![\"Ren](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art55\/graphics55\/AnneStasha\/renfaire72.jpg\")
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\nRenaissance Faire 1972<\/h6>\n<\/div>\nby Stasha Vlasuk<\/a>
\n posted January 27, 2012<\/span><\/h3>\nWhat intrigues us about Middle Eastern dance that we embrace it so whole-heartedly? Self expression, adventure, romance, travel – it is a life and a lifestyle rather at odds with contemporary Western society. However, Western society is also curious about Middle Eastern dance.
\nPeople who first meet me often ask, "You’re a belly dancer – what is that like? How long have you been performing? Where do you perform? Have you been to the Middle East?"
\n<\/em><\/p>\nWe’re interesting as performance artists because of our bold daring to live life fully, worldwide. Our medium provokes self reflection. Our focused attention and technical commitment grounds us in the present moment. We are connected to life’s essence, universal and boundless, and we invitingly share that with our audience. That’s attractive!
\n<\/em><\/p>\nAnne Lippe is an attractivist like that: living life fully, invitingly, world wide. Having first seen her gracing the cover of the original Habibi newspaper<\/a><\/strong>, I had the opportunity to meet her while performing in Boston. A great lifetime friendship has ensued spanning the globe from Berkeley, California to Cairo, Egypt – and all points in between. This article reveals just a portion of her amazing belly dance adventure life. Curious people want to know.<\/em><\/p>\nAnne Lippe<\/span>, a trend-setting costumer, was not only one of the original Western dancers to perform in Egypt, she was also one of the first teachers of Belly dance instructing there as well. Anne started studying Middle Eastern Dance with Jamila Salimpour<\/span> in San Francisco in1969 and joined dance troupe Bal Anat<\/span>. She performed during her first season with the company in 1970 in a dramatic black wig, but eventually, sxz he reverted to her own long blond locks in 1971. Anne\u2019s sword dance was one of the featured performances at the Renaissance Faire at Black Point in Marin County, California. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Bal](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art55\/graphics55\/AnneStasha\/BalAnat70.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nJamila Salimpour and Bal Anat circa 1970: <\/h6>\nTop row: 1-? (NOT Aziza!<\/a>), 2-?, 3-kneeling? , 4– Masha Archer in braids, 5- Anne Lippe with drum & turban, 6- Rhea<\/a> with sword leaning forward, 7- Jo Hamilton with sword, 8-?, 9-?
\nFront row kneeling: 1- Galya, 2- Lisa with the snake, 3- Reyna, 4- Darius or Darioush, the kanoon player., 5-?, 6- Hilary with a snake, 7- Jamila Salimpour<\/p>\n<\/h6>\nAnne next established a successful performance and teaching career in her home state of Florida. She recognized an opportunity upon meeting with Mahmoud Reda<\/a><\/span> when he came to New York to teach, and studied with him.<\/p>\n\u201cIt was in the spring of 1978, I think. I was living in Tampa (Florida), and I asked him, \u2018How would it be possible to take more classes with you?\u2019 <\/p>\n
Mahmoud answered, \u2018Oh! come to Cairo in the Summer; we\u2019re always there!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\nSo, Anne went to Egypt in August, staying at the hotel he had recommended–The Atlas Hotel<\/span>–approximately down town near Khan el Khalili. However, when she arrived and went to the Balloon Theatre<\/span>, Mr. Reda wasn\u2019t there! People at the Balloon said, \u201cOh, no! They are in Alex (Alexandria); they always go to Alex for the summer!\u201d It was Anne\u2019s introduction to crossed communications–Egyptian style. <\/p>\nUndaunted, Anne got a ride to Alexandria and found him; however, he told her to get back in touch once the troupe returned to the Balloon Theatre in Cairo. Unwilling to wait, Anne stayed in Alexandria, watched their folkloric shows multiple times, then rode back to Cairo with them on the bus. \u201cThey kind of adopted me; it was really nice!\u201d she exclaimed. <\/p>\n
\n posted January 27, 2012<\/span><\/h3>\n
What intrigues us about Middle Eastern dance that we embrace it so whole-heartedly? Self expression, adventure, romance, travel – it is a life and a lifestyle rather at odds with contemporary Western society. However, Western society is also curious about Middle Eastern dance. We’re interesting as performance artists because of our bold daring to live life fully, worldwide. Our medium provokes self reflection. Our focused attention and technical commitment grounds us in the present moment. We are connected to life’s essence, universal and boundless, and we invitingly share that with our audience. That’s attractive! Anne Lippe is an attractivist like that: living life fully, invitingly, world wide. Having first seen her gracing the cover of the original Habibi newspaper<\/a><\/strong>, I had the opportunity to meet her while performing in Boston. A great lifetime friendship has ensued spanning the globe from Berkeley, California to Cairo, Egypt – and all points in between. This article reveals just a portion of her amazing belly dance adventure life. Curious people want to know.<\/em><\/p>\n Anne Lippe<\/span>, a trend-setting costumer, was not only one of the original Western dancers to perform in Egypt, she was also one of the first teachers of Belly dance instructing there as well. Anne started studying Middle Eastern Dance with Jamila Salimpour<\/span> in San Francisco in1969 and joined dance troupe Bal Anat<\/span>. She performed during her first season with the company in 1970 in a dramatic black wig, but eventually, sxz he reverted to her own long blond locks in 1971. Anne\u2019s sword dance was one of the featured performances at the Renaissance Faire at Black Point in Marin County, California. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anne next established a successful performance and teaching career in her home state of Florida. She recognized an opportunity upon meeting with Mahmoud Reda<\/a><\/span> when he came to New York to teach, and studied with him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was in the spring of 1978, I think. I was living in Tampa (Florida), and I asked him, \u2018How would it be possible to take more classes with you?\u2019 <\/p>\n Mahmoud answered, \u2018Oh! come to Cairo in the Summer; we\u2019re always there!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \nSo, Anne went to Egypt in August, staying at the hotel he had recommended–The Atlas Hotel<\/span>–approximately down town near Khan el Khalili. However, when she arrived and went to the Balloon Theatre<\/span>, Mr. Reda wasn\u2019t there! People at the Balloon said, \u201cOh, no! They are in Alex (Alexandria); they always go to Alex for the summer!\u201d It was Anne\u2019s introduction to crossed communications–Egyptian style. <\/p>\n Undaunted, Anne got a ride to Alexandria and found him; however, he told her to get back in touch once the troupe returned to the Balloon Theatre in Cairo. Unwilling to wait, Anne stayed in Alexandria, watched their folkloric shows multiple times, then rode back to Cairo with them on the bus. \u201cThey kind of adopted me; it was really nice!\u201d she exclaimed. <\/p>\n
\nPeople who first meet me often ask, "You’re a belly dancer – what is that like? How long have you been performing? Where do you perform? Have you been to the Middle East?"
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nJamila Salimpour and Bal Anat circa 1970: <\/h6>\n
Top row: 1-? (NOT Aziza!<\/a>), 2-?, 3-kneeling? , 4– Masha Archer in braids, 5- Anne Lippe with drum & turban, 6- Rhea<\/a> with sword leaning forward, 7- Jo Hamilton with sword, 8-?, 9-?
\nFront row kneeling: 1- Galya, 2- Lisa with the snake, 3- Reyna, 4- Darius or Darioush, the kanoon player., 5-?, 6- Hilary with a snake, 7- Jamila Salimpour<\/p>\n<\/h6>\n