{"id":1771,"date":"2010-08-12T12:58:57","date_gmt":"2010-08-12T19:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=1771"},"modified":"2010-09-04T14:23:13","modified_gmt":"2010-09-04T21:23:13","slug":"carl-cario-caravan-2010-page-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/08\/12\/carl-cario-caravan-2010-page-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Abdominal Freakish Delights: Aboard The Queen Mary!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Purple\t<\/p>\n

PAGE 1 of Photo Report from MECDA\u2019s Cairo Caravan 2010, June 4-6, 2010<\/h2>\n

by Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan<\/a> and Carl Sermon<\/a>
\nposted August 2010<\/span><\/h3>\n

For us, nothing can top the array of activities at the MECDA\u2019s* annual Cairo Caravan event aboard the Queen Mary ship moored in Long Beach harbor, June 4-6, 2010! This was a fun filled weekend that offers everything a dancer could dream of and more: over 600 beautiful performers non-stop on 3 stages, 3 floors of fabulous vendors, amazing musicians on 2 indoor stages and also an outdoor stage with drum circle and dancing, delicious Egyptian food, free lectures, films, and seminars with workshops for dance, drum, yoga, choreography, and Tribal Fusion.<\/p>\n

Staying onboard the ship Queen Mary makes the event special and a unique and amazing experience As you walk the long curved and richly carpeted halls, you realize that you really are aboard a stately ship–named after a queen–a ship that once sailed the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n

One of the MECDA members (the lady wearing purple) stepped back in time and told me she recalled playing aboard the Queen Mary as a child when her family emigrated from England to America on the ship\u2019s maiden voyage. The gorgeous Art Deco salons on board were the site of the workshops, making the gathering of dancers in ornate ship salons part of the experience, in addition to being conveniently located nearby the festival. After the daytime festival closed, an audience of 500 was treated to the Saturday evening showcase, featuring the workshop instructors and a troupe performance in the Grand Ballroom of the Queen Mary–replete with gold and copper adorned mirrors and Art Deco columns and lighting–a showcase that was followed by a hafla with a live band! <\/p>\n

[Ed note- Carl was stationed at the Thebes stage, one of three on the boat. MaShuqa roamed the boat getting miscellaneous pictures and a lot of exercise!]<\/p>\n

*Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association
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\"Drum<\/p>\n

Spontaneous drumming and dance at the outdoor stage on the top deck as you enter the festival<\/p>\n

by MaShuqa<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Teachers and Vendors <\/h3>\n

photos by MaShuqa<\/h6>\n

\"Cassandra<\/p>\n

Cassandra Shore<\/strong> does Khaleegy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Valentina's<\/p>\n

Valentina<\/strong>‘s beginning hoop class<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Hallway\"<\/p>\n

Queen Mary hallway<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Liliana\"<\/p>\n

Liliana<\/span> of Belly Dance Magazine<\/span> with photog Lee Corkett<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Aruba\"
\nAruba Sandals<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Dhyanis<\/p>\n

Dhyanis<\/span><\/a> vends<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Stellar<\/p>\n

Vendor Stellar Advantage<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"vendor\"<\/p>\n

another vendor<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Hannan's<\/p>\n

Hannan<\/strong>‘s Henna<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Mher\"<\/p>\n

Mher<\/span><\/a> of Hollywood Music<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Dr<\/p>\n

Robin Johnson<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Leela\"<\/p>\n

Leela and ?<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Tonya<\/p>\n

Tonya<\/a> <\/strong>and Atlantis<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Mayor\"<\/p>\n

Little Mayor was a character that walked around the fest in character. Here he takes the Thebes stage for a quick pose.<\/p>\n

photo by Carl<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\"?\"<\/p>\n

A casual portrait of an audience member at the Thebes stage<\/p>\n

by Carl<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\"Candy<\/p>\n

"Candy Apple Vendor" does a spontaneous Bollywood dance at the end of the day on Sunday<\/p>\n

by Carl<\/h6>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

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Gala Show on Saturday Night, showcasing the Teachers<\/h3>\n

photos by both Carl and MaShuqa<\/h6>\n

\"Amy
\n\"Amy
\nAmy Sigil<\/span> and Unmata<\/span> (Kari on right)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Cassandra<\/p>\n

Cassandra Shore<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Elizabeth<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Strong<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Leela<\/p>\n

Leela<\/span> and Company<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Jeremiah<\/p>\n

Jeremiah Soto<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Mira\"Mira<\/p>\n

MIra Betz<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Harry<\/p>\n

Harry Saroyan<\/span> is presented a MECDA Lifetime Achievement Award by Samira<\/strong>, one of the founders of MECDA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Sabrina\"<\/p>\n

Sabrina<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\"Valentina\"<\/p>\n

Valentina<\/p>\n

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PAGE 2<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

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\"use<\/p>\n

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Have a comment? Use or comment section at the bottom of this page or Send us a letter!<\/a>
\nCheck the "Letters to the Editor<\/a>" for other possible viewpoints!<\/p>\n

Ready for more?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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