{"id":3377,"date":"2011-10-17T13:49:15","date_gmt":"2011-10-17T20:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=3377"},"modified":"2011-10-17T13:52:02","modified_gmt":"2011-10-17T20:52:02","slug":"carl-sermon-rakkasah-east-sunday-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2011\/10\/17\/carl-sermon-rakkasah-east-sunday-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"

Sunday Photos<\/h3>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rakkasah East Festival 2010<\/h2>\n

Photos by Carl Sermon<\/a><\/h3>\n

Commentary by MaShuqa<\/a>
posted October 17, 2011<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

Rakkasah East Festival 2010<\/span>, the 11th year of this annual festival in Somerset, New Jersey celebrates a blossoming friendship community of East and West coast dancers and musicians. \u00a0The festival is the East coast version of the 30 year old Rakkasah West Festival tradition in California. \u00a0This art form of dance is in constantly flux and now includes many different influences in costuming and performance.<\/p>\n

It was fascinating to observe the new trends in performance, costumes, and dance styling at this year\u2019s festival: Rainbow colors, Fan veils, Feather fans, Silk veils, Isis Wings, and contemporary costuming designs. \u00a0A predominant costuming style for dance troupes was similar costume designs with each dancer wearing different colors to personalize their costuming providing a rainbow effect when troupes performed. Flowers and feathers adorned costumes and headpieces. \u00a0Silk veils dyed to match costumes, or in brilliant contrasting colors were popular and created height and flow in performance.\u00a0Some troupes performed excellent choreography wearing dancewear usually worn in class \u2013 the basic wrap top, dance pants and hip wrap.<\/p>\n

Festivals are always fun because of the community support and sharing. Likely attending a Middle Eastern dance festival first, two who met at Rakkasah East festival were married onstage. \u00a0She, a dancer in a golden beaded dress, and he, a musician wearing his family\u2019s traditional Scottish tartan plaid, were both festival volunteers who met after the passing of their spouses. \u00a0Their wedding reception started on stage as the audience began celebrating the marriage by throwing money on the stage as they danced their first dance. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Sunday<\/h4>\n

\"Barakat\"<\/p>\n

Barakat Middle East Dance Company of Maryland<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Basema<\/p>\n

Basema of Maryland<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Dancers<\/p>\n

Dancers of the Pharaoh and Mahalat Kinnari
\nDancers of the Pharaohs troupe<\/span> combined dancers from both coasts including Troupes Mahalat<\/span> and Kinnari<\/span> to fill the stage with whirling skirts and veils. <\/p>\n

\"Deni<\/p>\n

Dena Shazadi Dancers of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Fatima<\/p>\n

Fatima al Wahid of California
\nRakkasah teacher, Fatima al Wahid<\/span> performed a pot dance modern Cairo style<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Fire<\/p>\n

Fire Blossoms, Rising Sirens, and BellyQueen of New York
\nRakkasah teacher Kaeshi Chai<\/span> with Fire Blossoms Rising Sirens<\/span>, and Belly Queen troupe<\/span> performed a variety of arrangements from Sharqi to hip-hop to modern dance inspirations<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Kaechi\"<\/p>\n

Kaechi Chai of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"FliegendeZirkusNJ\"<\/p>\n

Fliegende Zirkus of New Jersey<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Ghada<\/p>\n

Ghada Girls of New York
\nGhada Girls<\/span> of New York wore a pastel version of \u201cI Dream of Genie\u201d outfits.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Habiba<\/p>\n

Habiba<\/a> Dance Ensemble of Pennsylvania
\nHabiba Dance Ensemble<\/span> of Pennsylviania performed elegant Raqs Sharqi with Habiba<\/span> showcased performing a cane dance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Laura<\/p>\n

Laura Belly Trance Company of New York
\nLaura<\/span> and the Belly Trance Company<\/span> of New York costumed in Persian robes and headdress performed stately Persian dance with delicate hand and arm movements; and also traditional Persian folk dance in modern dresses and hats. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Laura<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Layla<\/p>\n

Layla Mary and Scott Wilson of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Leilah<\/p>\n

Leilah of Pennsylvania
\nLeilah <\/span>of Pennsylviania created a beautiful rainbow image with large rainbow circle veils.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Metal<\/p>\n

Metal Goddess Bellydancers of New York
\nMetal Goddess Bellydancers<\/span> of New York made a dramatic entrance with black capes and large lanterns chained together. \u00a0Metal Goddess\u2019 dramatic dance styling with capes, Isis Wings, fan veils befits the heavy metal band that they usual open for at concerts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Nubain<\/p>\n

Nubian Moon Daughters of New York
\nNubian Moon Daughters<\/span> of New York directed by Rakkasah teacher Arianna al Tyre<\/span> provided a diversity of pieces from modern to interpretative, to folkloric Egyptian \u2013 with costumes varying from dancewear to \u201cbody paint and shells.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Nubian<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Queens<\/p>\n

Queens of the Universe of Virginia
\nA troupe from Virgina, Queens of the Universe<\/span>, were dramatically presented in red black and gold costumes with swirling skirts that showed off the lines in their choreography<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Rega\"<\/p>\n

Rega<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Saidah\"<\/p>\n

Saiedah of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Samrah<\/p>\n

Samra of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Shadia<\/p>\n

Shadia of California<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Shir-El<\/p>\n

Shir-El of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"open
\nOpen Floor dancer
\n\u00a0Always a crowd pleaser and fun to watch \u201cthe future generation of bellydance\u201d taking their first performance steps during Open Dance Floor. \u00a0I smile and think \u201cWhat will dancing at festivals be like for them 30 years from now?\u201d <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Tempest<\/p>\n

Tempest<\/a> of Rhode Island<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Troupe<\/p>\n

Troupe Tahya<\/a> of Pennsylvania<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Wild<\/p>\n

Wild Gypsy Fire of New Jersey<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Willow<\/p>\n

Willow of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Yuliya\"<\/p>\n

Yuliya of New Jersey<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Zenaide<\/p>\n

Zenaide of New York<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\n<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"use<\/p>\n

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