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Gilded Serpent presents...
Carl's Raqs LA Photos
Best from the Stage on the Lower Level

Glendale Civic Auditorium, California
produced by Miles Copeland and organized by Marta Schill
May 17-18, 2008

Photos by Carl Sermon

text by Carl Sermon, Ma*Shuqa and Marta Schill
As always we would love help with names, thanks

Marta Schill- Organizer:
The first year of Bellydance Raqs L.A. broke new ground with its unique approach to a Bellydance festival. More opportunities were presented to take class with more legends of the dance than ever before in Southern California.
There were hour-long sets with six live bands over the two-day event, providing Egyptian, Turkish, Gypsy Rom, Fusion and Arabic styles for the dancers and viewers delight.

Additionally, because performers came from around the world to audition for the Bellydance Superstars, most also performed on the Open Stage during the festival, and elevated the entertainment to a spectacular level.

The Saturday evening show featured performances by the stellar instructors: Morocco, Helena Vlahos, Bozenka as well as the Bellydance Superstars at their best. Additionally, the recording band Milli Collective finished the show with dance music for late-night partying aficionados.

Raqs L.A. will continue presenting the finest in Bellydance music and dance with our 2nd annual festival on April 25 and 26, 2009 at the gorgeous Glendale Civic Auditorium.

Carl Sermon Photographer:
This year, I photographed the lower level stage at Raqs LA, enjoying the wonderful weekend of performances that felt like a "party in a palace". The stage was draped in a burgundy/gold/green curtain that made it seem dancers were performing on a vintage set from a Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. movie.

It was a mixture of dancers, some experiencing their first stage performance and some professional dancers, all who spontaneously "Raq’ed" out with live bands and their excellent music. Many times, special moments in performance happened when professionals and beginners alike jumped on stage or danced in the aisles to the singing and percussion of the well-known Gamal Gomaa and his band.


Click photo for enlargement
Kamar dancing with the Feldthouse Family Band

Suleyman

David (Davul)

Bryan Venton

Ryan

David (playing cumbus) and Bryan.

Suleyman and Ryan with Dusty

Jessica

Frank Farinaro

Celeste

Annabella

Band Taxsim

Artemis Strimenost

Shoshanna

Mystery Dancer #7

Valentina

Marzue

Claudia Lopez

Estrella Ellison
DeVilla


Middle Earth plays for Alex
Frank Lazzaro on dumbek and ? on oud

Gamal Gomaa Band

Jayna dances with more mystery dancers

Narayana

Jody Waseca

Julia

La Shonda

Michelle

Saeeda

Mina

? of Middle Earth

Shirin

Shalimar and Jessenia

Steven Eggers and Sabrina Fox

Celeste
 

Nasila

Nocturra

Miriam

Shahira

Tracy Farmer

Viridiana and Roxanna

Ziva
Unknown performers

Mystery Dancer #1

Mystery Dancer #3

Mystery Dancer #4

Melissa Billings of Phoenix, Arizona (Thanks Helena!)
Casuals

Ernesto

Angelika

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Check the "Letters to the Editor" for other possible viewpoints!

Ready for more?
5-9-08 Carl Sermon's Photos from the Hoover Hafla
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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.

7-18-05 Cairo Carnival 2005 Page 1 June 11-12, 2005, Glendale, California photos by Lynette
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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!

8-16-08 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.

 

 

 

 
 

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