A Gilded Serpent Time Capsule Presentation
Rakkasah 1984 and 1986 (25 years ago)
photos by Lynette
While taking a nostalgic look through my photo albums recently, I realized that if I was ever going to share these photos, I had better go ahead and scan them into the computer now before they deteriorate even more than they already have. Yes, they are discolored and blurred, but I think they will be of some value to those who pay attention to costume styles or those who were there and simply enjoy re-visiting the memories.
The Rakkasah Festival was held in the Scottish Rite Temple on Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, during these years. I was visiting from Bear Valley in 1984 and living in Oakland in 1986; where were you then? I was looking for a new mentor and Rakkasah was the place to be! My first mentor was in town for the 1986 fest. You can see her in #31- Yolanda Leaird.
Please help GS identify the faces in these photos. They have been numbered so that you can comment directly about each one. The smaller photos are from originals that were blurred or in poor condition.
If you would like another Gilded Serpent Time Capsule opened soon, please let The Snake know!
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1. Bert and Amaya dancing to Paul‘s music
3.
4. Unknown father and daughter
5. Sweet blond — Atea?
6. Her name starts with an S….
7. Mimi and Lasandra or Casandra (?)
8. John Compton doing a bellyroll?
9. The bagpiper is Paul Dessau, Uncle Mafufo, John, Robaire, Michael Gruber, Sulimon on mizmar, Sean Folsom.
10.
11. Meroe
12. Tamborine blond
13. Troupe Tangiers
14. Mystery troupe #1 Carol Fitzsimmons is #2 from l-r
15. Unknown candlabra troupe
16. Sadira‘s Troupe, Robaire on right and Paul relaxing with a duff
1986
17.
18. Raks Al Mu’sad – also part of Troupe Tangiers
19.
20.
21. Asia
22. Aphrodite
23.Roxanna (r) and Shoshana (Susan) (l) from Sacramento
24. Marcia tries on a Costless coin belt
25. Feiruz and Harry Soroyan
26. Kathy Ferguson dancing to Brother of the Baladi
27. Unknown dancer looks over the balconey in the lobby
28. Marcia tries on a head piece
29. Pepper and friends by the Costless booth
30. Veils- Is this Aziza!‘s booth?
31. Yolanda Leaird was part of Perfumes of Araby. Dawn is and old friend from Columbia, California, who has since passed away.
32. Kayla, her daughter and Medusa (my snake)
33. Sabiba dances to the music of Vince and Mimi Spencer
34. Unknown troupe
35. Vendors of head thingys
36. Beata Zadou (pre-Horacio)
37. MaShuqa
38. Shamire of New Hampshire
39. Dancer needing a magic touch.
40.Dahlena
41. Cane Dancer–Lili – formerly of San Luis Obispo
42. Dhyanis
43. Pepper stands in back of her troupe
44. Member of Sabah‘s troupe
45. Another unknown troupe–is this the same troupe as above under 1984 as Mystery troupe #1?
46. Gypsy Caravan
47. Gypsy Caravan
48. Is this Sage?
49. Gypsy Caravan
50.
51. The other Mish Mish?
52. Ugly pants!
53. Cave Woman! – Kathleen Young?
54. Ganapatti
55. Michael Beach performing behind Ganapatti
56. Rhea of Athens
57 and 58.Troupe Mandala of Shasta. This is Denise (of Pangia in Mt Shasta) on on the left with Zadora of Redding, CA, the gal in the blue in the background, who passed away in 1991or 2…. #58 is Ayesha of Medford, OR
59. Samira of Davis
60. Sausan
61. Shukriya
62. Hannan
63. Unknown dancer. Another crocheted skirt and head piece.
64. Silk Road man with sword –maybe
65. Sharlyn and Silk Road Dance Ensemble
66. Silk Road Dance Ensemble
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Check the "Letters to the Editor" for other possible viewpoints!
Ready for more?
- 4-14-00 Rakkasah Festival 2000 Photos- photography and layout — layout needs serious reformatting- remember that monitors were smaller in these days!
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 - 6-29-11 Photos from Rakkasah West 2011, Pg 4: Sunday M-Z
Maria, Nadika, Naiya-Hayal, Onyx Moon, Oreet, Raks Al Khalil, Raks Terayz, Raks the Casbah, Reda Darwish, Ruby, Sabiba, Sassafras, Shimmy Amour, Tatseena’s Troupe, Terry, Titanya, Troupe Aneena, Yolanda, Zahara - 5-3-11 Rakkasah West Festival 2011, Saturday, Page 2" J-Z
This group of photos is from Saturday, March 12, 2011. Bands in the background include: Vince Delgado and Coralee, The Mediterranean Raqs Band, Pangia, and Al’Azifoon - 4-18-11 Fashion Trend Report 2011 What’s New This Year at Rakkasah?
What I noticed, first and foremost, was not the costuming, but rather, a change in the sellers themselves. The seller demographic has radically altered, creating a new vendor landscape. Without a doubt, this is a response to the on-going sluggish economy and the need for companies to reduce expenses. The reduction in costumes and products coming out of Egypt also affected the merchandise. Many small factories had a gap in production, and shipping has become even more problematic. - 4-18-11 Rakkasah West Fest 2011, Saturday, Page 1: A-J
Afrita, Ahava, Ava Fleming, Bala Anat, Al Azifoon, Alea, Alnisa, Aruba, Banat El Hoggar, Black Diamond, Black Opal, Dancer of the Crescent Moon, Dancers of the Pharoah, Desert Heat Dancers, Elnora and Rhonda, Fringe Benefits, Hamsa, Hanna Lissa, Jasmine Jennifer, Jewels of the North - 4-5-11 Rakkasah West Fest 2011, Friday Evening, Main Stage Only,
Aisha, Arabian Jewels, Azura, Dancers of Denile, Ariellah and Deshreet, Tatseena and Dreams of Cleopatra, Elnora, Ghanima, Goddess Force, Halima, Diana, Inami, Khalilah, Latifa, Kiyoko, Leila Haddad, Shaida, Shadya, Tanya, Zia! - 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…. - 11-15-11 2011 Eliat Festival with T and A!
Eilat is a bustling attraction for many tourists, boasting world class beaches, diving, and great weather, which was one reason that we picked this destination in January! - 11-12-11 Simona Minisini of Italy Video Interview
In June, 2011, Gilded Serpent was present at the Mediterranean Delight Festival in Marrakech, Morocco (produced by Simona Guzman). There we were able to get some time with Simona Minisini of Palmanova, Italy. She told us about her school, the coming World Dance Tropy Competition and her own history in Oriental dance. She and her husband Igor have a studio called Club Sunshine with mutiple dance rooms, 2 pools and a "Bed and Breakfast". This video also included a sample of her performance at the festival in Morocco. - 11-10-11 A Month in Cairo, Egypt,
Report No. 3: Fresh Eggs and the Festival Begins, Ahlan Wa Sahlan, Part 1
One of the aspects of AWS that I enjoy most is the contact it offers with dancers not only from Egypt, both Egyptian and foreign-born, but from all over the world. It’s a rare opportunity to find out that our dance idols are real people who are warm, friendly, and eager to share their knowledge. - 11-7-11 Jillina Drum Solo Video from International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Jillina dances for drummer, Suleiman Warwar. This performance was held at the Acrobat Lounge in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. - 11-4-11 SFBA MECDA Gala Show & Festival 2010
Produced by the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association, held on November 15, 2010, in the Hillview Community Center in Los Altos, CA - 11-2-11 Radio Bastet, Where the Hafla Never Stops! An Interview with Its Creator, Marisa Young
Here’s one thing that is very frustrating: finding out that you have two or three copies of the exact same record, released on different labels, with different artists names, different track names and arrangements, and different covers! - 11-1-11 Ballet-ification of Belly Dance
When did Ballet become a requisite for Belly dance, and why is it stated that it should be an essential part of a Belly dancer’s daily regimen?
Linda Roiz
Nov 18, 2011 - 02:11:22
I recognize the following: #41 is Lili – formerly of San Luis Obispo, I think I recognize Carol Fitzsimmons in #14 and #45 (msytery troup).
Sherri Bloomer (Siham)
Nov 18, 2011 - 05:11:26
Hi Lynette – The Unknown Blonds in #23 are Roxanna and Shoshana (Susan) from Sacramento. They were the duo of the killer zills and I got to enjoy their dancing frequently as I lived in Reno at the time. ;~D Sadly, Roxanna passed away this past July from cancer. Susan is still around and doing great, I see her at Fatima’s events in Sacramento at least once a year. ;~D
Sherri Bloomer (Siham)
Nov 18, 2011 - 05:11:05
Hi again – ;~D Shoshana (Susan) is on the left. ;~D We just always called them “Roxanna and Shoshana” – but I just realized it doesn’t match their positioning in the pic.
Evelyn Reece
Nov 20, 2011 - 10:11:59
I loved looking at the photos in your time capsule. The costuming was particularly enjoyable for me!
Yolanda
Nov 20, 2011 - 12:11:17
Thanks for the lovely photographs. There were some very nice poses and costumes.
Michael Beach
Nov 20, 2011 - 03:11:27
What great great memories – great great times! Seems like yesterday.
That’s Joseph Pusey on Nai behind Ganapati in # 54 and me on drums in # 55.
Thank you so much for the flashback.
Looking forward to seeing some of you in the future.
Baraka
Nov 21, 2011 - 11:11:19
#48 is definitely Sage.
Baraka
Nov 21, 2011 - 11:11:47
Hey Siham! Nice to know you are still around!
Denise
Nov 23, 2011 - 10:11:31
Wow, what a flash from the past!
Thanks so very much!!!!!!
Denise
#51 Mish- Mish of Seattle
#6 Looks like Sapphira from Taho w short hair?
# 11 Meroe ‘WIMBS’…
Denise
Nov 23, 2011 - 10:11:53
Correction: TAHOE
Thanks again!
Denise
Elizabeth
Nov 23, 2011 - 06:11:03
18 is Shiraza and Khamseen (Sharon and Karen) the redheaded belly dancing twins. 19 is Shiraza.
TerriAnne Gutierrez
Nov 26, 2011 - 01:11:02
#47, Heather and Margret from Gypsy Caravan,
#50, Heather, Margret and Sage from Gypsy Caravan…I’m back there some place, but not in the picture : )
Terry
Nov 29, 2011 - 12:11:27
Woah!! what a blast from the past!! I was a baby dancer (jeez, some days I still feel like one)! But I remember that event…Danced with Dream Dancers..I think I remember some troupe with an iguana on a leash? I remember seeing that in the parking lot coming or going…
Baraka!! Where have you been…think of you often..always ask Tahiya if she hears from you…hope you are well. Lynette, thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Sausan
Dec 6, 2011 - 11:12:42
Hey!!! Thanks for including me. WOW….was I a skinny mini back then!
Paul Dessau
Nov 22, 2013 - 08:11:43
In picture 9 (and 10), the unknown bagpiper is Paul Dessau and Unknown is Sean Folsom.
Amoura Latif
Mar 24, 2014 - 12:03:09
in # 7 it is Mimi and Lasandra. I studied Bharata natyam with them in Berkeley in the 70’s. They were known in the OD community for creating a pharonic dance based on research they had done in Ancient Egyptian collection in London and perhaps in Luxor. Jamila Salimpour presented them in her workshop festival in the mid 70s.