{"id":4524,"date":"2012-10-15T09:52:59","date_gmt":"2012-10-15T16:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=4524"},"modified":"2012-11-08T17:13:41","modified_gmt":"2012-11-09T00:13:41","slug":"memorial-to-john-comptom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2012\/10\/15\/memorial-to-john-comptom\/","title":{"rendered":"Memorial to John Compton"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Photos from the Community, GS Archives, and Your Comments<\/h2>\n<h3>February 29, 1948 &#8211; October 14, 2012<\/h3>\n<h3><span class=\"footnotes\">posted October 15, 2012<\/span><\/h3>\n<p> <em>Sent this morning to GS from <a href=\"\/aboutuspages\/RitaRebaba.htm\">Rebaba<\/a>:<\/em> I have some very sad news to share with you and your  readers\u2026<span class=\"artist\">John Compton<\/span> passed away last night after a long and painful struggle  with a multitude of AIDS related infections.&nbsp; While typing this it still  seems surreal that I will no longer here his voice and see his shining face and  beautiful smile.&nbsp; But, I take solace in the fact that he&rsquo;s peaceful and  free of his ravaged and weakened body that was no longer cooperating with his  will\u2026I miss him more than words can say and I know this will also be a  tremendous loss to the BD community as well.&nbsp; He&rsquo;s survived by his sister  and two brothers and their families.&nbsp; Both his sister Liz and longtime  friend, real estate partner and caregiver Margo were at his bedside when he  passed at about 10:00 p.m. last night.<\/p>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles6\/northbeach2\/johncompton.htm\">John Compton on Broadway<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Readers, please send your photos for posting here to <a href=\"mailto:editor@gildedserpent.com\">editor@gildedserpent.com<\/a>, with &quot;John&quot; in the subject line. Thank you!<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<table width=\"80%\" border=\"3\" align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" bordercolor=\"#333333\" bgcolor=\"#000000\">\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\" class=\"whitetext\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/johncompton-mish.jpg\" width=\"420\" height=\"604\" alt=\"John Compton\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video Clip of John interviewed for Hoochy Mammas<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/E-0v9RxTONI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/newsgraphics\/2012Spring\/RashidJohn88.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"347\" alt=\"Rashid and John in 88\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Shelleys.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"398\" alt=\"Shelley's photo\" \/><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uoJA8OGaIoI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1gM20z6UBfI\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/edHNtBfR9zc\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/johncompton-PaulaSUez.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"386\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I  am very sad with this news, john was infected after those people who rest their  joy, incredibly talented and most beautiful of his talent was as enjoyed the  dancing and the energy delivered to the public, always remember. -Paula<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/RIPJohnComptonZafirahSpring2009.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"376\" alt=\"Zarifah with John\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I have the treasured memory of studying with John Compton in  Spring of 2009 = drove 3 hours one-way 2 states away to get the chance to bask  in his &quot;John-ness&quot; LOL:) &amp; I AM SO GLAD I DID!!! &#8230;Even just to  speak with him (He&#8217;s such a CHARACTER&#8211;had me in stitches!:)) was a wonderful  experience! &#8230;I drank in all his stories of Hahbi&#8217;Ru &amp; Jamila Salimpour,  delighting in surprisedly seeing his costume displayed on the wall of a bar in  SanFrancisco, etc&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>***REST IN PEACE, JOHN COMPTON!!!***<\/p>\n<p>Hugs-&amp;-Shimmies, Zafirah (Lesly Tejero-Baker)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/ChristineDempsey.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"471\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I  have a few photos from a weekend workshop I took with John Compton in Syracuse,  NY in April 2006.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/RaymondVanTassel.jpg\" width=\"333\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Raymond Van Tassel\" \/><br \/>\n  Paula, ?, John\n <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/prphoto.jpg\" width=\"437\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Hahbi'Ru PR photo\" \/><\/p>\n<p>?, Rebaba, Sage, Paula and John<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/johnNcathryn.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"500\" alt=\"John and Cathryn\" \/><br \/>\nJohn and Farideh<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/SidRennFair.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"349\" alt=\"Photo by Sid\" \/><br \/>\n  From Sid:<br \/>\n  I&#8217;m  Sid Jones, and Oud player who played for John during the time he was expanding his activity from Santa Cruz into the San Jose area. &nbsp;We  performed at a place in Sunnyvale called <em>Alladin&#8217;s Pizza Parlor<\/em>. &nbsp;In John&#8217;s  own words:<br \/>\n<br \/>\n&quot;In the late 1970s I was dancing in Sunnyvale, California, at <em>Aladdin&#8217;s Pizza Parlor<\/em>.&nbsp; I gained notoriety at the Friday lunch shows which  would get booked three or four months in advance. I did some Saturday night shows there also and it was almost like the <em>Chippendales shows<\/em>. There would be about three hundred frenzied women and maybe fifty men. The main part was the tipping.&quot; . . . &quot;I also worked in many places  around San Jose, California. I worked at the <em>Balkan Village<\/em> in Los Altos. The San Jose places paid better.&quot;<br \/> <br \/>\nSource: &nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles6\/northbeach2\/johncompton.htm\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles6\/northbeach2\/johncompton.htm<\/a><\/p>\n<p> I was employed in Sunnyvale as an Engineer. &nbsp;I escaped for a couple of  hours each Friday to do the noon &quot;John Show&quot;. &nbsp;Also playing with me  were Dave Adams (also an Oud player) on Guitar, and Tom Malley on Dumbek and Def. &nbsp;I&#8217;m  sorry to say that I have no photos from those gigs, even though thousands were taken by all those over-excited women, but I can submit a previously unpublished shot  which I captured at a Renn Fair about twelve years ago. \n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/JamiloVacaville.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"313\" alt=\"Sent in by Rebaba\" \/><br \/>\n  Photo sent in by Rebaba:<br \/>\n  &quot;I got permission from Rosemary to publish this  on GS.\u00a0 Taken in Vacaville in the early  2000s when we first introduced all of our students into the company.  &quot;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/JohnComptonSouzanaLVBDISept2010.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"447\" alt=\"Souzana and John\" \/><br \/>\n  Attached is a picture that was taken with John Compton  after attending his workshop at 2010 LVBDI.\u00a0  I am so saddened by the news of his passing but feel so fortunate to  have had the chance to meet and to learn from him. Best, Souzana<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/DanoBlanchard.jpg\" width=\"333\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Photo by Dano\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Attached is one of my photos from Las Vegas  BellyDance Intensive and Festival (2010). -Dano Blanchard <\/p>\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/HabiRuphoto-HeidiWohlwend.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"317\" alt=\"Hahbiru-palacefinearts\" \/><\/p>\n<p>10-15-12 , <span class=\"artist\">Rebaba<\/span>: &quot;The first one I&#8217;ll re-scan and send separately as you can  see the scanner cut it off for some unknown reason.\u00a0 The first six (counting the cover shot I will  send in the next email) are panels from a promo kit created by a Hollywood  agent who was determined to make John a STAR (except according to John he just  wanted to dance and didn&#8217;t care about the modeling or acting at that time  [early 80s]).\u00a0 The most famous picture  with the tray on his head is with the beautiful dancer\/choreographer<span class=\"artist\"> Sharlyn<\/span>.\u00a0 The last two photos with me  were taken in 2000, one is from Rakkasah and the other is us goofing around  after a photo shot.\u00a0 I love this picture  as it shows his real constantly playful nature! Love, Rita&quot;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/brochurep3.jpg\" width=\"382\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/brochurep4.jpg\" width=\"471\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/brochurep5.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"461\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/brochurep6.jpg\" width=\"492\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/brochurep7.jpg\" width=\"373\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>year 2000<\/p>\n<p><em><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/AnneShears-JCSeattle80.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"325\" \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&quot;In a word, John had <em>Charisma.&nbsp; <\/em>His quick wit and  &nbsp;sense of humor made him popular; his kindness made him loved.&nbsp; Above  all, he had courage.&nbsp; We have lost a wonderfully unique individual\u2026and  there will never&nbsp; be another like him.&quot; Anne Shears, St. Louis, Missouri<\/p>\n<p><em><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/AnneShears-wFarida80Seattle.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"473\" \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/ritabeachphotoIMG_1342.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"Rita and John on the beach, 1 month before his death\" \/><br \/>\n  Here is the last &quot;best day&quot; photo we took of  each other at Pacific Beach in San Diego on September 14, 2012.\u00a0 The following day he collapsed on me and we  went to emergency and it was sort downhill from then on until he passed exactly  one month later (ooooh, I just realized that he passed exactly 30 days from  this when this photo was taken, October 14th was his last earthly day!!)<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/01Sahirrnee2006.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"327\" alt=\"John and Colorado Troupe Sahirrnee, on the Arabian Nights at Sea Cruise, 2006\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/HollyGroeschel.jpg\" width=\"214\" height=\"178\" alt=\"Holly and John\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/ShelleyUnknownJohnAnnaRhamaHaddad.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"310\" alt=\"Shelly's photo\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The  older woman with the white hair is Anna.&nbsp; She came to every dance show in  Vancouver B.C. and had been in a concentration camp in WWII.&nbsp; She could  party.&nbsp; She was such a fixture and a great audience and she loved  John.&nbsp; She would get up and dance after she had a few and she was just  such a happy spirit.&nbsp; She came down for this show with Rahma Haddad and  Selma Ferchichi and this guy, who knew John but I don&#8217;t remember his name. -Shelley<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/ShelleyJohnAnna.jpg\" width=\"325\" height=\"500\" alt=\"John and Anna\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/ShelleyJohnwtray.jpg\" width=\"359\" height=\"500\" alt=\"John lighting his tray candles\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/marisaElenaDahlal.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Marisa and John\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is a photo of John and me taken a few years ago at a  workshop in Salina, Kansas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>My mother,<strong> Shadia Dahlal<\/strong>, made fun of how starstruck I was  the first time I met John. I remember her telling him about it, and he just  laughed. Some of my best memories are of sitting with my mother and John  listening to them exchanging dance stories from the old days. From the first  time I met John, he was a friend. He shared jokes and funny stories with me  like we had known one another for years. As a dancer, he inspired me like few  other dancers have, and as a teacher, his patience and fun attitude made me  feel like I could accomplish anything. Occasionally, he would surprise me with  a message letting me know he was sitting in an airport and just thought of me,  or when I got married and moved to Colorado, &quot;Waaahhh! You left me for  someone else!&quot; \ud83d\ude42 It meant everything in the world to know that someone I  looked up to so much was thinking of me. I will miss him very much. &#8211; Marisa Elena Dahlal  <\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Andre-HahbiRu.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"358\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Andre-HahbiRu2.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"295\" alt=\"Hahbi Ru\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Andre-HahbiRu-beth.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"221\" alt=\"Hahbi Ru\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Andre-snakearms.jpg\" width=\"388\" height=\"500\" alt=\"John does Snake Arms\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Andre-crossedfingers.jpg\" width=\"440\" height=\"500\" alt=\"crossed fingers!\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Andre-floor2.jpg\" width=\"440\" height=\"500\" alt=\"John\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/Andre-floor.jpg\" width=\"495\" height=\"500\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Hi\u2026\u2026..<br \/>\nIt is sad\u2026. And more and more are following him to the  clouds\u2026..He will keep us the good places warm for our joy of the art  of dance. Attached some photos from Rakkassah 1996 \u2026.. J. with  1001 Oriental Greetings<br \/>\n    <a href=\"\/aboutuspages\/andreelbing.htm\">Andr\u00e9 Elbing <\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/AsiaJohn84.jpg\" width=\"344\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Asia and John dance together in Hollywood in 1984\" \/><br \/>\n    John &amp; Asia in Hollywood, 1984<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/AsiaJohnRakkasah.jpg\" alt=\"Dancing together at Rakkasah\" width=\"500\" height=\"419\" \/><br \/>\n  Dancing together at Rakkasah<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/JohnAsia in color 001.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I am sending along these pictures, John and I  were partners for ten years.<br \/>\nWe danced and taught all over California, Portland  and Seattle. He was so much fun to work with.<br \/>\nHe was an inspiration to all.  Personally, he is the person who convinced me to move to SF and throw my hat in  the ring as a professional belly dancer.<br \/>\n John was one of a kind and will&nbsp; be sadly missed.-<br \/>\nAsia<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/PrFarhana.jpg\" width=\"374\" height=\"500\" alt=\"Silly John\" \/><\/p>\n<p>John  Compton was &nbsp;a close friend and and such an influence on me,&nbsp;I&#8217;d  known him since I was a baby dancer.&nbsp;His &nbsp;talent, his stage presence, and generosity made him a huge figure in our community, and I felt blessed  &nbsp;to know him.&nbsp;&nbsp;  Off-stage, we got a long like gangbusters- anyone that was around him for a  while knew that he was totally &nbsp;fun, spontaneous &nbsp;and crazy&#8230;in a  GREAT way.&nbsp; After  my career took off, we wound up working together (and often&nbsp;rooming  together)  at many festivals. &nbsp;We &nbsp;always seemed to meet up at  airports in far-flung cities, on our way to dance events&#8230;so we&#8217;d have a  cocktail together while waiting for our plane, it kind of became a  &quot;tradition&quot;.&nbsp;  &nbsp;  I&#8217;m not sure what airport &nbsp;this &nbsp;picture was taken at, and I&#8217;m  thinking he probably &nbsp;just had a random &nbsp;stranger snap it, &nbsp;a  few weeks before we were scheduled to work  together in 2009&#8230;but this  wound up being his Facebook profile&nbsp;picture for a while. I thought it was  cute&nbsp;at the time &nbsp;and it still is, but now it&#8217;s also indicative of  what a warm and funny person &nbsp;he was. &#8211;Princess  Farhana<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/art58\/graphics58\/John\/SomraELNubiaNJohnNsakinah.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"440\" alt=\"John with Somra El Nubia and Sakinah Ali\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/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>\n<span class=\"articledate\">12-12-99<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/newnbhallway.htm\"><em>AT LONG LAST-HERE IT IS!<\/em> North Beach Memories!<\/a><br \/>\n  Please join us as we travel back in time to the North Beach district of San Francisco between the years 1957 through 1985. We&#8217;ll read about a vibrant period of Middle Eastern Dance and Music Performance as presented in our interviews with musicians, dancers, and club owners who created this exciting history. <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/amina.htm\">Amina<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/andrea.htm\">Saida\tAsmar<\/a>, <\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/aziza.htm\">Aziza<\/a>, <\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/dahlena.htm\">Dahlena<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/fadil.htm\">Fadil<\/a>, <\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/najia.htm\">Najia<\/a>, <\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/shamira.htm\">Shamira<\/a>, mentions John<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/taka.htm\">Taka<\/a>,<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/vince.htm\">Vince<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">3-22-00<\/span><em> Wave #2 of <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/welcome.htm\">North Beach Memories!<\/a> They need re editing!<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">1-4-00<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles5\/northbeach\/people\/latifa.htm\">Latifa<\/a>-The Rest of the San Francisco Dance Scene-(Powell St Station)<br \/>\n<span class=\"articledate\">2-25-00<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles6\/northbeach2\/bertbegins.htm\">Bert Balladine<\/a>&#8211; at long last Bert begins his story<br \/>\n<span class=\"articledate\">2-25-00<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles6\/northbeach2\/gelias.htm\">George Elias<\/a>&#8211; a tribute written by his daughter, Nadia Elias. <br \/>\n<span class=\"articledate\">3-22-00<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles6\/northbeach2\/johncompton.htm\">John Compton<\/a>&#8211; Finnochios, Bal Anat, to Hahbi&#8217;ru<br \/>\n<span class=\"articledate\">3-22-00<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles6\/northbeach2\/abdullahkdouh.htm\">Abdullah Kdouh<\/a>&#8211; well known musician interviewed by mail<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">12-16-08<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art45\/laramen.htm\">Whose Dance is This, Anyway? Where Do Men Fit into the Belly Dance World?<\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Lara<\/span><br \/> As soon as he was born, dancers of all stripes immediately started in with &quot;Oh, a new little drummer for the troupe!&quot;. Excuse me? Why is there an instant assumption from birth that all little boys will be drummers and all little girls will be dancers just like mommy. <br \/> <em>&#8212;Added Feature! See our Gallery of Men in Middle Eastern Dance<\/em> <\/p>\n<p> <span class=\"articledate\"> 4-11-02 <\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/articles14\/aziza9BirthofBalAnat.htm\">The<br \/>\nBirth of Bal Anat and Other Adventures <\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">#9<\/span> <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Aziza!<\/span><br \/>\nbelly dance will continue to evolve into things new and strange, limited only by dancers&#8217; imaginations. <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">9-14-06<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art35\/DeeDeeInterview.htm\">Territorialism Undermines Event Sponsor&#8217;s Efforts, Interview with Dee Dee Asad<\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Lynette<\/span><br \/>\nOpen discussions of such issues will help dancers, musicians and those people who surround and support them, to recognize similar patterns in their own local environments. <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">3-3-08<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art42\/rebfire2academicbooks.htm\">Academics and Belly Dance, Two Books Review<\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Rebecca Firestone<\/span><br \/>\nBelly Dance: Orientalism, Transnationalism &amp; Harem Fantasy edited by Anthony Shay and Barbara Sellers-Young &amp; Choreographic Politics: State Folk Dance Companies, Representation, and Power by Anthony Shay<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">3-15-05 <\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art30\/azizarak23.htm\">Rakkasah From a Vendor&#8217;s<br \/>\nViewpoint <\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">#23<\/span><br \/>\nAh, Rakkasah! For many years the highlight of my vending year! A wonderful idea that has gradually faded over time&#8230;. <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">11-9-06<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art38\/EDF06photoS.htm\">The Ethnic Dance Festival 2006 &#8211; Weekend One &quot;Time&quot; June 10, 2006<\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">Photos by Susie Poulelis<\/span><br \/>\nPalace of Fine Arts, San Fransico, CA<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">3-15-09<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/03\/15\/memorial-to-bert-balladine\/\">Tribute to Bert: Photos from the GS files<\/a><br \/>\nBert&#8217;s memorial page, please add your comments, thank you.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">12-13-00<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"..\/..\/articles11\/DeannAdams.htm\">DeAnn Adams<\/a> of Light Rain dies after long illness.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articledate\">8-14-99<\/span> <a class=\"articlelink\" href=\"..\/..\/Articles2\/sabah.htm\">Sabah- Jamie Miller&#8217;s recent illness<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photos from the Community, GS Archives, and Your Comments February 29, 1948 &#8211; October 14, 2012 posted October 15, 2012 Sent this morning to GS from Rebaba: I have some very sad news to share with you and your readers\u2026John Compton passed away last night after a long and painful struggle with a multitude of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[45,87,160],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4524"}],"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=4524"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4524\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}