival East, Sunday Dancers M-Z, photos by Carl Sermon
  Mariyah, Metal Goddas, Nesheli, Nubian Daughters, Oasis Dream Dancers, Oreet, ... Suzanna Del Vecchio, Willow
• 7-7-09 Carl Captures Character: Rakkasah Festival East Photos A-L by Carl Sermon
  Alhena, Alia, Avivah, Basema, Calixta, Dena, Desert Moon...
• 6-10-09 Carl Capture Character: Rakkasah Festival East, Saturday Dancers L-Z, photos by Carl Sermon
  Latifa, Banat Al Beled, Leena, Lotus Niraja, Mahira Tribe, Mahrabesh, Majestic Hip, Malweh, MaShuqa, Mayumi, Nabila, Naheda, Natica, Nixies...
• 6-4-09 Carl Capture Character: Rakkasah Festival East, Saturday Dancers E-K, photos by Carl Sermon
  East Pennsylvais Middle Eastern Dance Club, Egyptian Sunrise, Egyptian Sun, Enzina, Eye of Horus, Fahtiem, Fatima Al Wahid, Femme Fatales, Gypsies & Genies, Jenivia, Jewels of the Nile, Johara & Snake Dance Theatre, Kaeshi, Kaoru, Kimberly
• 5-31-09 Carl Capture Character: Rakkasah Festival East, Saturday Dancers A-D, photos by Carl Sermon
  Abzahrah, Amala, Aladina, Alchemy, Alexa, Amira, Aneena, Angelique, Anka Kusu, Desert Jewels, Dondi ...
• 5-29-09 Carl Capture Character: Rakkasah Festival East, Friday Evening Dancers, photos by Carl Sermon
  help October 17, 2008 in Somerset, New Jersey. Bianca, Willow, Tempest, Leila Haddad...

4-28-09 Photos from the 2008 Tour of the Bellydance Superstars by Carl Sermon
Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, March 1 2008

Carnival of Stars 2008 by Carl Sermon
November 9, 2008, Event Sponsors- Pepper Alexandria and Latifa.

• 2-4-09 Sunday Page 5:T-Z
• 2-2-09 Sunday Page 4: R-T
• 1-28-09 Sunday, Page 3: M-R
• 1-28-09 Sunday , Page 2: D-K
• 1-26-09 Sunday , Page 1: A-C
  

11-26-08 Bellydancer of the Universe Competition 2008, photos by Carl Sermon
held in Long Beach, California, on February 18 & 19, 2008, produced by Tonya and Atlantis

9-8-08 Carl's Raqs LA Photos, Best from the Stage on the Lower Level, Photos by Carl Sermon text by Carl Sermon, Ma*Shuqa and Marta Schill
held May 17-18, 2008 Glendale Civic Auditorium, California, produced by Miles Copeland and organized by Marta Schill

5-9-08 Carl Sermon's Photos from the Hoover Hafla
Event produced by The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of MECDA on February 10, 2008, at Hoover Theatre in San Jose, CA

Carnival of Stars 2007 by Carl Sermon, Duane Stevens, John Kalb, Murat Bayhan, Christopher Erickson, and Lynette Harris
Novemenber 10 & 11, 2007, produced by Alexandria and Latifa Centennial Hall in Hayward, California

• 3-17-08 Photos - A-Z Page 3 Casual photos
• 2-14-08 Photos- A-Z Page 2- L through Z photos
• 2-11-08 Photos - A-Z Page 1- A through K photos

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