online version here

August 2008 SnakeByte from the Gilded Serpent!
    New Articles on www.gildedserpent.com
    Web Magazine for Mid East Performing Arts
  • 8-16-08 Randa Kamal by Yasmina of Cairo
    "Then the film roles that I've been offered have unfortunately been frivolous, or portrayed the dancer in the stereotypical way they always do. The cinema has done enough to spoil the reputation of dancers, without me adding to it by taking such a role."
  • 8-16-08 Dina: April 2008 by Catherine Barros
    It was a late night as usual as we didn't even go out until midnight to have dinner and watch Dina at around 3am . . . but who was watching the time . . . It is CAIRO!
  • 8-12-08 Review: "Allure of the East: Orientalism in New York, 1850-1930" at the New York Historical Society by Thalia
    This small one-room exhibit with its narrow geographic focus--the city O. Henry dubbed “Baghdad-on-the-Subway”--presents much for dancers to consider. As belly dance continues to gain popularity, what is this continuing "allure" of the Orientalist inspired arts? When is attraction to this aesthetic drawn from a desire to understand other cultures and when is it driven by desire to market ourselves?
  • 8-4-08 My Winning Experience at Leyla Jouvana and Roland's 1st Bellydancer of the World Contest by Khalida Author is winner of the 1st place in the Solo Raks Sharki and 3rd Place in the Solo - Fusion Fantasy Categories
  • 8-1-08 Fantasy Bellydance, A New & Ancient Reality by Jehan
    This trend has been growing steadily since I can remember, but caught fire recently, due to the instantaneous broadcasting of ideas and styles on the worldwide web and the proliferation and availability of video for this generation of dancers. \
  • 7-30-08 Ahlan Wa Sahlan 2008, Not So Welcoming this Year by Yasmin
    Prices have gone up everywhere, and Egypt is no exception. The reality hit me as soon as I walked into the Mena House. Bottled water was $4.00, where out in the street the same bottle was $.50. A bottle of beer was $10.00. Internet connection was $30.00 / hour. At those prices, life's little pleasures didn't seem important anymore.
  • 7-29-08 Saturday at Raqs LA, One Dancer’s Journey Back Home by Emily Farasha
    There was a nice variety of vendors, mostly leaning towards the cabaret style of costuming and props, although there were vendors catering to tribal dancers as well. Dancing on two open stages provided constant entertainment with a variety of performance types.
  • 7-28-08 Suhaila in the Phoenix, photos by Susie Poulelis, video by Lynette
    June 28, 2008, Brava Theatre in San Francisco, CA Produced by Bellydance Odyssey
  • 7-24-08 Professional Presence, Stories and Advice from 30 Years Under the Hip Belt and Counting... by Aszmara The audiences’ first glimpse of you is as you arrive and how they see you affects their opinion of your show. First impressions count!
  • 7-23-08 Making Recorded Music Memorable by Chandani
    Through the years we have come up with ways to make pre-recorded performance music sound better, work better and avoid mishaps.

Community Kaleidoscope
-- VIDEOS:7-21-08 Bozenka video clip on the CK , Serena-Jehan's dtr- video,
BDTV vol 3 coming, Pics from Amaya's Shake & Bake, Rachid Taha and MC Rai's free concert in SF, GS party,

  • New letters- IBCC, Suhaila pulls our video from Youtube, Aszmara's artcle on professionalism, Aremis's Journey
  • Serpent Souk, List of long time advertisers, Gilded Serpent products through Cafe Press, Amazon "Astore" (GS gets a few cents on each book)
  • Help avoid double bookings and use this free community calendars!
    Gilded Serpent Community Calendar
  • Gilded Serpent is completely supported by your generosity-please consider buying an ad! Nothing to promote? Donate to the RAT Fund!

Special Advertising Section

World Dance New York announces Seven Veils: Romantic Bellydance with Sarah Skinner, the beautiful follow-up to Sarah's widely-praised Bellydance with Veil. And (omg!) don't miss Shakra's Industrial Strength Workout!! Team Shakra with Luscious, The Bellydance Workout & you'll never get bored! Click links & scroll down for trailers!
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Desert Dance Festival, September 13 &14, 2008 New Location & Date S.E.S. Hall 1375 Lafayette Street
Santa Clara, CA 95050, featuring:Amy Sigil, Ava Fleming, Mary Ellen Donald, Shareen el Safy, Zaina Hart
, www.desertdance.com
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Orit of Israel coming to Florida for Aziza’s Birthday Bash, August 21-24, 2008! Intensive 16 hours with Orit over 4 days, bonus classes with Gina, Aziza, and Myra. Costuming also available from our factory in Turkey!
www.stellaradvantage.net or www.babylonbreeze.com
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Wisconsin’s Premier Bellydance Festival! Northern Lights at the Kalahari - Sept. 19-21 – Nine Workshops featuring Morocco- Sonya of Arabesque- Trillium Tribal - Isidora Bushkovski– Ariellah– Aliyah Sahar & more! www.northernlightsdancefest.com
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Attention BD-TV Fans: Volume 3 of Belly Dance Television is now available for advance orders on BD-TV.com! Over two hours of interviews, event highlights, exclusive performances, and more! http://bd-tv.com
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Mary Ellen teaches Rhythm Essence for dancers at Desert Dance Festival, San Jose, CA; Sunday Sept 14. Middle Eastern Treasures concert Oct 19 in Oakland. Middle Eastern rhythms and instructional materials for dumbek, finger cymbals, tambourine and frame drum
available from www.MaryEllenDonald.com.
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Hannan Sultan workshops and intensives in North Carolina and Canada. Visit www.hannansultan.com and www.hannandance.com
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Carnival of Stars Fesitval Nov. 8 & 9 2008 9am to 9pm Hayward Centennial Hall-Belly Dancers, Comics, Artists, Food, Vendors, Movie Clips, Costume Contest with John Stanley from Creatures Features, Tanya Lemani from Star trek, Classes with Astryd, Lotus, & Malia . Call 510 -548-6128 carnivalofstars.com
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~

Brave Knowledgable Reviewers needed! HELP! GS office is getting burried under mountains of products! Serious volunteers who can commit and
return reviews quickly please contact editor. Please review mission statement, submission guidelines, tips for reviews and product submission guidelines. Also looking for admin help to organize and assign the reviews needing to be done.
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~
Volunteer! ~^^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Write! ~^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Advertise! ~^^^^^^>~
Keep the Snake Alive! contact editor
~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^<>~

Coming soon!
  • review of Elena Lentini show- (Someone help get us the photos please!)
  • "Dances of the Nile" by Gamila el Masri Part 3 Melaya Lef!
    (reprint as a teaser from the Bennu CD!)
  • Hadia Interview by Angela
  • Bellydance in Japan by Ranya
  • Pepper Alexandria's Archives- Part 2 The Banat Mazin
  • more IBCC in Toronto reports and interviews, including: Sunday Activities, Sunday nightclub show, Arturo of Mexico's Dancers, Hera Kim of Korea, and more
  • Paola inspires us "the Broken Vessel"
  • Davina notes new trends at this years Rakkasah
  • MECDA Elections by Doyne
  • Folk Tours review by Nina Amaya
  • Bert N Me by Najia
  • Dance- Deeper than the Moves by Keti Sharif
  • Interview with Saphira by Sally
  • Collected writing by Rahma Haddad
  • Venus writes about BD as exercise
  • Ozgen interviewed by Nicole
  • Aprenticing at ADC by Laura
  • I like bellydancing by Serena, age 10

Thank you for your sssssupport!
gildedserpent.com

cover--table of contents--archives--calendar/clubs--letters--community kaleidoscope--about us--submissions--advertising --Serpent Souk