Web Magazine for Mid East Performing Arts, online now for 11 years!
Too Many New Articles! on www.gildedserpent.com Can you read them all?
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4-18-11 Fashion Trend Report 2011 What's New This Year at Rakkasah? by Dawn Davina Devine, photos by Alisha "Zemira" Westerfeld
What I noticed, first and foremost, was not the costuming, but rather, a change in the sellers themselves. The seller demographic has radically altered, creating a new vendor landscape. Without a doubt, this is a response to the on-going sluggish economy and the need for companies to reduce expenses. The reduction in costumes and products coming out of Egypt also affected the merchandise. Many small factories had a gap in production, and shipping has become even more problematic.
- 4-18-11 Rakkasah West Fest 2011, Saturday, Page 1: A-J Photos by Carl Sermon
Afrita, Ahava, Ava Fleming, Bala Anat, Al Azifoon, Alea, Alnisa, Aruba, Banat El Hoggar, Black Diamond, Black Opal, Dancer of the Crescent Moon, Dancers of the Pharoah, Desert Heat Dancers, Elnora and Rhonda, Fringe Benefits, Hamsa, Hanna Lissa, Jasmine Jennifer, Jewels of the North
- 4-17-11 The Fundamentals of Fusion by Laura Tempest Schmidt
Gothic Bellydance has taken years to develop fully and define itself more exactly, but it has developed. Steampunk has different origins, but there are very specific things that are unique to it as well.
- 4-13-11 The Controversy, Learning to Love Eternal Debate by Ozma
The path of artistic innovation is not a forward pointing line; it is a pendulum. Art doesn't move foreword cleanly; it bashes against ideas and is repelled by them! Movements emerge from conflict, not despite it.
- 4-11-11 As the Music Fades, Egypt's January 25 Revolution’s Impact on the Muscians and Dancers by Leila Farid
We can’t attain what they had in the past because we are not free. Our minds are full of work and what we should and shouldn’t do. There’s no time for good art. Politics mixed with religion does not make for an atmosphere where the arts can flourish.
- 4-10-11 Sound-Byte Bellydance, Part One: Evolution of Bellydance by Najia Marlyz
Through her clear description of what she wanted to learn, I was able to look inside our recent dance evolution and see what we dance teachers in the west have done to change Bellydance here in the U.S., how we have changed and modified it into something it never was in the lands of its origins.
- 4-7-11 Our Changing Dance World, a Response to Leila’s "Dance for Dancers" by Terry Del Giorno
Of course, we learn musicality and so forth, but where dance classes in some places are an hour long, teaching long choreography is not sustainable to an instructor.
- 4-5-11 Rakkasah West Fest 2011, Friday Evening, Main Stage Only, photos by Carl Sermon
Aisha, Arabian Jewels, Azura, Dancers of Denile, Ariellah and Deshreet, Tatseena and Dreams of Cleopatra, Elnora, Ghanima, Goddess Force, Halima, Diana, Inami, Khalilah, Latifa, Kiyoko, Leila Haddad, Shaida, Shadya, Tanya, Zia!
- 3-31-11 On the Road, Queen of Denial, Chapter 4, by Rebaba
That night, I would find out that my arrival and subsequent feelings of having “made it to the top” couldn’t have been farther from the truth!
- 3-30-11 Joweh’s “Call to Dance” in Guatemala, Part 2 of Dream Trip to Guatemala by Chloe
Waiting in the wings of the nearly completely darkened stage, holding fire-colored fan-veils aloft, listening to the first strains of Egyptian orchestral music, I couldn’t help thinking that this experience was both familiar and foreign, in the literal and figurative sense.
- 3-29-11 The Magic of "The Grapleaf", 1976-1997 by Sausan
Back in the early ‘80s when I was performing at the Bagdad Cabaret on Broadway, a customer strolled into the Northbeach nightclub and told me about a little known restaurant
- 3-25-11 Is "Cabaret" a Dirty Word? Using the Terms Cabaret vs. Night Club by Leyla Lanty
So, is “cabaret” a dirty word? It depends on whose definition you want to use! In Arabic, the name “cabaret” is interpreted differently from what it is in English, leading to the confusion about nightclubs and cabarets. Here in the U.S., we think of a cabaret as a synonym for nightclub.
- 3-24-11 A Transformational Week, A Fan’s View of Jillina’s Weeklong Intensive Report by Sa’diyya of Texas
I think that’s another benefit of having scholarships in the world of Bellydance because it gives dancers another goal to work towards: “What do I have to do to rise to the occasion, to receive this other kind of award?”
Reviews
- 4-17-11 Global Glances, Homage to Mahmoud Reda: A Life for Dancing, Full-Tilt Boogie presents: Belly – Sensual, Scarred, Sacred 2 DVD Reviews by Zumarrad
As Unmata’s Amy Sigil observes, the dance is taking place in a kind of self-supportive bubble to which the general public is really irrelevant.
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4-4-2011 Beginnings Made Easy: Basics, Improv, First Shows! DVD Reviews by Lara Adrienne
Cassandra, Tanna Valentine, and Nadira Jamal. While all three are classified as “basic” level videos, one is geared to the absolute beginner, another to the newer dancer ready to perform, and the third to the performer who is ready to graduate from choreography to improvisation; a dancer should take care to choose the correct one for her current developmental stage.
- 3-22-11 Taiwan Bellydance: 2 Events Are Perfect Ending for 2010, Nefertiti Bellydance Carnival & Bellydance Evolution by Lisa Chen
I admire those dancers participating in the production for their talents, skills, and artistic qualities, however, I feel the framework of story-telling compromises dancers from better expressing their love for this dance (or through it). They are acting through dance rather than dancing to the music.
Videos
- 4-6-11 Video Interview with Shadi of Diamond Pyramid on the Community Kaleidoscope
Gilded Serpent interviews Shadi of Diamond Pyramid regarding the business scene since the Egyptian Revolution less than a month before this interview. This interview was conducted at the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach, California on February 20, 2011
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Special Advertising Section
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Black Orchid Danse presents Najm al Danse Orientale, Tito, Hayat El Helwa, Sharon Kihara, Nath Keo, and much more, May 26-30, 2011, Peachtree City, GA. http://www.blackorchiddanse.com/
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INTERNATIONAL BELLY DANCE FESTIVAL IN MARRAKECH, MOROCCO! June 7th-13th, 2011. Enjoy a Real Moroccan Fantasy with the best masters: Tito, Asmahan and many more!www.bellydancefestival.net
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Ranya Renée - New DVD - Bellydance Taqsim: Improvisation Skills & Drills – now shipping! Order by April 1 at pre-order price. Arabic musicality, performance skills, improvisation practice! A Ginger City Production. www.ranya.net/shop
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Experience Egypt with SAHRA- Journey to Egypt -30 hours of instruction in 4 days in your choice of 3 dates
JtE-3 Cairo June 19-24 and JtE-4 Upper Egypt June 24-July 3 are still on! http://www.sahrasaeeda.com/JtETourRegistration.html
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NEW YORK THEATRICAL BELLYDANCE CONFERENCE: July 6-10, 2011, in Manhattan! Co-directors Ranya Renée and Anasma. REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Performer & presenter submissions due March 24. Join the e-mail list at www.theatricalbellydance.com
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Middle East Camp is now in July. Come join us in Mendocino Woodlands making music and dance with your favorite teachers including Elizabeth Strong, Sahra Kent, and Jill Parker. July 9-16. more at www.middleeastcamp.com .
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Wednesday, May 11, Mary Ellen and the Quartz Crystals, jazz vocals and Middle Eastern percussion at Le Bateau Ivre Restaurant in Berkeley:
details at www.lebateauivre.com, Middle Eastern Treasures, Sunday, April
17 in Oakland.
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Volunteer!~^^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Write! ~^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Advertise! ~^^^^^^<>~
Keep the Snake Alive! 2010 is the year to take out an ad on Gilded Serpent! Contact editor
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Community Kaleidoscope
Video interview with Shadi of Diamond Pyramid re Egypt protests and business
New Letters -most readers are now using our comment box below each article. Try it!
interesting comments here
Leila's "As the Music Fades
Najia's SoundByte Bellydance
Terry's Our Changing Dance World
Ayumi from Japan comments on Ozma's article and the Earthquake in Japan
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