Gilded Serpent presents...

Bellydance in '70s Berkeley:

Cedar Sposato's Photo Archive

Original photos by Cedar Sposato, rescue and restoration by Lynette Harris
posted 4-11-07, reposted 10-30-10

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Linda was my housemate at the time. I was living in Berkeley, having graduated from the Syracuse University Art School, state of New York, in 1967. The lure of California counter culture pulled me to the West coast in 1968. I came across the country listening to Credence Clearwater Revival, Jim Morrison, and Inna Godda Davida by Iron Butterfly. I was trying to get a job in alternative television and ended up doing boring drafting work in San Francisco; then I finally moved to Berkeley.

In 1970, I came back from a trip back East to find I had new housemates, Linda and Mark. Luckily, we got along very well and soon were living with lots of cats and dogs. It was a very large household. Linda asked me to shoot some photos of her for a portfolio so she could get a job on a cruise line. This job never materialized because the cruise boat people decided she was too exotic looking for them! Eventually, she moved to the East coast and I lost contact with her.

Linda was a member of Masha Archer's troupe called, I think, The San Francisco Classical Dance Company. The troupe had a huge rehearsal space downstairs on Geary boulevard in San Francisco. For a while, I was their troupe photographer taking pictures of them on their gigs. I had learned photography at the Berkeley Adult School. These pictures where produced in a darkroom I built myself in a garage.

Gilded Serpent staff scanned and photographed Cedar's photographs that you see on this page. They were found in a seriously deteriorated state. They have since been laboursly restored to the condition you see here. Please do not steal these images. Contact the editor for more information.

Fat August Berkeley in 1973 or '74. This event was held at a large Spanish Mission style apartment complex, built in many levels on a hilltop. We danced in the apartment house courtyard. The"keyhole" pond shown below was also at this location. One of the musicians, Ron, was an underground comic book artist. Mark Wedder another musician was Linda's boyfriend.

?in front,Pepper/Alexandria is behind Cedar's beau, Crazy Dave is drumming

Linda

Linda dancing with Pepper behind, ? dancing in front

Pepper, Linda, Ingrid

Poets Coalition
Golden Gate Park in 1973 or '74
This is just an event with poetry reading. Part of the entertainment was Masha's troupe.

Erotic Art Museum Opening 1973
The Erotic Art Museum was on Powell Street, near the art museum, on the cable car track, going up the hill past Union Square. Masha Archer's troupe danced for opening of paintings by an unknown artist. My housemate, Linda, flew to Europe and then to Morocco. She brought back suitcases full of beautiful old jewelry and coins. She drilled holes in the coins and sewed them onto her costumes.

Sproul Plaza at University of California at Berkeley 1973.

Malia's gang

Cedar can recieve text only messages at sposato@mailstation.com

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Check out our North Beach Memories for more San Francsico Bay Area history
3-22-07 The Photos of Susie Poulelis
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The circle is a perfect, democratic & unending shape, the shape of an energized community, the shape of this lovely round planet.
3-16-07 In Tribute: Rhonda/Baseema of Troupe Ooh La La by Shabnam
There were times she could barely walk due to a flare up of Lupus, but she always came to rehearsal and gave a 110%--despite the pain or trouble, she was going through that day. Rhonda soon became the troupe mascot because of her courage and commitment. "If Rhonda can do it, you can do it!" became our motto. She was a great source of inspiration and motivation for all members of Ooh La La.
3-14-07 Morgana's Animal Magnetism, Interview with Morgana of Madrid by Surreyya
After seeing Morgana’s Serpent Dance, where she embodies the personality of the serpent, I was hooked. Any snake lovers or snake dancers will have a special appreciation for this piece.
3-12-07 Islamic Architecture by Michel Harris
Oil wealth, along with social and political change, has threatened Islamic culture and traditions. Therefore, many Muslim planners and architects are reacting to this invasion of Western culture by reasserting their Islamic heritage.
0-6-09 Researching Dance Origins with the Mazin Family, Photo from Pepper's Archives Part 2, Text by Pepper Alexandria with additions by Edwina Nearing
Yusuf, Khairiyya and Raja looked a Pepper’s hopeful face with the tears standing in her eyes and caved in. A private performance was arranged to take place on the flat roof of the Mazin’s home in full costume with live musicians.
10-17-07 Alexandria's Archives, Part 1- A Sampling of Costume Creations, Authentic Ethnic, Fantasy and Everything in Between
Pepper Alexandria says of herself: "I want people to know that I am not trying to bring down Belly dance, I helped create every aspect of it and everything that you've heard about me is true!"
12-22-05 Comic Book Artists Portray Dancers
In addition to the dancing and vending, comic book artists were on hand to demonstrate their ability to convert photos into works of art as well as to promote their work.
4-6-10 The Pirate, the Psychic and the Mummies in the Basement, Malia's Story Part 1 by Malia DeFelice
So, at age 4, my world was good. I had a rich imagination sparked by images of Egyptians in the crawlspace and iron ore waiting to be turned into gold. I had a family that consisted of pirates, genies, fortune tellers, wanderers and minstrels. Most of all I had been captivated by the bejeweled beauty in the dancing tattoo. It was 1957 and I knew, like my Uncle Omar and great Aunt Katie, I would one day grow up to be someone who would follow a special calling. I decided, at age 4, that it was my destiny to become a Belly dancer!