The
Gilded Serpent presents...
The 1999
Giza Video Awards!
by
Erin
This is like ... a party!
Once again, I find it hard to break my habit of arriving too early
for Middle Eastern events. My friend and I arrived promptly at 7:25
to the 3rd Annual 1999 Giza Academy Awards of Middle Eastern Dance
after finding a prime parking place just two blocks away. Amina
Goodyear, founder
of the Giza Academy, greeted us personally and graciously pointed
out that it wasn't 7:30 quite yet, all the while her stage crew
scurried around in the upper floor of the Noe Valley Ministry, transforming
the simple Presbyterian sanctuary into a venue for Middle Eastern
dance.
When we returned after a quick bite at a great Mediterranean cafe
(more news on this later), the room was full, Nadia Hamdi of Egypt
was dancing (on the big screen television) and the full house was
waiting patiently to be entertained.
Although our Mistress of Ceremonies, Linda Grondahl, struggled with
a sore throat and a fading voice, she managed to lead us expeditiously
through the evening's presentation of Middle Eastern dance videos
as well as live dance performances. Other presenters included local
dance celebrities Tina O'Neill, Baraka,
Ma'Shuqa,
and Gilded Serpent's own Lynette.
Gregory Burke delivered an introductory speech on the virtues of
video.
Unlike many academy award events, we did not suffer through too
many long-winded speeches. However, we also had no chance to view
clips from all the nominated videos. A context of candidates for
these awards might have made the final winners shine a bit brighter.
And, the winner is... (so,
you don't have to wait any longer, here's the lineup of winners...)
Documentary, two
winners
--------------------------------
1. "Paul Bowles
in Morocco" - Paul Bowles, musicologist and writer, tells
tales of Moroccan music and dance with interspersed footage of dancers
and live music. Paul Bowles is the author of "Sheltering Sky".
Available at your local video store, this video definitely merits
watching.
2. Selections from
a work in progress by Cara Currie - Be sure to watch for this local
videographer's name in the future. Although her video is currently
unfinished, perhaps we can convince Amina to arrange a more lengthy
preview of this promising travelogue? Contact Amina at 415-282-7910.
Outstanding Choreography
--------------------------------
Madame Raqia Hassan
- Cane dance performed by the lovely Katya, a Russian dancer living
in Egypt. Madame Raqia Hassan, renowned dance coach and instructor,
included this outstanding choreography in one of her instructional
videos.
Instructional Video,
two winners
---------------------------------------
1. "Classical
Persian One" by Shahrzad Khorsandi (teacher in Richmond, CA) - This
video's sound and picture quality rank at the top of all videos
presented. The teacher instructs through a voiceover, while a dancer
flawlessly demonstrates the moves against a plain (non-distracting!)
background. For more info, see http://pwp.value.net/~shahrzad/
2. Belly Dance
Basics Beg.-Int. I by Cheri Berens (teacher in Cape Cod, MA) - Although
I generally trusted the Giza Academy's opinion of the winning videos,
please be aware that the sound quality of this video was very poor.
Ms. Berens does not use the voiceover technique, which may improve
the recorded sound (it's hard to wear a mike on a bellydance costume).
On the other hand, the distortion of her instructions may have been
due to the over-amplification required for such a large room. For
more info, see http://www.cheri.addr.com/
Best Troupe
---------------
"Caravan Trails"
by Gypsy Caravan (Portland, OR) - A delightful video presentation
of the troupe's performances along with more casual footage of backstage
antics. Again, the sound quality of this video may have suffered
from over-amplication combined with simple recording techniques.
Live Performance,
Solo Dance, "Interpretive Dance" category
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delilah,
performing to live music in Suzy Evans' International Academy of
Middle Eastern Dance's Second Annual Awards of Belly Dance. Delilah
wins for the second year in a row. Her dance style strikes me as
intensely personal, and I had to admire her for this open and expressive
performance.
Live Performance,
Solo Dance, "Raks Sharki" category
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jillina,
also performing in the same show, to taped music. My only comment,
you've got to see this dancer's costume to believe it. Think of
faux pink snakes twined around arms and legs and merge that image
with a Star Trek belly dancer's costume. Of course, Jillina executed
her dance moves with confidence and accuracy.
The evening provided much more than moving pictures on a flat silver
screen. A crowd of dancers and their supporters yearns for live
dance and even more for dance accompanied by live music. Amina's
Aswan Dancers performed two lively pieces in short skirts, perhaps
not traditional, but certainly delightful. After the formal presentations
of awards, many of our celebrity presenters transformed themselves
into dancing beauties. Tina O'Neill heated up the room with a spirited
dance of Spanish inspiration. The crowd met Baraka with a loving
applause and she rewarded us with an enthusiastic dance. Ma'Shuqa
balanced a candelabra on her head in the middle of her cabaret performance.
Amina entranced the crowd with her seductive glances and mysterious
smile. A chorus in back of the room actually broke into singing
and chanting. Jacques Al-Asmar, who made us wait a few measures
before his entrance, whirled onto the floor as the back-row chorus
intensified their applause. By the
end of his performance, which included one encore, flowers, thrown
by loving supporters, covered the dance floor.
Finally, Jacques selected audience members to join him on the dance
floor, until the stage had turned into a dance floor for all of
us. I thought I would have a moment to step away from the dancing
for a much-needed drink of water. However, by the time I returned,
the stage crew had already begun dismantling our oasis of dance.
Someone whispered, "They're kicking us out, and it's only eleven
p.m." A church official wandered past me, collecting empty
cups and mumbled as she shook her head, "Why... this is like
... a party!"
Unfortunately, her words rang true for only the next few minutes,
before the dance crowd departed until the next Giza Academy Awards
of Middle Eastern Dance.
See Amina's comments
on this review in the Letters to the Editor
Ready
for more?
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 2nd 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.
|
