9-11-05 from Kryss
Hey there,
I'm finally going back and trying to catch up on stuff now that all my insurance claims are rolling and I'm registered with most of the agencies for relief, etc, etc... I'm currently in New England with family where I was when the Hurricane hit. The belly dance community is really amazing. I feel comfortable saying that the Sisters of Salome are really touched by everything our Sisters are doing to help. There is a group in the Boston area that is having a Benefit Sept 25th that myself and Marci Johnson, another New Orleans dancer staying in NE, will be participating in. It is likely to be the first time I perform post Katrina. Badriya
(badriya@rcn.com) is the woman I've been communicating with about it, in case you want to get more information for the site from her.

Personally, I'm trying to collect a few costumes so I can work on a few gigs and what I'm calling my "Katrina Belly Dance Tour" as I won't be able to go home for a while. I'll be back in the Southeast in October and working to find gigs and to take and teach classes in various areas, primarily Atlanta, Tampa, Birmingham, Auburn and Montgomery as I have lots of friends in those area that I can stay with for a some time.

I haven't been able to contact the venue owners to know where they are with their families other than some contact with the Hookah Cafe's "Hookah Madame" who says most of the crew there is fine.

Thank you posting the list of dancers from the Gulf Coast and who is safe.
To add to it, Charlie Pettus/Shamsi and Shelly and Noura are all safe in Sunshine and Baton Rouge, LA. Shamsi is a member of the Sisters of Salome and has been leading the organization of costume donations and working on benefits in the area as well. She's an amazing woman. I love her and all the Sisters very much. I miss them terribly.
Love & bubbles,
Kryss
REALITY...the original Rorschach

9-10-05 from Gretchen
Hello Everyone -
Here is an update on Gretchen (the Bellydancer from NOLA) and Greg (her Fabulous Partner)! We are in now in Baltimore MD. Baltimore is a beautiful city and the people here have been really friendly. I have joked that our new house will be the obnoxious one on the block with Mardi Gras decorations all over the place and Zydeco Music piped in on the front porch. Greg is doing very well and is so happy to see his son Max (who freaked out when he saw his daddy and he had the biggest cutest smile on his face).

Two days ago, I met John Waters ( the Director... think Hairspray and
Crybaby) in front of his house and Casey our puppy "contributed" to his yard... She watered on Waters' place. Hahahaha! The funny part of it all is that John himself came out to talk to me and is very friendly. He lives a block down from where we are staying and waves at us (willingly) when I walk Casey (Our 6 month old Basenji-Chow mutt) by his place.

We made it out of New Orleans to Baltimore OK, by way of Baton Rouge and St. Louis MO. I have learned that no matte rwhere you are in the USA people are wonderful. In Mississippi, Indiana, West Virginia, random strangers would hug us and tell us that they were thankful that we got out alive. It brings tears to my eyes still as I write this because I see the character of the American people and their spirit inspires me.

The journey cross country was both heartbreaking and full of hope. I have since found out that our house has been flooded and we have lost everything we own. Who-hoo. I needed to downsize anyway but at the same time I cry because there are things there I miss and now would want to donate to others to help them out. Oh well, it's all stuff and that can be replaced, but our lives are worth much more than that and that is what matters. Also we just found out that our full time employer is not guarnteeing our positions so we are looking for employment here in Baltimore-land. The degrees we have will come in handy after all! I think I might find a reason to dance after all if not for joy for money so we can survive on what little we have left. The cost of gas alone is killing us (Thanks Mr. Economic Greed for the convienent price hike) and with just a Jeep Wrangler, a suitcase and a 6 month old puppy we need all that we canhold on to. I have discovered that Limeaid, Potato Chips and Reeses' Peanut Butter Cups last all day in the car.

It has been a crazy past few days trying to get our lives back together. Between FEMA and the Red Cross it looks like we will possibly have enough money to move into a new place in less than a month. Now finding a dance related jobby job is a whole other matter. I sent out an email announcement to the Bellydance community here and some restaurants and hopefully I will get some work soon. There is a HUGE Egyptian and Turkish community here and not many dancers to fill the need for jobs according to the owner of a local resturant who hugged us goodbye after we. I have hope that more hugs will be commonplace here and all across the USA as each and every one of us has something special to share or give.

I miss New Orleans and the Sisters of Salome. They became my friends and family and will always be that way tome though the winds of Hurricane Katrina have scattered us all around the Country. No part of my life will ever be the same without them and I love each and every member for what they have given to me. I miss the dance community there and how supportive we were with each other. I hope that all of the Southeast dance community will grow together again and become strong once more. We will have to wait and see.

We Will Shimmy On!
Love, Gretchen Kellett (Greg and Casey)
--
"We are told that in times of crisis, we need to rely on faith.
Art can be faith from which some of us draw the deepest solace.
The arts can sustain and inspire us, but they can also head us - directly or, more likely indirectly, from darkness to light." John Rockwell, NY Times

9-7-05 the Nazeem Dancers
Dear displaced Belly Dancer(s) in Atlanta area:
We (the Nazeem Allayl Belly Dance Studio) want to help Katrina's victims, in particular, fellow belly dancers.

If you are (or know of) a displaced belly dancer in the Atlanta area, and/or if you know of any relevant local fund raisers looking for entertainers, please contact us.
Email: info(at) AtlantaBellyDance.com
Phone: (404) 638 6530
Our best wishes are with you

9-6-05 Mark Bell
Hi Lynette,
The short version is that Xenia Hurrem of Bay St Louis is fine as is her husband Woody, kids and rabbits. They are on their boat that Woody tied down in their front yard Sunday before the hurricane hit, staying on it through the storm. We were there that weekend, Saturday being the Gulf Coast BD Festival. We got out Sunday night thanks to Xenia's and Woody's efforts. I think Charlie in Louisiana is also okay if her partner's name is Shelly. Haven't heard back from Myra Cox who organised the festival. Our thanks to all who spent way more time making sure we got out than about themselves.

This letter just in from Myra-
I evacuated to South Carolina, displaced. Husband is still in Biloxi, home did okay. I don't think Shawn and Woody's house made it through the hurricane. It's all been so tragic. I have not heard from them either. Did they drop you off at the Jackson airport in time? I figured you and Ling Shien made it okay, I have had both of you on my mind.

My husband said it looks like a war zone...don't know when I am heading back. Myra

9-6-05 from Faye
I've been in contact with Charlie (resides in Baton Rouge), we have been sharing as we hear updates. For those of you that know Kruz he evacuated - he was heading north to points unknown. Teresa McVeigh and Stephen Looney also evacuated, along Maria C. Cannot recall all the names but thus far it seems most are OK, albeit homeless. One dancer said 'I'm fine, everything was washed away except what I could stuff in my tiny car. But I'm OK. Homeless but OK'. Gotta love that spirit.

9-3-05
Hello. I'm Holly McDermot, a student of Maria Celado's and Layla's. I'm fine, managed to evacuate, my house isn't as lucky, it's underwater like the rest. If anyone hears from Maria, please let us know.

9-3-05 from?
two in New Orleans
Kruz - had a terrific shop in the French Quarter, it was a haven for belly dancers
Teresa McVeigh - dancer that moved back to New Orleans a few years ago. Husband's name is Stephen Looney. Any info????

9-3-05-Dayna Huval,
Oasis Studio, Lafayette, La
Everyone from Lafayette should be fine--the weather didn't touch us. The dancers from Baton Rouge should all be OK too. As for the New Orleans gals..... I've heard from Marlane Drake (meda president), and Gretchen Kellet. They are both OK. However Meda members Theresa McVeigh and David Arcenaux are MIA. We hope they're okay and that it's just poor telecommunication access that's kept them from contacting us.

9-3-05 Tahmina
Hi,
Tahmina from Alabama. We are doing fine. Thank you for your concern. My prayers and thoughts are with all the people sufferring in Louisiana, Mississippi & Alabama.
Sincerely,

Megha is not longer in NO - she is in Birmingham AL

9-3-05 Kristina Kelly
Marlane Drake, president of MEDA louisiana is ok but shell shocked in Monroe, LA. she said there are several displaced dancers in Baton Rouge - no names given - that need a better place to go/stay. She also some people stayed in NO. again no names.

Bayou Shimmy is up and running so I think they are ok but no specific names. That would be shamsi and shelly I think

9-2-05 I(Iona)am ok and have found access to computer and email. It's nice to feel some connection to friends, family and the dance community when so displaced from my home, which at the moment is 8-12 feet under water. But we were lucky to have made it out of the city and the current chaos; I can't rest until I make a direct contact with my mother who is still in Metairie(city just west of NOLA) and temporarily homeless due to severe wind damage to her apartment. She opted to stay in her second story brick apartment thinking it was a sturdy structure and that it would be safe from any floodwaters. All true. Instead, Katrina blew the roof off. I did get a voice mail from her that she is ok and uninjured but that she doesn't know where she'll be. I'm awaiting the next call which hopefully will come soon. Please pray for her safety and reunion with us. Her name is Jean.
Iona, from New Orleans LA
PS. I know that Betty Karam of New Orleans is also OK.

9-2-05 Cathy
Thanks so much for checking, actually, we were very fortunate and our only problem is GAS. My brother-in-law's Law firm had offices in New Orleans and Mobile and unfortunately these families have lost everything, however, fortunately they will be able to relocate in Dothan, Alabama and still have a job and the opportunity to rebuild.........my heart pours out for the ones not so fortunate, God Bless Them!!!!!!