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Gilded Serpent presents...
Community
Kaleidoscope

News & photos from all around our world!
Send us yours!
January 2006 through May 2006

 

 

May 31, 2006
Multiculural Day
at a grade school in Marin County


This class represented Tunisia by "bellydancing" in ruffled skirts to Habibi Eini...hmmm...

Sophia's class represented France by doing a Maypole dance

Greece

Running of the cardboard bull for Spain


Iran

May 2006

"The persons in photo with Mary Ellen is Sherry Shen (left side), director of Shadow of Bellydance troupe in Taiwan, who is also one of the outstanding bellydance teachers in Taiwan, together with her troupe member Cheng-yi Shih." -Lisa Chen

Ed note-- This photo was taken in MaryEllen's house when these women were there recently to take a lesson.

2006 East Coast Classic,
May 20-21, 2006, in Virginia Beach, Virginia

From left to right: Shems, 2nd place in Grand Champion category; Michelle Joyce, 1st place in Grand Champion category; Mariah, 3rd place in Fantasy Artist category


May 24, 2006
Helm is recording a new album at
Little Buddha Studio
in San Rafael.
Pictured Clockwise from Ling: Ling Shein Bell, Mark Bell, Carolena Nericcio, Pat Bogel with coffee, David Glazier, and Lary Klein sitting on the floor.

Below left is John Alevizakis the engineer at Little Buddha Studio. On right is Ling Shein on ney

Luxembourg, January 2006
(posted May 16, 2006)
"...our new show called Oriental Coffeehouse, in German it was Orientalisches Kaffeehaus, it was in a beautiful very old coffeehouse. On the picture you can see it from outside, the house is called "Dreikönigshaus". The other one is inside. From left: Alice Andersson, Trixy Mehlinger and Alexandra Dietze."

Maryam, Azara, Salah Takesh

Ilar holds her cousin and Salah's 18 month old baby girl, Assal. Assal means honey!
Spring 2006: Salah went home in 2001 to western Iran to find a wife! His nanny from childhood, Azara helped arrange a marriage for him with Maryam. They were married after 3 months of negotiations. After finally selling everything they own in the U.S. this visit (Spring '06) he will now be living full time in Iran.

 

April 2006

Dondi and Oksana
after performing for the "Muse" show
in Anchorage, Alaska.
Okasana gave birth about a week later!

April 2, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

"This is MissiHIPPY with Suhaila Salimpour Sunday morning of her Atlanta Workshop."-- Kristina, Director MissiHippy
(from Left to right, Michele Campbell, Christina Ford, Suhaila, Kristina Kelly, Katy Lewis)

April 16, 2006, Sunday evening at PachaMama. A great club in North Beach in San Fransico, CA. This evening's line up of dancers was arranged by Hala. The food is Brazilian tapas and delicious! Georges Lammam's band was inspiring as usual.


Masouma Rose dances to the music of Georges Lammam on violin, Amina on riq, Loay on dumbek, and Hussein on stand-up bass.


Debbie Lammam, Latifa, Cathy, Ma Shuqa, Masouma Rose, and Rasha

Hala and Amanda enjoy the cozy atmosphere. Amanda's dancing was very musical and portrayed the music beautifully!
April 2006-Update on Meena in Iraq!

Both photos and text at right are from Meena's flyer sent to GS. Meena note-
"This is a blurb that the 'Baghdad Weekly' is running this week. Wheeee!
  The IZ stands for the International Zone formerly the 'Green Zone' in Baghdad. The MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) Dept. puts out the Baghdad Weekly.The S.O. I referred to is Steve, my sweetie of several years."
Meena, a name that gets mangled less than her full first name, teaches bellydance at Liberty Pool and at the Palace Lounge. When asked how she became interested in dance, Meena explains:
” My mother is Lebanese, my father is Irish, so you can say that Arabic dancing and music has always been in my life. I have danced in the Arabic style since I was a little girl and I started taking professional dance classes in my late teens. I enjoy teaching and performing, it is a great balance to the technical side of my life here.”
The thirty something has no children but a significant other that she has the privilege of working with here in the IZ. From Phoenix, Arizona, Meena arrived in Baghdad August 2004 as part of a team installing and supporting the Iraqi Defense Network (IDN).
If you are wondering when this opportunity to learn a Middle Eastern art form will end, Meena says, “I have no idea how much longer I will be here, we still have a lot of work to do.”

For a change from your usual exercise routine, join Meena: Fridays @ 1800 Palace Sundays @ 1900 Liberty Pool

2006
San Francisco Bay Area
MECDA Officers

MECDA= Middle Eastern Culture & Dance Assosication
Left to right -
Hala- Vice President,
Adira- President,
Davina- Secretary,
Zemira - Treasurer


Jill Parkers Undulation, March 24, 2006
Zoe Jakes, Jill Parker and Liz Strong pose at left, DJ Miz Margo of Dark Sparkle above. Said el Amir and Black and Blue Burlesque, back stage, get ready to go on at bottom left, bottom right are Jay Kravitz with Phill Ruis of Whores of Babylon. Man on the right will perform shortly adding a huge puppet head over the top of this exaggerated costume.

March 2006
GS editor cruises San Francisco and is able to at last find parking! To right is Reda Darwish in his shop on Valencia across the street from Cafe Amira where we find Nazir and Mary Ellen.


Then we catch Tabitha ready to go on at Marrakech and the Jalal leading his band at Pasha which includes the amazing drummer Yosef!

Date of Event?

Oneida & Kajmir in a photo taken
by Fred Hendrin dancing at the
Belly Dancer USA 2005 competition.
We are from Medford and Ashland, Oregon.
We placed 1st in the duet category!

 

John Compton and Wendy Oliver at the Tribal Fusiion Faire III
in San Luis Obispo, California, held on December 16 & 17th 2006


Aida Nour

February 24-26, 2006
Los Angeles, CA


Just a sneak preview of more to come!
Little Egypt
presented Aida Nour, Magdy El-Leisy and Leila in workshops and shows at the Clarion Hotel. Gilded Serpent will present more pictures and interviews with each of these Egyptian stars soon!

Aida Nour teaches in Toronto, Ontario, this week, March 4-5, sponsored by Arabesque Academy, Yasmina Ramsy.

Leila will be teaching again this week in London sponsored by faridadance.com


Magdy El-Leisy

Leila

February 12, 2006

The Vince Delgado Quintet
had their CD Release party for their new CD- "Beginning."

Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax, California
Band Members include:Left to right-
Vince Delagado holding a tamborine,

Tom Shader on bass.
Susu Pampanin on dumbek,
Joey Edelman on keyboard,
Matt Eakle on flute.

January 2006
Sent by DaVid from San Diego-
Our studio name is Yaarajaan Studios and here is our team for 2006. From the left: Sabrina Fox of Atash Maya, DaVid of Scandinavia, Patrisha Gutierrez.
Kami Liddle is also assosiated with our team
.

DaVid will be teaching in Capitola, CA, on February 12, 2006. Contact Siwa- siwadcm13@yahoo.com

SNEAK PREVIEW Trailer for
Gothic Bellydance:
the Darker Side of Fusion

available in March 2006 from World Dance New York

Formats:
Quicktime: 5.2 MB

Real Media: 2.4 MB

You don't have video player software? Google 'em, they're free!
Thanks Neon!
preorder this video on Amazon.com

This online video is presented as part of a pilot project on Gilded Serpent to test the interest for such media in our community.

If you have video footage that you would be interested in making available on Gilded Serpent please contact Lynette. Enjoy and thanks for your support!

January 10 - Helene Eriksen on tour in Lahore, Pakistan

This is me being welcomed by the festival committe at 2 am in the airport in Lahore.

Shalimar gardens in Lahore, once one of the great centres of the Moghul Empire
Below are two of the dance styles, Armenian and Ottoman, I performed at the World Performing and Visual Arts Festival 2005 in November 2005.
  • January 2010 through June 2010
    vid clips:Sehar Niraja at BDUC, Samira teaches Eastern Finger Snap, BDUC 09 video collage, Gigbag Check #21- Mark Balahadia
    Photos: Gig photo from Khalilah and Amira, Aziza's DVD release party, List of Winners from Breakthrough Fusion contest, Alnisa and Terry at Papa's Taverna, Maria Celado passes away, Surreyya and friends at Liz Strong's birthday party, Ahava and friends at ethnic Dance festival Auditions, Gordon Inkeles's Snake Dancer, Aswat at De Young, Moh Alileche's Ensemble and Danse Maghreb at De Young, Lynette Harper and Rahma's performance, Kristine's photos from Mississippi, Sean's photos from Texas, Dondi, Michelle and Babies, Shabnam's photos from Rakkasaha, Randa Kamel WOrkshop in DC, Anne White's photos from UK, Surreyya and Crystal at Floralia Fest in New Mexico, Tribal Souk sponsors Rachel Brice workshop in Albaquerque, Dilek's recent win at Belly Dancer of the Universe , List of Contestants for Bellydancer of the Year, photos of BDOY Winners, Dhyanis dancing with Pangia, Ozgen assists physiotherapist Elizabeth Sharp, class photo from Yousry's West Coast intensive.
  • July 2009 through December 2009
    vid clips: Shereen of Prague at BDUC, Surreyya interview Zoi of Tokyo, Mahsati Jahan Gig Bag Check, Kosmos Camp 2009 Report, Backstage with Elizabeth Strong and BDSS, Rowan Storm advises women becoming musicians, Gigbag Check with Surreyya, Gigbag Check with Amira and Sadiya at COS, 1994 Performance of Serpent Bacchus and Prego Lynette,
    Photos:Photos:
    Suhaila's troupe performs at Berkeley Marina, Nicole and Kara at soccer game in Cairo, Danse Maghreb in Alameda, Sausan's group at King Tut Opening, Monica and friends at Wiggle of West in Las Vegas, Queen of Raks Sharki Contest in Dallas Tx, Dondi's Baby Tiernan, Duane sends photo from "Pizza Raks", Keti Sharif's baby Serafina, Sa'diyya's troupe, Brad, Gibson and Kristen at SF Mecca, Wiggles winners, Zahra Zuhair's show pic teaser, Benefit for Bridgette, Shabnam's Baby Sholeh, GS 10th year party, Ramadan in Cairo, Tennessee dancers, Ramadan in Indonesia, Khalilah wins Jewel of the Sierra, Hazerfan warms up for Sertab Erener and Demir Demirkan, Carnival of Stars fest photos, Pregnant Michelle Joyce and husband, Photos from North Bay BD Bazaar, Photos from Desert Dance Fest In San Jose, Desert Heat in Berkeley, Mesmera's school at Dar Maghreb in LA, Baxter's photos from Jewel of the Sierra Contest, Ava Fleming Class in Asheville, NC, Sirens In Sanity at Redwood Coast Fest, Sharazad Troupe at Arizona Arab Fest, Hossam Ramzy in Singapore, Nadja and Nicole of Sweden, Stasha at El Mansour, SF, Nicole in Cairo, Bulent and Friends in Turkey, Michelle and new baby, Khairiyya, Yasmina and group in Cairo, Shaia's New Studio. Shareen teaches for Monica in SF, Michael Baxter's Birthday, Gia's gig in NJ, Bahaia's prego belly, Holiday grettings from Andre' Elbing, Davina, and Sahar
  • January 2009 through June 2009
    vid clips:Fusion Contest JimBoz Gig Bag Check , Sabah 2008, Mireya wins at BDUC, Bahaia makeup, Dominique Senecal of Montreal, By Dancers 4 Dancers, Gig bag Check with Astryd, 4 yo Assal Takesh dances for daddy Salah, Gig Bag Check with Pepper,
    Photos: Breakthrough Fusion Competition photos, Leyla's BDr of the World Competition in Germany, Shabnam's Troupe Rashika at Ethnic Dance Festival auditions, Joweh member, Elizabeth Friend, at the America's Got Talent auditions in Los Ange beautiful baby Sofie, daughter of belly dancer Amira of Las Vegas, “Sharif” Ahmad El-Mouzayen: In Memoriam, Raks Hakohaveem, Bert Balladine passed away, Simon Shaheen concert, MissiHIPPY at the grand opening, H1N1 Flu Epidemic Affects Dance Classes in Mexico, Arabesque Dance Company’s production of "Egypt" in Toronto, Saturday at Tribel Fest, Contestants list for Bellydancer of the Year, Finalist from BD of Y, BDoY Winning Troupe, Kosmos Camp
  • June 2008 through December 2008
    vid clips:Vashti's Gigbag check, RanyaMaqamikaze, Ivanka of Panama, Lauren of BDSS gig bag check, Ranya Renee Maqamikaze of New York City backstage,Bozenka at IBCC, Jehan & Serena's music clip together, Gig Bag Check #10 with Petite Jamila, Gig Bag Check #6 with Zoe Jakes, Gig Bag Check with Shelley of Unmata, Sherry's Club Oasis, Sonia of BDSS Gig bag check,
    Photos: Sulyman's house burns down, DDF refunding video money, Cory & Gail Marry, Double Crown Results, Raqs LA, GS Party, Rachid at Stern Grove, Amaya's Shake and Bake, BDTV vol3 coming out soon, Sonoma Valley Green Music Festival, Midwest Bellydance Challenge,Diane Webber's Passing, BD Mag on Big Box Book Stores! Surreyya & Crystal in Tokyo, Helm in Spain, BDSS in Spain, Zoe- age 8- dances, Sahra teaches at Amina's, Aida Nor teaches inChicago, Mandanah wins North Valley contest, Youssery in Istanbul, Ramona does book signing, Tribal Asia Fest, Mt Shasta gig, BDSS at Copeland's Castle, Ahmet workshop in NYC, 1001 nights, Tales of Desire show, Sirens holiday greeting, and much more...
    .
  • January 2008 through May 2008
    vid clips:Gig Bag Check #1- Monica, Gig Bag Check #2 Jillina, Gig Bag Check #3- Malia, New kid on the block-Nathalie, Valizan interviews Ozgen, Kervan ensemble perform at SF Restaurant, Rebaba returns, Sharon's Gigbag Check, Lava of Sisters of Alchemy

    Holiday photo from Bijan Reastuarant, Roxxanne and friends, Yasser Darwish workshop, Linda's group do Algerian Kabyle and Algerian Ouled Nail, Orit in Toronto workshop, Tamalyn breaks her leg! Leila workhop in Mexico, RaksW teachers carpool, Asia's coming benefit Miles and BDSS on tour, Najia's Birthday Party, Aziza in Florida, Susu and TerriAnne in Guatemala, Reyhan in crisis, BD of the Year Results, East Coast Classic Results, Goddesses Unleashed
  • June 2007 through December 2007
    Pasha Restaurant of SF sells to new owner, FCBD in SF Gay Pride Parade, Contests, Hadia in TX, Baby BDr, Randa in TX, Video Clips begin!, Astryd teaches, Turk Fest, Miles rescues Suhaila, Mendocino ME M&D camp, Helene's travels, Helm at home in Fairfax, Miles and the bigwigs of the ME, Mr Ahmed Asad dies suddenly during workshop weekend in Montreal, Fiesta in Albaquerque, Spirit of the Tribes in Florida, Holiday greetings from all over!, DDF, Cartoonist runs for president, Bobby's Girls reunion, Rakksah East, Dancer photos from Mexico and Colorado and more
  • January 2007 through May 2007
    BDoY 2007 winners, Leila's beautiful baby boy!, East Coast Classic, Dondi, Aziza's world adventures, Rhea's dtr Melinda marries in Greece, Serengheti Nights benefit , Reda's Son's BD party, Kami Liddle Workshop, Siren Insanity, Tribute to Rhonda, BDSS audtions in San Rafael, Kaya's Baby girl!, Dancer night at San Jose pizzaria, back stage video shoot pics
  • June 2006 through December 2006
    Flamenco in West Marin, John and Sharlyn pose together again, Sherry and Taiwan dancers, Sahira teaches in Taiwan, Michel and Sophia play dress up in Spain, Leyla Lanty dancing at AWS in Cairo. Snake dancer gives birth to a troupe!, BD cruise, Pr Farhana is as a tattoo, Mark of Wash DC in SF, Holiday photos, contests
  • January 2006 through May 2006 - you are here!
    grade school interpretations of world dances, Helene's intl travels, Goth DVD teaser video, BDSS auditions, Aida, Magdy and Leila in LA, cruising sites in SF, Salahs family in Iran, Contest, Dondi workshopp, Suhaila workshop, Vince gets down with fellow beatniks, Helm making a CD, Jill Parker's undulation, Meena in Iraq, MaryEllen with students from Taiwan- Cheg yi and Sherri, SFMECDA officers for 2005,
  • April - December 2005--Previous page
    Alexandria in London, Khalid in SF, BD in Maui, Gia and pet, Tracking BDrs after Hurricane Katrina, Papa's Taverna in N California, Princess Farhana Teaches, Angelika's tour in Turkey, Giza Awards for video, Egyptian Folkloric troupe in SF, contests all over, gilded serpent sited in zoo, BDr in local parade. Bdr dolls hit toy stores

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Check the "Letters to the Editor" for other possible viewpoints!

Ready for more?
8-2-05 Rakkasah West Festival 2005 Page 3-Sat & Sun, photos by GS Volunteers including: Jasmine, Lynette, Michelle, Monica, Sandra, Susie, Zaheea, and probably more!
Festival date- March 2005, Richmond, California, One page left!

5-4-04 Belly Dance in Israel by Orit Maftsir
Belly dancers are the hottest trend at the moment, unlike the totally frozen attitudes towards the Arab culture in Israel.

6-18-05 Belly Dancer of the Year 2005 Grand Dancer, more Duos, Trios & Troupes photos by Monica
May 28, 2005, San Ramon, California.

7-18-05 Cairo Carnival 2005 Page 1 June 11-12, 2005, Glendale, California photos by Lynette
Please help us identify faces. Thanks!



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