Archive Contents for the Gilded Serpent

The Gilded Serpent Archives
Table of Contents
Yes, the GS Archives are getting very deep! ALL 1000+ articles are here though! Check out our NEW search box or scroll carefully. You can also go to the "About Us" page and look for the author and find their articles list on the author's "Biopage." UPDATE- the Archive for GS reviews has been split off to its own page.

Articles,	Columns,	Reviews,	News,	Letters,	Old Covers
Just scroll down, arranged with most current at top-2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999,	Najia, Fred Glick, Rhea, Shira, Aziza!, Amina, Sadira	Events, V ideos, Music, Books, Other . Reviews from all years are still grouped together here.	Old news of dancers& musicians you know!	Some very strong opinions expressed! Topic covered now added to the list.	Do you know any of these stars? These pages may have distorted layouts. We are just learning as we go along here! here also are old printed PR calendars
WANTED: List makers! It has been suggested that we have articles listed by theme. We would welcome help with this! An example list could be, "X's favorite list for beginners." Depending on the response, the lists may be posted on this page or as a group on a new page. Send your portrait and list to editor@gildedserpent.com Great axample here-Surreyya Favorites- the new professional another list GEO - listing articles by country from or about another list by theme in the works here- Mining for Gold NEW- Musical Instrument Tour Print Magazines from around the world, past and present Gigbag Check Videos Middle Eastern Music and Belly Dance Books Page 1:1970 -1989

2009

12-29-09 Are Reviews Relevant Anymore? Facing Our Wealth of Bellydance DVDs by Kyria
I sometimes wonder how dancers are supposed to choose in the face of this overwhelming amount of information.

12-18-09 Welcome to the 2nd Miami Bellydance Convention, A Selection of Photos by Denise Marino
Intercontinental Hotel in Miami, Florida, on September 4- 6, 2009, Winners,Teachers, Performers

12-17-09 Ozgen in LA, Turkish Dance Star in Los Angeles by Princess Farhana
He charmed everybody with his cute non-traditional names for intricate footwork patterns as well as his verbal expressions - at one point he referred to the flirtatious shoulder movements of Turkish Oryantal as “cuddly”!

12-14-09 The Wine Glass or The Wine? Dance Conversation with My Mentor by Najia Marlyz
Sometimes, the mere beauty of glassware can be so impressive that it can far surpass the content.

12-9-09 Here Comes the Aroosa! Cairo Weddings by Nicole
Frankly, the Egyptian girls can get away with being a bit raunchier, and I do try to be more modest with my movements so as not to look like a saucy little American number straight off the plane.

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.

11-28-09 Rowan Storm Tteaches about the Daf, Tar, and other frame drums used in the Middle East and North Africa Musical Instrument Tour
Filmed in August 2008, at the Mendocino Woodlands, Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp. Rowan Storm talks about the different names each frame drum has in each country and the confusion that can happen. She also tells us about women only drum groups in central Asia. Another topic- plastic vs natural materials

11-27-09 My Dream: Dancing in Cairo! by Jillina
To be asked to teach at Ahlan Wa Sahlan is an amazing honor, but to be performing, in the biggest show of the year? It was unbelievable! This was the most significant phone call I have ever received in my entire career.

11-25-09 Keeping Your Love for the Dance Alive by Mandy
A dancer’s body is in tune and locked into this higher power by sheer force of nature and no one, not even the dancer herself, can break that bond

11-24-09 New Archive Page- Gigbag Checks!
Video interviews with artists backstage before or after the show. Twenty videos listed so far, more to come!

11-17-09 Welcome to the Eleventh Giza Awards, Honoring the Dancers and Videographers of Middle Eastern Dance by Gregory Burke
Ever since the dark ages of 1997, the Giza Academy of Music and Legends of Dance has honored dancers and videographers who have explored the art of Middle Eastern dance through film and video. Documenting and sharing our dance provides opportunities for preservation, teaching and furthering our art. The following report was created from the notes for that night

11-16-09 Naked Belly Dance in Ancient Egypt, Part 2: Are They Really Naked? by Andrea Deagon Ph.D
What does nudity mean in a dance scene like this? And does this nudity reflect an actual practice of naked dancing as banquet entertainment?

11-11-09 Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival, Page 3: Winners and Closing Gala, photos by Denise Marino, Text by Leyla Lanty
for the AWS 2009 competition included Mo Geddawi, Mona El Said, Nabil Mabrouk, and Katia

11-4-09 Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival, Page 2: Teachers from Around the World photos by Denise Marino, text by Leyla Lanty
On Teachers’ Night, held on the night after the Opening Gala, teachers have the opportunity to show festival attendees what their special talents are. The next day after this, many go to the registration desk and register for additional classes with teachers they saw in this show.

11-3-09 Ask Yasmina #10: Bellydance Business, Finding Musicians, Certification by Yasmina Ramzy
This experience has made me very wary ever since of people with certificates.

11-2-09 Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival, Page 1: Opening Gala Photos by Denise Marino, text by Leyla Lanty and Denise
It’s June 27, 2009, in Cairo, Egypt, which can mean only one thing – the Opening Gala of Raqia Hassan’s Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival!

11-2-09 Gilded Serpent reports- Gig Bag check with Amira and Mom, Sadiya Video Clip on the Community Kaleidoscope
What does a dancer need to carry in her gig bag? Amira and her mom, Sandra or Sadiya show off her fancy gig bag and all the costumes in it that Mom made for Amira. Footage was filmed at Carnival of Stars in November 2008.

10-29-09 Interview with Jacqueline Lombard, Queen of the Dancers in the Golden Era of Tinseltown by Kamala Almanzar
They refused to play dance music or anything you asked for…got to admit, that really taught how to pull off a show & think quick on my feet. You never knew where they were going with the music, & they tried to make you look bad.

10-22-09 Chelum, a Transcendent State by Paola
They call it chelum, another Turkish term in the Eastern Macedonian dialect. It refers to a transcendent state of dance and music enjoyment fueled by tapanje, zurli, darabouki, tamburi, and of course the ubiquitous Rakija.

10-19-09 Naked Belly Dance in Ancient Egypt, Part 1: Are They Really Belly Dancing? by Andrea Deagon Ph.D.
The real first question is, “What is belly dance?” Many elements of the modern practice of belly dance emerged in the 20th century. Our emphasis on the female soloist, the structure of the typical show in both the East and the West, the style of music we dance to, our costuming, our specific styles of relationship with the audience, and so on, are modern developments.

10-19-09 The Bellybutton Revolution, Feminism & Bellydance by Yasmina Ramzy
When I grew up and became a bellydancer, needless to say, my Mom was perplexed and wondered where she had gone wrong.

10-14-09 Ramadan in Cairo by Nicole
This idea of renewed religious commitment and the character of Ramadan to involve self-deprivation makes many of us westerners think that this is a somber time, but in fact there is another side to the month of Ramadan that is quite lively and exciting.

10-6-09 Researching Dance Origins with the Mazin Family, Photo from Pepper's Archives Part 2, Text by Pepper Alexandria with additions by Edwina Nearing
Yusuf, Khairiyya and Raja looked a Pepper’s hopeful face with the tears standing in her eyes and caved in. A private performance was arranged to take place on the flat roof of the Mazin’s home in full costume with live musicians.

10-1-09 Gig Bag Check with Surreyya and Sultana, video on the CK
What does a dancer need to carry in her gig bag? Surreyya has a very special friend she carries in hers! Sultana, a leopard spotted boa constrictor enjoys being displayed for us and having a dance with her partner. Footage was filmed at Carnival of Stars in November 2008.

9-30-09 Tajikistan Part II: Land of Dance by Robyn Friend PhD
After a performance of daf soz (songs with frame drum accompaniment), the musicians played maddoh, followed by raqs-i aspak (“horse dance”), in which a man dances wearing a costume which makes it look like he is riding a horse.

9-28-09 Give Credit where Credit is Due! by Dondi Simone Dahlin
However, some dancers are using the same music, costumes and choreography in their performances that they first see elsewhere. This begs the question: at what point does copying someone’s original concept or choreography cross over from homage to stealing?

9-27-09 Wiggles of the West: One Dancer’s Foray into Competition by Sonja
In the world of belly dancing lately, dance competitions seem to be the big thing. Love them or hate them, they are popping up all over the country, leaving one to wonder what benefit they add to our art form. In an art form as varied as Middle Eastern Dance, incorporating cultures crossing multiple borders and continents, to what standards do these competitions adhere?

9-17-09 Photos of Caravan of Secrets, Co-produced Theatre Production by Zahra Zuhair and Carolyn Krueger, Photos by Alvin and Fransisca Sugianto
held August 15th and 16th, 2009, at the Electric Lodge Theatre, Venice, California. Caravan of Secrets navigates imaginary landscapes inspired by the cultures and contradictions found among the ancient Silk Roads, Sea Routes and Gypsy Trails of the Middle East and Central Asia.

9-17-09 Sex, Belly Dance and the Afterlife by Yasmin Henkesh
To these people, sex was not dirty, shameful, frightening or forbidden. It was a natural part of daily life and the essential prerequisite for birth - on earth or in the Afterlife.

9-15-09 Photos from Spirit of the Tribes 9 A Multicultural Journey Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 2009 Photos by Zizi Zabaneh
Zizi’s photos are from the Spirit of the Tribes festival which is in its ninth year. It is produced by Maja a long established teacher in Florida. The festival includes 4 days of workshops, vending, competition and performances by troupes and soloists from around the world.

9-11-09 Are You Breaking the Law? Dance Workshops with Foreign Nationals by Miles Copeland
It is the sponsor’s obligation to deduct this; if it is not deducted and the full fee paid to the foreign teacher and discovered several years later in an audit or investigation, the sponsor will be forced to pay the taxes then and may even be fined.

9-10-09 A Quest for Beauty, Part II: Damn the Torpedoes and Full Speed Ahead! by Zorba
I recognized that "femininity/masculinity" was an entirely artificial construct, and femininity/masculinity was based on reality, i.e. biology.

9-9-09 Bellydance from Cairo to Los Angeles: Personal Commentary on the Bellydance Superstars by Roza Sharazad
I remember the saying "Cairo is the Hollywood of Bellydance" is for a reason, and I think the ancient Egyptian theme takes us back to where the roots are deepest.

9-8-09 Ask Yasmina #9: Teaching Differences, New Troupes, Men in Bellydance by Yasmina Ramzy
As an ensemble becomes larger and more professional, it will find that it is more efficient and effective if it models itself like a professional company with defined roles

9-1-09 Maud Allen: La Femme Fatale by Wendy Buonaventura
For, as the trial progressed, in effect, it became a trial of female sexuality. No respectable woman, it was claimed, could possibly take on the sadistic role of Salome unless she was a sadist in real life, and sadism was regarded at the time as a practice verging on the criminal.

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

8-27-09 You Can Take the Dance With You! by Yasmine of Siren In Sanity
It has been a year since we have made our big move—Sirens In Sanity has changed from being a one-beautiful-studio-in-Benicia, California, to a multi-location studio.

8-23-09 Improvisation: Method Behind the Madness by Najia Marlyz
One of the biggest mistakes we western Bellydancers have made is presuming that the dancing to which Arabs refer as the “Eastern Dance” is a theatrical dance that ought to be choreographed as if it were a ballet, or that its steps and movements are traditional like those of the Greek Hasapiko, an Arabic Depke, or a Hawaiian Hula.

8-16-09 Dancing for Dowries, Part 2: The Nailiyat by Andrea Deagon, PhD
It respected the intelligence, style and wisdom gained by women who had lived in the public eye and in the world beyond their native home – a world many men of the Ouled Nail never saw.

8-16-09 Challenging Hypocracry: A Response to Miles Copeland's Article by Tonya
The ethical way has been to promote one’s own competition but not to degrade someone else’s.

8-14-09 Michael's Photos of the Belly Dancer of the Year2009 Award Winners, photos by Michael Baxter
Some photos are linked to larger images. Additional troupe member names wanted!

8-13-09 SharQui and Injury by Rachel
I suffered a severe injury to my spine and sacroiliac joint that left me in constant agonizing pain, and worse, fully disabled. I was 23.

8-12-09 Words of Wisdom: Interview with Hadia by Jalilah Lorraine Chamas
Unfortunately, this hyper-saturation, along with the current international economic crisis, has led to a self-initiated devaluation of both dancers and teachers, as they compete for contracts and students in an extremely competitive market.

8-10-09 The Ghawazi: Back From the Brink of Extinction (For now) by Habiba
The really fabulous news is that Khairiyya’s sister Raja has come out of retirement and is dancing again.

7-29-09 At Home with Fifi Abdou by Yasmina of Cairo
In America, one of the things that especially pleased me was the inclusiveness of the dance scene there – in my classes I saw women of many different ages – and body types – enjoying dancing, and that made me happy

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

7-18-09 Dancing for Dowries: Earning Power, Ethnology, and Happily Ever After by Andrea Deagon, PhD.
When a mythic history is told and retold in a context like the belly dance community, you have to assume that there are strong underlying reasons for its popularity.

7-17-09 Little Istanbul in Japan by Artemis Mourat
For several years, belly dance has been rated as one of the top three favorite hobbies for women who are in their 20s and 30s in Tokyo.

7-16-09 Does Modern Media Kill the Organic Process? by Sharon Moore
If they see "the same thing", instead of feeling a responsibility within themselves to try to see it in a new light/from a new perspective with a richer understanding with fresh eyes, they chalk it up to the performer failing them for not bringing them something "new and cutting edge".

7-15-09 Ask Yasmina #8: Socializing with Your Audience, Relaxing the Upper Body, Tattoos by Yasmina Ramzy
It may take a while but you and the owner need to train the audience to arrive on time if they want to see a performance. In the end, everyone will benefit.

7-11-09 Certifications & Contests: Are They Meaningful? by Miles Copeland
Its as if the contest win were a diploma, her ticket to teach!

7-9-09 Ling Shien demonstrates the Accordion on the Musical Instrument Tour
She came to the Gilded Serpent studio to tell us how she has modified a standard western made accordion to be able to play the quarter tones required in many of the Arabic modes.

7-7-09 Carl Captures Character: Rakkasah Festival East Photos A-L by Carl Sermon
Alhena, Alia, Avivah, Basema, Calixta, Dena, Desert Moon...

7-6-09 My Performance Career by Toni Perrine
I worked a variety of jobs, singing in nightclubs and bartending, before developing my next marketable act. Since I was a formally trained ballet dancer, I combined Pointe with Exotic dance. Mind you: this was not stripping—but a beautiful and suggestive dance set to piano music.

6-29-09 Gig Bag Check with Pepper Alexandria on the Community Kaleidoscope

6-28-09 Faruk Sarsa ; The Life of an Artist of Mohamed Ali Street by Amina Goodyear
The best drums and riqs, however, were inlaid with mother of pearl and had fish skin heads. The best store selling these instruments was Music Center. It was owned by Mohamed Sarsa who had the fish skin monopoly and the best instruments of this kind.

6-27-09 Dyslexia and Dance: Its More Common than you think! by Keti Sharif
If you are a dance student or teacher, chances are that around 20% of the class could be dyslexic. As a dance teacher, it is quite important to be able to identify dyslexic tendencies in students, and understand how you can help them learn.

6-19-09 The Dance Teacher: By Divine Design or Default? by Najia Marlyz
...nearly everywhere, dancers in this particular form seem to have found it necessary to “do it all” in order to earn a living by dance career alone

6-17-09 Dance Alchemy by Paola
Dance can be the corporeal miming, shaping, and manifestation of the soul’s intent.

6-16-09 Susie's Photos from The Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant 2009
As a fish to a shiny object, so am I drawn to a well produced event of glamorous, bedazzled and talented performers of belly dance.

6-11-09 Arabic Lessons, My Introduction to Shaabi, Part 1 by Amina Goodyear
She taught us that besides learning the words and their meanings, Egyptians do not stand still when singing. They dance around a bit and use their hands, body and eyes to gesture according to the songs.

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...

6-8-09 The Real Ideal Show; Why we Dance! by Latifa
As the time approached for our show, two of our dancers were stuck in traffic trying to reach us from San Francisco, so we arranged our show to accommodate them if they made it and so it would work if they didn’t .

6-7-09 Ask Yasmina #7: Milaya, Tipping, Gossip by Yasmina Ramzy
Ask yourself "why?’ over and over again, digging deeper for the truth, until you arrive at that moment when the beauty of Bellydance had you completely inspired and elated, that moment when you wanted the whole world to experience the same joy.

6-4-09 Michael's Spring 2009 Photo Spread, photos and text by Michael Baxter
Aazura, Adriana, Ahava, Alimah, Andrea, Claudia, Eve, Kashmir Isis, Katherina, Khalila, Maria, Meissoun, Michelle Joyce, Mychelle, Nadira, Nanna, Nicole, Sandra, Shoshanna, Summer, Surreyya, Crystal, Tabitha, Zaheea

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...

5-28-09 Through the Eye of the Camera photos by Vibeke, text by Laura Rose
This photo exhibit captures moments and scenery of Delilah’s most recent Visionary Belly Dance Retreat, which took place in Hawaii, January, 2009.

5-26-09 Bellydancing Fashionably by Martha Duran
Always remember that you’re representing a country’s culture! Sometimes, less is more; sometimes, more is less.”

5-17-09 Ahmed Adaweya My Introduction to Shaabi by Amina Goodyear
Where once he was known as a master plumber, he had now become a master of Saltana.

5-14-09 Know Your Venue, Style & the Savvy Performance Artist by Laura Rose
Personally, I believe that to pull off something dangerously edgy and thoughtfully shocking (while still providing entertainment) you might need to offer them something as well. Something like, oh, say…skill!

5-11-09 Ask Yasmina #6 : Abhinaya, Personal Journey, What’s Missing? by Yasmina Ramzy
Tapping into the source will change the quality of your movement, your interpretation of the music and your emotional connection to the movement and the music.

5-5-09 One Hip in Each Camp, My Experience of Working in Both the Arabesque Dance Company and the Arabesque Orchestra by Shema/EmmaLucy Cole
My dancing is fuelled by my understanding of the music and now, my playing is influenced by the emotions I experience when I dance. It is a cyclical experience which has been boosted by this incredible opportunity to work with some of the most talented Arabic musicians on the scene.

5-3-09 The Quintessential Performer: Attitudes for the Stage by Najia Marlyz
What can you rightfully expect of an audience of persons who are not, themselves, involved in performing (or related to you)?

4-30-09 Dancing with Legends: Interview of Freddie Elias, Part 4: Teamwork Among Musicians by Artemis Mourat
You’ve got people in the audience who are paying you. If you’re dying, don’t come to work. But if you come to work, do your job. It does not matter what else is going on in your life.

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

4-24-09 Oasis Dance Camp South A New Twist on an Established Retreat by Ramona
Every student received a personalized notebook and music CD, which included class notes and news articles about dance and culture.

4-18-09 Dance of the Nile part 3: Meleya by Gamila El Masri
The erk sous seller spies a pretty young thing in a melaya (and pink bloomers). He coaxes her to have a cup; they flirt. He chases her, she runs away.

4-15-09 Magnouna in Cairo, aka My Cairo Adventures in April 2008 by Catherine Barros
The tally of dance shows for this trip was 3 Nile dinner cruises (Lorna Gow, Basima and Leila), the Tannoura show, Dina (at the Semiramis) and the Opening Gala at the Nile Group Festival (Dalia, Liza Laziza, Leila, Hayem, and Asmahan).

4-13-09 Recognizing Accomplishment: Atlantis! by Helena Vlahos
I get so excited over the events they are producing, that I have no thoughts about them as dancers. All I think about is the person who is performing or teaching and the merchandise that the venders are selling. I only think of the sponsors as being effective with the business side of Bellydancing.

4-9-09 A Quest for Beauty, Part 1: Beauty is Discovered by Zorba
My wife of 17 years asked, "You’re going to do…. what?"when I told her of my desire to take Bellydance lessons.

4-1-09 Where is the Goddess in a Vertical Drop and a Shimmy? How Can the Practice of Bellydance Lead the Dancer to a State of Grace or Enlightenment? by Yasmina Ramzy
The most important practice of almost all mystical paths is meditation. It is universal and does not need a frame of reference from any particular theology.

3-31-09 Mina's 1001 Arabian Nights, photos by Michael Baxter, text by Mina, the producer
1001 Arabian Nights started with asking several of the community troupe directors and teachers I’ve known over the year if they would like to create a show with me. They all seemed very excited about the prospect of doing something "different" in the dance community.

3-30-09 The Bellydance Museum: An Accident of Fate? by Stief
Soon, I found out my collection of Arabic instruments, ancient jewelry, and our shared bank account were all gone along with my ex-wife. The only thing I could find was a small part of my picture collection, which I now had to sell in order to stay alive.

3-28-09 Producing "Tales of Desire"; a Tribal Fusion Bellydance Experience by Sherri
We felt that the buzz in the community was that people were getting tired of seeing the same performers on every performance DVD that came out, so we really tried to
mix it up and offer a more varied line up.

3-26-09 Teaching American Bellydance: Ich Bin Ein Berliner! by Una
Amazing! The members of the workshop wanted more and more—and even Horacio began trying out my veil moves.

3-20-09 Tania Luiz A Romany Fusion Artist in Osaka by Artemis Mourat
At this time I think I was longing for a well-documented dance, old and structured. I was a little sad because I saw how people who were not properly trained but who just had a costume would teach Oriental dance. Plus the deep connections of Indian dance to the Divine were very interesting to me. At the end of it all, I realized that my body, my soul and my blood are meant to do Oriental.

3-19-09 Indonesia's Introduction to Belly Dance: The Mainstream Media's Influence by Fahmia Bandib
Extensive mainstream media attention has been a mixed bag of blessings and, well, “somewhat less than blessings,” as most Indonesians would diplomatically say.

3-17-09 Sahba Motallebi demonstrates the Tar and Setar, new video in our Musical Instrument Tour
Also included is footage of Sahba on stage performing with Bahram Osqueezadeh on the Persian Santur and Rowan Storm on the frame drum.

3-15-09 Tribute to Bert: Photos from the GS files
Bert's memorial page, please add your comments, thank you.

3-13-09 Dancing with Legends: Interview of Freddie Elias Part 3: A Serious Accident by Artemis Mourat
I put it (the cigarette) out and I looked at my watch, it was quarter past four. I woke up three days later.

3-12-09 Making (and Re-making) Choreography: Moving Forward, Moving Backward, Moving! by Cera
As soon as you set the first movement, one of those options has been limited. Then, when you make a second choice, a third, and a forth, the possibilities get smaller and smaller. The process is, essentially, painting yourself into a corner, and by the time you set the last count, the song is done; the choices are over, and they have become inevitable, solid. They stand on their own—without you, potential-less. Pens down! Flip the paper over. Choices have been made.

3-11-09 Munique Neith's Studio: What You are Missing if You aren't in Barcelona! by Amanda Rose
What inspired me to write this article was not only the unbelievable setup that is presented in Barcelona, but the fact that I have never truly felt the warmth and compassion from any situation in the dance world that I have from Munique, her husband Albert and their studio. They were warm, receptive, and incredibly gracious

3-10-09 Its All in the Flavor! Bellydance in Mexico by Martha Duran
Those were tough times for us teachers. Students were very shy in the classroom but eager to learn; some of them even thought that Shakira had created Bellydance! They didn’t have much information about Oriental Dance, its origins, or different styles. Some aspiring dancers even sat through several classes just to check out what Bellydance was or if we teachers danced it as well as Shakira.

3-9-09 Authenticity in Dance Photography by Scott Belding
There are three things that make a dance photograph great: authenticity, detail and connection.

3-6-09 Bellydance:My Lifesaver & Soul Mate by Lisa Chen
So, here with both of my arms having injection needles inserted and an oxygen mask on my face, I began to visualize that I was standing at FatChance BellyDance’s studio with other dancers.

3-4-09 Ask Yasmina #4 Feminine Spectacle, Workshop Requirements, My Styles of Dance, by Yasmina Ramzy
Dancers, who are willing to pay to be on stage, are perhaps not always ready to be there.

3-3-09 Recieving Filthy Lucre: Justifying Payment for Your Art by Najia
Belly dance can be a respectable art and teaching it should be a respected employment. Often it isn’t, and that is why you have to set your career goals—and don’t forget to consider the money!

2-24-09 Quality vs. Quantity, Buying CDs vs. Downloading Music by Mher Panossian and Sherri Wheatley
...especially for those that are performers and need the sound file to be the highest quality format when it comes to amplification

2-16-09 Badia Masabny, Star Maker of Cairo by Jalilah
Due to the performance of a Hitler parody, however, Masabny was placed on Hitler's list of people to be executed once he took over Egypt. Fortunately, the Germans never made it to Cairo!

2-12-09Dancing with Legends: Interview of Freddie Elias Part 2: Clubs and Musicians by Artemis Mourat
...and here was an Italian, playing all these Greek melodies. I was mesmerized. I discovered that Greek music is fantastic.

2-11-09 Excerpts From Aesthetic Explorations of the Egyptian Oriental Dance Among Egyptian Canadians by Kathleen Fraser
One respondent attempted a description of Egyptianness in the dance. "Egyptians are plumper, more attractive. What makes the Egyptian style is the costume, soft movements, gentleness (no jumping or jerking), subtlety, dala, the drum, soft music." Charm and liveliness of face contributed to perceived quality of "Egyptianness."

2-7-09 BDSS Update: New Choreographers contribute to 2009 Show by Miles Copeland
I will admit that I have never been a big fan of the more ‘folkloric’ approach to Bellydance, but then again I have to be open to try something new with each show.

2-6-09 The Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive 2008: Vegas and Belly Dance Celebrities Report by Mareeshka, photos by Brad Dosland
Just as its host city brings together Paris’ Eiffel Tower , the fountains of Bellagio, and the pyramid of Luxor , the Bellydance intensive brings together this local talent with international stars, combining traditional cabaret with the latest tribal styles, to create a big event that feels comfortably intimate

2-5-09 Fire in your Belly: My Dance Story by Annette Nel of South Africa
I’ve always wanted to be a dancer. I vividly remember when I was four years old and had just started ballet, the driveway became my stage and the African sun my spotlight as I did plies, twirled, and pitter-pattered on tiptoe to a growing audience of passers-by. I remember curtsying to a young schoolboy who stopped to stare. Today, I realise it wasn’t my extraordinary dancing that stopped them in their tracks.

2-4-09 Sunday at Carnival of Stars, Page 5:T-Z by Carl Sermon
November 9, 2008, Event Sponsors- Pepper Alexandria and Latifa

2-2-09 Bahram Osqueezadeh on Persian Santur video
Footage captured in August 2008, at the Mendocino Woodlands, Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp.Bahram play for us and talks about his intrument.

2-2-09 Sunday at Carnival of Stars, Page 4: R-T by Carl Sermon
November 9, 2008, Event Sponsors- Pepper Alexandria and Latifa

1-30-09 Say Thank You! Gracefully Accepting Compliments by Chandani
Responding with a simple “Thank you!” should be rewarding to both parties. By receiving praise from another, you acknowledge that you did your job well. It should be a merry moment that enhances your spirit. You have an accomplishment that you should be proud to share, and the audience member offering you the compliment is acknowledging that your dance has touched something in the life of another.

1-28-09 Sunday at Carnival of Stars, Page 3: M-R by Carl Sermon
November 9, 2008, Event Sponsors- Pepper Alexandria and Latifa

1-28-09 Sunday at Carnival of Stars, Page 2: D-K by Carl Sermon
November 9, 2008, Event Sponsors- Pepper Alexandria and Latifa

1-27-09 Improvisation, Taqsim, and Teaching, Things I Love by Rahma Haddad
Because improvisation is so instantaneous, the performer doesn’t know what he is going to do until he does it. Likewise, the dancer may not remember what was done when the dance is finished. This is why creating improvisational dance is rarely boring.

1-26-09 Sunday at Carnival of Stars, Page 1: A-C by Carl Sermon
November 9, 2008, Event Sponsors- Pepper Alexandria and Latifa.

1-18-09 Dancing with Legends: Interview of Freddie Elias Part 1: When Boston's Golden Era Rocked to Music Orientale by Artemis Mourat
They do not study the craft in a deep and meaningful way, and everybody’s in a hurry. They don’t get into it right. They don’t think! If you do not work hard, you cannot protect your craft.

1-16-09 Thorn of the Rose:Making Friends with Criticism by Najia Marlyz 11-28-08
Thorns make the rose ever more precious; though one’s ego rarely treasures moments of having felt the sharp thorn of stinging criticism. If the dancer is open to criticism—valid or invalid—it can open the door to the process of re-evaluation that otherwise might never happen.

1-15-09 Ask Yasmina #2, Handling Media, Choreography, Name Our Dance by Yasmina Ramzy
In creating a work of art that will enlighten or move an audience emotionally, the artist's intention is to communicate a message or an emotion.

1-13-09 Connections: Yoga and Belly Dance by Narah
I started my Yoga practice not long after beginning to Belly Dance. I was drawn to it and stayed with it as I enjoyed the benefits of its complementary practices. The promises of relaxation, strength, flexibility, and spirituality intrigued me and fit right into my Belly dancing lifestyle.

1-8-09 Apprenticing at ADC by Laura
At first rehearsals were terrifying. The girls were learning new choreographies and positioning and I would follow along in the back, feeling like a bit of a dolt and getting in everyone’s way.

1-6-09 2008 Drum, Dance, & Music Festival Raqs Taiwan with Karim Nagi! by Lisa Chen
She wishes to find the bridge between dancers and musicians, performers and audiences while still keeping its cultural roots alive. DDM is the platform for dancers and musicians working together and exchanging their professional experiences.

1-5-09 Now What? Improvement Ideas for the Growing Dancer by Anna
This article is for those of us that would like to delve into areas of the art form that may be beyond the usual class topics.

2008

12-31-08 8th Annual Blood Moon Regale: Disease 101 Photos and text by Brad Dosland
With interpretations ranging from comic to poignant, dancers portrayed a gamut of disorders from Scarlet Fever to Head Lice, Elephantiasis to Anorexia. Many of the performances were touchingly powerful, while others such as Origin’s depiction of Crabs had the capacity audience at the grand old Colonial Theatre laughing out loud (and scratching themselves subconsciously).

12-16-08 Whose Dance is This, Anyway? Where Do Men Fit into the Belly Dance World? by Lara
As soon as he was born, dancers of all stripes immediately started in with "Oh, a new little drummer for the troupe!". Excuse me? Why is there an instant assumption from birth that all little boys will be drummers and all little girls will be dancers just like mommy.
---Added Feature! See our Gallery of Men in Middle Eastern Dance

12-14-08 What’s in a Name? Orientalizing Oriental by Paola
He had already managed to use my definition of my dance form against me, to paint me as marginal, politically incorrect, and strangely enough, to “orientalize” me within the context of that symposium in the ways that Said describes in Orientalism. I was now, officially, “Other”.

12-13-08 What is a Set List? by Aszmara
Finding what makes everyone happy is a little like having a dinner party with a person on a diet, a vegan, and meat & potato type guy. It takes planning, discussion and knowledge to put together a good show.

12-11-08 Parveneh: Promoting Diversity Through Public Access TV, An Interview by Anniitra Ravenmoon
I had always wanted to do something with Public Access. So, the Belly dance and public access came together and “Hafla” was born! Although I have found some attitudes to be exclusive, I decided I wanted to be inclusive; so my show has featured diversity. I have presented larger, smaller, older and younger dancers (and, especially, women of color) who are often excluded here in our local area.

12-10-08 Leila Haddad & the Gypsy Musicians of Upper Egypt " In the Trail of the Ghawazee" March 2008 US Tour, by Amy Bonham
Sponsored by the World Music Institute. "These musicians come from a long tradition that could be as old as the pyramids"

12-8-08 Is Bellydance Good Exercise? by Venus (Marilee Nugent), BSc, Kinesiology, BA Art & Culture
While it is important to love and accept one’s body as it is today—and bellydance is a great way to get actively motivated as well as realize one can feel sexy and beautiful at any size—it is important to continue to move forward from that acceptance on the path of improved health and well-being.

12-3-08 My Dinner with Nadia Hamdi by Fatima Bassmah
We asked if they had any videos, photos, or costumes from Nadia's life as a dancer, but they had none. When Nadia took the hijab and gave up dancing, she destroyed all photos and videos of herself since that life was over.

12-1-08 Ask Yasmina: Evolution, Oum Kalthoum, & Cover ups by Yasmina Ramzy
A first column in a once-a-month series: GS is proud to present this passionate and knowledgeable expert in the field of Middle Eastern Dance; she is an artist, pioneer, and creator of the International Bellydance Conference of Canada.

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

11-20-08 Winning Bellydancer of the Universe by Mia
Puerto Rico is kind of a small island, not that we’re cut off from the world or anything, but we don’t have huge hafflas or competitions here. In fact, after about two years of classes and training we have to travel outside our country to keep up with the whirlwind of innovation that is bellydance.

11-17-08 So You Want to Dance in Cairo? by Leila
Foreign dancers who negotiate their own auditions with hotel managers usually find themselves seated at his private table in the nightclub month after month while he promises that next week he will make her an orchestra and give her an audition.

11-15-08 Bellydance Fashion, American Style: The 2nd Annual Decotach Fashion Show Report by Tanna Valentine photos by Brian Lin
For this year’s fashion event, Ms. Lambru chose to display her costumes in the context of a Berber wedding.

11-11-08 Omar Faruk Tekbilek demonstrates the Ney video by Lynette
Also incuded are short performance clips of Omar with the instruments and band members as well as his wife, Susie, performing a few Turkish style dance gestures

11-7-08 Gift of the Muse: Finding and Using “Dance Energy” by Najia Marlyz
The concept of “Dance Energy” carries with it a power that appears to compel the dancer to move without conscious thought or excessive effort.

11-4-08 The Skinny on Abdominal Strengthening by Venus (Marilee Nugent), BSc, Kinesiology, BA Art & Culture
You’ve probably heard the terms neutral spine and core balance being bandied about, and seen numerous class offerings for Pilates, body ball, and core workouts. You may be wondering, is this the sort of thing you should be checking out?

10-30-08 Aussie ATS Charm in Taipei: Devi Mamak by Lisa Chen
Since both of us are not based in San Francisco, we share many common factors in terms of learning ATS and developing our own visions for it back in our own home venues.

10-23-08 One Dancer, A Journey of Self- Acceptance by Melodi
However, it wasn’t long before I started to realize that the other girls were different than me. More importantly, I realized that I was different from them.

10-17-08 Tajikistan: The Land of Dance, Part One by Robyn C. Friend, Ph.D.
Video features: #1-Introduction by author, #2- A Map Tour on an ancient and modern map.
" Communication with the outside world is difficult and expensive, and nearly impossible during the winter."

10-16-08 Solstice Festival in Catalunia, Spain June 20-22, 2008 photos by Eulalia Grau and Janixia text by Ling Shien Bell
For the third year in a row, Maria Cresswell produced a dance and music festival honoring the Summer Soltice. This year's three day event took place high up in the Catalunian Pyrenees, in a rustic hostel fed by fresh springs and bordered by a rushing river.

10-14-08 Inside Peek at Making Music Videos: Hakim, Khalid Selim, Walid Toufic, Ali el Hagar, Elam, & Samira Said by Leila
I was either crying or yelling at Hakim for most of the shoot and went home each day with a headache from it.

10-8-08 Dance - Deeper than the Moves by Keti Sharif
A dancer who feels “safe” in the rhythm, footwork, technical movement feels grounded and secure as she dances. A grounded dancer will be less "in her head” and allow the authenticity of feeling to come through her body as a flowing, emotive movement that expresses the music and how she “feels” the music.

10-6-08 "Just feel the music when you're on stage!” Interview with Ozgen, Male Turkish Belly Dancer, by Nini Baseema
Well, I think my heart still beats for big shows and productions, as much as I know how stressful and difficult that show-life can be. I seem to not be able to live without it.

10-2-08 Self-Esteem and the Bellydancer by Taaj
…but then, I wondered, why are so many belly dancers jealous, unhappy, competitive and insecure? Does belly dance really build self-esteem?

10-1-08 North Beach Memories- Casbah Cabaret, Part I Circa 1973 by Rebaba
We performed what I have dubbed “conveyer belt dancing”, that is three dancers doing three shows each, starting promptly at 8:30 p.m. without stopping until 2:00 a.m., whether we had an audience or not.

9-29-08 Bible-Belt Belly Dancing in the 1970's: An interview with Azur Aja by John Clow
Azur Aja (Sharon Wright), a belly dancer from the Nashville Tennessee area, is endearingly known as ‘The Lady With The Veils’. Her career has spanned over thirty-five years, and her style has been influenced by some of the most recognizable names in American belly dance history.

9-25-08 Missing Elections… What Happened to MECDA’s Democracy? by Doyne Allen
In most organizations comprised of paying members, only a vote of the membership can enact any change in its charter.

9-17-08 Belly Dance in Japan Reaches New Heights of Popularity by Ranya Renee Fleysher
Japanese audiences are extremely receptive, supportive and interested in this form of entertainment.” Conservative elder Japanese may still disapprove of the sensual aspect of belly dance, but among the younger generation it is seen as cool and trendy.

9-15-08 My First Experience in Egypt by Nadira
I have always felt a pull to visit Egypt to experience the history and culture of this dance I love so much. The chance came about just recently and it was so worth the wait.

9-13-08 Folk Tours 6th Annual Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp Report and Photos by Nina Amaya
held at Camp Greenlane in Pennsylvania, May 2008. The authenticity of the camp is amazing. I love Rakkasah and Tribal weekends as much as anyone else, but watching and listening to Arab musicians play Arab music and Turkish musicians play Turkish music, well, that adds a little something! After the nightly shows, the musicians keep playing to the wee hours and the camp dances in the big dining hall until we drop.

9-11-08 Spirit of the Tribes 2008 photos by Denise Marino
April, 24-27 2008, War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Produced by Maja

9-10-08 Festival Fantasia: A New Direction by Josephine Wise
I had a vision of the whole dance scene becoming one and being aware of one another.

9-9-08 Bert & Me: Vignettes From Our Partnership by Najia Marlyz
Though Bert might like to think of himself as a simple man, in fact, he is a very complex and private person whose lifetime is filled with famous and colorful characters and experiences.

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

9-1-08 The Broken Vessel by Paola
We, too, must believe in our movements, believe in their purpose and message, and we must deploy them with the array of human faculties that begin to evolve when the Art of the Dance is taken up.

8-29-08 The Hippie Connection: Robert Altman’s 1969 In Utero Belly Dance Portrait of ME by Melina of Daughters of Rhea
There it was, the second of a series of black and white hippy portraits --people raving, a woman blissfully breastfeeding, couples hugging, dogs leaping – THE SEMINAL PHOTO OF MY LIFE – only, I was cut out!

8-19-08 The Mendocino Middle Eastern Music & Dance Camp 2008, Part 1 report by Sophia & Lynette
This morning the classes begin. Dinner and breakfast was quite good! The students on scholarship working the kitchen were cheerful and surprisingly bright eyed after being up so late last night!

8-16-08 Randa Kamal by Yasmina of Cairo
"Then the film roles that I've been offered have unfortunately been frivolous, or portrayed the dancer in the stereotypical way they always do. The cinema has done enough to spoil the reputation of dancers, without me adding to it by taking such a role."

8-16-08 Dina: April 2008 by Catherine Barros
It was a late night as usual as we didn't even go out until midnight to have dinner and watch Dina at around 3am . . . but who was watching the time . . . It is CAIRO!

8-4-08 My Winning Experience at Leyla Jouvana and Roland's 1st Bellydancer of the World Contest by Khalida
Author is winner of the 1st place in the Solo Raks Sharki and 3rd Place in the Solo - Fusion Fantasy Categories

8-1-08 Fantasy Bellydance, A New & Ancient Reality by Jehan
This trend has been growing steadily since I can remember, but caught fire recently, due to the instantaneous broadcasting of ideas and styles on the worldwide web and the proliferation and availability of video for this generation of dancers.

7-30-08 Ahlan Wa Sahlan 2008, Not So Welcoming this Year by Yasmin
Prices have gone up everywhere, and Egypt is no exception. The reality hit me as soon as I walked into the Mena House. Bottled water was $4.00, where out in the street the same bottle was $.50. A bottle of beer was $10.00. Internet connection was $30.00 / hour. At those prices, life's little pleasures didn't seem important anymore.

7-29-08 Saturday at Raqs LA, One Dancer’s Journey Back Home by Emily Farasha
There was a nice variety of vendors, mostly leaning towards the cabaret style of costuming and props, although there were vendors catering to tribal dancers as well. Dancing on two open stages provided constant entertainment with a variety of performance types.

7-28-08 Suhaila in the Phoenix, photos by Susie Poulelis, video by Lynette
June 28, 2008, Brava Theatre in San Francisco, CA Produced by Bellydance Odyssey

7-24-08 Professional Presence, Stories and Advice from 30 Years Under the Hip Belt and Counting... by Aszmara
The audiences’ first glimpse of you is as you arrive and how they see you affects their opinion of your show. First impressions count!

7-23-08 Making Recorded Music Memorable by Chandani
Through the years we have come up with ways to make pre-recorded performance music sound better, work better and avoid mishaps.

7-17-08 Saturday Gala Peformance Part 2 of the International Bellydance Conference of Canada video and photo report by GS staff
Performers in Act 2 : Aisha Ali of Southern California, Bozenka of Florida, Amy Sigil & Kari Vanderzwaag of Unmata from Sacramento, California, Tito Seif of Egypt, Aida Nour of Egypt

7-17-08 IBDC Part 3: The Community Response- Dream Big by Betsey Flood, Photos contributed by Masouma Rose and Monica
What did those who attended that Las Vegas event last August – the one that strove to become the biggest belly dance convention ever -- think about their experience? Their answers may surprise you.

7-15-08 Egyptian Wedding Stories by Leila of Cairo
All the guests were staring at us. The father of the bride demanded to know who ordered the bellydancer and it seemed a fight was going to break out between representatives of the brides’ family and the hotel organizer.

7-12-08 Jodette: Undeniably Authentic by Sausan
“Why do students go against their own teacher,” Jodette continued , “and spread ugly rumors?” I looked at her a shook my head. It's a lament that I, too, have experienced from time to time as teacher of this dance.

7-9-08 Journey into Womanhood by Elizabeth Artemis Mourat
Our mission, as women, is to encourage others to joyfully anticipate all the decades of their lives. Those who have gone before us have always and will always help us on our paths.

7-8-08 When Two Doors Close Two Doors Open, New Venues in New York City, by Sarah Skinner
Scott was thrilled with the new place and said it reminds him of the late night clubs in Istanbul, Turkey. At the end of the night I walked out into the hot summer air feeling invigorated and inspired.

7-3-08 Belly Dancing in Estonia by Ines Karu
As in the rest of the world, the Egyptian style of belly dance is the most popular one in Estonia. Most of the instructors and dancers are specialized in that style. The American Tribal Style Belly Dance is also becoming more known each day. The general impression of belly dance in Estonia is glamorous, feminine, luxurious, modern and elegant. It's a time where Estonian dancers can truly say that they can be proud to be a Middle Eastern dance artist in Estonia.

6-28-08 Tribal Fest 2008, Saturday May,17 2008, Sebastopol, CA photos and video by Lynette
Event Produced by BlackSheep BellyDance and held in the Sebastolpol Community Center, photos and performance clips of Hahbi’Ru, Unmata, Sexy Scallywags, Romka, Tempest, Clandestine, Titanya, RockRose, Natium, Sabrina

6-27-08 The Complete Performance Bag by Anna
The performance bag is that ONE practical and necessary accessory that aids in the creation of that ideal performance environment.

6-22-08 American Belly Dancing 1966: B.C. (Before Choreography) Schehera of Ohio Interviewed by John Clow
The censors didn’t want me to show my stomach because you couldn’t reveal the navel on television back then. Keeping the veil on was kind of hard to do, dancing with a snake.

6-17-08 Tito Seif: The Moment of Eternal Shimmy by Stavros Stavrou Karayanni photos by Samira and Masouma, videos by Lynette
Tito is now an international phenomenon. And how wonderful that a man from Egypt has taken to the West’s belly dance stages establishing himself as one of the greatest belly dancers and showmen today. Such development flies in the face of those American belly dance instructors, students, and performers who have long considered this art defunct in Egypt and dependent upon their kind support and cultivation.

6-16-08 Arab Defamation in the Media: Do Unwary Dancers Add Harm to the Mix? by Najia Marlyz
My frustration rose when the television news commentators expressed their puzzlement over the significance of the “shoe slapping antics” as they attempted to interpret them for western viewers. If they had had any inkling of the enormity of the hatred the insult indicated, they would not have made the silly comments that they made that day!

6-10-08 Bellydance Grows in West Virginia by Narah
It has allowed us to build upon the ties we already have and extend them to other dancers, making a community of sharing and support.

6-6-08 A Moment with Amy Sigil, Interview and Videos by Lynette Harris
If life doesn't get any better than this, then, it's okay with me! I feel so fortunate. I know so many dancers that are more talented than I; yet, here I am! When my time is over, I will bow out gracefully. I am thankful from the bottom of my heart.

6-5-08 Not for Cinderella: The Glass Dance by Tasha Banat
Use new glasses whenever possible, and never put them in the dishwasher!

6-3-08 The Egyptian Dance Code: Technique to the Perfect Dance by Sausan
Twenty-eight years after my first class in Belly dance, I looked at all the dancers once again and realized what they were doing to look Egyptian. I had discovered the Egyptian Dance Code. That was back in 2000.

5-26-08 Betty Th’ Builder: a Little Something Extra to Shake Co-written by Najia Marlyz and Salima
This year's "Grand Dancer" tells of her transformation from body builder to Bellydancer

5-21-08 Saturday Gala Peformance Part 1 of the International Bellydance Conference of Canada video and photo report by GS staff
Performers include: Lopa Sarkar, Sacred Dance Company of Victoria, Nath Keo, Roshana Nofret & Maria Zapetis of Bozenka's BD Academy, Ensemble El Saharat of Germany-
Mayyadah & Amir of Germany, Ferda Bayazit of Turkey, Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra of Toronto

5-16-08 Visiting Cairo: You live a whole lifetime in one week! by Paola
Laughter builds bridges, and in today’s world, bridges – between individuals and between cultures, are becoming more and more of an imperative.

5-13-08 The Ancient Art of Keeping Your Mouth Shut by Neon
Even one’s casual presence in the forums infested with negative-spirited discussions can instantly strip a successful artist of her magical charisma.

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

5-8-08 The Dance Zones of Egypt: Sahra Kent's Journey Through Egypt Basic 1 Workshop Report and photos by Debbie Smith
Although not strictly speaking a “dance” workshop, for each zone we got up to learn some characteristic steps and posture, and gestures associated with each dance zone/style, a good way to blend the theoretical with the experiential.

5-5--8 Dances along the Nile, Part 2: Raks Al Balas by Gamila El Masri, Reprinted with permission, from Bennu, Issue Vol.6 #3
Ah, the poor balas (water jug). This is one of the most underestimated and ignored of the dances along the Nile.

5-3-08 Improving Breathing for Better Dance Performance by Taaj
We also hold our breath when we concentrate or get nervous. This brings tension into our bodies. The more tension we have, the more shallow we breathe. It can become a vicious circle!

5-2-08 Live a DanceDivas’ Life! Interview with Jane Yee Shan Chung by Lisa Chen
Then I saw the Suhaila technique workshop announced on her website and I just signed up without knowing exactly what her format is. I am the only person who did not learn Suhaila format before at that workshop. I was so naïve, I simply wanted to give it a try.

4-23-08 to ? From Toronto, Ontario,Canada The International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Video reports by Gilded Serpent Staff Reports are presented in video format inbedded all on the same page.
4-23-08 Day 1 Wednesday Evening Show-remix from last year's stars
-Sofia, Serena, Rhythm Of The Nile, Anita of Dance Poi, pregnant Mayada, Shades Of Araby- Valizan and Sofia, Rayna, Rahma, troupe in shinny black straight skirts? Masouma Rose getting Mayyadah and Amir's reaction to the show. Clip intro reporting by Shira.
4-25-08 Day 2 Introduced by Ferda Bayazit and
4-26-08 Day 2 Thursday Evening Show
-Roula Said's Roulettes M2, Jaida of New York, Ozgen of Turkey and the UK, Ivanka of Panama, The amazing Asha of Atlanta and the troupe, Goddess Bellydance of Korea.
4-29-08 Day 3 Friday Daytime Activities
-Reporting today are Roula Said, Mark Balahadia, and Ranya Renee. Video glimpses included: Tito, Bozenka, Ferda, Lynette Harper, Ranya Renee, Mark Balahadia, Roula Said, Stavros, The "Man Panel," plus more
4-29-08 Day 3 Friday Evening Show
This video clip is a collage from the Main Stage show on Friday night. Performers included: Banat el Sharq, Ishra (we missed her- sorry!), Suha, Mark Balahadia, Nouvel Expose', Mariyah, Dominique, edVenture Arts, Dr Sawa, Danielle, Maqamaikaze, Jim Boz, Leah & Lynette Harper, Sefirah, and Arabian Allspice
4-30-08 Day 4 Saturday Daytime Activities
-Reporting today are Andrea Deagon and Rahma Haddad Glimpses include: Bozenka's class, Aida Nour's class, Amy Sigil's Class, Panel on Teaching Standards, and Aisha Ali's lecture

4-21-08 Strained Relations Comic by Pepper Alexandria
Hi! Remember me? I'm your long lost cousin!

4-18-08 Dancing with the Legends - honoring the musicians who shaped our dance world... Eddie Kochak, the Sheik, the Man by Elizabeth Artemis Mourat, & Christy Guenther
Eddie found that the melodies from Aleppo still spoke to him as an adult. He continues, “I thought I could take some of these melodies, put my feelings to them, and create what we now call the Amer-Aba sound. We created simple routines for the teacher to teach and the student to learn.

4-14-08 Taheyia Karioka, Queen of Oriental Cabaret Dance by Sausan
In the 1980’s, the spread of Islam and its fundamental militancy proved to be a big blow for Egypt’s belly dance industry. As a result, several dancers publicly renounced their pasts and donned the Islamic veil.

4-11-08 I Loved the Old Days at the Bagdad! by Habiba Nawal
I think I was making about fifteen or twenty dollars a night plus tips. It was all about the tips! The girls from New York made twenty-five, if I remember right. Bert sometimes got me shows for about thirty or seventy-five dollars for what he called “The Furry Animal Clubs”, like the Lions, the Elk and the Kiwanis.

4-8-08 Divorcing Belly Dance From Burlesque by Miles Copeland
As it is traditionally understood, I do not find Burlesque, (meaning nudity-no matter how hard one pretends it does not) amusing or creative in the slightest when it comes to including Belly dance, an art that has suffered too long with such unfortunate associations. I find it completely irresponsible and detrimental.

4-7-08 When the Hip Hits the Fan by Princess Farhana
Though fan dancing is not considered traditional in raqs sharqi, due to the increasing popularity of fusion, many Oriental dancers are exploring fusing the many styles of fan dancing and Belly dance with stunning results. When used onstage, fans are FAN-ciful, conveying various emotions to an audience, as well as being a spectacular visual treat. They can be dramatic and stately, or coy and flirtatious and are always a crowd pleaser!

4-3-08 Dances along the Nile, Part 1: Raks Al Asaya by Gamila El Masri, Reprinted with permission, from Bennu, Issue Vol.6 #3
There is strength in the cane twirl but not aggression, extreme rapid twirling should be held as an additional sensational feat, less is more. Have your body of twirling be moderate so that you can vary from slow to climatic; always reflecting the music, it's mood and tempo. Get down without getting crazy.

3-31-08 A New Venue for Rakkasah Festival West by Susie Poulelis
In retail, there is a saying that having an item sell out was a happy problem to have. You want to keep your customers yearning for more, making sure they won't hesitate to buy the next time they see something they want.

3-27-08 To Buy or Not to Buy – A Guide to Mass Market Belly Dance Instructional DVDs by Yasmin
Most producers ask or hire others to write glowing reviews. You will often see the same people reviewing a producer’s entire line of product. Those are suspect. Look for the one-off comments. They will give a better overview, along with anything less than 5 stars.

3-25-08 A Career Path Less Traveled: Dancing in Movies and TV in the'60s, An Interview with Tanya Lemani by John Clow
In "Get Smart" I enjoyed working with Karen Steele and Don Adams. They took some of my lines out and Don saw that I was upset. Don insisted that they give some of them back to me.

3-22-08 Hafla at the Hoover featuring Morocco February 10, 2008, Hoover Theatre in San Jose, CA Video and photos by Lynette
Debbie Smith on scene reporter, event produced by The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of MECDA

3-17-08 From Cabaret to DJ Bellydance in New York: An Overview, 1988 - 2007 by Nina Costanza (Amar)
But the primary forums for dancers, the major New York nightclubs, have closed their doors. Cabaret is gone; it is the era of the DJ. And the new dancer has to have another job.

3-17-08 Photos from Carnival of Stars 2007- A-Z Page 3 Casual photos by Carl Sermon, Duane Stevens, John Kalb, Murat Bayhan, and Lynette Harris
Novemenber 10 & 11, 2007, produced by Alexandria and Latifa Centennial Hall in Hayward, California

3-15-08 Love Stories…The Choreographies of Raqia Hassan, by Astryd Farah deMichele
A new feeling emerged about how the music truly is the dance, it creates the dance… the feelings behind Egyptian music, the soul of the music, are that which we experience as artists and dance to; for performers, so that it can be visually displayed.

3-13-08 Enduring Open Criticism: A Student’s Question about Feeling Humiliated by Najia Marlyz
What is wrong with our form of dance today is a direct result of the current trend for treating dance students as if they were in therapy or grade school (or both).

3-12-08 Just the Facts, In Response to: "MECDA Breaks its Silence by Rachel Lazarus" by Doyne Allen
We have never accused anyone of stealing money. We have brought to the MECDA Board’s attention the waste and bad management of funds.

3-5-08 Learning Matrix: A Long Journey, The Belly Dance Scene in Taiwan, by Lisa Chen
Sometimes, one might have to admit that learning only choreographies might lead students and dancers away from learning the essential elements of traditional Belly dance.

3-2-08 The North Valley Belly Dance Competition- 2007, Photos by Michael Baxter
Held on November 10, 2007, in Oroville, California, event produced by Carolee and David Tamori. It was an exciting contest, covering five categories: Novices, Intermediates, Troupe dancers, Solos and Live Solos. Live music was provided by Doug Adam's amazing Light Rain.

2-28-08 How the Recession Affects Your Classes And What You Can Do About It by Mira
The major issues with attracting students are ever-present. They’re just more pronounced during hard times. Here’s what you’ll likely start hearing from your current and prospective students.

2-27-08 One Night at the El Morocco in Las Vegas by Anajim
Oh God, now we have to stay or be rude. I had a brainstorm, and retorted, "Well, I only like Armenian music. If you can play any of that, we will stay".

2-18-08 A Conversation with Dr. Mohamed Geddawi Ahlan Cairo Nights, August 4, 2007, Dallas, Texas by Catherine Barros
Dr. Mo is attentive to the workshop participants, giving a breakdown on each combination, and provides individual attention when someone has a difficulty. His no-nonsense style of teaching is informative, making you think about why you dance, how to dance, how to be a better dancer, and making you laugh.

2-18-08 A Night at Wahib's Roxxanne Shelaby's "Pure Sharqi" video and photos by Lynette
On January 19, Gilded Serpent was in Los Angeles for Pure Sharqi, a special evening of live music and dance, hosted by Roxxanne Shelaby (Hypzotica Productions), at Wahib’s in Alhambra. The evening featured the house band, led by Mouhamad Salem, along with invited dancers Aubre, Alexandra, the Lumina Dance Company, Debbie Smith, Sahra Saida, and Roxxanne herself, in addition to the regular house dance company the Sahlala Dancers.

2-16-08 An Invitation to Haiku the Bellydance by Najia Marlyz
Haiku often does not take itself or its subjects too seriously and is simply word images and sensory feelings conveyed by means of three lines only.

2-14-08 Photos from Carnival of Stars 2007- A-Z Page 2- L through Z photos by Carl Sermon, Duane Stevens, John Kalb, Murat Bayhan, Christopher Erickson, Lynette Harris
Novemenber 10 & 11, 2007, produced by Alexandria and Latifa Centennial Hall in Hayward, California

2-11-08 Photos from Carnival of Stars 2007- A-Z Page 1- A through K photos by Carl Sermon, Duane Stevens, John Kalb, Murat Bayhan, and Lynette Harris
Novemenber 10 & 11, 2007, produced by Alexandria and Latifa Centennial Hall in Hayward, California

2-8-08 Amina's North Beach Memories, Chapter 7: Yousef – Black Lights and Veils by Amina Goodyear
It was kind of hard to compete with this kind of action when we kept our clothes on.

2-6-08 The Secret of Saiidi Song and Dance-Straight from the Horse’s Mouth by Keti Sharif
"Saiidi". Say this word anywhere in Egypt (including El Saiid) and colloquially it implies someone who is funny, backward - a loveable, gullible character with salt-of-the-earth village simplicity. To call someone “Saiidi” is a local term or endearment for a likeable buffoon!

2-5-08 My First Mid East Gig by Yasmina Ramzy
Once we landed in Amman, we were greeted on the tarmac by solid lines of soldiers on both sides leading to the doorway of the airport, machine guns pointed towards the passengers. I don't recall ever seeing even one Canadian soldier in the flesh and blood, let alone a gun, let alone so many big guns and pointed at me. I don't think I blinked during that endless walk. We were clearly not in Hawaii.

2-1-08 MECDA Breaks Its Silence by Rachel Lazarus Soto
Thomas agreed that this was a good idea, and Schill volunteered to do the paperwork, presumably on the behalf of MECDA.

1-31-08 A Vendor's View by Artemis
Promoters need to respect their vendors, not just for fees that they have given them, but because without the vendors lining the room, where is the color (other than on the stage), and where is the “bazaar” atmosphere of the event?

1-28-08 The Devil's Details, Show Ethics for Professionals Part 5 - Beauty by
For new dancers, mastering the art of glamour can be daunting. But take heart, while internal sensuality requires character work, external beauty is easier to fix

1-22-08 “Dancing In The Streets; A History of Collective Joy” Authored by Barbara Ehrenreich, A Book Recommendation by Delilah
In her book, Barbara Ehrenreich takes one back to the original motivations of dance along a historic journey of how human impetus to dance, has been repressed by societal hierarchy, and religious zealots.

1-16-08 Backstage with the Reda Troupe by Debbie Smith
Seeing the company in performance six times was truly a wonderful experience, because each time I saw some new detail or subtlety in the movements, the costuming, the structure of the dances, and in individual performer’s presences on stage.

1-15-08 Cairo’s Streets Come Alive: Baladina Egyptian Dance Theater and Sharia Mohamed Ali by Erin Crouch photos are by Adrian Fenty
October 13, 2007, Chicago, Illinois. A modern temptress steals a man away from a traditional woman, who then finds a new man of her own. Perhaps a necessity for a dance company composed of mostly women, men seemed a hot commodity in the performance.

1-15-08 Photos from " Hate the Game Not the Player" in Oakland, California Photos by Liza Heider
A day of dance by Bay Area's Award Winning Bellydancers Presented by Shabnam and Mo on Saturday December 9th 2006

1-10-08 John Bilezikjian Where Old World Charm Meets Musical Genius by Elizabeth Artemis Mourat,
First in the series- DANCING WITH LEGENDS… honoring the musicians who shaped our dance world

1-9-08 Remembering Lynn Zalot and the Creation of the Habibi Magazine by Sadira
While everyone knew of Bob Zalot, who came to so many performances sporting his happy smile and booming laugh, many had no idea that his wife, Lynn was the true guts, heart, and workings of Habibi.

1-7-08 IBDC Part 2:- A Gilded Serpent tale, Alex in Wonderland, by Amina Goodyear
Unfortunately, the event did not draw the amount of vendors he had expected and, I believe, because he himself had not yet made a reputation for himself as a credible festival producer, he did not get the numbers of the dancers he wished for. Belly dancers are special people and Alex personally did not understand their basic nature.

2007

12-29-07 Behind the Scenes of " Bellydance Workout" by Venus
The television crew said that in the control room it was dead silent during filming as they strained to listen to what I was saying so they’d know where to aim the shots.

12-27-07 Surreal Experience with Mahmoud Reda: A Little Aloha goes a Long Way by Tammy Yee
By the end of the evening Ric, Walid and Mr. Reda were huddled together like little boys, telling naughty jokes. Ric, of course, telling jokes beginning with "There are three friends, an Egyptian, a Lebanese, and a Filipino..." These jokes, surprisingly, initiated my Mr. Reda himself, who from the workshops I had taken to be a distinguished and refined gentleman. They laughed like old friends.

12-20-07 Bella: Profile of a Costume Designer by Michelle Joyce
When I asked her if she would soon retire, she just frowned and said that there are too many mothers who need her to stay in business for the good of their families.

12-18-07 Bully Belly by Tatseena
For example: a promoter is thinking about planning an event and is talking to a friend and says, “I can’t help it if some other teacher has planned a show on the same day or night; they are different styles anyway.”

12-13-07 A Report on the First International Bellydance Conference of Canada Part 2 - Sunday Club Party Photos by Denise Marino and Lynette
Live orchestra, Randa, Amir, a packed house and very festive mood. How could it be any better?

12-6-07 IBDC- Part 1 A Brand New Idea for Belly Dance: The Festival Idea in its Formative Years by Amina Goodyear
I’m speaking of a festival and its promoters that promised more than they were able to deliver.

12-5-07 The Devil's Details, Show Ethics for Professionals Part 4 - What NOT To Do by Yasmin
Show up drunk or stoned. No more needs to be said.

11-28-07 The International Belly Dance Congress told by Salwa of Belgium and the winner of the contest professional category
September 28-30, 2007, in Bogner Regis, England Gala photos provided by Josephine Wise, others by author.
Not being able to prepare my planned choreography properly for the Oum Kalthoum song, which is not easy to interpret to begin with, I quickly turned to emotions in order to fill up the space.

11-24-07 Antique Textiles Part 3: Creating Your Unique Statement by Najia Marlyz
It is possible that you may never have performed professionally while wearing a lampshade on your head… but I have!

11-16-07 Nonprofits for Middle Eastern Belly Dancers, Is a 501c3 Right for You? by Dawn Devine
By understanding the nature of non-profits, how they are organized and run, you can see their potential for developing successful arts organization, performance space, dance company or troupe.

11-15-07 It’s Not Me; it’s You: Toxic People and What to do About Them by Taaj
The problem is, sometimes it’s hard for a reasonable person to tell if she or he is under attack by a toxic person who intends harm.

11-14-07 Three Web Apps for Busy Dancers by Asim
Since part of my day job is to keep up with technical information, I thought I would write about three free useful online services for busy dancers, and see if these can give you a hand—without killing your Bella Budget!

11-13-07 Where Have All The Cover-ups Gone? by Ashiya and Naajidah
What happened to professionalism? Mystery? Decorum and good taste?

11-9-07 Performing: Taking It to the Next Level by Piper
Some people think that performing is a way for egotistical show-offs to get attention. Nothing could be farther from the truth. A true performer entertains her audience, doing her best to make sure everyone is having a good time. What could be more generous than that?

10-30-07 North Bay Bellydance Bazaar by Aziza! photos by many including: Aziza!, Carl Sermon and others, Santa Rosa, California
There were workshops all day (taught by Theresea, Susu Pampanin, Magidah and Hannah Romanza), a large bazaar, all-day dancing performances and an evening gala show. Everything a dancer could want.

10-23-07 Khamsa Holidays, A Dance and Culture Camp in Tunisia Report and photos by Denise Leclair
How do you judge a dance trip? Would you go back next year? …in a heartbeat. Damn the cost and mercury retrograde and the heat. It was that good!

10-17-07 A Report on the First International Bellydance Conference of Canada Part 2 - Saturday Gala Performance Photos by Denise Marino & Sussi Dorrell. Held at the Ryerson Theatre in Toronto Canada on April 21, 2007. Featuring international stars including Amir Thaleb and Randa Kamal

10-17-07 Alexandria's Archives, Part 1- A Sampling of Costume Creations, Authentic Ethnic, Fantasy and Everything in Between
Pepper Alexandria says of herself: "I want people to know that I am not trying to bring down Belly dance, I helped create every aspect of it and everything that you've heard about me is true!"

10-15-07 The Devil's Details, Show Ethics for Professionals, Part 3- Separating the Girls from the Women by Yasmin
If a performer conducts herself as a professional she is much more likely to obtain repeat engagements and referrals. No one wants to be seen knowingly hiring an amateur. It is bad for business and a customer’s image.

10-11-07 The Jamila Experience by Yasmela
All of these feelings fled as soon as Jamila walked through the door. A big impressive woman clad entirely in black...

10-3-07 Revisiting BellyPalooza: the Daughters of Rhea Belly Dance Festival by Elaine, Most photos by Allen J Becker
August 4, 2007, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, Maryland. The weekend of dance workshops and performances took place once again in Baltimore on the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, one of the most elegant venues imaginable for such an event.

9-28-07 Learning the Language of Belly Dance by Shems
A dancer’s path should be the same, moving from technique to refinement to pure inspiration.

9-26-07 Lifting the Veil by Yasmina Ramzy
I excused myself first and then asked her “why on earth would someone obviously not of Middle Eastern heritage actually choose to wear the veil?” She smiled knowingly and gave me an answer that still keeps me thinking today.

9-25-07 My Teacher, Fahtiem by Lucia
As performers, we tend to often dance improvisation with moves that are ‘safe’ and comfortable. It is often difficult to step out of the box.

9-20-07 The Passage of Time by Amel Tafsout
Her performance brought tears to my eyes; not only was she technically outstanding, but she had a whole persona, stage presence and her aura… no younger dancer could be compared to her. Many times I went to see the show to watch her again and again!

9-17-07 Changes: Egyptian Dance - Has it crossed the line? by Amina Goodyear.
Both festivals, held in Giza were isolated and insulated from the people and the Cairo that I know and love

9-11-07 How to Avoid the Executioner: A Journey into Creative Listening by Najia Marlyz
Standardization can ruin an art form as it would the fashion industry—or any other endeavor based upon creative thinking.

9-8-07 A Report on the First International Bellydance Conference of Canada Part 2 - Page 2 - Friday Main Stage Photos by Denise Marino
April 20, 2007 Toronto California. Hungarian Canadian Cultural Center. Photos of Les Tri'belles, Leyla Zaharr, Amani Jabril, Ariana Vega, 12 yo Sofia...

9-6-07 A Report on the First International Bellydance Conference of Canada Part 2 - Page 1 - Thursday Main Stage Photos by Denise Marino
April 19, 2007 Toronto California. Hungarian Canadian Cultural Center. Photos of Bellyqueen, Hunnan Sultan, Ranya, Rachel, Hiba, Elise Olmi, Nath Keo, and more...

9-4-07 The Birth of a Dance Scene, The History of Oriental Dance in Switzerland by Meissoun
Please allow me to introduce some of these groundbreakers so that you will appreciate what it was like to be an Oriental dancer in Switzerland in the early 1980s.

8-29-07 The Devil's Details, Show Ethics for Professionals, Part 2- The Cross Cultural Factor by Yasmin
Warning. There is a great deal of passive aggressive face-saving behavior in this profession. It is not always woman friendly either. Respect is not a given...

8-26-07 The Dunes, Report on North African Fusion Band by Linda Grodahl
Tim Abdullah sings so soulfully, that even though the words are in a foreign language, you think you know what he is saying, and the other band members bring everything together for a joyful music experience.

8-23-07 Roots Raqs – An International Belly Dancer Goes Home to Macedonia by Paola
The musical folklore of this region deserves full debut in the World Music scene, and those of us in the MED community worldwide are ripe for the breath of fresh air that Chochek and Gypsy Brass Music can bring us. It is an original, organic and time-honored fusion, brought about by history, geography, and most importantly, tolerance and mutual cultural celebration.

8-15-07 Amina's North Beach Memories Chapter 6: Bert, by Amina Goodyear
On my first Monday at the Casa Madrid, Bert came to support the place and me. Well, what he saw was equivalent to a San Francisco earthquake.

8-13-07 Dance in a Rhode Island Summer, June 22, 2007, Performance in Tiverton by Anajim
The picturesque small harbor view was the perfect venue for this family event! The performers comprised an eclectic group that presented varied types of dance. With only one of each of the different styles, the show moved along swiftly.

8-11-07 40 Days and 1001 Nights by Tamalyn Dallal
I envisioned it as a book in which I would travel to five Islamic countries and live for 40 days in each, writing about my experiences. When I was traveling in Indonesia, one of my friends wrote back "You need to be filming this!" I did, and a musical documentary film was born

8-10-07 Dance of Power by Kathreen Saab
The sensual is from the realm of the magical, the psyche, rather than the physical.

8-1-07 The Summer School of Khaleegy Dance, Dance Style from the Saudi Arabian Penninsula, by Yasmina Ramzy
The “moral police” and hotel security watched every move I made. All my phone calls were monitored. I was not allowed to talk to or get into an elevator with an Arab man.

7-31-07 Part Two of Antique Textiles: Costuming Before the Reign of Egyptian Costumers by Najia Marlyz
I view today’s dance values as interlopers—meant to mitigate Belly dance’s checkered past by exchanging its innate free emotional expression for speed and difficulty of execution and an over-the-top outpouring of energy that is neither sensual or exotic.

7-30-07 Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant 2007 Sunday Photos, Photos by Michael Baxter, Photo Prep by Michelle Joyce, May 27, 2007 Danville, California,
Event produced by Leea. The competition for the Finalists.

7-25-07 Tribute to Reema by Taaj
Hali said, “The day of the contest, backstage we could all just feel her. We were like, ‘This is for Reema! She’s here!”

7-17-07 Belly Dance, Through the Eye of the Camera by Ishtar
Males dominate photography and film industries in both the west and the east. As well as ideas concerning the status of the dancer and gender, films involving belly dancers can give us information on the class dynamic and stratification that exists.

7-16-07 Music Copyright Law for Belly Dancers (or for any Performing Artist) by Yasmin
From Hollywood blockbuster movies down to clips on YouTube the law is the same and it applies to anyone who uses someone else’s music for their own purposes.

7-13-07 Easter in Cairo by Peppina
She is so strong and powerful and beautiful and intense. Even the not-so-stylish costumes she used to wear didn't take anything away from her.

7-12-07 Belly Dance:Time for Personal Assessment or How old are your Shoes? by Tasha Banat
What do you personally want from the dance? In order to answer this honestly, you must make a personal assessment of your goals and include your achievements.

7-11-07 "Veiled Visions" How Belly Dance Music was First Brought to the United States by Ray Rashid, intro by Amina
One time he told me about a blind accordion player who sat and made lots of jokes while they rehearsed, that musician turned out to be Ammar el Sharie.

6-30-07 Chapter 5: Listen to the Music by Amina Goodyear
Yousef wanted us to look exotic, like we were from the Middle East, so he made us stay downstairs, look available and wear sexy, skimpy pantaloon outfits or diaphanous caftans when we were not dancing.

6-21-07 The San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Weekend Two, photos by Susie Poulelis
Afro-Cuban, Chinese, Peru, Korean, Appalachian, Bolivian, Mexico, Tajikistan, Cambodian, South Indian, Tahitian

6-19-07 My DVD Shoot Adventure, A Bellyqueen & Peko Collaboration by Elisheva
I thought I had left my bad luck mantra at the airport, but I soon found that it followed me right through the studio door.

6-15-07 Seeking Sol Bloom by Kharmine
Unbeknownst to Bloom, the troupe had a hired Algerian guide, “a giant Kablye,” who had lived in London and was able to chide Bloom sternly in an accent “normally heard in an English drawing room."

6-14-07 The San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Weekend One, photos by Lynette Harris
Chinese Dragon, Kathak, Flamenco, Philipines, Bali, Afro-Peru, Mexico, Tahitian, and Shabnam does "Belly Dance Fusion"

6-13-07 Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant 2007 Saturday Photos, Photos by Michael Baxter, Photo Prep by Michelle Joyce, May 26, 2007 Danville, California, Produced by Leea
Saturday's contest includes Troupes, Duo/Trios, Grand Dancer, and Preliminaries for Solo's, Finals will be on the Sunday Photo spread

6-10-07 MECDA’s First 30 Years , The Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association's Changing Role in our Community by Marta Schill Kouzouyan
Diversity, however, often leads to dissention, and controversy flew regarding the perception of the rather strict parameters of the Egyptian style.

6-7-07 More of Carl Sermon's Photos : Rakkasah West '07
Prep and layout by Michelle Joyce

6-6-07 Chapter 4; Smokin' by Amina Goodyear
Now that I was legitimately part of the Bagdad family and on the payroll, Yousef told me that all the dancers had to split their tips 50/50 with the band. This meant that I was making less money than when I wasn’t getting paid at all.

6-4-07 Dance is in their blood by Kevin Potvin
Arabic dancing served as a way for women to share emotional experiences with each other. It is a part of everyday life for ordinary folks, and so worthy of attention by me, even, the pretend-to-be working class snob.

5-30-07 Photos of Gala Show for Raqia, photos by Carl Sermon, prep and layout by Michelle Joyce
On Saturday night there was a show at the Veteran's Hall. The Show was: Big on technique; sometimes a little too studied. The soloists were selected mostly for being Raqia's students.

5-18-07 A Report on the First International Bellydance Conference of Canada Part One- Lectures, Workshops, Panel Discussions by Diane Adams Photos by Lynette
April 18-22, 2007 Toronto, Ontario. Hosted by Yasmina Ramzy of Arabesque Academy in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this International Bellydance Conference of Canada, the first ever on the Canadian dance scene, proved to be one of the top dance experiences in this reviewer’s 30-year career.

5-17-07 Interview with Kay Taylor by Leila of Cairo
As Kay seemed a bit older and wiser to the ways of Cairo, many people assumed she was my manager. They would address their questions about my fee or my experience to Kay.

5-8-07 The Bou-Saada Bus by Yasmela
Every single one of us could play an instrument, sing, dance, run a sound board, set a stage with backdrop, lights, monitors and microphones, plug them in, and put them away. We made our own costumes and our own drums and used duct tape in a thousand creative ways. While we never made a living from it, it was our way of life. Our experiences will bond us forever.

5-6-07 How to Charge What You Are Worth by MIchelle Joyce
The first step to becoming an effective negotiator is to emotionally detach yourself from the outcome. If you can’t walk away from the deal, you have already lost.

5-4-07 The Devil's Details, Show Ethics for Professionals, Part 1- Booking a Party by Yasmin
When a dancer looks good, she, or another, will get called back to perform again. When she looks bad, customers might be turned off to our lovely art form forever. Therefore, a bad dancer not only ruins things for herself, but for all of us

5-1-07 How We Got our Video Groove On by Zari
Ultimately however, it seemed that getting a video is like getting a gig: sometimes, you have to create your own opportunities.

4-18-07 Antique Textiles: Renewed Life for Dance by Najia Marlyz
In fact, we often danced for many little luncheon gigs in offices and other places as a surprise birthday gift—to the music of our own solo sagat. Now, that is a skill that I have never seen anyone repeat since the early seventies!

4-17-07 Chapter 3: A Marriage Made in North Beach by Amina Goodyear
The stage was alight with the flames of the candelabrum’s candles and the eerie glow of her costume. Fatma’s costumes were always comprised of material that glowed in the dark as her show began with no light—except for “black light”.

4-17-07 Finger Cymbals by Melina of Daughters of Rhea
Above all this cross-cultural cacophony soared my mom’s perfectly paced zills, right left right, right left right, right left right left right left right. If you put me in a room blindfolded, I could distinguish her playing from any other dancer on earth.

4-14-07 Randa Kamal in Cairo The Photos of Susie Poulelis
I was fortunate to travel to Cairo on business in April '06, and managed to take some time to see a few sights and, at least, one dance performance: Randa Kamal at the Marriot Zamelek's Empress Nightclub

4-11-07 Bellydance in '70s Berkeley: Cedar Sposato's Photo Archive
Linda was a member of Masha Archer's Troupe...

3-22-07 The Photos of Susie Poulelis, Sunday March 18, 2007, Rakkasah Festival, Richmond, California
Isabelle shines at 9!

3-18-07 Circle Dance by Melina of Daughters of Rhea
The circle is a perfect, democratic & unending shape, the shape of an energized community, the shape of this lovely round planet.

3-16-07 In Tribute: Rhonda/Baseema of Troupe Ooh La La by Shabnam
There were times she could barely walk due to a flare up of Lupus, but she always came to rehearsal and gave a 110%--despite the pain or trouble, she was going through that day. Rhonda soon became the troupe mascot because of her courage and commitment. "If Rhonda can do it, you can do it!" became our motto. She was a great source of inspiration and motivation for all members of Ooh La La.

3-14-07 Morgana's Animal Magnetism, Interview with Morgana of Madrid by Surreyya
After seeing Morgana’s Serpent Dance, where she embodies the personality of the serpent, I was hooked. Any snake lovers or snake dancers will have a special appreciation for this piece.

3-12-07 Islamic Architecture by Michel Harris
Oil wealth, along with social and political change, has threatened Islamic culture and traditions. Therefore, many Muslim planners and architects are reacting to this invasion of Western culture by reasserting their Islamic heritage.

3-10-07 Belly Dance Workshops: Realistic Expectations by Eleyda Negrón
The difference between a Christmas gift and a workshop though, is that in the worse case scenario, you can always return your gift and change it for something else, but… What do you do with a workshop that didn’t suit you? It can become a waste of time and money for both ends.

3-8-07 Nakish- An inteview with "The Lady with the Eyes" by Sausan
I worked hardest for the dancers in San Francisco to wipe out the discrimination factor and to make sure that all cultures were included in the performance of this dance.

3-5-07 My Dance Career’s Dark Side: As seen through a fog of murky emotion by Najia Marlyz
Will recounting my dark stories help me to purge them? Should one forget those special moments of insult and bad human behavior that all performers face?

2-7-07 Sunday Photos PAGE 2-Carnival of Stars Photos by Michael Baxter
Event Sponsors Alexandria and Latifa November 11 & 12, 2006 Centennial Hall, Hayward, California

2-18-07 Its Not Your Grandmamma's Zar By Roxxanne Shelaby
Luckily at some point we hear the distinct rhythm for a Zar and follow the drumming right to the front door of an apartment house.

2-17-07 An Inconvenient Body Truth by Barbara Donahue
Therefore, here I am now, having worked very hard to learn as much as possible to master my body, invest in the costumes, and—Bam!—suddenly, menopause has hit me!

2-15-07 DVDs can be a Lifesaver to the Disabled! by Lia Medina
Nonetheless, I continue to Belly dance. I will not give up dance until I can no longer succeed in dancing at least four of its basic steps.

2-13-07 Sunday Morning Panel Discussion at Carnival of Stars, November 11, 2007 Transcribed from video by Allyson
Panel members discussed Fusion in Belly Dance. Members included: Jihan Jamal, Shareen El Safy, Dahlena, Debbie Lammam, Amina Goodyear, and Edwina Nearing

2-7-07 Sunday Photos PAGE 1-Carnival of Stars Photos by Michael Baxter
Event Sponsors Alexandria and Latifa November 11 & 12, 2006 Centennial Hall, Hayward, California (panel discussion and Sunday photos PAGE 2 yet to come...)

2-5-07 Tips on Getting Tips by Zaheea
Some audiences don’t know that they are expected to tip. Don’t take it personally.

1-27-07 Mining for Gold in the Gilded Serpent Archives - List #1 Surreyya's Favorite Articles
I've compiled a list of articles that have inspired, influenced and enabled me to cross many intersections when arriving at a challenge.

1-25-07 One Banat: An Exploration of Some Belly Dance Costuming Origins by Tasha Banat
Since the establishment of Israel, the definition of the term “Middle East” seems to have changed and now has come to refer to a conglomeration of a number of unrelated countries in the Asian and African parts of the hemisphere.

1-18-07 Who Really Gave Us This Dance? by Sausan
And, in their quest for self-expression, they, too, would fall prey to the sweet expressive motions of a timeless dance only to find a cure for their soul in the performance of this expression in front of an appreciative audience.

1-17-07 Western Dancer's Guilt, a Response to Naajidah, by Miles Copeland
People have occasionally suggested Arabs would be “horrified” by the inclusion of the Tribal style in our show but I can tell you that this style is extremely popular with Middle Easterners who come to our show.

1-16-07 The Costume Contest Carnival of Stars Bellydance & Comic Book Convention & Costume Contest Photos by Michael Baxter
Event Sponsors Alexandria and Latifa November 11 & 12, 2006 Centennial Hall, Hayward, California

1-12-07 The Magnificent Fundraiser Part IV: The Berkeley Fire Department and Act 3, Bert and Najia's Duet by Najia Marlyz Slideshow coding by Tammy Yee
Near the end of our Second Act, the curtain began to smolder badly filling the air with an acrid stench and blue smoke...

1-4-07 Saturday Photos -Carnival of Stars Bellydance & Comic Book Convention & Costume Contest Photos by Michael Baxter
Event Sponsors Alexandria and Latifa November 11 & 12, 2006 Centennial Hall, Hayward, California (Costume contest, panal discussion and Sunday photos yet to come...)

2006 (90-100 articles - you count them!)

12-30-06 I Dance; You Follow by Leila
As Westerners interested in an Eastern dance form, we might want to ask ourselves if we are missing certain critical aspects of Raqs Sharki because we are not open to Eastern teaching methods.

12-26-06 Teaching at the 2006 Ahlan Wa Sahlan Cairo Festival by Leyla Lanty
Performing on teachers' night is a good way for new teachers to attract more students to their classes.

12-18-06 My Moment with Nagwa by Ahava
While dancing I kept eye contact with the judges and guests of honor. I still remember their mannerisms and what I perceived to be their glares. Randa and Dr. Mo were conversing and smiling contently, Faten and Zahra were clapping. Also, there sat Nagwa Fouad, “Queen of Cairo!”

12-15-06 Queen of the Bay Bellydance show and Competition June 17, 2006 Photos by Michael Baxter,
Event Sponsored by Shabnam and Maurice in Oakland, California.

12-11-06 Happy Holiday Download! Comic by Alexandria
Click on image for larger file- dowload, print, and color!

12-8-06 It Wasn’t About the Trophy: The North Valley Belly Dance Competition in Oroville, Ca. 2006 by Salima
I have done many things in my life and by forcing myself to have other performers judge my performance, I have motivated myself to step up to the plate and accomplish what I had set in my mind to do.

12-5-06 The Ethics of Fusion by Naajidah
If the culture that you’re borrowing your moves from objects to your fusion, does it matter? Are you being respectful or exploitative if you borrow steps from a culture that doesn’t want their music and dance used that way?

11-28-06 Back to Basics by Najia Marlyz
Belly Dance is most meaningful when we define it as a communication of mutually held emotional response and truths between people

11-17-06 Interview with Safaa Farid by Leila
These days there are times I feel I've seen everything an Egyptian dancer can do in the first five minutes of her show. She doesn't change. But foreigners study the dance very hard and they put much time into their show so that is it interesting for a whole hour.

11-10-06 How I started a Bellydance Club in High School by Shazzadi
I expected hardly anyone to show up at the first meeting. I was shocked when over 40 girls showed up and were very excited about the whole idea. So I was able to prove interest.

11-9-06 The Ethnic Dance Festival 2006 Photos by Susie Poulelis Weekend One - "Time" June 10, 2006
Palace of Fine Arts, San Fransico, CA

11-2-06 The Constant Grind by Margo Abdo O'Dell
Today, the bitter truth is that the curvaceous and fleshy female figure is constantly disrespected by the media and pop culture.

10-29-06 Opening a Bellydance Studio, Tips for Success by Keti Sharif
She has recently retired fully from bellydancing but offers great advice on business plans for dancers wishing to expand their hobby into a career.

10-24-06 Adventures in Turkey 2006 by Michelle Joyce, photos by Michael Baxter
I am not exaggerating when I say that Sandra actually threw herself into Bella's arms and wept when she first laid eyes on her.

10-18-06 “The Bellydancers of Cairo” An interview with filmmaker Natasha Senkovich by Betsey Flood
As a maid you can find yourself in compromising positions—not good situations for a woman to be in—but in Egypt, it is considered so much better than being a dancer.

10-17-06 Judging in Germany, The Summer Festival and the International Raks Sharqi Contest 2006 by Dondi S. Dahlin.
photos by Klaus Rabien, Berlin, Germany. "It is also an easy out for judges who need to find a reason to drop a dancer’s score…especially if the competition is tough."

10-12-06The Soltice Festival, Belly Dance in Spain- Part 2, Photos by Lynette
held June 23-26, 2006. Part Two- The Evening Show, Event organized by Maria Cresswell of Tribal Girona at Sanctuari Els Arcs, Girona, Spain. A medieval hostelry with a chapel, set in the beautiful volcanic natural park of La Garrotxa near the picturesque village of Santa Pau.

10-11-06 The Soltice Festival, Belly Dance in Spain- Part 1, Photos by Lynette
held June 23-26, 2006. Part One- Workshops and Setting, Event organized by Maria Cresswell of Tribal Girona at Sanctuari Els Arcs, Girona, Spain. A medieval hostelry with a chapel, set in the beautiful volcanic natural park of La Garrotxa near the picturesque village of Santa Pau.

10-6-06 What is Gypsy Bellydance? by Amy Luna Manderino
...it is a sore point for representatives of the Roma community whose advocacy groups are very clear on their preference for the term Roma or Romani and consider the term "Gypsy" to be suspect when used outside their own community.

10-5-06 From the Land Down-under, Part 3: More of Our West Coast Dance Adventure by Trisnasari
"Hi, I'm Suhaila's mum; I hear you Underbelly girls are good zillers!"

10-3-06 Rhea: Greek Flavor and Flair Article by Rebecca Firestone, Photos by Carl Sermon,
Rhea & Laikis Orientale and Greek Folk Dance Workshop sponsored by Ma*Shuqa, held Saturday, August 19, 2006, at the Empire Buffet restaurant, in San Jose, California

9-29-06 The Body Beautiful- A Review of Aziza's workshop by Eve
Moving across the country and learning to adjust to a new environment is never an easy thing, but add in the difficulty of adjusting to a completely new bellydancing community, and you have a recipe for "Awkward Stew".

9-28-06 Teacher Student Rivalry, Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 16 by Mary Ellen Donald
"After all I did for her, why did she turn on me that way?" "I'll show her that I can do just a well without her help?"

9-22-06 Kohl: Drawing the Line by Dawn Devine
Along with henna, kohl has been part of the beauty regimens of women since the dawn of history, and an unbroken line connects the eyes of today with those of the ancients.

9-15-06 The Taxim from a Dancer's Perspective:Tarab or Tyranny? by Najia Marlyz
Sometimes, these improvisations can be quite elaborate. The effect is somewhat like modern jazz and stays within the framework of the traditional maqam or maqamat.

9-14-06 Territorialism Undermines Event Sponsor's Efforts, Interview with Dee Dee Asad by Lynette
Open discussions of such issues will help dancers, musicians and those people who surround and support them, to recognize similar patterns in their own local environments.

9-12-06 From the Land Down-under, Part 2: Northeast and Canada by Trisnasari
What is happening in Australia, is also happening in America.

9-11-06 "The Spirit of Egyptian Dance" Shareen El Safy- with the George Lammam Ensemble Workshop & Show, Photos by Carl Sermon, Sponsored and produced by Debbie Lammam July 22 & 23, 2006, Dance Mission Theatre, San Francisco, CA

9-7-06 Amani's Oriental Festival 2006: June 20-25, 2006 by Beverley Joffe
Delving into Oriental Culture, Dance and Surviving Israeli Military Attack.

9-5-06 Eilat Oriental Dance Festival, January 2006 - Report by Sophie, Photos by Gali Tibon
As my friends' car was making its way through the desert, the sense of anticipation, mixed with excitement, was growing inside me.

9-4-06 Tatseena's Bellydance Fantasy Festival 2006 Photos by Lynette & Carl Sermon
July 28 & 29, 2006 Marina Community Center, San Leandro, California. "This festival was created for family, friends, and fun!" says Tatseena.

8-30-06 Independent Contractor or Employee? by Taaj
The important thing is that the relationship between worker and payer be classified correctly for tax purposes so that you are aware of what taxes and filings you are liable for.

8-28-06 Bellydancing, Mythology and Astrology: Exploring the creative character of dance expression by Keti Sharif
Is dance a ritual, a means of celebration, a form of entertainment, or something more? Could it be a mode of human expression that harnesses the secrets of the universe?

8-16-06What Middle Eastern Audiences Expect from a Belly Dancer by Leila
Audiences in the Middle East, especially Egyptians, see bellydancing as something to be participated in, critiqued, and loved (or hated) with gusto.

8-15-06 Bellydance Journalism Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 14 by Mary Ellen Donald
One powerful tool used to mislead is bellydance journalism.

8-13-06 God Belly Danced: Belly Dancers in the First Century Banqueting Tradition, Part 5, by DeAnna Putnam
So, like in the Old Testament Book, belly dancing can at times be connected specifically with wine and viticulture

8-9-06 A Meeting with Hallah Moustafa, Haute Couture Costume Designer in Cairo by Milena Miklos
I’d heard there was an American costume-maker living in Cairo, but her clients prefer to keep her name a secret.

8-8-06 Spirit of the Tribes 2006 Photos by Juddy Lane, submitted by Maja, Event Sponsor, April 2006
A Belly dance festival specializing in "Tribal Fusion" including dance from culturals other than from the Middle East or North Africa.

8-4-06 Field Report from the Dance Gig Front by Surreyya Hada
After a pause, and a little embarrassment, I threw my hands up at him in disgust and walked away. The audience laughed loudly.

8-1-06 Rhea’s Travel to Syria, Part 5 –Sex and the Single Girl by Rhea of Athens
The Trials and Travails of a Lone Female Traveler

7-31-06 From the Land Down-under, Part I: The Festival by Trisnasari of Melbourne, Australia
In the wings, before we hit the festival stage, Andrea whispered to Mel and I, “Well, this is our first international performance!”

7-25-06 Freedom From Choreography: A Lucy Report by Nisima
Lucy certainly did “Free me”! ...

7-20-06 About Cymbals & a Workshop Checklist, Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 13 by Mary Ellen Donald
Believe it or not, playing cymbals can be a real pleasure. Playing them well can greatly enhance your dance performance. Playing apologetic or offbeat cymbals can ruin your dance performance.

7-5-06 Sheikka Rimitti, Queen of the Rai by Linda Grondahl
Unlike most of the music that we are familiar with from the Middle East that are usually unrequited love songs or patriotic love of country songs, the rai songs are about drinking, suicide, suffering, colonialism, poverty, exile, homesickness, corruption and the passion and pain of actual love making.

6-29-06 “Gypsy” Dance in America, by Caitlyn, photos of author by Rachel Ong
Roma dance usually brings to mind tambourines and skirt-swirling, but these images are mainly a fantasy.

6-27-06 Om Kalthoum, The Voice of Egypt by Yasmin
She was without contest the most well-known singer of the Arab world. She was also the most influential woman of her time in the Middle East.

6-26-06 The Spirit of the Dance: A Response to the Criticism of my Tribal Fest 2006 “Pierced Wings” Performance by Sashi
I was originally hesitant to write this article regarding my Tribal Fest 2006 “Pierced Wings” performance as I personally believe that a performance should not have to be explained by the artist, rather it should rely on what it evokes in others.

6-21-06 Photographic Review of the 33rd Annual Bellydancer of the Year Pageant Photos and report by Michael Baxter
This show has some wonderful traditions.

6-20-06 Unionizing Belly Dance:MECDA's Beginnings, Part 3:Tying Up Loose Ends, by Samra /Sherifa,
The problem was that after the first strike, where the issues were so clear cut – no one had been paid since the owner gambled away our money, tip-sharing had just been instituted -- people were unwilling to continue with strikes for getting contracts all over town.

6-19-06 "It IS About the Food!"by Margo Abdo O'Dell
The matriarchs were teaching me about a cultural art from my Lebanese heritage.

6-18-06 The Magnificent Fundraiser Part Three: Acts I and II by Najia Marlyz
...today’s dancers and producers sometimes write that they believe that large stage shows with good sound and lighting, a Master of Ceremonies, and live music are only now starting production ...

6-12-06 Belly Dancer of the Year 2006 Photos by Susie Poulelis
Danville, Ca, Sunday May 28, 2006 BD of the Year - Finals, more photos coming!

6-9-06 Weird Rituals and Beyond: Exploring Current Controversies in Middle Eastern Dance by Barbara Grant
If you are like me, (I know that many are not) you first responded viscerally and negatively to both situations. Then, as the shock wore off, perhaps you tried to make sense of it all.

6-6-06 The Bellydance Scene in Taiwan Toss Hair Dance by Eugenia
The women were much more skillful than I expected: just 3 years ago, nobody in Taiwan really knew anything about Bellydance.

6-5-06 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 12 Moved by the Music by Mary Ellen Donald
I did all this because those sudden shifts in rhythm and tempo and the abrupt breaks in the music that were unfamiliar to me could have made me look like a fool...

6-2-06 Tribal Fest 2006, May 19 in Sebastopol photos by Susie Poulelis
Performances from Saturday late afternoon including: BlackSheep, Sashi, InFusion...

6-1-06 I Love Lucy: Confessions of a Dancer by Yosifah Rose
Lucy does not believe that one can properly perform Oriental dance with a set choreography.

5-30-06 Fresh Old Sounds by Charmaine Ortega Getz
Seeking fresh sounds in belly dance music? Consider a trip back to the 1950s up to the groovy ‘70s when a new style of music was bringing the East to the West.

5-29-06 Traveling to Tizi Ouzou by Linda Grondahl
When I was in high school, I was fascinated by some of the names I read about when studying world geography.

5-29-06 P.U.R.E. Danceby Dhyanis
A collective of dancers and drummers plan to take music and dance out into the streets this summer on July 15 in cities across the nation and globe.

5-27-06 Bellydance in Iceland by Sabah
Recently, I was able to witness first hand how truly global the world of bellydance has become. Dances of the Middle East and North Africa are no longer a mystery and unknown “exotic” style of dance.

5-26-06 Sashi - Kabob by Lynette, Warning, possibly disturbing graphics!
The punctures appear to go under the skin into the subcutaneous fat layer and not through muscle tissue.

5-23-06 The Photos of Saroya Ahlaam, March 2006, Rakkasah Festival, Richmond, Ca
...she was a replacement at Rakkasah for a no-show and did a great job! I was so impressed with the crystals on her costume. You could see them sparkle from the back of the auditorium.

5-21-06 The Photos of Susie Poulelis, March 2006, Rakkasah Festival, Richmond, Ca
Shoppers were treated to an improvised drum solo by Shoshanna in the foyer

5-17-06 An interview with Leila by Lynette
"Turning tricks," or sleeping with nightclub or hotel owners, is not required to make it as a dancer in Egypt, but it is a complicated and questionable industry and there are many pressures.

5-17-06 Making New Musical Inroads in Luxembourg 2005 by Mark and Ling Shien Bell
Helm takes Rhythm Diatribes Workshops to Europe. It was extremely educational for us to watch the learning process in three very diverse regions.

5-16-06 Got Strength? Buffing up for Bellydance by Aruna
Muscles are like smart-aleck teenagers. If you ask them to do something, they do just enough to get the job done—and no more.

5-15-06 Rhythmical Truths Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 11, by Mary Ellen Donald
In my books and in person, I make the point that there are two basic kinds of rhythmical variations – embellishments and fill-ins.

5-15-06 God Belly Danced, Part IV: The Rise of the Pagan Anti-Belly Dance League by DeAnna Putnam
Dancing girls, wherever they came from, at this time apparently were luxury import items and thus were subject to a 25 percent duty tax, equal to that of precious gems.

5-11-06 Rocking with Raqia by Taaj
Each explanation brought the class closer to understanding the essence of Egyptian style.

5-7-06 Photos from Bellydance Superstars Audition in San Rafael, CA, Feb 2006 by GS staff
Tough lighting conditions! Though, we did managed to get a few.

5-5-06 2005 Folktours Middle Eastern Music & Dance Camp Pennsylvania, by Zarqaa, Photos by Sarah Skinner and Carl Miller.
Look around and delight in the glory of the dancers and musicians. Dance.

5-2-06 Cairo '05, How to Eat, Drink, Sleep, and Breathe Raqs Sharqi, Part 4of 4 The End of the Trip by Andrea
We were hooted and hollered at countless times, passed an angry bunch of men arguing about Allah-knows-what, women with large bundles balanced on their heads, people in the stores and on the street trying to sell us stuff, but we were safe!

4-29-06 Interview with Magda Ibrahim by Debbie Lammam
That is very enjoyable, to see someone who didn’t know how to do something before and now they do, and I’m the one who helped them do it, regardless of whether they are Egyptian or foreign.

4-26-06 Much, Much More by Margo Abdo O'Dell
Please do not call me a belly dancer. Because for me, it is not just a flip of the hip, the wink of an eye.
It is not just the sparkle of jewels, the want of applause.

4-20-06 Photos of Saturday Workshop & Evening show from Aida Nour & Magdy El-Leisy Workshop 2006 Photos by Lynette Harris & staff sponsored by Little Egypt held on Feb 25, 2006 in Los Angeles, California- CASUALS- Show photos still coming!

4-14-06 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 10-How to Avoid Being Eaten by Sharks by Mary Ellen Donald
Not so fortunate are those people who feel threatened most of the time, limping from one extreme response to another.

4-12-06 How to Prepare for a Superstars Audition by Samira
Also, remember that a professional troupe is a business. So if mixing business and pleasure turn you cold, this may not be the right artistic outlet for you.

4-11-06 Adventure Amid the Tempest: The Biloxi Fest's Near Brush with Hurricane Katrina, by Sydney
Consequently, we did not allow Hurricane Katrina stop us from driving 450 miles to immerse ourselves in and perform with Mark and Ling Shien Bell of Helm! MORE PHOTOS ADDED!

3-30-06 Interview with Magdy el-Leisy by Lynette
Ballet gave me freedom to create my own style. I didn't go to folklore school as a child so I have more freedom to express my own style.

3-27-06 The Bellydance Superstars Show In Perspective by Miles Copeland
There are many factors to balance, and ANY show can be improved. The point is to also know the limitations that one faces in doing all the things one would like to do.

3-23-06 Cairo '05, How to Eat, Drink, Sleep, and Breathe Raqs Sharqi, Part 3 of 4-Current Cairo Happenings
by Andrea, You could say that Aleya and I are burning the candle at both ends and enjoying every moment! Our priorities are three: take lessons, buy costumes, and watch shows.

3-17-06 Photos of Friday Evening show from Aida Nour & Magdy El-Leisy Workshop 2006 Photos by Lynette Harris & staff sponsored by Little Egypt held on Feb 24, 2006 in Los Angeles, California,

3-16-06 Giza Awards 2005, A Cultural Odyssey, by Rebecca Firestone
Can it be that the West has been so involved in learning technique and choreography that the very soul of the dance has been left to those in the Middle East who are desperately struggling to keep their art alive?

3-16-06 Fahteim in Vegas by Neferteri
The Las Vegas 2006 belly dance season is off to a phenomenon beginning!

3-14-06 Hosting Australia’s Leonie and Alpen Sukan by Samiya
What was going to be another dance choreography workshop weekend turned into a weekend of dancing and drumming. It is now over year later, and people are still talking about that weekend.

3-10-06 "Just Dance," Says Aida, A conversation with Aida Nour by Lynette Harris
She likes improvisation, and says that if a dancer has very good technique and a good ear for the music she should “just dance.”

3-7-06 Streets of Cairo- Egyptian Rhythm, Language and Dance by Keti Sharif
Cairo's streets are much like its dance – streams of freestyle movement guided by intuition rather than rules. There are no 'principles' as such in both circumstances – it’s the organic-ness of Egyptian life that creates order in chaos.

3-5-06 Cairo 2005 How to Eat, Drink, Sleep, and Breathe Raqs Sharqi, Part Two of Four-Dance Lessons by Andrea
In Egypt, if a woman is only going to wear one item of make-up, it will be black eyeliner.

3-3-06 How MECDA Began Part II, To Whom It May Concern by Mish Mish El-Atrash
I was very curious to hear what Fairuz had to say about how M.E.C.D.A. began, as I was one of the original dancers to organize it.

2-28-06 Loay Dahbour: Kuwaiti Drum Pro Interview by Yosifah Rose
In addition to teaching us about drum solos, Loay also took some time to share with us his valuable insights as a musician after working for the past thirteen years with hundreds of San Francisco Bay Area Bellydancers.

2-15-06 The Danish Caricatures Controversy: a Muslim-American Political Cartoonist Weighs-In, by Khalil Bendib
Try as I may, while reviewing the infamous Islam-o-phobic Danish caricatures, I fail to discern in them any clear political statement other than the questionable assertion that Islam equals terrorism.

2-14-06 Cairo 2005 How to Eat, Drink, Sleep, and Breathe Raqs Sharqi, Part One of Four, by Andrea
Today is an historical day in Egypt! The first “real” election with actual opposition candidates is taking place. I’m trying to stay abreast of this important event from TV news, but the American and British news sources barely talk about it.

2-11-06 What Kind of Snakes are Good for Dancing? by Neferteri
“So many snakes, so little time.” What is a girl to do? I am often asked what is a good snake to dance with. Well, that depends on two things.

2-9-06 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 9, Can't We All Get Along? Dancers and Musicians by Mary Ellen Donald
First, you don’t have to be afraid of working with live music.

2-6-06 The Peace Belt comes to Tucson by Lucy Lipschitz
But it matters more, I think, that this dance can be used to stimulate thinking and discussion, and even to help feed and clothe other human beings.

2-3-06 Bellydance Community Floods Costume Consignment Store with Love by Evelyn Reece
New Years’ Eve San Anselmo, CA . A new year brings new opportunities. My New Year came early and wearing the guise (or should I say costume?) of a disaster.

1-29-06 Zaharr's Memoir, Part 12-Learning to Perform
I knew I wasn't dancing like one of the pretty dancers I had seen in 1966, but now it was 1968, and it was time to focus on my own goal of learning more.

1-20-05 Amani “Around the World” DVD Report by Katya Faris
She has put her dancing on stage and has created numerous theatre productions in the past 10 years and this show is the first one on DVD.

1-17-06 Bellydance Superstars, Our Plans for 2006 by Miles Copeland, 2005 Photos by Monica Berini
There is nothing like consistency and constant pressure to deliver at your best each night to weld a group or troupe together.

1-16-05 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 8, Leadership Risks by Mary Ellen Donald
When you lead people, you take certain risks. One such risk is that of self-revelation.

1-11-06 Return to India – This Time it’s Personal! by Michelle and Sandra
We thought that the misfortunes associated with our previous performance tours of India were simply anomalies in the blissful and glamorous world of dancing overseas.

1-10-06 The Dina Show! Photos by Catherine Barros, Slideshow coding by Tammy Yee
Event sponsored by Little Egypt on May 28-30, 2005 at the Crowne Plaze in Miami, Florida

1-9-06 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 9 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

1-4-06 What You Can't Get From Instructional Videos by Rebecca Firestone
Being able to withstand honest opinions is crucial. If one never communicates directly with one's peers AS PEERS, that is, not as sycophantic students, one can develop an insular and self-referential mindset without ever realizing it.

2005 (97? articles)

12-30-05 My Retirement by Zaharr
Thirty-six years of feeling special, of dressing up night after night and of being “The Sultan’s Favourite Kadin” ended with such a quiet whisper that even I was surprised.

12-27-05 Spokane's First Belly Dance Festival, text by Nadiyah, the sponsor, photos and captions by Lynette
Spokane’s First Annual Belly Dance Festival offered instruction for belly dancers of all levels and a variety of styles.

12-22-05 Comic Book Artists Portray Dancers
In addition to the dancing and vending, comic book artists were on hand to demonstrate their ability to convert photos into works of art as well as to promote their work.

12-15-05 Dancing with Snakes by Maria
Snakes may not need to be walked and played with as do dogs and cats, but they do like to be handled – in fact – it is essential that they become accustomed to being handled by you particularly, in order for the snake to find dancing with you acceptable.

12-13-05 The Zar by Yasmin
We do know that today thousands of women in Africa and the Middle East use this music to cure all kinds of illnesses. They literally dance until they drop.

12-10-05 Articulating the Collective Dream: The Giza Awards, and why the legacy-making process is important to you.
by Amina Goodyear and Gregory Burke. "We embrace change however roughly it appears. With video we feel secure in the knowledge that the legacy of the past will never abandon us."

12-9-05 Noshing around the Bay by Neran and Nisima
On Neran's first visit back to Bay Area a year after relocating to Knoxville, Tennesee she announced to Nisima, "there are no and I mean no Middle Eastern restaurants in Knoxville; let's go to as many as we can while I'm here."

12-7-05 The Universal Categories of The Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition, report by Amy Bonham
held February 19-20, 2005 in Long Beach, California, photos by GS staff

12-3-05 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 8 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

12-2-05 A Photographer's View, The North Valley Contest 2005, photos and report by Michael Baxter
It was an exciting contest, covering five categories: Novices, Intermediates, Troupe dancers, Solos and Live Solos. Live music was provided by the amazing Light Rain.

11-30-05 Paradise Found at Habibi Hawaii 2005 A Report by Tammy Yee
Azure skies and sun-kissed palms provided the perfect backdrop for Habibi Hawaii, Honolulu's Premier Bellydance Festival and Celebration.

11-27-05 Belly Dancer USA Competition, Canyonville, Oregon, June 11-12, 2005, photos and report by Saroya Ahlaam
Mezdulene and her supporting staff need to be commended for their hard work and effort. It was a smooth running event that was well organized and a joy to attend. I’ll be back next year!

11-24-05 My Incredible US Tour by Maya
This trip was almost two months of intensive adventure and provided an exchange of experiences with many dancers.

11-22-05 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 7, Negatudes by Mary Ellen Donald
I have just enjoyed putting on a show for a warm and responsive audience. What a joy! This has prompted me to take time to look at the role that an audience plays in the outcome of a performance.

11-17-05 Traveling with the Touareg by Linda Grondahl
This was my 5th trip to Algeria since 2000 and I have been amazed at the rapid economic development. The government is working very hard to make Algeria a very popular tourist destination once again.

11-17-05 The Queen of Raks Sharqi Competition Ahlan Cairo Nights Dallas, Texas August 4, 2005 by Catherine Barros
A review and report from and observer's point of view!

11-17-05 Dancing For Masters by Vivian Bressan “Vivi” 2nd place winner of The Queen of Raks Sharqi Competition
A report from a contestant's point of view!

11-16-05 Belly Dance Secrets for Fitness and Rejuvenation by Keti Sharif
The most important factor in sustaining an exercise program is the 'fun factor'; Belly dancing comes with great music, exciting moves, noisy coin belts and its own special dress code.

11-14-05 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 6 Unexpected Mishaps by Mary Ellen Donald
I invite you to chuckle with me as I retell several gems of last year. I wouldn’t dare to boast of any lesson you must learn from all of this, and discovery of a meaning is up to you!

11-8-05 My Adventure Begins! by Asmahan
At last, another North Beach Memory! "I was creating my life as an adventure, I was making my own destiny; this was Kismet!"

11-2-05 The Divine & Fusion Categories of The Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition, report by Amy Bonham
held February 19-20, 2005 in Long Beach, California, photos by GS staff

10-26-05 Interview with Mahmoud Reda Part 3: Film & Future by Morocco
If you know about photography, then it will help performing for the movies or for television because usually the choreographer stands beside the director of the movie.

10-17-05 How MECDA Began by Feiruz Aram
M.E.C.D.A., (Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association) is a nationwide organization which began in 1977 for the purpose of organizing working dancers, sharing information between teachers...

10-16-05 The Egyptian Category 2005 of The Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition, report by Amy Bonham
held February 19-20, 2005 in Long Beach, California, photos by GS staff

10-9-05 Zaharr's Memoir, Part 11- The Minerva
What do Greeks know about Belly Dancing anyway?” He just grabbed my hand and we headed toward the door. Grumbling, I followed him inside and I was startled to see a big stage with a large wooden dance floor right in front of it.

10-7-05 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 5, Cymbals & the Music by Mary Ellen Donald
But that’s not the rhythm. As I say at the beginning of each workshop, “Rhythm is the patterned arrangement of sound and silent.”

10-4-05 Raqia's Response by Dee Dee Asad
I visited her in the Masr el Dawly Hospital, near where Raqia lives in el Dokki, the next week. Raqia was unable to travel to Sweden while sick!

10-1-05 Interview with Maya Gaorry of Italy, Talks about Size, Fat, and American dancers, by Lucy Lipschitz
Before there was no rule on how big dancers should be, and now it’s changing. Changing everywhere.

9-30-05 My Experience With Amani’s Oriental Festival by Beverley Joffe
Lebanon, June 14-19, 2005. Amani placed strong emphasis on the folklore and identity of Oriental Dance when compiling the program and offered touring to assist in blending technique with emotion.

9-16-05 Ahlan Wa Sahlan 2005, Cairo a review and diary by Leyla Lanty
On Monday night, the opening gala was a great success in all senses of the word! It was one of the best large scale events I've attended.

9-16-05 How to Analyze Dance Styles by Meissoun
For a long time, the term “style” was something that I didn’t really understand.

9-14-05 Behind The Nile Group Workshops in Cairo by Zeina
How absurd it sounds! How could we, in a small country that a lot of people couldn’t even locate on a world map, compete with her enormous festival in Cairo?

9-13-05 What is a Ghazal? by Leigh
“Ghazal” is a word in Arabic that means talking to women.

9-9-05 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 4, For Whom Do You Dance? by Mary Ellen Donald
Who do you dance for – your audience or yourself?

9-8-05 Belly Dance, Burlesque and Beyond: Confessions of a Post Modern Showgirl by Princess Farhana (Pleasant Gehman)
“BUT WAIT!!!” I can hear you screaming, “ BURLESQUE IS STRIPPING!”

9-6-05 Making New Musical Inroads in Spain by Mark and Ling Shien Bell
Helm takes Rhythm Diatribes Workshops to Europe, series continues...

9-5-05 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 7 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

8-19-05 Interview with Mahmoud Reda Part 2: The Troupe by Morocco
So what I call my choreography is not folkloric. It’s inspired by the folkloric.

8-18-05 Re-defining Belly Dance and Middle Eastern Dance by Tasha Banat
The fact is that “Middle Eastern Dance” is not an acceptable definition for Belly Dance and let me explain why.

8-16-05 Sparkle Mind, Beginner Mind by Karen Roberts
dragged my weary bones out of bed at 5:30 yesterday morning, March 5, 2005, grabbed some coffee and headed east toward Sedalia, Missouri, for Judy Cunningham’s Belly Dance Workshop and Bazaar with Margo Abdo O’ Dell of Minneapolis.

8-16-05 Sausan’s First Egyptian Dance Seminar by Melinda
What would you think if you heard somebody say, “There are no isolations in Egyptian Belly dance"?

8-2-05 Rakkasah West Festival 2005 Page 3-Sat & Sun, photos by GS Volunteers including: Jasmine, Lynette, Michelle, Monica, Sandra, Susie, Zaheea, and probably more! Festival date- March 2005, Richmond, California, One page left!

8-1-05 Tips on Dancing to Live Music (a Musician’s Perspective) by Frank Lazzaro
Many dancers find performing to live music intimidating, but with a little preparation, good communication, and a positive attitude, you can make it the most exciting part of your dance performance.

7-30-05 Rakkasah 2005 Casual photos by GS Staff
One maybe two more pages of photos coming yet and then we are done!

7-29-05 The Untaught Teacher by Reanee Temple
What then, do we do about a teacher who has been misled, apparently, concerning the history of our dance?

7-27-05 Calling all professional dancers! How much do you charge? by Nanna Candelaria
Over the years, we dancers have unwittingly kept the general rate ridiculously low in restaurants and nightclubs.

7-19-05 Interview with Mahmoud Reda Part 1: The Beginning by Morocco
The Ministry of Culture should be of help, not a source of problems. But anyway, they had control of all the theaters, so to find a theater we must go to them, but they gave us problems. I don’t know why; maybe they were jealous!

7-18-05 Rhythm and Reason Series, Article 3, Community Warfare by Mary Ellen Donald
Time and again I hear dancers deplore the fact that in many parts of the country there are warring camps among dancers; that is, groups that openly oppose each other and that try to keep all useful information and all jobs to themselves.

7-18-05 Cairo Carnival 2005 Page 1 June 11-12, 2005, Glendale, California photos by Lynette
Please help us identify faces. Thanks!

7-17-05 Hadia Speaks: a Telephone Interview by Erica
Hadia’s experience is that, although many dancers in Middle Eastern countries are wonderful artists, they generally lack the skills to teach in an effective, methodical, safe way.

7-16-05 The Junior Division of the The Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition photos by Lynette
Ages 10-17 years, held Saturday, February 19, 2005, in Long Beach, California

7-15-05 "Ya Mustapha!": A Song Conquers the World by Meissoun
One of the most covered songs of the last 50 years is not from the Beatles but an old Oriental folk song.

7-12-05 Belly Dancer of the Year 2005 Finals photos by Monica and Susie
May 28, 2005, San Ramon, California.

7-5-05 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 6 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

7-5-05 Belly Dancer of the Year 2005 Preliminaries photos by Monica
May 28, 2005, San Ramon, California.

6-20-05 The 2005 Eilat Festival, My Fete in Israel by Orit
This was the first professional festival of its kind in Israel. Despite its being overwhelmingly exhausting and loaded with material, the celebrating continued in the lobby, well into the night, with endless conversations and the exchange of tales.

6-18-05 Belly Dancer of the Year 2005 Grand Dancer, more Duos, Trios & Troupes photos by Monica
May 28, 2005, San Ramon, California.

6-18-05 Gitaneria Arabesca: A Different Approach to the Student Recital by Vashti Photography by John Steele
Ah, the student recital. There is nothing like watching fledglings leaving the nest, discovering their own creative wings and flying off into the wonderful world of belly dance.

6-5-05 Rakkasah West Festival 2005 Photos- Saturday & Sunday Page 2 photos by GS Staff and Friends
More to come!

6-3-05 Belly Dancer of the Year 2005 Page 1 Duos, Trios & Troupes photos by Monica
May 28, 2005, San Ramon, California.

5-28-05 Rakkasah West Festival 2005 Photos- Saturday Page 1 photos by GS Staff and Friends
More to come!

5-27-05 The Rhythm and Reason Series Article 2- Special Experiences by Mary Ellen Donald
The audience of mainly flamenco aficionados gave our Arabic Suite a clamorous response. This bringing together of bellydance and flamenco had begun as a flash of imagination in Cruz' mind.

5-18-05 Atef Farag: A Life in Dance Interview by Debbie Lammam
Pure Egyptian dance does tolerate a lot of sexual innuendo that is not present in my work.

5-10-05 Making New Musical Inroads in France and Ireland by Mark and Ling Shien Bell
Helm takes Rhythm Diatribes Workshops to Europe, series continues...

5-5-05 Initiating Dance Dialogue: Current Trends, The Panel Discussion at Carnivals of Stars Festival, transcribed from video by Andrea, Panel members included: Heather as moderator, Monica Berini, Shira, Barbara Bolan, Amina Goodyear, Debbie Lammam.

5-5-05 Carnival of Stars Holiday Dance Festival and Comic Book Convention Photos by GS Staff
A new festival held on Nov 14, '04 produced by Ghawazee.com's at Centennial Hall, in Hayward, California, which included a panel discussion, raffle, costume contest, and famous comic artists, along with the usual dancing and vendors.

4-29-05 Bargaining for Injeers by Kayla Summers
Bargaining is not just about the money, although that is a qualifier. Bargaining is a medium in which two strangers can have a conversation. Turks love to bargain, and it may be how they get to know you...

4-29-05 Power Failure Halts Troupes & Finals Categories, The Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition, Part 1, Sunday Evening, held February 19-20, 2005, in Long Beach, California report by Amy Bonham, photos by GS staff
Willow Street outside the Grand Willow Street Center was a raging river on Saturday morning and the rain continued through the weekend with intermittent dry spells.

4-22-05 Auditioning for the Belly Dance Super Stars: Two Personal Experiences
The Cattle Call by Layla Katrina - "I knew I was not what they were looking for."
My Experience with the BDSS Audition in Paris by Dazzel - "He wanted me to believe that his troupe was too good for me."

4-22-05 Friday Evening, Page 2, Rakkasah West Festival 2005, Richmond, California
photos by GS Volunteers including: Jasmine, Lynette, Michelle, Monica, Sandra, Saroya Ahlaam, Susie, Zaheea

4-19-05 Helm takes Rhythm Diatribes Workshops to Europe by Ling Shien Bell
The musicians will be conducting a series of rhythm/music workshops in Ireland, Spain and Luxembourg this April.

4-11-05 San Francisco Screening of American Bellydancer by Miles Copeland
Traveling to San Francisco to attend the screening of American Bellydancer to a largely belly dance community crowd was like jumping into a hornet’s nest of opposing views!

4-6-05 The Rhythm and Reason Series Article 1- Cymbals, Beyond Basics by Mary Ellen Donald
Each rhythm has a distinct arrangement of accents. If you are sure of where these accents come, you can bring a unique flavor to each section of your routine.

4-3-05 The London Belly Beat! by Alexandria
They have nothing against tribal or fusion styles and seem to enjoy all belly dance.

3-31-05 Rakkasah West Festival 2005 Photos- Friday Page 1 photos by GS Staff and Friends
More to come!

3-26-05 “My Aim in Organizing a World-inclusive Oriental Dance Festival” by Amani
Dancer Amani of Lebanon Comments, "Oriental dancing has become a widespread art; it is now found all over the world, and among all levels of society in all the five continents! "

3-22-05 Happy To Be Me: Dancing Without Shame-- Recognizing Beauty & Potential Within by Nisaa Elon
I don’t worry about comparing myself to others. Instead, I spend my energy educating myself about the different styles and techniques of Belly dance, and I stretch my boundaries to derive unique performances through innovative presentations.

3-20-05 Rakkasah Democracy Skips First Amendment! Report by Lynette, Editor
The second call, a few minutes later, warned me not to come to Rakkasah at all.

3-16-05 About my teacher Magana Baptiste by Horacio Cifuentes
At the time when her husband placed second in the Mr. America body building contest, and mind you, these were the days when body builders took no steroids and were true examples of healthy humans, Magana placed first runner up in the Miss USA beauty competition held in Los Angeles in 1951.

3-9-05 Tatseena's Fantasy Festival October 16-17, 2004, photos and text by Amy Luna Manderino
The Festival lived up to it's name, with two days of creative and innovative dance that broke the mold and showed the versatility of American Bellydance.

3-6-05 The Folk Tours Dance & Music Camp Review by Piper (and baby pics too!) Photos by Carl Miller, May 2004
Once upon a time, in far away lands, I performed five shows a night, seven nights a week to great live music. I don’t miss the wily club owners, late nights, or cigarette smoke, but I do miss the music.

3-3-05 The BDSS Experience and Miles Copeland; Doing What He Does Best by Sausan
Even though Miles Copeland’s vision is similar to that of mine and the majority of belly dancers I have canvassed in my lifetime, he and I differ in our mission approach to elevating the dance, and this is where the discussion became a heated debate.

3-2-05 The Blind and Bellydance by Zaheea
She had a genuine joy in her smile as she shimmied and swayed to the music as her husband sat and enjoyed his wife's enthusiasm.

2-28-05 A Question of Style by Bert Balladine
Since most of us have chosen Oriental Dance for the pleasure of doing it, being a zealot about purity and ethnicity will just hamper getting the fullest enjoyment out of the dance.

2-26-05 A Report of the 2004 Ya Halla Y’all Saturday Evening Show, by Leigh Allen and Tamara Campbell, photos by Craig Campbell. Isis’ annual August shows are always great and professionally presented but the show on Saturday truly lived up to its billing as ‘A Gathering of Stars’. We can’t wait for next year!

2-17-05 Unity through Belly dance by Erica
If you are reading this publication, then you too have fallen in love with belly dancing.

2-14-05 Taking Good Care of our Stars by Miles Copeland
Most of all, as we now need them consistently; we have to free them from financial worries by giving them job security including such things as health insurance.

9-12-04 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 5 of 9 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

2-3-05 From Rags to Rhinestones by Dolores
I am most proud of having taken up dance later in life and having become an acclaimed professional-level performer.

2-1-05 Walking the Line: Reflections from a Christian Dancer by Barbara Grant
I’ve personally never thought of my dance as erotic or enticing. I’ve considered it an attempt to distill the results of study about particular ethnic and cabaret styles, amalgamate them into American form, and present the outcome to an audience as entertainment.

1-29-05 Photos from Sumaya’s Chicago South Side Hafla by Shira
Being new to the Midwest, I thought it would be fun to attend one of Sumaya’s haflas and meet other members of the greater Midwestern dance community.

1-25-05 Intruder, BEWARE! comic by Lynette
"How dare they pollute our pond!"

1-19-05 BDSS Auditions January 14-15, 2005, North Hollywood, CA
-Inside the Bellydance Superstars Final Auditions by Michelle Joyce
-"What have I got to lose?" by Zaheea
-Photos by Lynette

1-16-05 Photos from The Luna Gitana Festival, Santa Cruz, California photos by Monica Berini
Event produced by Vashti on November 13, 2004

1-13-05 The Grand International Bellydance Tour or How We Fled India at Midnight, Eluding Our Captors and Evading our Go-Go-Dance Responsibilities. or What Would Fifi Do? by Michelle and Sandra
It may not have been such a problem for us had the prostitutes not been posing as bellydancers!

1-11-05 Romancing the Stonewall Comic by Alexandria
"Hi, dear, can you send me a payment?"

1-7-05 Unchained! by Monique Monet
Who the hell is Miles Copeland? And, what is he doing in our ancient and sacred world of Middle Eastern dance?

1-5-05Making Wise Choices in the Belly-Dance Wear Market-place by Susan Good
We all love the visual feast of a fine dance in a sumptuous package, the glamour of dressing high-high up. A great costume can send a good show into greatness and almost make you forgive a poor one.

2004 (83 articles)

12-26-04 Undercover Belly Dancer in Iraq- “THAAWUMPFF” by Meena
The women who work in the Ministry are brave women. At first they looked at me with suspicion, not sure of my ethnicity. I sometimes get thanked when they realize that I share the Arab blood.

12-23-04 We Shop, We Bathe, And We Eat! Justine’s Culinary Adventures in Turkey, by Justine Merrill
The Egyptian spice market in Istanbul is a wonderful place to be a new chef, not only does it hold a treasure chest in spices, it has the most charming men, who know how to cook.

12-9-05 New Dance Contest/Theme Party ”A Night at Casablanca!” Photos by Lynette
October 2, 2004 at the Benicia Clocktower Benicia, California Sponsored by Siren In Sanity

12-8-04 Mona el Said in Dallas, Part 2 by Catherine E Barros
12-7-04 Mona el Said in Dallas, Part 1, by Catherine E Barros
Sponsored by Little Egypt at the Holiday Inn, Dallas Texas September 3 - 5, 2004.
It's always nice when you find that someone, whom you've put up on a big pedestal, is down to earth, just "folks" like the rest of us.

12-2-04 The Universal Language: Dancing Makes Us Beautiful and Depression-free by Adry Svraka
After a long time living with my depression, I found something that is better than any kind of pill or therapy.

11-12-04 Mystery Dancer #1: Iklas
Gilded Serpent is looking for clues to the story behind this lovely dancer! If you have any information, please contact us!

11-11-04 Sunday Afternoon at the Desert Dance Festival '04, Page 2 Photos by Monica
11-9-04 Sunday Afternoon at the Desert Dance Festival '04 Report by Nisima Photos & Captions by Monica Page 1
Consequently, I was a very popular girl all day as vendors called out to me to visit and talk. After all, I was a bona-fide Actual Audience Member.

10-31-04 Dancers Belly Up to Beat Bush, by Grace, Photos by James Dudek & Victoria Seidman
Even in the politically minded Bay Area, the dance community rarely seems to take an activist stance.

10-30-04 Fill-'Er Up! by Alyson
"I'm so glad you came to help me Theify!", Alexandria's Belly Dance Comics tm

10-25-04 The First (and definately not the last!) Tribal Cafe! by Tempest
It was the first all tribal belly dance event sponsored by MECDA IE and took place on August 21st, 2004 in Montclair, California.

10-14-04 Undercover Belly Dancer in Iraq by Meena
My name is Meena. Until a month ago, I was a professional belly dancer in Phoenix, Arizona.

10-11-04 Art, Activism & Magic: Krissy Keefer In Her Own Words by Debbie Lammam
...women dancers are not expected to think and speak.

10-10-04 BELLYPALOOZA! Goddess Power Comes to Baltimore by Elaine
This ancient art could successfully incorporate modern styles and music while still getting the same feminine empowering message across.

10-9-04 Belly Dancing in Las Vegas- Part 2 by Neferteri
Who are those good looking and talented men behind the dancers?

10-4-04 Folktour's 2nd Annual Music and Dance Camp Photos by Carl Miller, Report by Mark Balahadia
Pennsylvania, May 2004, Dancers and musicians all over the East Coast (and abroad) came to participate in the four-day oriental dance and music camp.

9-28-04 A Subjective View of Raqia's Cash Cow The AWS Festival 2004, Part 1 by Andrea
First, she came out as a snake, then entered wearing a melaya, next, as a caged lion. Her performance was very entertaining.

9-25-04 The Ramzy Tour of 2003, photos provided by Hossam and Serena
Photos from:Brazil, Brisbane, MaryBorough, Wellington, London, Singapore and Tibet? Readers- please help us with matching names to these faces!

9-21-04 A Sour Note by Allyson McKellar
Alexandria's Belly Dance Comics presents Adventures in Music Class...

9-17-04 Dancing in Salt Lake City in the '70s- The Athenian by Kalifa
I told her I wasn’t looking for a husband, but she wanted me to meet him anyway, so I did.

9-17-04 A Rug Story by Justine
Rug stores are interesting, the salesman know an amazing information about rugs. Rug men tend to be well educated and full of interesting conversation.

9-16-04 Kismet's Utah's 24th Annual Bellydance Festival, August 2004, photo report by Aziza!
There were more than 500 dancers performing, there were vendors, live bands, and dance, drum and costume clinics to attend.

9-12-04 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 4 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

9-7-04 31st Annual Belly Dancer of the Year Competition, Finalists, May 29, 2004 at Auctions by the Bay, Alameda, CA
photos by Susie and Lynette. Where were the spectators? Plan on coming next year!

8-31-04 High Desert Hip Fest 2004 Report and photos sent in by Janie Midgley, photos were taken by David Ventura
High Desert Hip Fest is held every year, the first part of May in Reno, Nevada.

8-24-04 Dina in LA, report and photos by Catherine Barros
On May 14-16 of 2004, Nora, Dee Dee & Ahmad Asad of Little Egypt presented Dina of Cairo in a teaching workshop and show at the Radisson Hotel at the Los Angeles Airport.

8-23-04 Smoking with Dina: a casual interview with an Egyptian star in California by Alanna “Abir”
I got to see Dina dance and be herself again and again.

8-12-04 The Photos & Poetry of David Ludwig of the Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino in August 2003
there is a time each year, when dancers and musicians gather, in a magic forest, to reconnect , with their creative source...

8-8-04 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 3 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

8-2-04 A Whole Latte' Shaking Going On, Belly Dance Comics by Alexandria
"Ok, I think we can stop now!"

7-27-04 Belly Dance Superstars at DNA Lounge page 2, photos by Lynette
More eye candy! Performing in one of the most trendy clubs in San Francisco!

7-21-04 Leila, An American Dancer in Cairo by Catherine Barros,
She would walk into these huge ballrooms filled with thousands of people with a huge stage in the middle of the room while television cameras on cranes are taking note of everything.

7-17-04 Dancing in North Beach by Sausan
On the occasions when the door was still locked, I was often invited to drink coffee next door, where young girls made their money stripping.

7-15-04 Belly Dance Superstars at DNA Lounge Photos by Susie Poulelis
Saturday, April 17, 2004 San Francisco, CA. Yes, that is Petite Jamilla playing a bagpipe,

6-29-04 Zaharr's Memoir, Part 9 & 10, A Visit to my Teacher's Teacher, More Street Performing
I believe it is the signature of a gentleman to make a woman feel as if she is the center of his universe, even if it is only for five minutes.

6-25-04 Romancing the Road (The Bousada Troupe Tours) by Yasmela
We carved our own niche, created our own style, scandalized, delighted, educated and entertained everyone around us, including ourselves. We were “Bou-Saada”.

6-24-04 Saving Grace, Belly Dance Comics by Alexandria
"Could I sit here for a few moments?"

6-19-04 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Photo Teaser June 12-27 2004 Palace of Fine Arts photos by Susie Poulelis
Taken last night, you can still see this show tonight and tomorrow and see more next weekend!

6-14-04 The Making of a Bellydance CD by Dunyah
Each phase of the process is expensive, time-consuming, and important.

6- 8-04 Nagwa Sultan: Cairo Soul by Edwina Nearing
Like a number of other Egyptian dancers who retired in the early ‘90s, Nagwa couldn't turn her back on the dance world entirely, however tarnished the glitter had become.

6-6-04 At last! The Sunday Photos from Rakkasah West 2004- Page 1, Page 2
Thanks to all the photographers and volunteers whol help make this happen. We still need a few names to go with faces!

5-28-04 Dance Contests by Yasmela
People being who they are, and dance and art and America being what they are, there will always be the competitive urge, the attitude that success is defined by the amount of your income, the number of your trophies.

5-26-04 Dance Festival or Shop-a-thon? by Nisima
Shukriya, can you hear me now?

5-24-04 Dancing Darkly: The Phenomenon of Gothic Belly Dance by Laura Tempest Schmidt
This may come as a shock to many, but Gothic Belly Dance isn’t really a new phenomenon, and it’s not just centered in California. First of all, it’s simply a merger of two entities that go well together, like peanut butter and chocolate.

5-16-04 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 2 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

5-11-04 Page 4 of the Rakkasah West Saturday Photos The last page of photos for Saturday

5-8-04 Page 2 of the Rakkasah Saturday Photos, Page 3
5-7-04 Rakkasah West Festival 2004 SATURDAY, PAGE 1 March 2004, Richmond, California photos by GS Volunteers including: Biram, Clare, Cynthia, Krista, Lynette, Michelle, Monica, Sandra, Valentino, Yasmine and probably more! *Let us know if you recognize faces!

5-4-04 Belly Dance in Israel by Orit Maftsir
Belly dancers are the hottest trend at the moment, unlike the totally frozen attitudes towards the Arab culture in Israel.

4-29-04 Dynamic Relationships In the Dance Community by Anthea Poole (Kawakib)
Conflicts happen. People take sides. Learning and growing get lost in the shuffle, particularly when conflicts overshadow the classroom.

4-28-04 Belly Dancing in Las Vegas (part 1 of 2) by Neferteri
I am pleased to introduce a few of “The Divas of Las Vegas!”

4-26-04 Class War-fair? Belly Dance Comics tm by Alexandria
"I sprang from the forehead of Isis!"

4-25-04 Shuvani: Music and Dance inspired by the Roma "Gypsy" Trail Photos by Jan Dvorak, Captions and Photos provided by Amy Luna Manderino Saturday, February 21, 2004 Cafe de la Paz, Berkeley, California

4-21-04 Rakkasah West Festival 2004 Friday Evening March 2004, Richmond, California photos by GS Volunteers including:
Biram, Clare, Cynthia, Krista, Lynette, Michelle, Monica, Sandra, Valentino, Yasmine and probably more!
*Let us know if you recognize faces!

4-13-04 Loving Remembrance and Requiem: the Best “School” That Ever Was, Part 3 by Morocco/ Carolina Varga Dinicu
Truth gives us the wings that brought us where we are today. Most of my jobs now are in places that wouldn't have thought twice about slamming the door in my face in the 1960s. I know because I tried and they did, but I kept coming back with more and more proof. Haven't stopped. Won't.

4-12-04 The Bellybus by Dervishspin
For a dancer to be what she is, to dance, she must be free. For a woman to be a full and equal member of our society she must be free to make her own choices about what is best for her.

4-11-04 "Magda, Hurry!" by Majida Anwar
My aunt was coming! I knew there was going to be dancing, and I could feel the butterflies just flying into in my stomach!

4-5-04 Rakkasah West Festival Photo Teaser March 2004, Richmond, California
photos by GS Volunteers including: Biram, Clare, Cynthia, Krista, Lynette, Michelle, Monica,
Sandra, Valentino, Yasmine and probably more! Let us know if you recognize faces!

4-3-04 Part 2 of Photos by Ram, the Featured Stars, Aida Nour & Magdy El-Leisy, and Wafaa Badr
in Dallas, Texas, January 9-11, 2004, sponsored by Little Egypt

3-25-04 Zaharr's Memoir, Part 8 Early Street Performing by Zaharr A. Hayatti
They actually threw money in our hat!

3-24-04 "I'd Rather Stay Home with my Kids" by Amina Goodyear (chapter 2)
I asked her how to take it off, and she told me to figure it out when I was on stage. Then I heard - "Our "guest" dancer, Amina, all the way from upstairs!"

3-18-04 Najia's List of Recommended CDs, 2004 update
Print and compare this list to your present collection or take it to the next festival to help you find these treasures!

3-11-04 Aida Nour & Magdy El-Leisy in Dallas, Texas, January 9-11, 2004, sponsored by Little Egypt

Report on the Saturday Night Show by Rhonda McGiffen, photos by Ram
Report on Workshops and the Friday Show by Candace Bordelon, photos by Ram
Report on Workshops and Both Shows by Catherine Barros photos by Ram
More Photos by Ram, the Americans and the Featured Middle Eastern Stars, Aida, Magdy, and Wafaa Badr

3-8-04 Hindu Extremists Riot at Belly Dance Show by Michelle
At the time, I was beginning to understand that this was a potentially dangerous and explosive situation. But I had no way of knowing how much danger I was really in.

3-3-04 Belly Dancing with Snakes by Neferteri
My snakes have their own room with a scenic view of Las Vegas, and it is temperature controlled.

3-3-04 Bert and Amaya Workshop Photos by Ed Lampo and Report by Monica
“He makes you feel special and sexy!”, one participant was overheard to exclaim.

2-29-04 You've Got Mail! Comic Strip by Alexandria
Female Clones from Zayda III are being killed and robbed of their family jewelry!

2-16-04 Turkish Shop 'til you Drop by Justine Merrill
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is the Mother of all shopping malls and covers over fifteen acres.

2-12-04 Hamam 5 by Kayla Summers
"Take me to a hamam," I begged. She took me to the Besiktas Hamam.

2-11-04 Sirat Al-Ghawazi, Part 1 by Edwina Nearing
Begun in the mid-1970's , the early sections of "Sirat Al-Ghawazi" were first published under the title "The Mystery of the Ghawazi." We are happy to be able to respond to the continued demand for these articles by making them available to our readers worldwide.

2-11-04 My Tribal Fusion Festival in Florida by Maja, the Girl from the Nile
If we have a dream, we should go for it….

2-8-04 Kalifa's Big Comeback by Kalifa
I felt butterflies in my stomach – my throat was dry – and my fingers already damp where I lightly held the ends of my skirt. All the old familiar feelings a performer experiences just before going on stage.

2-1-04 Youth, Beauty and Branding, The Virgin Megastore Grand Reopening, part 2 photos by Lynette
with Jillina, Sahlala Dancers, and Issam Houshan San Francisco, California, December 3, 2003

1-17-04 Virgin Megastore Reopening featuring Jillina & the Sahlala Dancers & Issam Houshan, photos and layout by Susie
San Francisco, CA, Wednesday, December 3, 2003

1-25-04 One Ad Changed My Life by Amina Goodyear
I was very desperate and determined to get back to my old self.

1-14-04 Understanding Middle Eastern Rhythm by Frank Lazzaro
The rhythms of the tabla inspire the dance, so to understand these rhythms is to fully blossom as a dancer.

1-7-04 Luna Gitana 2003 photos and layout by Susie Poulelis
Featuring Kamaal and Shoshanna Presented by Vashti, A Bellydance Odyssey Production, Santa Cruz, CA November 15, 2003

1-3-04 Khairiyya Mazin Struggles to Preserve Authentic Ghawazi Dance Tradition by Edwina Nearing
But when Khairiyya Mazin retires, one of the most distinctive traditions of Ghawazi dance may come to an end.

2003 (87 articles)

12-29-03 The 11th Annual North Valley Belly Dance Competition photos and layout by Susie Poulelis
Feather Falls Casino Orovile, CA, November 8, 2003

12-27-03 Getting Shagged on Virgin Atlantic by Kayla Summers
This is about a trip that took two days but never went anywhere.

12-16-03 Egypt 2003 by Zahraa
The winner was also the worst dressed dancer. Her name is Ronda and she has the reputation of being too cheap to invest in a quality costume.

12-15-03 Playing Hello Kitty by Jetara
I would do anything for my children...apparently, even make a complete idiot out of myself to put food on the table!

12-13-03 Zaharr's Memoir, Part 7 Putting it together by Zaharr A. Hayatti
"Well, I planned a little treat for you today,” she confided, “let’s see how this works.”

12-12-03 Belly dancing in cyberspace – The LiveJournal Belly dancing Community by Lilly
It is analogous to keeping a public diary, and asking people to comment on it.

12-9-03 Miles Copeland Responds to Questions from GS Readers
If we are to dominate the world let’s try to understand and appreciate the good in other cultures as we are trying to mitigate the bad.

12-7-03 Report of the Eastern U.S. Middle Eastern and Balkan Music and Dance Camp October 2-5, 2003 report by Tahya
The camaraderie of a camp - bunking with strangers who soon become friends, "breaking bread" together, learning new dance steps, songs, and drum rhythms - has all the ingredients for a treasured experience, and this camp lived up to that potential.

12-6-03 Photos from the The 10th and Final Festival Fantasia photos by Susie
produced by Rose Productions, Black Sheep BellyDance and the Sebastopol Community Center
October 11 & 12, 2003, Sebastopol, California

11-23-03 Egypta, a Revivification of Ancient Sacred Dance performed by The Silk Road Dance Company
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Washington D.C. report by Pen Katali, M.L.S.
Egypta impressed me as a stunning artistic success, splendid beyond belief.

1-17-03 2nd Annual San Leandro Festival produced by Tatseena photos by GS staff
it seems that this event is destined to grow each year.

11-11-03 MORE Photos from The Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino by GS staff and friends
Just the extra photos of our art and faces you know projected into a beautiful natural setting.

11-6-03 Nour: A Biography by Ekaterina
This dance, having its own rules, was like the flight of a soul, especially for one who sees dance as art and not just personal exhibitionism.

11-6-03 Of Hamams and Bathing by Justine Merrill
The attendants giggle while dumping scalding hot water on the screaming, howling clients.

10-31-03 Workshop in Perth, Australia-Hossam & Serena Ramzy's International Tour August 8th - 12th, 2003 report by Ayesha
Hossam’s presentation requires the student to listen – and I mean LISTEN.

10-27-03 Dancing on Broadway in the ‘70s by Kalifa
One of my strangest experiences on Broadway involved getting a small part in Carol Doda’s movie...

10-25-03 Photos from Utah's 23rd Annual Belly Dance Festival Photos by Randi Mears
Captions provided by Yasmina, Event produced by Kismet Dance Company, August 30-31, 2003, Salt Lake City, Utah,

10-25-03 Hossam & Serena Ramzy's International Tour, Photos from the Workshop in Singapore held on July 4-7, 2003
This was both a challenge and a great learning experience, clearly illustrating the differences between prerecorded and live music for amateur and professional dancers alike.

10-17-03 The Greek Scene by Elaine
There were the usual politics at the Taverna, of course, and if management felt that a dancer was holding back on her tips, she rarely made another appearance.

10-14-03 Kismet's Festival Salt Lake City Photos and Report by Aziza!
Its purpose is to focus on culture and the arts to celebrate the richness of talent, creativity and experience among the diverse peoples of the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Mountains, so it is a perfect place for Kismet's Festival.

10-13-03 The Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp in Mendocino by Yasmela
There is nothing like immersing yourself in study and in the strange and unique culture of the Middle Eastern music and dance “scene”.

10-13-03 The “Tuck It Under” Phenomenon by Vilia (Valerie Cherry)
“Tucking under” is for ballet, and it has less to do with posture than it does with enabling the execution of the kinds of movements and positions that ballet demands.

10-11-03 Orient House Istanbul by Justine Merrill
Despite fears about our security from friends, everywhere we went in Turkey, we met with nothing but perfect friendliness and assistance.

10-3-03 Belly Dance and Healing from Sexual Trauma by Lucy Lipschitz
The main reason I teach this is because of my own issues and a major traumatic event that changed my life.

9-30-03 Belly Dance in Reno … You Bet! By Janie
No hotels canceled our events after the September 11 tragedy or even considered it — in fact, I have found that they actively court our events.

9-29-03 Azad's Mother's Kitchen by Kayla Summers
I could see her mom doing the mental calculations of where to put everyone while she discussed with Azad the doubtful wisdom of this impromptu rendezvous.

9-26-03 Zaharr's Memoir, Parts 5 & 6," I Arrive at My Teacher’s", "Cost Plus and Woolworth’s"
And there she was this little girl transformed before me, gliding and twirling around the room with a big smile of encouragement on her face.

9-16-03 Delightful Dina in Dallas by Amaya
By far the most controversial costume was the last one. It was barely there.

9-16-03 Facets of Success in Dance by Ireena
At times, I’d been afraid not to follow the status quo of what I was expected to do in each step of my dance life.

9-15-03 A Tale of Two Gigs in the City by Jawahare
It was in this space of scarcity that I accepted a Christmas party gig by telephone that left me with some doubts.

9-5--03 Loving Remembrance & Requiem: the Best “School” That Ever Was, Part 2 by Morocco/ Carolina Varga Dinicu
So much great stuff; so little time to see and learn it all. So much of it disappears down the oasis daily.

8-28-03 Dance Journey to Nepal, Part 2 by Daleela
The music had suddenly changed pitch from regular speed to very fast speed.

8-25-03 Eradicating Female Genital Mutilation, My Journey in the Process by Lilly
He made it very clear that he did not want to discuss with me, but that he had the feeling that I should be reading that book.

8-14-03 Our adventure brings us to a rare treasure! Yair Dalal in Concert in Marin County, California Report by Lynette
It described a last minute concert in West Marin that was going to be outside at night, and you had to take a shuttle to get there!

8-14-03 "What is Belly Dance?" The First Presentation in the New Symposium Series, by World Arts West A report and review by Sadira There has been much controversy surrounding the particular groups and soloists who have been chosen to represent the Middle Eastern Dance category in the Ethnic Dance series throughout its entire 25 years of production.

8-13-03 Photos of Suhaila Solo at Lesher Center for the Arts California, August 2, 2003 by Susie
The standing ovation, however, was clearly for Suhaila!

8-8-03 Zaharr's Memoir, Part 3- Teas of Green and Gold, & Part 4- My Teacher Arrives by Zaharr A. Hayatti
The friend who was a dancer had told him she would teach me for free! “She’s only sixteen”

8-5-03 Kayla’s Travel Journal, The Prince Islands, Istanbul by Kayla Summers
One picture that caught my eye was that of a dark virgin, named Mirtidiotissa

7-27-03 Justine and Her Plant Visit Saqra's Annual Showcase by Justine
Standing in the door, clutching my plants, vendor fever struck.

7-24-03 1001 Nights Oslo Belly Dance Festival, The Show May 2 - 4, 2003 by Lunacia
The festival began with a show at Oslo Concert Hall, and this year's guest star was Lulu Sabongi from Brazil, who opened this year's show.

7-18-03 My Greek Transformation A Conservative Engineer meets the “Instigator of Revolutions” by Barbara Grant
Rhea displayed boundless energy, far beyond my own at the best of times. How would I be able to keep up with her?

7-18-03 The Sacred Surprise of Tribal Fest 3 by Shahana Cartahi
However, I now understand, in retrospect, that I had been really drawn to Tribal Fest 3 for another reason.

7-12-03 Communication + Cooperation = A Problem Solved By Janie "Jenee" Midgley
Once upon a time, two events were created in two different states.

7-11-03 Dancing in the '70s at O Aitos Taverna by Kalifa
Suddenly someone yelled, “FIRE!”

7-10-03 God Belly Danced, Part III: Biblical Accounts of Belly Dance in the Ancient Near East by Qan-Tuppim
No character in the Bible has been so misunderstood as Salome. Critics condemn her as a wanton slut. Supporters embrace her as a symbol of oppressed female sensuality. Neither is true.

7-9-03 Photos of the 25th Anniversary San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival photos by Susie Poulelis
Weekend 3, held June 21 & 22, 2003 presented by World Arts West at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California

7-8-03 Dance Journey to Nepal by Daleela
I will never forget Nepal and the dance adventures we encountered. They will remain etched in my mind forever. What I found most amazing is how much I learned about Middle Eastern dance going to Asia.

7-7-03 The Artwork of Scott Arguette
In essence, a good dancer owns the stage; she requires it and manipulates it as a fighter dominates the field.

7-7-03 Baraka & the Bus or What happened to Baraka? by Baraka/Beth
By now, having lost my home, my studio, my library, my recordings, and my database, you would think I would start to get the hint that it might be time to move away from dance. Having been a dancer literally all of my life, I simply couldn't give it up!

6-29-03 Photos from the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival, The Opening Night Gala by Tahseen Alkoudsi and Shira
held at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel on June 10-17, Cairo, Egypt. More promised!

6-16-03 The 30th Annual Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant photos by Susie
Abrupt musical transitions were rampant throughout the pageant. The competition was fierce in the Duet / Trio category...

6-16-03 Breaking News from the Ahlan wa Sahlan 2003 in Cairo reported by Shira
The flavor of the instruction and dancing are very different from that offered by the U.S. festivals, and it offers an exciting opportunity for immersion in the Egyptian dance arts.

6-16-03 Rainy Night in London Town by Justine Merrill
That’s how after a day at the Tower of London, I found myself navigating the Edgware district after dark, in the fog and light rain, looking for dinner. Christina trailed behind me, feet dragging, whiney and hungry, but hanging on after a full day or of walking.

6-12-03 The Artwork of Ginger Royal
"Not just the grace and agility, but the total engagement of the dancer is a gauge of her skill, ultimately inspiring exuberance and passion in others."

6-10-03 North Beach and Mark Bell from an interview with Lynette
A lot of my getting the jobs was because I was there available when the opportunity arose.

6-10-03 Tribal Fest 3 photos by Lynette
Event produced by Ellen Cruz and Kajira, held May 17 and 18, 2003, in Sebastopol, CA

6-9-03 A New Series! Zaharr's Memoirs, Part 1- Washington D.C. and Part 2- New York to Berkeley by Zaharr Hayatti
I got really excited, and begged to be allowed to sign up. There was only silence from my family.

5-20-03 Loving Remembrance & Requiem: the Best “School” That Ever Was, Part 1 by Morocco/ Carolina Varga Dinicu
I looked at her & said, “If I can’t do better than that, I’ll hand in my feet!” A case of having more guts than brains.

5-15-03 Professional vs. Amateur: What is the Difference? by Nisima
There are dancers of every gradation in between the two labels of “professional” and “amateur”: dancers who work at dance jobs intermittently, or have part time jobs in addition to regular performances.

5-13-03 Dancing with Shelties by Justine Merrill
Bashing zills and barking shelties competed.

5-13-03 Fusion Category added to Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition by Luna
"You know, we're really making history here..."

5-9-03 Kayla's Travel Journal Continues--Hamam III by Kayla Summers
At that point the steward says "now" and you jump off.

5-8-03 Reconnecting with the Dance: a Performance Critique of Aziza by Shelley Muzzy/Yasmela
There are several dancers on the scene that I admire and enjoy watching again and again, but I just saw one that made me stop in my tracks, sit right down on the floor, and pay attention.

5-6-03 Rakkasah Festival West Photos - Sunday by Susie
Fahtiem, Aziza, Mesmera, Amaya, Shanna, Akiko, Leila, and more...

4-5-03 Rakkasah Festival West Photos - Saturday by Susie
Zahra Zuhair , Shoshanna, Bal Anat, Margo, Anaheed, Elena, and more...

4-14-03 Act Your Age? Notes from a Middle Aged Belly Dancer by Karen Andes
But sometimes, dancing near a gorgeous young dancer, I wonder how long I’ll feel comfortable performing.

4-14-03 Why Belly Dancers are Natural Snowboarders by Lauren Traub
OK, it sounds strange. But If you’ve enjoyed dancing Oriental you probably already have a lot of the skills needed to snowboard.

4-12-03 On the Subject of Critique

The Critic; Real Critics Don’t Mince Words by Najia El-Mouzayen
Either we are a sisterhood of ego therapists and our instructors are politically correct in all they say and do—or we are tough artists in search of ways to improve our art form by ruthlessly weeding out the lame from our herd.

The Emperor’s New Clothes by Yasmela/ Shelley Muzzy
Until we see ourselves in the context of a larger society, no one outside of our community will accord us the respect we desire.

Critiquing, the “Agony & The Ecstasy” by Nisima
It’s an unnerving experience to be “critiqued” by your peers, but my personal opinion then and now is that when you perform in public, critiquing just goes with the territory of performing.

4-11-03 An Evening with Einstein's Daughters, by Sarah, Photos by James Radke
Do pots and pans that dance and clang before us mean more than light - than science - than thought? What choices are left when the mouths at the table hunger for bread and not for knowledge?

4-5-03 Rakkasah Festival West Photos - Friday by Susie
Leila Haddad, Ultra Gypsy, FatChanceBellyDance and more...

3-27-03 Belly Dance in Brazil by Thania
...they are trying to organize a Code of Ethics

3-13-03 God Belly Danced: Biblical Accounts of belly dance in the ancient Near East, Part II, By Qan-Tuppim (DeAnna Putnam)
According to the Hebrew scriptures, female belly dancers were reputable and marriageable

3-12-03 Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition 2003 Photo Report by Lynette
Sponsored by Tonya & Atlantis and held in Long Beach, California. Finalists are expected to be able to improvise spontanious choreography!

3-9-03 The Joy (and Pain) of Collecting Tips by Sandra
I've been collecting tips for almost 10 years now, and it's only in the last 2 or 3 years that I've really felt confident about it.

2-23-03 Hawaii Workshop by Latifa
Floor Work is a moving Yoga, and as in Yoga, one must let his/her body grow into more flexibility which develops with practice.

2-14-03 God Belly Danced: Biblical Accounts of Belly Dancing in the Ancient Near East, Part 1 of 3, By Qan-Tuppim
While Yahweh is not female, the man may have given Chavah a name similar to Yahweh because the woman and Yahweh had something vital in common.

2-14-03 High Desert Hip Fest in Reno by Janie “Jenee” Midgley
Fahtiem was wonderful and really put the workshop attendees through their paces, but they loved every moment.

2-12-03 Interview with Doug Adams Part II by Lynette
Much of the last decade was very tumultuous. My personal melt down started around the time that Dark Fire came out.

2-8-03 Glass-Dancing Revisited by Yasmela/ Shelley Muzzy
Our response to the improvisational passages in Middle Eastern music illustrate the depth of our understanding of the rich texture and nuance of the culture

2-6-03 The Tale of Two Faires by many
It seemed that the ren faire we all knew in Black Point, Novato, kept changing producers and locations. Now their were two ren faires!

2-1-03 How I came to Turkey by Kayla Summers
There are few people more cynical than I, but I maintain that I saw what I saw. Dada will not confirm or deny the incident; he just laughs.

1-28-03 How I Accidentally Became a Successful Belly Dance Teacher (and you can too!) by Michelle Joyce
Now mine is the most popular class, which led to a snowballing of other gyms adding belly dance aerobics classes.

1-17-03 Weight Loss The Bert Balladine Way by Gladys Harrison aka Al Qahira
That was not the first time I had nearly starved to death “on the road with Bert”.

1-13-03 An Evening to Remember by Havilah
"...it shows us the kind of beauty that happens when you go beyond set boundaries and allow yourself to be free

1-12-03 Belly Dance Birthday Bash by Shaloe/Zazahn
I’ve heard rumors that Ireena and Parri host excellent restaurant extravaganzas, and this one lived up to the reputation.

1-12-03 Photos from "Rockin' the Casbah"
An event produced by IAMED on Sept 28, 2002. The best from multiple photographers.

1-1-03! “My Adventures in the Big Apple” by Nisima
So there was really a “mystique” in the 1980’s about dancing styles in other parts of the US, and especially about the New York style, so different from what we were used to in the Bay Area.

2002 (50 articles)

12-29-02 Dance/Poetry Festival, Reported by Kalifa
The Dance/Poetry Festival was a blend of different kinds of dance, but Middle Eastern was in the vanguard of many of the performances.

12-20-02 “Kayla, the Beach Girl, Tree Dweller”, Kalbak Beach by Kayla Summers
...picture yourself on a guru orange air mattress, ever so gently floating atop a crystal clear turquoise ocean ...

12-14-02 Welcome, Dance Students by Layla Katrina
If you don’t feel the music and the dance, and don’t have a love for it that is a connection in your heart and your soul, you will have a much harder time learning this love than learning technique.

12-9-02 Photo Gallery of “The Festival Fantasia 2002, A Rose Production” by Lynette Harris
These random photos are of shoppers, vendors, musicians, dancers and their fans.

12-8-02 Oriental Dance: Myth and Reality, The Harem Slaves By Jalilah Lorraine Chamas
To say so would be like saying that playing music, singing, and reciting poetry are also only the occupations of slaves.

11-17-02 Tease-O-Rama, A Weekend of Burlesque in Old North Beach by Susie, Lynette, Sierra
Curious to learn if women were drawn to stripping for some of the same reasons they are drawn to bellydance...

11-17-02 White Out Wedding by Sarah
"The first day I donned my giant, fluffy blue ballgown and tiara. A nice man named Bob let me play with his flame thrower. There never was a happier princess." Sarah finally goes to the Burning Man Festival

11-15-02 Dancing again in Afghanistan By Qan-Tuppim
As I had suspected, Afghan women belly dance.

11-14-02 Glass Dancing by Neferteri
The art of dancing on glass is a true measure of talent and nerve. It can be one of the hardest things you can do as a dancer, but the rewards are awesome!

10-25-02 The Photography of Cynthia F Cushman, Full size photos, smaller photos (and files)
Dramatic choice photos of Leila, Dalia, Momo and Suzanna

10-20-02 Visions of Delight, A History of Belly Dance in the United States Reviewed by Bobbie Giarratana & Susie Poulelis
Photos of MECDA performers & layout by Susie, Third Annual Bay Area MECDA Showcase

10-17-02 Music and Style by Yasmela / Shelley Muzzy
ATS seems to be pushing Middle Eastern dance, at least in the U.S., back into that safe and sexless area, sans the real knowledge of true folk movement

10-14-02 Kayla's Travel Journal- "The Turkish Flim-Flam Man" by Kayla Summers
...foodstuffs still glued on, --no black marks from any recent explosion,--I believed it to be “working”...

10-9-02 Middle Eastern Dance, a Beautiful, Ancient, yet Misunderstood Art by Hala Fauzi
Why are all the books about this dance written by Westerners?

10-7-02 Adventures out of the Gilded Serpent Lair, Late Summer in Marin County, California,
photos and report by Lynette. Photos from various events in late August and early September, 2002

10-3-02 Kayla;s Travel Journal- Turkish Bath/Hamam 2 by Kayla Summers
Some of the men joked: …if I really wanted to... but I opted out.

9-6-02 Summer Caravan 2002, Sunday Photos from July 28, 2002 by GS Staff
extras include- extra photos of Leila Haddad's amazing show and candids shots of faces you know!

9-5-02 Interview- Soraya of Oklahoma City by Lynette
Shani had learned by going to watch the belly dancers at the Round Table after working as a ‘twister’ at the Peppermint Lounge”.

9-4-02 Summer Caravan 2002, Saturday Photos from July 27, 2002 by Gilded Serpent Staff
a "Rakkasah" event, held in the old, but beautifully restored, Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland, California.

8-26-02 "Still More Dancing in the '70s" By Kalifa
"I felt a stabbing pain in the vicinity of my kidney"

8-14-02 Kayla’s Travel Journal -Ferry to Kadikoy; Kayla’s Furniture Safari by Kayla Summers
Muslim women in full dress (but no mask) were “high fiving” each other,

8-4-02 Saturday Night In San Francisco July 13, 2002 by Lynette Harris
Effective improvisation becomes more consistant with experience.

8-3-02 29th Annual Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant sponsored by Belly Dance! of Walnut Creek, CA
Sunday, May 27 Benicia High School, Benicia, CA by GS Staff
Troupes, Duets, and Grand Dancers' photos at last!

7-31-02 A Rose by Any Other Name……Is this an identity crisis? by Nisima
"...but was truly mortified all the same and swore me to absolute secrecy"

7-24-02 Interview with Doug Adams of Light Rain Part 1 by Lynette Harris
I told her, "I could make music for you."

7-19-02 Kayla in Turkey, (A Daily Journal) Turkish Bath House (Hamam 1) April 22, 2002
All my Turkish girl friends, had of course been to Hamams, but only in their youth,

7-15-02 Child's Journey into Bellydance by Jawahare
I could feel Alexa wilting by my side.

7-9-02 29th Annual Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant sponsored by Belly Dance! of Walnut Creek, CA
Saturday, May 26 Benicia High School, Benicia, CA by GS Staff
Wow, is she easy on the eyes! Not only that, she rocked the house!

7-8-02 Rakkasah Trend Report 2002 by Dawn “Davina” Devine Brown
...the hottest and latest new styles from across the US, Turkey, Egypt and beyond

6-28-02 Workshops- Pandora Opens the Box! by Janie, Ann, Andrea & Heather
Two differing views of a Las Vegas dance workshop introduced by an author of a book on the subject

6-27-02 Middle Eastern Dance Meets Hip Hop Culture by Latifa
Issues Confronting a “Vintage Dancer” when her Audience is Half Her Age

6-1-02 "Come with me to the Casbah" by Nisima
...flung me right into her husband's lap, yelling, "Kiss her Henry...

5-31-02 The Art of Tempest
The first image, "Dance," is inspired by the Minoan priestesses and is a monotype/mixed media

5-26-02 Winners announced! Belly Dancer of the Year 2002
in Benicia California. More details and photos to follow

5-25-02 A New Series! Kayla's Travel Journal-Turkey
Episode#1 The Honey Hunt by Kayla Summers
"He may not have it", since it was rare and very expensive. Off I went.

5-19-02 Rakkasah West Festival 2002 Sunday Photos by Susie
Dalia Carella, Eva Cernik, Suhaila Dance Company, Ma'Shuqa, Parri and more....

5-3-02 Uschi and Akhram's Villa on the Red Sea, Interviewed by GS Staff
Uschi also shares her pictures from the June 2001 Cairo Festival

4-28-02 Rakkasah West Festival 2002 Saturday Photos by Susie Poulelis
Bal Anat, Hahbi'Ru, Shoshanna, Domba and more...

4-22-02 MORE DANCING IN THE '70's, The Cowboy Bar in Montana by Kalifa
Out of breath, I asked her, "Why didn't you warn me?"

4-18-02 Egyptian Travels after 9/11 by Scheherezade
I feel safer there on the streets than any place in the U.S.

4-17-02 SNAKE BOOTH PICS at RAKKASAH FESTIVAL WEST 2002 photo prep and layout by Munira
Everyone had much fun mingling with the reptiles

4-7-01 Rakkasah West Festival 2002 Friday Night Photos by Susie Poulelis
Dalia Carella, Leila Haddad, Ghawazee, Cory Zamora and more...

3-30-02 Rakkasah West 2002 Photo Teaser by Susie Poulelis
Some of our favorites....more to come in April...

3-18-02 Salah Takesh and Janine Ryle present 911 Fund Raiser Middle Eastern Music & Dance Jam
There were more than half a dozen bands...

3-17-02 Rakkasah East Report, More Photos, Part 2 Photos and comments by Zulieka
A last minute add in the schedule, Ailet from Israel. She was great!

3-9-02 Images of Morocco by Susie Poulelis
pictures from a trip in January '02...

3-5-02 Rakkasah East Report, Part 1, by Zulieka
the show in New Jersey ran early...

2-28-02 Shahrazad and I By Thania
Anyone who wants to tell about Brazil and belly dance must refer to her.

2-16-02 "Remembering the Legends" The John F. Kennedy for the Performing Art presents
the Silk Road Dance Company by Janet Jubran, M.A.
Laurel Victoria Gray and her Silk Road Dance Company have opened a door to an world that
has long remained mysterious to the West .

1-22-02 The Healing power of Dance by Sharifa
Many dancer enthusiasts I have encountered come from wounded childhoods.

1-22-02 The Photography of Ken Keep
They lit me up! It was a life-changing event

2001 (38 articles)

12-25-01 Najia's gift -Stage-worthy Names for Dancers
A whole book of names in a PDF file!

12-22-01 GETTING FLOORED by Helen Patrise
I flopped when I should have bent gracefully like a willow

12-21-01 Dancing at Zorba's in the '70's by Kalifa
By show time it was a full house!

12-19-01 MultiKulti, San Francisco's Marketplace of Treasures! by Princesse Meroe
True to his culture as one would see at Cairo's famous bazaar, the Khan el-Khalili...

11-29-01 Nomads of the Spirit by Sierra Suraci
Know what are you contributing - either to their dilution as a people or the strengthening of their true image.

11-25-01 The IAMED Fifth Annual Awards of Belly Dance!
Photos from the awards ceremony performances and list of winners.

11-23-01 The Renaissance Pleasure Faire: Bad Jokes and Good Shows by Bobbie Giarratana, photos by Susie Poulelis
Fighting accusations that I live in a cave...

11-17-01 Scared Silly, A Letter of Advice to a Beginning Performer by Lynette
Don't give up on the improvisation!

11-12-01 SUMMER CARAVAN 2001, Scottish Rite Center, July 28 & 29 by Susie Poulelis
another beautiful photo spread by Susie

11-4-01 Tribute to Dalilah!
Dalilah began dancing in the 1950s...passed on September 18, 2001

10-26-01 Dispelling the Myths: The Many Faces of Belly Dance, by Susie Poulelis
A Teachers' Showcase July 7, 2001, Berkeley, California
One of the first events produced by the recently formed San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of MECDA

10-24-01 Karen Andes: World Dancer By Jawahare
Karen Andes has cooked up a unique fusion of eastern and western movement that that provides rich nourishment for the minds, bodies and spirits of women.

10-21-01 "Dog's Day Afternoon, my audition," by Lucy
I BELONGED at that luncheon!

10-5-01 DANCING IN YEMEN by Jalilah Part 2 - EL AROUS
I had been to many Middle Eastern weddings before, but none were as visually
impressive as the ones I attended in Sanaa, Yemen.
Jalilah's recommend reading list just added-10-24-01

9-22-01 Raqia Hassan's Dance Festival (Ahlan Wa Sahlan 2000) By Latifa
Then my dance idol, Suhair Zaki, walked in, creating eddies of excitement that ran through the crowd.

8-2-01 Fire and Ice by Yasmela/ Shelley
What makes some of our dance good, what makes some of it bad is puzzling to me...

8-1-01 I Walk In Pain And Beauty by Lucy Lipschitz
I also walk with the Hope that other dancers will read this and know that they don't balance
on this double-edged sword alone.

7-31-01 Salah Takesh Interviewed by Janine Ryle
For years, he was involved in the San Francisco North Beach scene during the eighties as a drummer while his brother, Jalaleddin Takesh was a kanoonist and restaurant owner. We asked him to recall some of his experiences for our North Beach Memories series.

7-30-01 RECREATING RITUAL Enhancing our daily lives with drumming and dancing, by Tahya
The rhythmic patterns and dance movements of this tradition, steeped in antiquity, steeped in women's ancestry, rekindle a natural and sacred state of well being.

6-21-01 Alice is Alive and Well in Oakland, California! by Bobbie Giarratana
During the auditions, there was an ongoing dialogue among the panelists concerning guidelines for
festival performances; cultural accuracy vs. artistic expression became an issue.

6-13-01 Rakkasah 2001 Festival West: Sunday Photos by Susie Poulelis
Alexandria, Momo Kadous, Soraya, Leila Haddad, Elana, Suhaila, Jamila, Dhyanis....

6-11-01 Bellydancer of the Year Pageant May 19th, 2001 Editorial by GS staff Photos by Susie Poulelis
A well produced event with talented performers, the Pageant afforded us the luxury to sit back, enjoy the dancing and philosphize the genre.

6-4-01 Rakkasah 2001 Festival, West: Saturday Photos by Susie Poulelis
Shoshanna, more Dalia, Good Vibrations, Lunatique, Morocco, and more

5-28-01 Rakkasah 2001 Festival, West: Friday Night Photos by Susie Poulelis
Leila Haddad, Elena Lentini, Dalia Carella, Near Eastern Dance Company and more. Saturday and Sunday coming soon.

5-16-01 Yousef Mustafa, Master of Percussion by Jawahare
When the musicians came from Egypt we promoted this type of music for the shows here too. So, now it has become more popular.

5-7-01 An Interview with MARLIZA PONS, by Robyn ("Maya") Hallmark
In a tiny bikini, I'd dive into a lighted pool outside the restaurant, and come up with a pearl in my mouth!

4-11-01 Rakkasah '01, March 23-25, Richmond, CA photos and layout by Zuzu
photo sampling...more to come later.

3-21-01 Crone Dance by Mimi Albert
There's an attitude here toward life, toward the art of movement in general, which expresses the affirmation of a belief in the human spirit and its manifestation in oneself, one's gender, one's position in society.

3-20-01 Doing it my way by Bert Balladine
For me, dance is not cerebral, but highly emotional.

3-20-01 The Artwork of Marie Soderlund
Bay Area artist Marie Soderlund's watercolors express her passion for color, dancing, friendships
and the many wonders of life!

3-20-01 Living in Yemen, Part I - Tafruta by Jalilah (Lorraine Zamora Chamas)
A simple question was all they needed to get them into motion!

3-20-01 The Art of Allison Lee Merriweather
Allison Merriweather lives and paints in Pearland, Texas

3-01"Where's The Hook When We Need It?"Review by Bobbie Giarratana Photos by Susie Poulelis
Desert Dance Festival 2000San Jose, California

3-17-01 Dunia's response to a review by Bobbie Giarratana, titled," Where's The Hook "
"My dear: some of these people have zills older than you."

3-14-01 Nabila Metwali On Tour! Review by Bobbie Giarrantana and Susie Poulelis,
"The Christmas Eve performance was exceptional, another fantastic night at El Valenciano!"
Don't miss these photos!

3-3-01 Giza Academy Awards of Middle Eastern Dance Video 2000 by Leyla Lanty
And the winners are.... Photos added on 5-1-01 take another look!

2-26-01 The Fourth Annual IAMED Awards of Belly Dance by Marula
Seldom does one see a bellydance production as professionally staged and presented

2-17-01 Yasmeen and the North Beach of Yore An interview with Gail by Meredith McGuire
Another wonderful addition to our North Beach Memories. Find more names and faces you have known or heard about!

2-14-01 The Art of Jan Padover
Famous for the CD cover art he did for Reda, here is more of his work!

1-07-01 Palestine Fundraiser OMEN Production, Palace of Fine Arts, SF
This production marked U.S. Omen's fundraising launch for Palestinian aide and presented an evening of first-rate performances including solo vocalists, children's dance troupes, and choir.

2000 (51 articles)

12-30-00 Festival Fantasia 2000 October 7 & 8 photos by Zuzu

12-30-00 Shake and Bake Festival 2000 by Sandy Keller
It's a true happening, an experience, and for all who attend, an adventure.

12-30-00 Tribute to KATRINA HEGG 1950 - 2000 by Anisa Beverly
Katrina was going to support herself dancing while auditioning for modeling and acting jobs,
all the while taking acting classes.

12-27-00 Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2000 with Troupe Dhyanis by Dhyanis
The rough and ready Scots do love a party! No coincidence then that they host the world's
largest performing arts festival in their capitol city of Edinburgh each August.

12-27-00 Peter Fels, Master Cymbal Maker by Shelley Muzzy/Yasmela
Peter made the most exquisite finger cymbals. Each one was a work of art.

12-14-00 Curly Black Hair, Eyes Like Black Pearls by Tanja
At a certain point a fake horse was brought out...

12-14-00 Troupe Tabu goes to China! by Nanna
.It should be noted that somewhere between passing the audition and performing, it was announced
that three out of four dancers in the group (not including myself) were pregnant.

12-14-00 My Visit to Dancers of the South by Tanja
It is a place with no address...

12-12-00 I am Neferteri by Ann Lucas
There appears to be some curiosity about the racial background of a dancer. I don't fully understand why anyone in today's world would care, but they do.

12-12-00 Producing a Middle Eastern Dance Festival by Ellen Cruz
"It is necessary to combine your organizational and public relations skills with your creativity."

12-12-00 A Metmorphosis Before My Eyes by Sharon/Mahirimah
"I know I never could have danced and studied eight hours a day for 4 days straight without the energy and passion for the dance which surrounded me each day."

10-30-00 Interview with Nazir Latouf by Lynette
An interesting perspective on how a musician grows through the ranks in the Middle East. Includes how music and musicians are controlled and legitimized by the government agencies.

10-30-00 Saudi Searches Save Lives by K. J. Mushung
Life, living on a compound in Saudi Arabia

More North Beach Memories!

9-29-00 My Lessons with Hillary and Aida Al-Adawi (part 1) by Satrinya / Masalima
"After only three classes, they would teach belly dancing!"
10-17-00 My Lessons with Jamila Salimpour (part 2) by Satrinya/Masalima
... would dance instead, without pay.
12-15-00 Reflections on North Beach: Part III by Satrinya/Masalima
to the East Bay
9-29-00 Interview with Jamie Miller-Sabah, an excerpt of "Searching for the Goddess, A Dancer's Odyssey" in June 1993 by Anne Hawkins of the Legacy Oral History Project sponsored by the San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum

9-24-00 Cairo's Costume Disasters by Leyla Lanty
Tacky, Bizarre, and Surprising Costumes Worn by Cairo's Stars of Oriental Dance

9-22-00 Interview with Michael Beach of the Brothers of Baladi by GS Staff
We are a versatile group. One night I play blues, the next jazz, then I become part of The Brothers, playing either a drum set or dumbek.

9-6-00 A Drummer's Advice to Beginning Dancers - by Kirk Templeton
"...Know your rhythms! I have drummed for bellydance classes where the instructor not only couldn't clap baladi but didn't even know what it was..."

More North Beach Memories

8-3-00 Nazir Latouf on North Beach - This is a nightclub?
5-22-00 Kirk Templeton-The Last Night at the Casbah

7-31-00 More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Living With Constrictors by Eva Cernik
My heart beat stronger and stronger, until something in my human reasoning kicked-in. "I wonder if I'm causing all this?

7-31-00 The Dancers of the Infidel Emperor by Kirk Templeton
Did you know that Belly Dancers played a significant role in the life and destiny of a great European monarch?

7-28-00 The Persian Soul of the Music of Sima Bina by Yasmela
So there she was, a beautiful Iranian woman with an all-woman band!

7-1-00 Child Prodigy grows up, Reda D! An Interview with Reda Darwish
"I knew Sahar Hamdi from the time when she used to be a customer watching Fifi Abdu."

6-29-00 NIA: A JOURNEY IN MIND and BODY FITNESS by Jawahare
I believe that I am on a fascinating journey and that on of the destinations is the path, itself.

5-26-00 Interview with Kathryn Ferguson
" I hate rules! Every time somebody says "rule", I go the other way!"

5-25-00 Farouk by Nefertiti
"I am always looking for ways to enhance my performance and leave a memorable impression"

5-19-00 A Cure for Depression? by Carolyn J. Pedrotti L.C.S.W.
My experiences have given me new insight into women's needs for a creative outlet in their lives.

4-14-00 Rakkasah Festival 2000 Photos- photography and layout by Susie Poulelis

Friday Night - Leila Haddad, Daila Carella and more!
Saturday afternoon Photos -posted 4-20-00
Saturday night Photos- posted 5-6-00
Sunday Photos- posted 5-6-00

3-22-00 Wave #2 of North Beach Memories!

1-4-00 Latifa-The Rest of the San Francisco Dance Scene-(Powell St Station)
2-25-00 Bert Balladine- at long last Bert begins his story
2-25-00 George Elias- a tribute written by his daughter, Nadia Elias.
3-22-00 John Compton- Finnochios, Bal Anat, to Hahbi'ru
3-22-00 Abdullah Kdouh- well known musician interviewed by mail

3-22-00 Dancing to Live Drumming by Lucy Lipschitz
The Drum can express all human emotions: joy, sorrow, elation, and grief.

3-22-00 FANTASY DANCER by Tanja
TAK TAK ... DUM, In the sacred wood that night, The old Indian had kept his word, He would play for me...

2-19-00 Ramblin' Rant About Truth in Dance Advertising by Najida Da'nna
Thoughts and observations from sitting high up in the bleachers, amidst the pigeons and the dusty popcorn.

2-19-00 Honoring Our Connection Between Navel and Nasal by Delilah
People looked at us strangely, wrinkled their brows and said "Aromatherapy and what?"

2-19-00 REIKI DANCING IS MY PASSION! by Lori Marie McDonald
Enhancing Belly Dancing with Reiki

2-19-00 Is it double vision? No, its double tambourines! by Natica Angilly
All other instruments are apart from the clear connection between the dance and the tambourine.

2-18-00 Pele's Gift by Laurel Victoria Gray
As Nona began to demonstrate the first dance, I noticed many gestures in common with Central Asian dance. I felt as if another piece of our giant dance puzzle had fallen into place when Nona gestured to her heart and said, "the real hula comes from here."

2-18-00 Joy of Teaching by Yasmela
Dancers need to go beyond the "tricks of the trade" and connect with the audience, whether they are in a club, at a faire, in a concert, or with fellow dancers. I have learned the value of simplicity.

1-4-00 The Day I Danced with Metallica by Lucy Lipschitz
Aside from my family, the two passions in my life are Metallica and belly dancing.

1-4-00 Preparing to Teach by Anthea Poole
This questionnaire is presented here to help you clarify your goals and ideas about teaching.

1-4-00 Using Magic is My Style by Ann Lucas
Do you want to make more money at your next gig? The answer is Magic!!!

1999 (29 articles)

12-12-99 AT LONG LAST-HERE IT IS! North Beach Memories!
Please join us as we travel back in time to the North Beach district of San Francisco between the years 1957 through 1985. We'll read about a vibrant period of Middle Eastern Dance and Music Performance as presented in our interviews with musicians, dancers, and club owners who created this exciting history. Amina, Saida Asmar, Aziza, Dahlena, Fadil, Najia, Shamira, Taka, Vince

11-12-99 Sausan's Saga at The Grapeleaf Restaurant by Dhyanis
Phoenix-like, arising from the ashes of a dreadful divorce and forced closure, petite and spunky owner-operator Sausan has persevered and returns stronger than ever with her new partner from Egypt.

12-99 Second Annual Giza Academy Awards by Amina Goodyear
The judges seldom agree the first time around. So begins a process of arguing the various merits of each video performance as it pertains to the category for which it is being considered, until finally a consensus is reached.

11-12-99 Traditional Mehndi Adornment by Marie Anakee Miczak
The most lovely part about the traditional dancer Mehndi design is it's shear simpleness.

10-99 Conversations with Bert, The Belly Dancing Boom of San Francisco in the 1960's by Lora Schoen
One room was full of coats on the floor and there were people underneath all of them! There were orchids floating in the bathtub and candles everywhere.

9-30-99 I was driving home early Monday morning.By Tanja Waadi, Italy
I had had an arrangement to meet my man, my beloved whom, for a number of reasons, I cannot see often.

Belly Dancer of the Year Contest 1999 (added 6-16-99)

- Leea's official photos of Judges and contestants
-Review by Jay Bangle with photos
-One Fan's Fun and Frustration with Competitive Belly Dancing by Nadira el Farasha , photos too!
-More photos by the GS staff

The Legend of Julius Squeezer by Sharifa of Martinez, CA
I shall never forget my most gentle of beasts, my 14-foot long python," Julius Squeezer"! Weighing in at 80 lb., Julius was nearly impossible to pick up all at once.

The Secret of Dance Style by Ma Shuqa Mira Mirjan of Los Gatos, CA
The Secret of Dance Style is Your Self-Image-the Essence of Style!

Rakassah Dressing Room Talk by Bobbie Giarratana of San Francisco, CA
The Mysterious PERFORMERS' DRESSING ROOM at Rakassah, Otherwise Known as the
Women's Restroom... A Photo Essay

Salamat Valentine by Amina Goodyear of San Francisco, CA
Would my "Valentine" want to celebrate the day a day early or would he be mad that I would rather be at Salamat Sundays?

Crown of Glory by Zara Lenora Mirmalek of Oakland, CA
If you were at Rakassah this weekend you must have passed and lingered upon the booth selling wigs as I did. Even with long hair of my own, the sight of a full, luscious head of hair was enough to draw me closer. Pictures added 6-7-99

A dventures of a Dance Goddess - Part 2 by Dhyanis of San Rafael, CA
Among the most vivid teaching experiences are the two summer intensive workshops I gave at Holloway Women's Prison in London...

The Sheik of Generosity by Robyn Scherr of Berkeley, Ca
Who Is This Man and What Has He Got in His Pouches for You??

The Camel Dances Submitted by Lillian "Illiana" Lehman of El Cerrito, CA
A short parable

A Feast Fit for The Dance (part 2), Recipes collected by Krista Gettle (posted 6-23-99)
Split tummies?! kebobs and more to come!

7-14-99 Leila Haddad's Dance Mission by the Gilded Serpent staff
...But Leila never has considered moving to a place where the social climate might be more open. As she puts it, "my story is France."

6-17-99 That "Snake Charmer" Song by Shira
a wonderful article on that kitchy didy your friends sing to you, when they hear you're a belly dancer. Includes 2 sound files, lyrics, an animated graphic and antique cover of the original sheet music

2-1999- Premier Issue of Gilded Serpent
Dancing on the Bema by Moya Grabina-Smiler
Dancing for her Temple, next to the Ark of the Covenant!

Holding onto Integrity by Heidi Hannah
How does an eager neophyte resolve her desire to dance with getting the pay she deserves!

Dance Passion and Burnout, Muses and Goddesses By Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan
Is It Time For A Dance Counselor and Coach, or Dance Retreat
To Revitalize Yourself and Your Life?

The Perils of an Ill-fitting Bra by Robyn Scherr
Doth your cup spilleth over?

Theater Terms by Ken James
Stuff to know before you rent that stage!

A Feast Fit for the Dance by Krista Gettle
A tasty collection of Middle Eastern recipes for your hafla table

Images Inside and Out by Zara Lenora Mirmalek
recognizing the ever-present clouds of poor self image

Conversation with Bert Balladine by Krista Gettle & Lora Schoen
Words of history and wisdom from our dear mentor!

Plantar Fasciitis by Jawahare
When the "Choo-Choos" give you the foot blues

Adventures of a Goddess (Part One) By Dhyanis
"...a survivor of nightclub dancing - 5 years in Europe"

Columns
Najia, Fred Glick, Rhea, Shira, Aziza!, Amina, Sadira

Najia
Bay Point, CA

Aziza
Diamond Springs, CA

Shira
Silicon Valley, CA

Rhea
Athens, Greece

Fred Glick
Cairo, Egypt

Amina
San Francisco, CA

Sadira
San Rafael, CA

Najia (50+ articles)
Bay Point, CA

4-7-06 The Magnificent Fundraiser, Part Two- Police Barriers Surround Event by Najia Marlyz
Over coffee, we decided that our fundraiser would have to be an extraordinary dance show rather than “just another student night” or worse yet, a studio recital.

2-17-06 This is Not a Review: Bellydance Superstars Commentary by Najia Marlyz
Herein lies one major flaw concerning the concept of superstardom in Bellydance: choreography. While choreography is a form of quality assurance, it is also assurance that the quality attained will be less than stellar in Bellydance!

1-30-06The Magnificent Fundraiser by Najia Marlyz
That included the Belly dance, which he confided in me (later) that he had hated, because it had been introduced to Greece during the time that Greece was under the suppression and control of the Turks.

12-31-05 The Key: an Allegory* in Which a Courtesan Dancer Greets the New Year by Najia Marlyz
Court dancer, Raven, was lost in thought as she shifted her gaze toward a novice barefoot dancer whose name she could not remember.

9-15-05 Part Five; Lace and My Muses: Treasures by Najia Marlyz
I was looking at a piece of artwork featuring a classical dancer of the past, turning it this way and that to get a better view, and suddenly, I realized that I had lost contact with my treasured mentors and had also abandoned my sense of artistic direction that they had helped to foster within me.

6-16-05 Surreyya: Adding Dance to Her Repertoire
Set choreographies are seldom the “stuff of dreams” but simply serve as crutches for the dancer who has not developed a “clean edge”.

3-31-05 Defiant Dancer: How I became a Dance Pioneer In a small 1970s California Community Festival My attitude turned from community spirit to outright defiance.

2-16-05 Lace and My Muses, Part 4 of 5:Tarnished StarDust
Not until very recent times, could I admit, even to myself, that I had lost a large part of my creative thrust along with many of my treasured friendships because I had perceived wrongly that I needed to become more like the Egyptian and Lebanese dancers of the day.

12-16-04 Raven of the Night: Dancer’s Allegory for New Year’s Eve 2005
Raven of the Night was the name by which he thought of her–but feathers? Raven had none! She was the castle’s Dancer of Dreams and aspired to become Jester of the Court...

11-08-04 Lace and My Muses: In Search of A Personal Style, Part Three
I suggest that “elevating Belly dance” to the standards of western dance would be counter-productive in the long-term rather than a valid goal for us to desire.

8-3-04 Lace and My Muses: Everything Old Becomes New Again , Part Two
Now it was the ancient, exotic art of Belly dancing and my fantasies of the bizarre life of a Belly dancer that smoked incense into my heart.

6-15-04 Lace and My Muses Part 1: Egyptian Mummy Lace or “Assiute Cloth”
I fastened around my hips a white Assuite cloth encrusted with gold knots throughout, forming pictographs of falcons, pyramids, crosses, and diamond shaped designs.

4-9-04 Who Died and Made You Queen of Dance?
This lack of background basic performing experience would be unheard of and un-tolerated in any other dance form.

2-25-04 Live Music and Me: The Third Sunday at El Morocco, Photos and story provided by Faridha, Written by Najia Marlyz
Live musicians, whether hot or just luke warm, alway confront the dancer with a set of variables.

12-31-03 The New Year's Dance
Poetry by Najia

12-24-03 Dancing Inside Out
The state of Oriental Dance in America, as it is most often seen today in festivals and restaurants, is at a crossroads of change from which there will be no way to return.

12-2-03 Advice from a Temporal Dance Oracle
These dance related disputes become overpowering

10-28-03 Raks Assaya Instruction at Najia’s Studio
Demonstrated by Rawan El-Mouzayen (Arab-American, age 3)

9-9-03 Searching for Your New Dance Teacher, The First Interview
Furthermore, making an effort to meet the people of the culture in question is of the utmost importance when studying foreign subjects.

7-25-03 The New Age Adage for Performing Dancers
If you have nothing to say through your dance, do not dance.

5-23-03 The “It Factor”
Between the two men, my dance teacher and my artistic lover, how could I not learn to bring the movements from the core (heart) to the outside?

3-2-03 Painting Dance -Fabulous!
I'd like dancers to understand how the ideas of color, texture, tone, shading, etc. can also apply to the art of speaking through movement.

1-11-03 Music to My Ears, How I Learned to Hear Like a Dancer
Musical interpretation is the single, most important skill that can elevate the Oriental dancer from the chorus line to the spotlight.

11-21-02 The Great American Belly Dance Veil Routine by Najia El Mouzayen
After having said all that, I must add that American style Oriental/Belly dance is a distinctive style composed of creative elements that are simply outstanding.

10-22-02 A Story Written with Arabic Idioms; Why it is Difficult to Translate Arabic songs into English, Story by Annonymous, Translations and interpretations by Rima El-Mouzayen, Introduction by Najia El-Mouzayen
“just try to read it in English and at the same time, think in Lebanese Arabic…if you can! "

8-12-02 Certifying the Certifiers, The Chicken or the Egg? Part Two By Najia El-Mouzayen
artists and stars are born, not schooled. You’ve either “got it, or you don’t”

6-6-02 Certifying the Certifiers By Najia El-Mouzayen
...this has occurred because of the current need to be correct, and within certain predictable standards of competence rather than special, unique, outstanding, unusual, memorable, or even (gasp!) emotion producing...

4-10-02 "Does Learning Constitute Copying? My Musings about Sharing Dance"
I could still feel her pain as she spoke...

2-6-02 What do You Owe Your Dance Teacher, besides a Christmas Fruitcake?
Teaching involves a selflessness that often does not often jibe with the egotism it takes to be an outstanding performer.

11-19-01 "A Star Remembered, The Maturation of a Career in Performing"
... last thing in the world that I wanted for myself and my own dance career was to be a "forty year old belly dancer".

10-19-01 Follow the Bouncing Butt; in Defense of a Teaching Method
Some of the "Follow Me" teachers should be more aptly described as "inspirationally oriented".

5-9-01 Taming the Wild Frilly-Lou Bird, Or Training Your Hands to Dance
Once the dancer learns the skill of audience dialogue through energy transfer...

3-10-01 Put Your Dance on a Pedestal
Many dancers make the mistake of using the entire width of the front part of their feet when they dance, because they have never been taught dancer's footwork. "Ankle wobble"indicates...

2-17-01 Zil Thrills in the '70s, Memories from another Viewpoint
My experience with Bert was the opposite, however; the cymbals were hardly a secret.

12-14-00 Why Take Private Lessons and Coaching?
You will enhance your presentation beyond your wildest dreams!

9-18-00 Dancing to the Houri's Siren
She was always there dancing at my shoulder and up-staging me in my own mind...

7-31-00 MiniDisc Recorders-The Best Kept Secret for Music Lovers I would unhesitatingly recommend that, at the very least, a dancer should own a MiniDisc recorder for its editing function alone.

5-19-00 Dance Emotion, Part 2
The audience is not going to care, or even notice, that a dancer did a high-stepping Fandango Walking Step with an over-lay of a Soheir Zaki Head Tilt and a really fine ......

2-20-00 Entertainment or Art?
It is possible to be an artiste in a non-art form in the sense that one may be skilled, professional and artistic at the business of entertainment.

12-16-99 The North Beach Project
I took leave before I was invited to leave.

11-24-99 Dance Emotion, Part 1
"The place of dance is within the heart."

9-23-99 Welcome to Bellydance
..Do not allow anyone to limit your possibilities.

8-20-99 BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
A Case against Standardization in Nomenclature for Belly Dance Instruction

6-23-99 Be a Perfect Woman, or Not...
I fell in love with a fantasy created from the Hollywood films of my girlhood.

6-7-99 Becoming a Fanana of the Belly Dance-
Instead of a musical slave, I believe it is your calling as a dancer to interplay with the music.

February 1999 Najia introduces her new column

Fred Glick (9 articles)
Cairo, Egypt

11-13-02 And Back in the Holy Land...
What do I feel? Disgust.

10-18-01 My Taxi Ride in Egypt after 9-11
And as we reach my destination, he asks me to tell America that he is sorry, that Egyptians, they are sorry.

3-20-01 Eating in Cairo (Part 2)
You splash da'a on your koshary like a real Egyptian. Perhaps you've even learned how to pronounce da'a. You've had fuul for breakfast and laughed in the face of many an expensive buffet. But all the feelings of superiority aside, you're beginning to feel the need for something, well, different.

12-23-00 FLASH FROM CAIRO- RAIN!
The pre-dawn call to prayer, bustling souqs and the constant reminders that everything, from the continuing supply of water to the arrival of the taxi at my destination, is at the pleasure of Allah.

3-22-00 Dining in Cairo
One of the wonderful things about Egyptian food is that there is something for everyone.

9-23-99 Living in India- "Beggars"
There's a new group of pavement dwellers living on the median near the market.

8-20-99 Living in India- "I Wake from a Dream ..."
No road trip would be complete without hourly sightings of horrible accidents or their remains.

7-3-99 Living in India- "Indian Demolition"
Carrying 8-12 bricks on your head up three flights of stairs while wearing a sari ...

5-27-99 Living in India #1-"Bureaucracy"The bureaucracy here is amazing......

Rhea (19 articles)
Athens, Greece
5-10-06 Rhea’s Travel to Syria …PART 4 – Damascus
If you try to show what basically decent people Americans are, you will be run over like a wild coyote. Leave your manners at home and take on theirs.

12-4-04 Rhea’s Travel to Syria … Part 3– Surrounded by Men in the Airport
Clever girl, eh? You think it’s the first time I’ve traveled alone in the Middle East?

12-2-04 My Vision of the Desert Archidance by Piper Reid Hunt, Ph.D.
I had heard about trance dancing before, but had never seen it in an authentic context.

10-1-04 Rhea’s Travel to Syria … Part 2 – The Airport Nightmare
Too bad they didn’t have any friends in America.

8-25-04 Rhea's Travels to Syria, Part 1, The Delusion is Shattered
It looked like a Middle Eastern attempt at Las Vegas and Disneyland, upscale discotheques where attractive Moldavian that aforementioned familiar tributary, than go on to another one.

7-5-04 Cabaret: Is it a dirty word? by Piper Reid Hunt, PhD
American Cabaret, the original fusion belly dance, is accessible and fun for everyone, regardless of one’s dance education.

5-13-03 A Search for the Soul in All Things. Or On Turning 61 and ¼
By continuing to dynamically entertain and stay ahead of the pack, they embolden all women, even of a lesser dynamism, to remain in the fray as long as they desire, instead of being cast to the sidelines as the official baby sitter for grandchildren.

11-12-02 Flying Saucers
They tended to talk more than to act and, by this time, I was hooked on the street theater of it all.

9-18-02 My Belly Dance Baptism, or A Tale of Armpit Hairs
There was a rumor (that was the truth) that I didn’t shave under my arms.

11-03-01 Adventures by the Nile, Part 2, by Rhea
Return to a Changed Sudan

10-15-01 Rhea's Adventures by the Nile, part 1
I guess every belly dancer's dream is to dance in a five star hotel in the Middle East.

5-11-01 Rhea Recounts, Part II, Of Belly Dancers, Bullets & The Men in Blue,
or A Change of Scene: Rhea moves to Greece
Where the bullet went, or how close it came to hitting us, I'll never know...

5-19-00 An Interview of Rhea of Athens, Greece, by Phaedra Ameerah
(This interview has been edited and reprinted with permission.)

1-4-00 Rhea reminisces
We weren't the Beat Generation, we were the Belly Generation

12-30-99 Rhea's Adventures -continues "Egyptian Dance Festival--Intrigue & Chaos" Part 2
"Strike!" I cried, and we all stood up and marched to the bus!

10-6-99-Rhea's Adventures-Egyptian Dance Festival--Intrigue & Chaos
I was intrigued when an envelope from Cairo, Egypt, arrived at my studio in Athens, Greece

8-20-99 Rhea's Adventures!- Mt. Sinai by Rhea Likouri of Athens
...we donned tablecloths after dinner to dance to whatever they had on hand that could be blown into or beat upon...

Shira (~30 articles)
Silicon Valley, CA

8-12-05 Health Secrets of a Road Warrior, Part 3: Avoiding Colds
When most people think about getting sick on a big trip, they think of “the mummy’s revenge”, or traveler’s diarrhea. There is another very real, very common health risk that many of us don’t anticipate: the common cold.

7-28-05 Rainbows of the Desert Sponsor Aziza Sa’id to Des Moines, Iowa
It was clear from the overall setup that the Rainbows are very experienced at sponsoring large workshops.

6-30-05 Ahlan wa Sahlan 2005 Begins
Shira is back at Raqia's Cairo festival again this year. Many improvements noted!

6-20-05 Health Secrets of a Road Warrior, Part 2: Beating Jet Lag
I’ve developed some techniques that usually work for me in minimizing the discomfort and health risks jet lag can cause.

6-10-05 Health Secrets of a Road Warrior, Part 1: Introduction to Healthy Travel
However, some of us don’t have much experience with travel, particularly international travel, and we might not know about the health risks that travel can pose.

4-7-05 Daughters of Shahrazad: Face to Face Cultural Encounters Through the Expressive Arts of Middle Eastern Women
On March 5, 2005, a unique conference in Iowa honored International Women’s Month.

6-16-04 Egypt Travel Health Checklist
Here is a packing checklist that may help you anticipate your own needs.

2-12-04 When Comparing & Contrasting
Often, people base their negative judgments of other styles on student-quality performances.

6-28+ -04 Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival 2004-Intro Travel Journal by Shira
Middle Eastern dance artists and students from throughout the world attend this event to immerse themselves in instruction by leading Egyptian instructors, shop for costumes and other supplies offered by Egyptian vendors, and enjoy the gala shows featuring top Egyptian dancers. Check back for regular updates!
First Two Days
Day 3: First Look at Egyptian History
Day 4: More Egyptian Monuments and First Dance Show
Day 5: Shop-portunities and Whirling Dervishes POSTED 7-9-04
Day 6: The Festival Begins POSTED 7-17-04
Day 7: Classes and Free Time POSTED 7-17-04
Day 8: Side Trips, Part 1: Gayer Anderson Museum POSTED 7-25-04
Day 8: Side Trips, Part 2: The Parisiana 7-26-04
Day 9: The Evening Show posted 11-12-04
Day 10: Classes and the Sphinx Speaks posted 11-22-04
Day 11: Camels, Class, & Competitions posted 12-15-04

6-16-03 Mailbox Missives: When Pop Culture Meets Belly Dancing; Here we go again!
Today, we’re seeing another revival. Belly dancing is popping up on music videos featuring Shakira and other artists.

3-9-03 Mailbox Missives: No Excuse for Low Video Standards!
A dancer who does this conveys the impression that belly dancers either don’t know what constitutes professional quality or we don’t care.

9-13-02 Mailbox Missives: Are You Helping or Hurting Our Vendors?
Fortunately, very few bad vendors exist.

2-5-02 Are Strippers Our Enemies?
Many belly dancers are openly hostile toward strippers.

7-10-01 Dance Or Career: Which To Choose?
You can still stay involved in dance no matter where you choose to live.

12-30-00 Mailbox Missives -Serving Men Indeed! Harumph!
He even has made comparisions to stripping and other similar types related to stripping.

3-22-01 Mailbox Missives-Kid Dance
Is belly dancing a good activity for girls?

1-4-00 Mailbox Missives- The Student Rustler
Teacher #2 started soliciting her students, right after my teacher's class was over!

9-23-99 Mailbox Missives ...my little round tumtum...
Almost every woman has a uterus, and needs a place to put it.

Aziza! (25 articles)
Diamond Springs, CA

3-15-05 Rakkasah From a Vendor’s Viewpoint
Ah, Rakkasah! For many years the highlight of my vending year! A wonderful idea that has gradually faded over time….

1-17-05 The Traveling Costumer
More customers! New horizons! Travel! That’s what we needed!

9-4-04 My Costuming Roots
Soon, however, it became obvious that I couldn’t do three shows a night, on and on, with only one costume! And Yousef, owner of the Bagdad, supported this realization by telling me that if I didn’t get some more costumes, I was fired.

5-27-04 Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant
The contestants were limited to ten, and all danced to the same music, though they were permitted any props they wanted.

4-8-04 A Period of Innovations
In the late 1970s, there were two events produced for the belly dance community that were different from things that had happened before – events that began and paved the way for so many that were to happen later.

9-10-03 Friends Are Where You Find Them
Some people thought that we were partners, as we were so close, but that wasn’t the case, either.

7-30-03 Zelzeleh, My Troupe Adventures
The first thing that I discovered was that I hated to design or perform choreography – it was like having my teeth pulled - and I wasn’t too hot at it, truth to tell.

6-22-03 Moving to Santa Rosa
So I married a Greek, and for a while it was okay with him that I continued to dance...

5-2-03 The Taverna Athena
I didn’t see just how it happened, but evidently a couple of brothers from Cyprus were hired to put the Taverna out of business.

3-19-03 Zorba’s in Walnut Creek
...and I could tell that the Greeks wanted to see more of that, so the job was in the bag!

2-5-03 North and South
Also, we were not allowed to lock the office door...

12-15-02 At the Egyptian Gardens
“You insult me in the street and apologize in a corner.”

11-10-02 Back in the Bay Area
...my zils flew off into the audience, and George stopped playing, went down into the audience...Was I embarrassed!

9-20-02 On the Road
She was the fiery “Bedouin” who argued with the band in apparent Arabic and seemed so real and dramatic.

4-11-02 The Birth of Bal Anat and Other Adventures
belly dance will continue to evolve into things new and strange, limited only by dancers' imaginations.

2-16-02 Club Dates and Casuals
"Don't worry, honey, " said the stripper, "I've got a gun!"

12-11-01 Out of Town in Oregon
One of the things that the owner insisted on was fancy hair - he considered straight, hanging hair to be "hippie hair".

11-13-01 Out of Town in Fresno
You can't wear that vest on stage - we're not running a Sunday school here!

10-20-01 Dancers I Have Known by Aziza!
Over the course of my approximately thirty-year professional career, I have known and worked with some of the most interesting dancers in the business

9-15-00 The Music and Musicians
I was very lucky to have danced to live music almost exclusively throughout my career.

7-1-00 Jamila and Yousef
Even though we were recognizably taught by Jamila, we were not the cookie-cutter girls she turned out later.

5-1-00 Working at the Bagdad
..in the early days, had to have accents when we talked to the customers, to carry out the non-girl-next-door thing.

3-22-00 The Beginning
When she came out to dance in the audience, I thought to myself, "She better not get too near to my husband!"

Amina (7 articles)
San Francisco, CA

1-25-04 One Ad Changed My Life by Amina Goodyear
I was very desperate and determined to get back to my old self.

11-16-01 Giza Club Lecture, Wacky Woman Traveler- Leyla Lanty
Hard work and familiarity pays off.

8-31-01 Make a Giza Club!
...She was to become our first Wacky Woman Traveler...

5-3-01 Fouad Marzouk, Interview by Amina Goodyear
I remember at first feeling intimidated dancing to one of Soheir Zaki's musicians.

8-12-00 Dancing on the Edge by Amina
I learned from the first evening chasing Fatma around the stage that in order to have a serious dance company in the Egyptian style, I had to seriously play with the appearance of disorder.

3-22-00 HOW TO START A MIDDLE EASTERN BAND or How The Arabian Knights Came About
We dreamed of a band that would play music to make us look good always.

Sadira (6 articles)
San Rafael, CA
4-23-04 The Myopic View of Bellydancing
It is interesting to note that among dance fields that are culturally based, ours is one of the few that adhere to this stigma and prejudice.

1-31-04 Memories from Planet Earth
Apathy is alive and well.

6-16-03 Samiramis Imports and the Arabic Movie Nights
Samiramis was an incredible store, not only did Sam have the largest selection of records, and cassette tapes of Arabic and Middle Eastern music, but he and his wife Mona embraced the dance community and their desire to find music, videos, and help with anything under the sun.

11-27-02 Personal Perspective
So much is happening right now in the Middle East, and we write about our dance shows and events, travels and remembrances but no one dare takes a step to mention political strife. .

10-8-02 Charismatic Sultana changes North Beach
She was the only dancer I have ever seen walk off in the beginning, or middle of her set , not to return, because the music or audience did not please her

5-13-02 Aisha Ali & The Birth of the Ghawazee
" This could not possibly be a dance to take seriously", people whispered

2-12-02 What's in a Name
We lived and breathed the dance and its ethnic beauty.

11-29-01 Nomads of the Spirit by Sierra Suraci
Know what are you contributing - either to their dilution as a people or the strengthening of their true image.

9-26-01 "RETRO-TRIEVING" by Sadira
I remember those days back in the '70s when ethnic stylizing was the only "true" way to dance. Latest addition to our North Beach Memories!

Reviews have been moved here

News & Notices- Current news is now posted on our front page (20 articles)
July 2002-Mohamed Khordadian, Iran's best - known male dancer, was jailed in May for promoting moral corruption by holding dance classes in the United States as he was making his first visit to Iran in 20 years.

May 2002-George Abdo passed away in Boston, Massachusetts, yesterday, May 6, 2002 at the age of 65.

April 25-02- Badia of Ali Baba also known as Joyce Daniels of Phoenix, Arizona passed away yesterday. She died of a brain aneurysm, her family said it was fast and relatively painless.

11-20-01 JIZAN's year 2001 Party
Our annual dance party

11-10-01 The Dancers in Denver work together!
It's hard to get everyone scheduled for a photo shoot!

9-5-01 Devija, principle member of Jazayer, Benefit

8-13-01 The Casbah of North Beach, San Francisco is changing hands and transforming again!

12-7-01 Rakkasah West 2002 Looms Ahead By Najia El-Mouzayen
Although Rakkasah still is an attempt to give all dance performers an equal opportunity, results of the phone-in to book a dance time is often very chancy because of high demand.

7-29-01 Walt Baptiste, husband of Magana Baptiste, passed away on July 6, 2001. A memorial service will be held on August 4, 11 AM at the First Unitarian Church of San Francisco. More on Walt will be posted on this site very soon! Magana's contest and festival this year has been cancelled.

2-3-01 Mike Solakian, a very well-known and popular California drummer and Armenian folk dance teacher had open heart surgery on Saturday January 13, 2001. He is a regular at Rakkasah, teaching or working as stage manager. Mike is recuperating nicely at his home in Fresno. He will be teaching the Saturday class at Rakkasah and giving a huge party at his house in late February. Please send him your regards at msolakian@earthlink.net. Shukriya says he is in great humor!

2-3-01 Yasmeen/Gayle of Aladdin's Lads and Lasses is recuperating from breast cancer surgery. Gayle is doing fabulously - she even did a small belly roll and flutter for her doctors and they were absolutely amazed! The troupe is taking a hiatus from Rakkasah, but will be participating in the Gathering of the Tribes festival in Sebastopol in May. We'll have to wait and see how much Gayle will be doing at that point - I'm sure she'll surprise us all. Send your regards to: Gayle Wayne,c/o Janine- javaj9@pacbell.net - oh, and she loves camels!

12-15-00 Mee'sha falls in love and moves to Cairo!

12-13-00 DeAnn Adams of Light Rain dies after long illness.

12-12-00 Sirens In Sanity's 2^nd Annual Halloween Belly Dance Bash by Saiedeh and Yasmin
The evening was filled with belly dance routines in a variety of themes; some Halloween, some traditional, and some alternative.

9-18-00 Photos of Beata and Horacio Cifuentes on Tour!
Beata and Horacio Cifuentes have recently concluded a whirlwind World Tour, which included Japan, Europe, Canada, and the USA.

Male dancer male dancer

2-21-00-12:12 p.m.
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) -- Police rescued a 19-year-old male belly dancer whose father chained him to a bed for three days to prevent him from performing at nightclubs, a Turkish newspaper reported Monday.
Neighbors alerted police Sunday after they heard Mahmut Dagyolu's cries for help, the Hurriyet newspaper said. His left arm and leg were chained to his bed. Dagyolu said his father had chained him there three days earlier because he objected to his belly dancing, the newspaper reported.
Although female belly dancing is common in Turkey, several Istanbul nightclubs have recently begun to hire male belly dancers who dress in sparkling costumes to perform. Conservatives object to male belly dancing, but the practice has a long history. In Ottoman times, male belly dancers who covered their faces with veils would dance because Muslim women were barred from performing.

1-4-00 The 1999 Giza Video Awards! by Erin This is like ... a party!

11-28-99 Festival Fantasia Sightings- Tribal Queen goes Cabaret!

11-24-99 Paul Bowles, Famous Writer and Composer, obituary

9-29-99 Tahia Cariocca, Famous Belly Dancer, obituary from the news media

7-2-99 Beata & Horacio's 15th Anniversary Celebration in Berlin, Germany

8-14-99 Sabah- Jamie Miller's recent illness

8-26-99 Winners of "The Wiggles of the West" Contest 1999

Kim Fitzsimmons injury and rehab
6-4-99 letter from Kim added

Katrina's fight for health- (6-23 update added)

Desert Dance Festival Canceled!
The official letter from Dunia & DDF committee explaining their decision.

February 1999 Premier Issue News and Notices

SnakeByte Email Archives

Letters to the Editor

Current Letters

Older Letters

Archives Pg 17- January through December 2008
What's in a name, self acceptance, Men in Belly dance, Yasmina's new column, MECDA Ellections, Tajikistan, AWS fest, Arabic Idioms, Professional Presence, Suhaila in Phoenix, Music recording, Vegas IBDC, Egyptian Code, Jodette, Journey to Womanhood, New York Dance Scene, Amy Sigil, Tito Seif, Arab Defamation, Gothla, Neon's Keeping your mouth shut, Valizan Ozgen, Toronto IBCC, Burlesque, DVD purchasing, God Bellydanced, North Beach Memories, Princess Farhana fan article, Cabaret to DJ by Nina, Raqia Hassan, Serpentessa, Cover-ups, Criticism, John Bilezikjian, Certificaation, BDSS, East too West?, Vendor's View, Lynn Zalot & Habibi,

Archives Pg 16 -June 2007 through December 2007
Tatseena's Belly Bully piece, Amina's writing, IBCC coverage, Review on Tirbal DVD's, Barbary Coast and Bellyqueen, Cover-ups, Non-Profits, lifting the Veil by Yasmina,
Mona Said's letter, Music Copyrights, Ethics of Fusion, Egyptians being too Western?

Archives Pg 15- December 2006 through June 2007
Interview with Nakish, Sashi-kabob, How to charge what yo'ure worth,Tribute to Rhonda, Marliza Pons, Party booking, George Elias, "I dance you follow". Ethics of Fusion
Archives Pg 14- June 2006 through December 2006
Ethics of Fusion, Queen of the Bay, Territorialism Undermines Event Sponsor's Efforts, Greek Flavor, What ME Audiences Expect , Taxsim, Gothic Dance, Gyspy Dance, Sashi Kabob, Wierd Rituals

Archives Pg 13- November 2005 through May 2006
BDSS, Burlesque, Gig rates, Sashi's piercings, Sex shows on Rakkasah Fest stage, God Bellydanced, Sima Bina, Devi Ja's passing, Jamie Miller's Passing, BDSS reviews and Mile's reponse, Michelle and Sandra's Adventures, Turkish Baths, Muslim Cartoons, Working together, Review of Shareen El Safy's DVD, Spokane's Festival Coverage, Articles by Keti, Michael Baxter, Zar article and racism, WHEW!

Archives Pg 12- May 2005 up through October 2005
BDSS, Burlesque, Gig rates, Competing Cairo Fests, Israel Fest, Untaught Teacher

Archives Pg 11- December 2004 up through April 2005
Copeland, BDSS film and auditions, GS kicked out of Rakkasah, Zaheea's dancing for the blind, Christian dancer, the THONG, Luxor club review, Miles vs Horacio

Archives Pg 10- May 2004 through November 2004
Mena in Iraq, AWSF, Desert Dance Festival 2004, Biblical Accounts of Bellydance in Ancient Near East, Bellydance in Israel, Festival of the Nile review, Suhaila’s Sheherezade review

Archives Pg 9- December 2003 Through April 2004
Myopic view of BD by Sadira, Belly Bus, Queen of Dance Contest, Rakkasah West photo teaser, Comparing and Contrasting, Jillina DVD review, Dancing inside out

Archives Pg 8- May 2003 - November 2003
San Leandro Fest photos, Reflections on North Beach, BD and healing from sexual trauma, Dina in Dallas, Searching for your new dance teacher, BDY pageant

Archives Pg 7- October 2002 - April 2003
Najia’s Real Critic article, Back in the Holy Land, Glass dancing, Casbah and Bagdad Club, Reflections on North Beach

Archives Pg 6- March 2002 to September 2002
Vendors, Dance certification, BD and strippers, Jamila Al Wahid video review

Archives Pg 5- March 2001 - March 2002
My uncle Yousef, BDY pagent 2001, Dancer attitudes - BD gossip and back biting

Archives Pg 4- November 2000 - March 2001
Criticizing and reviewing events, “Where’s the hook when we need it?” Desert Dance Festival review

Archives Pg 3- March 2000 - October 2000
Entertainment or art? Sicilian bellydancers, Rhea, Review of Giza Academy Awards

Archives Pg 2- November 1999 - Febuary 2000
Living Goddess review, Fred Glick travel, Fanana of Bellydance

Archives Pg 1- Febuary 1999- September 1999
Shira’s advice to “Offended”, North Beach memory, George Elias & Bagdad Cafe

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