{"id":2535,"date":"2011-04-05T18:50:51","date_gmt":"2011-04-06T01:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=2535"},"modified":"2011-04-05T18:56:52","modified_gmt":"2011-04-06T01:56:52","slug":"carl-sermon-rakkasah-west-fest-2011-friday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/04\/05\/carl-sermon-rakkasah-west-fest-2011-friday\/","title":{"rendered":"<h3 align=\"center\">Rakkasah West Fest 2011<\/h3>"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 align=\"center\">Friday Evening, Main Stage only<\/h2>\n<h3 align=\"center\">Photos by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/aboutuspages\/carlsermon.htm\">Carl Sermon<\/a><br \/>\n<span class=\"footnotes\">posted April 5, 2011<\/span><\/h3>\n<p align=\"center\">Rakkasah West Festival is held every year at various venues in the East Bay of San Francisco, California. Sponsored by <span class=\"artist\">Shukirya<\/span> and <span class=\"artist\">Michelle Devine<\/span>, this year the event was held at the <span class=\"company\">Richmond Auditorium<\/span>. This group of photos is from Friday, March 11, 2011. The band  feature this day was <span class=\"company\">Pangia<\/span> of Mt Shasta, headed by <span class=\"artist\">Pat Olsen<\/span> and <span class=\"artist\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/aboutuspages\/DenisePangia.html\">Denise<\/a><\/span>. More photos will be coming soon of the performances on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table width=\"80%\" border=\"0\" align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"12\" cellspacing=\"0\" bgcolor=\"#000000\">\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" class=\"whitetext\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/aisha.jpg\" width=\"432\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Aisha of Ixtapa, Mexico\" \/><br \/>\nAisha Isir Layan of Izxtapa, Mexico<\/h4>\n<h4>&nbsp;<\/h4>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/arabianjewels.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"325\" alt=\"Arabian Jewels\" \/><br \/>\nArabian Jewels of Lodi, California<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/azurawa.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"321\" alt=\"Azura of Seattle, Washington\" \/><br \/>\nAzura of Seattle, Washington<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/dancersdenile.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"138\" alt=\"Dancers of Denile\" \/><br \/>\nDancers of Denila and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/aboutuspages\/latifa.htm\">Latifa<\/a> from Sausalito, CA<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/deshreetdanceco.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"335\" alt=\"Ariellah and Deshreet Dance Company of San Francisco\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art45\/rebfirecoredvds.htm\">Ariellah<\/a> and Deshreet Dance Company of San Francisco<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/dreamscleopatra.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"290\" alt=\"Dreams of Cleopatra\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/aboutuspages\/tatseena.htm\">Tatseena<\/a> and Dreams of Cleopatra of Dublin, CA<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/elnora.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"319\" alt=\"Elnora of Richmond, CA\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Elnora of Richmond, CA<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/ghanimagaditan.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"338\" alt=\"Ghanima Gaditana ofSanta Clara, CA\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Ghanima Gaditana of Santa Clara, CA<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/goddessforce.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"127\" alt=\"Goddess Force\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Goddess Force and Zadiyah of Castro Valley, CA<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/halimaNdiana.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"335\" alt=\"Halima and Diana\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Halima and Diana<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/inami.jpg\" width=\"403\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Inami\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Inami of Tokyo, Japan<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/jaouahir.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"172\" alt=\"Jaouahir Tahoe of South Lake Tahoe, California\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Jaouahir Tahoe of South Lake Tahoe, California<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/jewelsnile.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"131\" alt=\"Jewels of the Nile\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/jewelsnile2.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"118\" alt=\"Jewels of the Nile\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Jewels of the Nile and Alana of Simi Valley, California<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/khalilah.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"410\" alt=\"Khalilah Samah of Walnut Creek, California\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Khalilah Samah of Walnut Creek, California<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/kiyoko.jpg\" width=\"477\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Kiyoko\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Kiyoko of Tokyo, Japan<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/leilahaddad.jpg\" width=\"342\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Leila Haddad\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles3\/leilahaddad.htm\">Leila Haddad<\/a> of Paris, France<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/pangiaopenfloor.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"304\" alt=\"Open floor with Pangia\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Open Floor with Pangia<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/shadia.jpg\" width=\"366\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Shadia\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Shadia of Sacramento<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/shadya.jpg\" width=\"376\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Shadya of Charlotte, NC\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Shadya of Charlotte, North Carolina<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/tanyasaahira.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"494\" alt=\"Tanya Saahira\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Tanya Saahira of Oroville, California<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art53\/graphics53\/Carl\/RaksFri\/zia.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"455\" alt=\"Zia! and Sherry Briar of Corte Madera, Ca\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4>Zia! and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art47\/dhyanisreviewsherrisbook.htm\">Sherry Briar<\/a> of Corte Madera, California<\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/graphics\/acommentbox.jpg\" alt=\"use the comment box\" align=\"right\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"ready4more\">\n<p>Have a comment? Use or comment section at the bottom of this page or <a href=\"mailto:editor@gildedserpent.com\">Send us a letter!<\/a> <br \/>\nCheck the &quot;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/let2ed.htm\">Letters to the Editor<\/a>&quot; for other possible viewpoints!<\/p>\n<p>Ready for more?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--end ready4more --><\/p>\n<div class=\"articlelist\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\"><br \/>\n2-10-11 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/02\/10\/carl-bduc-2010-other\/\">Other Categories: Kids, Troupes, etc. Photos from the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition<\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Carl Sermon<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nMelanie, Kat, Punkin, Shanti, Wiiz, Ahgaar Karyma, ALyeeza and Julian, Babylon Mood,&#8230;<\/li>\n<li><strong>1-30-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/01\/30\/katherine-carl-north-bay-bellydance-bazaar\/\">Fun TImes at the Third Annual North Bay Belly Dance Bazaar, A Northern California Community Event<\/a> by Katherine Goldsby and photos by Carl Sermon<\/strong><br \/>\nDeborah Bennett and TerriAnne Gutierrez co-produced the third North Bay Bellydance Bazaar (NBBB)  which was held on September 18 &amp; 19, 2010 at the Sebastopol Community Center in Sonoma County, California. <\/li>\n<li><strong>1-25-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/01\/25\/carl-photos-bduc-2010-fusion\/\">The Fusion Category, Photos from the 20th Annual Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition<\/a> by Carl Sermon<\/strong><br \/>Amani Jabril, Apsara, Dilek, Eliza, Gina, Jane, Kellie, Khuzama, Lucia, Maria, Mireya, Rachel, Tiaja, Tracy, Valentine, Zondra<\/li>\n<li><strong>1-15-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/01\/15\/carl-photos-bduc10-universal-egyptian-finalists\/\">The Universal and Egyptian Category Finalists, Photos from the 20th Annual BDUC 2010<\/a> Photos by Carl Sermon<\/strong><br \/>\nKendra, Maria, Rachel, Samara, Dilek, Grinnelly, Katya, Masha<\/li>\n<li><strong>1-7-11- <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/01\/07\/carl-bduc-contest-drum-2010\/\">The Drum Solo Cartegory, Photos from the 2010 Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition<\/a> by Carl Sermon<\/strong><br \/>Aspira, Celestia, Erica, Evangaline, Gina, Innah, Jane, Jessica, Katya, Kenya, Lapis, Maiara, Maria, Masha, Nandi, Ninyshka, Rachel, Safira, Viridiana, Zondra <\/li>\n<li><strong>12-25-10<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/12\/25\/carl-sermon-20th-bduc-2010-photos-category-winners\/\"> 20th Annual BDUC 2010 Photos: Category Winners<\/a>! Photos by Carl Sermon<\/strong><br \/>\nHere are the champions of each category from the various contests held throughout the weekend. Gina, Dilek, Rachel, Katya, Jane, Melanie, Mireya, Roxanne, Viridiana, Wiiz <\/li>\n<li><strong>12-7-10 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/12\/07\/carls-photos-bduc-2010\/\">Photos from the 20th Annual BDUC 2010 Saturday Night&#8217;s Judges Celebrity Show<\/a>, Photos by Carl Sermon<\/strong><br \/>\nThis is the 20th year and was held in the Long Beach Convention Center. Saturday night&rsquo;s show featured all the workshop teachers and the judges for the many competions. More of Carl&rsquo;s lovely photos from the competitions are yet to come! <\/li>\n<li><strong>9-26-10 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/09\/26\/iman-yahalla-2010\/\">A Dancer&#8217;s Perspecitive: 2010 Yaa Halla Y&rsquo;all Belly Dance Competition<\/a> by Iman, Photos by Carl Sermon and MsShuqa<\/strong><br \/>Yaa Halla Y&rsquo;all is an action-packed, four-day event for all styles of Belly dance: Tribal, Alternative, and Cabaret.<\/li>\n<li><strong>8-12-10 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/08\/12\/carl-cario-caravan-2010-page-1\/\">Abdominal Freakish Delights: Aboard The Queen Mary! Photo Report from MECDA&rsquo;s Cairo Caravan 2010, June 4-6, 2010 PAGE 1<\/a> AND <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2010\/08\/12\/carl-cario-caravan-2010-page-2\/\">PAGE 2<\/a> by Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan and Carl Sermon <\/strong><br \/>\nStaying 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&ndash;named after a queen&ndash;a ship that once sailed the Atlantic Ocean.<\/li>\n<li><strong>3-31-11<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/31\/rebaba-on-the-road-greece\/\"> On the Road, Queen of Denial, Chapter 4<\/a>, by Rebaba<\/strong><br \/>\nThat night, I would find out that my arrival and subsequent feelings of having \u201cmade it to the top\u201d couldn\u2019t have been farther from the truth! <\/li>\n<li><strong>3-30-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/30\/joweh-guatemala-trip-part2\/\">Joweh\u2019s \u201cCall to Dance\u201d in Guatemala, Part 2 of Dream Trip to Guatemala<\/a> by Chloe<\/strong><br \/>\nWaiting in the wings of the nearly completely darkened stage, holding fire-colored fan-veils aloft, listening to the first strains of Egyptian orchestral music, I couldn\u2019t help thinking that this experience was both familiar and foreign, in the literal and figurative sense. <\/li>\n<li><strong>3-29-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/29\/sausan-grapeleaf-restaruant\/#axzz1I0flXC3E\">The Magic of &quot;The Grapleaf&quot;, 1976-1997<\/a> by Sausan<\/strong><br \/>\nBack in the early \u201880s when I was performing at the Bagdad Cabaret on Broadway, a customer strolled into the Northbeach nightclub and told me about a little known restaurant<\/li>\n<li><strong>3-25-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/25\/leyla-lanty-term-cabaret-nightclub\/#axzz1HeoGFewJ\">Is &quot;Cabaret&quot; a Dirty Word? Using the Terms Cabaret vs. Night Club<\/a> by Leyla Lanty<\/strong><br \/>So, is \u201ccabaret\u201d a dirty word?  It depends on whose definition you want to use!  In Arabic, the name \u201ccabaret\u201d is interpreted differently from what it is in English, leading to the confusion about nightclubs and cabarets.  Here in the U.S., we think of a cabaret as a synonym for nightclub. <\/li>\n<li><strong>3-24-11 A <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/24\/sadiyya-jillina-weeklong-intensive\/\">Transformational Week, A Fan\u2019s View of Jillina\u2019s Weeklong Intensive Report<\/a> by Sa\u2019diyya of Texas<\/strong><br \/>I think that\u2019s another benefit of having scholarships in the world of Bellydance because it gives dancers another goal to work towards: \u201cWhat do I have to do to rise to the occasion, to receive this other kind of award?\u201d <\/li>\n<li><strong>3-17-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/03\/17\/jasmine-samar-women-india-belly-dance\/\">Empowering Women in India through Belly Dance<\/a> by Jasmine June and Samar<\/strong><br \/>\nThe company works with less fortunate and troubled families and women, and pays the women a decent sum for their crafts as a way of helping them out.<\/li>\n<li><strong>3-15-11 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/newsgraphics\/ComKaleidoscope.htm\">MaShuqa interviews Dahlal and Tim Kent on the Cairo Revolution for the Gilded Serpent<\/a> Video report on the Community Kaleidoscope<\/strong><br \/>\nIn February 2011 while at the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition, we catch Dahlal\/Debbie Sinclair and Tim for an interview. Discussed are the affects of the curfews, blocked streets, and lack of cell phone coverage on the production of costume orders. They also talk about the difference between Cairo  and US designed costumes.<\/li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Friday Evening, Main Stage only Photos by Carl Sermon posted April 5, 2011 Rakkasah West Festival is held every year at various venues in the East Bay of San Francisco, California. Sponsored by Shukirya and Michelle Devine, this year the event was held at the Richmond Auditorium. This group of photos is from Friday, March [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2535"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2535"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2535\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}