{"id":704,"date":"2009-08-14T13:52:06","date_gmt":"2009-08-14T20:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=704"},"modified":"2009-08-14T14:36:00","modified_gmt":"2009-08-14T21:36:00","slug":"mabbdoy09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/08\/14\/mabbdoy09\/","title":{"rendered":"<h3>Michael&#8217;s Photos of the Award Winners <br \/>of the Belly Dancer of the Year 2009 Pageant<\/h3>"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/mariatop.jpg\" alt=\"Maria wins Belly Dancer of the Year 2009\" width=\"275\" height=\"278\" align=\"right\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>San Ramon High School, California, May 23 &amp; 34, 2009, <br \/>\n\t\t\t\tSponsored by Leea Aziz of Belly Dance! Studio in Walnut Creek<\/h2>\n<h3>Photos by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/aboutuspages\/michaelbaxter.htm\">Michael Baxter<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"footnotes\">posted August 14, 2009 <\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Some photos are linked to larger versions. Click on pic to see!<br \/>\nProviding additional caption details such as troupe member names, hometowns,and director- is always appreciated.<br \/>\nThanks, <a href=\"mailto:editor@gildedserpent.com\">Editor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table width=\"80%\" border=\"0\" align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"10\" cellspacing=\"0\" bgcolor=\"#000000\">\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Maria<\/strong> wins Belly Dancer of the Year 2009<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/maria1.jpg\" alt=\"Maria\" width=\"328\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/maria2.jpg\" alt=\"Maria\" width=\"339\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Sedona<\/strong> &#8211; 1st Runner Up <\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/Sedonaorange3.jpg\" alt=\"Sedona\" width=\"404\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/Sedonablue.jpg\" alt=\"Sedona\" width=\"387\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Mia\tSha&#8217;uri <\/strong>&#8211; 2nd Runner Up<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/miagreen.jpg\" alt=\"Mia\" width=\"349\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/miaspots12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/miaspots.jpg\" alt=\"Mia\" width=\"325\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Karolina<\/strong> &#8211; 3rd Runner Up<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/karolenawhite.jpg\" alt=\"Karolina\" width=\"458\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/karolenablu.jpg\" alt=\"Karolina\" width=\"272\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Namira<\/strong> &#8211; 4th Runner Up<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/namiragreenpink.jpg\" alt=\"Namira\" width=\"427\" height=\"500\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/namirawhite.jpg\" alt=\"Namira\" width=\"500\" height=\"420\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Magidah<\/strong> &#8211; Congeniality<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/magidahblu2.jpg\" alt=\"Magidah\" width=\"324\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/magidahpink.jpg\" alt=\"Magidah\" width=\"358\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Raks A&#8217;Diva<\/strong>&#8211; 2009 Troupe of the Year<\/span> <br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/RaksADiva12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/RaksADiva.jpg\" alt=\"Raks A'Diva, click for larger photo\" width=\"500\" height=\"260\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Modern Gypsy<\/strong> &#8211; 1st Runner Up<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/moderngypsy12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/moderngypsy.jpg\" alt=\"Modern Gypsy, click for larger photo\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Troupe Dhyanis<\/strong> &#8211; 2nd Runner Up<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/dhyanis12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/dhyanis.jpg\" alt=\"Troupe Dhyanis, click for larger photo\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Tiyanna<\/strong> &#8211; Congeniality<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/Tiyanna12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/Tiyanna.jpg\" alt=\"Tiyanna, Click for larger photo\" width=\"500\" height=\"194\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Aiwa She Raqa<\/strong> &#8211; 2009 Trio of the Year <br \/>\t<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/AiwaSheRaqa12a.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/AiwaSheRaqaa.jpg\" alt=\"Aiwa She Raqa, click for larger photo\" width=\"500\" height=\"280\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"whitetext\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/AiwaSheRaqab.jpg\" alt=\"Aiwa She Raqa\" width=\"500\" height=\"380\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"whitetext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/AiwaSheRaqa12c.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/AiwaSh Raqac.jpg\" alt=\"Aiwa She Raqa, click for larger view\" width=\"500\" height=\"275\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Seshata<\/strong> &#8211; 1st Runner Up<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/Seshata12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/Seshata.jpg\" alt=\"Seshata, click for larger photo\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Fiji<\/strong> &#8211; 2009 Grand Dancer &amp; Congeniality<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/fiji.jpg\" alt=\"Fiji\" width=\"409\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Theresea Jade<\/strong> &#8211; 1st Runner Up<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/theresajade12.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/theresajade.jpg\" alt=\"Theresea Jade, click for larger view\" width=\"279\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div align=\"center\"><span class=\"whitetext\"><strong>Taroob<\/strong> &#8211; 2nd Runner Up<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art48\/graphics48\/MAB\/taroob.jpg\" alt=\"Taroob\" width=\"277\" height=\"500\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<p class=\"sectiontitle\">\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/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<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<!--end ready4more --><\/p>\n<div class=\"articlelist\">\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">6-16-09<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/06\/16\/susiesbdoy09\/\"> Susie&#8217;s Photos from The Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant 2009<\/a> <br \/>\nAs a fish to a shiny object, so am I drawn to a well produced event of glamorous, bedazzled and talented performers of belly dance.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">6-4-09<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/06\/04\/michaelsspring09\/\">Michael&#8217;s Spring 2009 Photo Spread<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, photos and text by Michael Baxter<\/span><br \/>\nAazura, Adriana, Ahava, Alimah, Andrea, Claudia, Eve, Kashmir Isis, Katherina, Khalila, Maria, Meissoun, Michelle Joyce, Mychelle, Nadira, Nanna, Nicole, Sandra, Shoshanna, Summer, Surreyya, Crystal, Tabitha, Zaheea&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">3-31-09<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/03\/31\/mina1001arabnts\/\">Mina&#8217;s 1001 Arabian Nights<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, photos by Michael Baxter, text by Mina, the producer<\/span><br \/>\n1001 Arabian Nights started with asking several of the community troupe directors and teachers I&rsquo;ve known over the year if they would like to create a show with me. They all seemed very excited about the prospect of doing something   &quot;different&quot; in the dance community.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">3-2-08<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art43\/novalleycontest.htm\">The North Valley Belly Dance Competition- 2007<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, Photos by Michael Baxter<\/span><br \/>\nHeld on November 10, 2007, in Oroville, California, event produced by Carolee and David Tamori. It was an exciting contest, covering five categories: Novices, Intermediates, Troupe dancers, Solos and Live Solos. Live music was provided by Doug Adam&#8217;s amazing Light Rain.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">7-30-07<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art40\/BDoY07SunMBMJb.htm\">Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant 2007 Sunday Photos<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, Photos by Michael Baxter, Photo Prep by Michelle Joyce<br \/><\/span> May 27, 2007 Danville, California, Event produced by Leea. The competition for the Finalists. <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">6-13-07 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art40\/BDoY07SatMBMJb.htm\">Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant 2007 Saturday Photos<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, Photos by Michael Baxter, Photo Prep by Michelle Joyce<br \/>\n<\/span> May 26, 2007 Danville, California, Produced by Leea, Saturday&#8217;s contest includes Troupes, Duo\/Trios, Grand Dancer, and Preliminaries for Solo&#8217;s, <em>Finals will be on the Sunday Photo spread<\/em><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">7-11-09<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/07\/11\/milescerts\/\">Certifications&amp; Contests: Are They Meaningful?<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Miles Copeland<\/span><br \/>\nIts as if the contest win were a diploma, her ticket to teach!&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">7-7-09 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/07\/08\/carlrakseast09\/\">Carl Captures Character: Rakkasah Festival East Photos A-L<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Carl Sermon<\/span><br \/>\nAlhena, Alia, Avivah, Basema, Calixta, Dena, Desert Moon&#8230; <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">6-10-09 <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/06\/10\/carlrakseastlz\/\">Carl Capture Character: Rakkasah Festival East, Saturday Dancers L-Z<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\">, photos by Carl Sermon<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tLatifa, Banat Al Beled, Leena, Lotus Niraja, Mahira Tribe, Mahrabesh, Majestic Hip, Malweh, MaShuqa, Mayumi, Nabila, Naheda, Natica, Nixies&#8230;. <\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">8-13-09<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/08\/13\/rachelsharqui\/\"> SharQui and Injury<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Rachel<\/span><br \/>\nI suffered a severe injury to my spine and sacroiliac joint that left me in constant agonizing pain, and worse, fully disabled. I was 23.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\"> 8-12-09<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/08\/12\/jalilahadia\/\"> Words of Wisdom: Interview with Hadia<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Jalilah Lorraine Chamas<\/span><br \/>\nUnfortunately, this&nbsp;hyper-saturation, along with the current international economic crisis, has&nbsp;led to a self-initiated devaluation of both dancers and teachers, as they compete for contracts and students in an extremely competitive market.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">8-10-09<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/08\/10\/habibaghawazi\/\">The Ghawazi: Back From the Brink of Extinction&nbsp;(For now)<\/a><span class=\"articleauthor\"> by Habiba<\/span><br \/>\nThe really fabulous news is that Khairiyya&rsquo;s sister Raja has come out of retirement and is dancing again.<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"articledate\">7-29-09<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/07\/29\/yasminacfifi\/\">At Home with Fifi Abdou<\/a> <span class=\"articleauthor\">by Yasmina of Cairo<\/span><br \/>\nIn America, one of the things that especially pleased me was the inclusiveness of the dance scene there &ndash; in my classes I saw women of many different ages &ndash;   and body types &ndash; enjoying dancing, and that made me happy<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>San Ramon High School, California, May 23 &amp; 34, 2009, Sponsored by Leea Aziz of Belly Dance! Studio in Walnut Creek Photos by Michael Baxter posted August 14, 2009 Some photos are linked to larger versions. Click on pic to see! Providing additional caption details such as troupe member names, hometowns,and director- is always appreciated. [&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\/704"}],"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=704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}