February 2008 SnakeByte from the Gilded Serpent!
    14 New Articles on www.gildedserpent.com
    Web Magazine for Mid East Performing Arts
  • 2-18-08 A Conversation with Dr. Mohamed Geddawi Ahlan Cairo Nights, August 4, 2007, Dallas, Texas by Catherine Barros Dr. Mo is attentive to the workshop participants, giving a breakdown on each combination, and provides individual attention when someone has a difficulty. His no-nonsense style of teaching is informative, making you think about why you dance, how to dance, how to be a better dancer, and making you laugh.
  • 2-18-08 A Night at Wahib's Roxxanne Shelaby's "Pure Sharqi" video and photos by Lynette
    On January 19, Gilded Serpent was in Los Angeles for Pure Sharqi, a special evening of live music and dance, hosted by Roxxanne Shelaby (Hypzotica Productions), at Wahib’s in Alhambra. The evening featured the house band, led by Mouhamad Salem, along with invited dancers Aubre, Alexandra, the Lumina Dance Company, Debbie Smith, Sahra Saida, and Roxxanne herself, in addition to the regular house dance company the Sahlala Dancers.
  • 2-18-08 Have Belly Will Travel by Tanya Lemani book review by Birute
    The process of getting booked on these shows and her relationships with other artists, both famous and unknown, who help her on her way is the most interesting part of the book.
  • 2-16-08 An Invitation to Haiku the Bellydance by Najia Marlyz
    Haiku often does not take itself or its subjects too seriously and is simply word images and sensory feelings conveyed by means of three lines only.
  • 2-14-08 Photos from Carnival of Stars 2007- A-Z Page 2- L through Z photos by Carl Sermon, Duane Stevens, John Kalb, Murat Bayhan, Christopher Erickson, Lynette Harris
    Novemenber 10 & 11, 2007, produced by Alexandria and Latifa Centennial Hall in Hayward, California
  • 2-11-08 Photos from Carnival of Stars 2007- A-Z Page 1- A through K photos by Carl Sermon, Duane Stevens, John Kalb, Murat Bayhan, and Lynette Harris
    Novemenber 10 & 11, 2007, produced by Alexandria and Latifa Centennial Hall in Hayward, California
  • 2-8-08 Amina's North Beach Memories, Chapter 7: Yousef – Black Lights and Veils by Amina Goodyear It was kind of hard to compete with this kind of action when we kept our clothes on.
  • 2-07-08 Aruna's "Dancer's Body" Reviewed DVD review by Rebecca Firestone
    One of Aruna's claims to fame is being 50 and being tougher than chicks half her age. And it's true, at least with regard to the strength training - which was her profession for many years. Considering that most belly dancers want to be as youthful as possible, it's a nice change to have someone so athletic who's still improving with time.
  • 2-6-08 The Secret of Saiidi Song and Dance-Straight from the Horse’s Mouth by Keti Sharif
    "Saiidi". Say this word anywhere in Egypt (including El Saiid) and colloquially it implies someone who is funny, backward - a loveable, gullible character with salt-of-the-earth village simplicity. To call someone “Saiidi” is a local term or endearment for a likeable buffoon!
  • 2-5-08 My First Mid East Gig by Yasmina Ramzy
    Once we landed in Amman, we were greeted on the tarmac by solid lines of soldiers on both sides leading to the doorway of the airport, machine guns pointed towards the passengers. I don't recall ever seeing even one Canadian soldier in the flesh and blood, let alone a gun, let alone so many big guns and pointed at me. I don't think I blinked during that endless walk. We were clearly not in Hawaii.
  • 2-1-08 MECDA Breaks Its Silence by Rachel Lazarus Soto
    Thomas agreed that this was a good idea, and Schill volunteered to do the paperwork, presumably on the behalf of MECDA.
  • 1-31-08 A Vendor's View by Artemis
    Promoters need to respect their vendors, not just for fees that they have given them, but because without the vendors lining the room, where is the color (other than on the stage), and where is the “bazaar” atmosphere of the event?
  • 1-28-08 The Devil's Details, Show Ethics for Professionals Part 5 - Beauty by Yasmin
    For new dancers, mastering the art of glamour can be daunting. But take heart, while internal sensuality requires character work, external beauty is easier to fix
  • 1-22-08 “Dancing In The Streets; A History of Collective Joy” Authored by Barbara Ehrenreich, A Book Recommendation by Delilah
    In her book, Barbara Ehrenreich takes one back to the original motivations of dance along a historic journey of how human impetus to dance, has been repressed by societal hierarchy, and religious zealots.
  • Community Kaleidoscope Yasser Darwish in San Francisco
  • New letters- reactions the "MECDA Breaks its Silience" by Harry, Anniitra, Marta, re: John B by Mark Bell
  • 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- buy an ad!

Please support our Advertisers
New World Dance New York DVDs! Preorder now at Amazon.com: Fluid Precision: Contemporary Tribal Bellydance with Kassar (August); Sensual Bellydance with Blanca (September); Gothic Bellydance - Revelations (October)
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Pixie Vision Productions- Upcoming photo shoots in various cities - February – Gothla, Minneapolis, Austin. March - Chicago, Albuquerque. April - NJ, NYC, Washington DC. $250/hr
pixie@pixievisionproductions.com http://tribes.tribe.net/pixievision
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Trip to Egypt and Attend Ahlan Wa Sahlan Dance Festival with Scheherezade Imports. Join us from anywhere in the world!!! June 22-July 4 or 9 , 2008. Personalized, individualized service in small group. Details at http://www.scheherezadeimports.com or email sherzade@earthlink.net
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Morocco, first /BEST dance tour organizer, takes YOU to CAPTIVATING CAIRO for FAB AHLAN FESTIVAL (includes Ahlan Opening Gala) & INTRIGUING ISTANBUL for 3 dinner/shows!!! June 24-July 8 (or 13), optional Nile Cruise! http://www.casbahdance.org/HAVEITALL2.htm
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Nakish presents- Summer Heat! 3 day power intensive with Nakish, Feiruz Aram, Helena Vlahos, Lotus Niraja, July 23 - 26, '08 at the African American Art & Culture Complex in San Francisco, CA, powergoddessesunleashed.com/events.html
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Don't miss Morocco's FAB FOLK FEAST!!! - a wonderful four days Aug, 1-4, 2008
3 Routines: 1 MODERN & 1 TRADITIONAL SCHIKHATT & TUNISIAN SHABA + GUEDRA TECHNIQUE, music CD & certificate morocco@casbahdance.org

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Rakkasah West: Mary Ellen teaches Rhythm Essence for Dancers March 13, performs with Nazir Latouf Sunday, March 16. Check out her booth for exciting new products. Mary Ellen teaches doumbec and cymbals at Masala Imports, Santa Cruz CA April 6. Visit
www.MaryEllenDonald.com.
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Accepting submission for the 2008 Giza Awards. Emphasis this year is on performance and documentary videos, though others are also welcome. Please send your submissions now to Giza Academy at 829 Elizabeth Street, San Francisco, CA 94114. aminajune@aol.com
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Please note: Mailing Address change for Gilded Serpent
same snake phone, same snake station, just a bigger box closer to home!
PO Box 39, Fairfax, CA 94978

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Volunteer! ~^^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Write! ~^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Advertise!
Volunteers needed to help catalog articles (<1000!) in archives by topic or theme. contact editor
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Coming soon!
  • reviews of Elena Lentini show- (SOMEONE GET US THE PHOTOS!) Nesma's CDs, and more...
  • "Dances of the Nile" by Gamila el Masri (reprint as a teaser from the Bennu CD!)
  • Carnival of Stars photos
  • Festival in Winnipeg by Yonisha
  • photos of the Bellydancer of the Year Contest held in Germany
  • North Beach Memories by Habiba Nawal
  • Cabaret to DJ: BD in NYC by Nina Costanza
  • IBDC-Las Vegas coverage by Amina, part 3- the Community Speaks
  • Pepper Alexandria's Archives- Part 2 The Banat Mazin
  • Photos from the North Valley Contest by Michael Baxter
  • Love Stories… The Choreographies of Raqia Hassan by Astryd Farah
  • Lisa Chen reports on the dance scene in Taiwan
  • Shehera interview by John Clow
  • Arab Defamation in the Media by Najia

Thank you for your sssssupport!
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