online version here

July 2009 SnakeByte from the Gilded Serpent!

New Articles on www.gildedserpent.com
Web Magazine for Mid East Performing Arts, online now for 10 years!

  • 7-18-09 Dancing for Dowries: Earning Power, Ethnology, and Happily Ever After by Andrea Deagon, PhD.
    When a mythic history is told and retold in a context like the belly dance community, you have to assume that there are strong underlying reasons for its popularity. 
  • 7-17-09 Little Istanbul in Japan by Artemis Mourat
    For several years, belly dance has been rated as one of the top three favorite hobbies for women who are in their 20s and 30s in Tokyo.
  • 7-16-09 Does Modern Media Kill the Organic Process? by Sharon Moore
    If they see "the same thing", instead of feeling a responsibility within themselves to try to see it in a new light/from a new perspective with a richer understanding with fresh eyes, they chalk it up to the performer failing them for not bringing them something "new and cutting edge".
  • 7-15-09 Ask Yasmina #8: Socializing with Your Audience, Relaxing the Upper Body, Tattoos by Yasmina Ramzy
    It may take a while but you and the owner need to train the audience to arrive on time if they want to see a performance. In the end, everyone will benefit.
  • 7-11-09 Certifications& Contests: Are They Meaningful? by Miles Copeland
    Its as if the contest win were a diploma, her ticket to teach!
  • 7-7-09 Carl Captures Character: Rakkasah Festival East Photos A-L by Carl Sermon
    Alhena, Alia, Avivah, Basema, Calixta, Dena, Desert Moon...
  • 7-6-09 My Performance Career by Toni Perrine
    I worked a variety of jobs, singing in nightclubs and bartending, before developing my next marketable act. Since I was a formally trained ballet dancer, I combined Point with Exotic dance. Mind you: this was not stripping—but a beautiful and suggestive dance set to piano music.
  • 6-28-09 Faruk Sarsa ; The Life of an Artist of Mohamed Ali Street by Amina Goodyear
    The best drums and riqs, however, were inlaid with mother of pearl and had fish skin heads. The best store selling these instruments was Music Center. It was owned by Mohamed Sarsa who had the fish skin monopoly and the best instruments of this kind.
  • 6-27-09 Dyslexia and Dance: Its More Common than you think! by Keti Sharif
    If you are a dance student or teacher, chances are that around 20% of the class could be dyslexic. As a dance teacher, it is quite important to be able to identify dyslexic tendencies in students, and understand how you can help them learn.

Reviews

Videos

  • 6-29-09 Gig Bag Check with Pepper Alexandria on the Community Kaleidoscope
    Pepper’s bag may contain a few unusual items. Also included are clips of Pepper dancing solo and with her Ghawazee troupe at her festival called Carnival of Stars.
  • 7-14-09 Interview with Shereen of Prague at BDUC,on the Community Kaleidoscope
    We catch Shereen after she has competed  in the Egyptian category at Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach, California. Shereen is from the Czech Republic.
  • 7-9-09 Ling Shien demonstrates the Accordion on the Musical Instrument Tour
    She came to the Gilded Serpent studio to tell us how she has modified a standard western made accordion to be able to play the quarter tones required in many of the Arabic modes.
  • 6-24-09 Fattah Abbou on Rabab on the Musical Instrument Tour
    Also included is a clip of Fattah playing the music of the Tamazight from Morocco on his instrument and singing in the style from his home of birth high in the Atlas Mountains. This video was filmed at the Kosmos Camp

Special Advertising Section

Bring some hip-hop into your bellydance for a fuller knowledge of both!* Anasma's BELLYDANCE HIP-HOP: LIQUID FUSION 2-DVD set.  *And don't miss the new *FANTASY BELLYDANCE* performance DVD*! WorldDanceNewYork.com
~<:>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
Sharifwear! Best Prices! Top Quality! Made in the USA!! Club, Dance Wear, Salsa Wear, Tribal Wear, Salsa Skirts, Tribal Tops, Gypsy skirts, Belly Dance Gear! Made for Divas that dance!  www.sharifwear.com
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<:>~
Experience an unforgettable ATS dance intensive in exotic Marrakech with Valizan. October 2 – 10, 2009. Daily ATS classes & group improvisational dance time, guided souk tours & more. Join us! www.ATSdanceholiday.com.
~<:>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
Oasis Dance Camps & Retreats with Cassandra, Denise Enan, Tamalyn Dallal and Sahra Saeeda – 3 Stateside Locations Plus Luxor, Egypt.  Twenty-five years of intense dance training, beginner to professional. http://oasisdancecamp.com/
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<:>~

Dunia presents the 24th annual Desert Dance Festival Sept 12 & 13, 2009 at the SES Hall in Santa Clara. Afghan cuisine, dancing, vendors and workshops with Alexandra King, Aradia and Atlantis www.desertdancefestival.com
~<:>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
Mary Ellen's activities:Mary Ellen Donald's Jazz Birthday Bash Concert, Sunday, August 16 in Oakland.  Mary ellen: jazz vocals, Middle Eastern percussion; Nanna Candelaria, belly dance; Antoine Hunter, jazz dance; great rhythm section with special guests on saxophones and congas. Details and ticket info at www.maryellendonald.com
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<:>~
Volunteer! ~^^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Write! ~^^^^^^^^^^<>~ Advertise! ~^^^^^^>~
Keep the Snake Alive! contact editor
~<:>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'

Community Kaleidoscope
PHOTOS: Nicole at a soccer game in Cairo, Suhaila's troupe performs in Berkeley, Kosmos Camp

New letters
more responses to Romani activist organization, Sharon Moore's article, Miles' article,
Ask Yasmina, Cory responds to review of her DVD

Gilded Serpent Archives contain over 1000 articles
use our now reliable search box to target your interest

Coming soon!

Edwina Continues the Ghawazi series with the Epilogue
Pepper Alexandria's Archives- Part 2 The Banat Mazin
"Who are the People in your Neighborhood" by Davina
Raks East Sunday photos by Carl
1 more part to Freddie's interview- waiting for photos!
More on Badia by Edwina Nearing
Carl's Photos from MECDA show
Khairiyya and Ghawazi Update by Habiba
New article by Shems

Dancing for Dowries Part 2 by Andrea Deagon PhD
Fifi Abdou by Yasmina of Cairo
Jalilah interviews Hadia
Midnight Rose by Wendy Buonaventura
Damn the Torpedos by Zorba
Bringing Raqs Sharki to College by Richey
Improvisation by Najia
Yes, product reviews are coming!
More videos-musical instrument demos, Gig bag Checks, event collages

Thank you for your sssssupport!
gildedserpent.com

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