Lynn modeling one of Alexandria's
hats All photo are scanned from old issues of Habibi. We would love to include
original higher quality photos if
anyone is willing to send them! Photo taken by Alexandria. |
Gilded
Serpent presents...
Remembering
Lynn Zalot
and the Creation
of the Habibi Magazine
by Sadira
I’m sure
most of the readers of Gilded Serpent know of or have read Habibi
Magazine when Shareen El Safy owned
it. But
how many dancers realize that she had bought the rights to
Habibi from its original publishers, Bob Zalot, in
memory his wife, Lynn Zalot?
Habibi was
one of the first major news magazines on Middle Eastern Dance
and events to be published in the United States. It was
also the premier news magazine that had subscribers around
the world. Many other publications came after Habibi;
but it became the forerunner of a venue for those interested
in
reading articles and reviews about Middle Eastern Dance and
included a bi-monthly highlighted dancer or musician who graced
the cover of the magazine on each new edition. It was
ahead of its time and most everyone that was involved in the
dance world at the time, subscribed to it.
Bob and Lynn
Zalot were the producers, editors-in-chief, brains, and physical
developers of this new format. The articles were a combination
of upcoming events, reviews, and personal accounts. Habibi
was among the first to contribute to scholarly and researched
articles on ethno- regional styles, issues regarding society
and xenophobia. It fulfilled a multi-layered collaboration
of writers producing articles on subjects ranging from research
to personal stories and events happening in the Arabic world. It
was the first of its type to review albums, shows, and events.
Habibi
was a major portal into universalizing the Middle Eastern
dance, music, historical and personal accounts into a cohesive
and
important terminology that all could appreciate.
Issue
#2, Suhayr Majdi, not Jamila |
examples
of old printing presses
|
Habibi Magazine,
in newsprint format, began in the mid-1970s. It was the
collaborative brainchild of Lynn and Bob Zalot. Bob had
been a long time aficionado of Belly dance, the club scenes,
the dancers, and the arena in which dance revolved. Even
while holding a permanent job at Lockheed Aircraft, Bob was
also a writer, and a poet. Bob was everyone’s friend!
He held no animosity or pre-valued judgments about anything
in the dance world. To be a featured person on the cover of
the issue published every other month was as important and
exciting as those who yearned to be on the cover of Rolling
Stone magazine. Bob held his post as Editor-in-chief,
elucidating in every edition about a particular issue to digest
fully or consider in a new perspective. One of Habibi’s
earliest issues appeared, featuring a full-page cover of Jamilla
Salimpour. It was the first time she had written
her autobiography for a large audience. (Jamilla was
an enigmatic figure at that time. If you did not know
her personally through classes or being in her troupe, still
you may have heard of her as the “Mother of Belly dance” in
the 70s throughout much of Northern California.) She
spoke of her own beginnings, and the development of her troupe, Bal
Anat. To many of us dancers, at this time in recent
history, it was riveting to hear her story in her own words,
as well as it being the first time to hear her version of many
elements in dance history. Jamilla was also listed
as Co-editor for many years for Habibi.
Photos of
dancers from many areas were displayed as cover stories in
Habibi. There was never any favoritism shown to a particular
instructor, area, or style; which became the hallmark of being
featured on Habibi’s cover. Musicians such as Fadil Shaheen, Jalal
Takesh, Robaire Bozeman, and Jazayer were
showcased in cover stories; as well as famous dancers such
as Bobby Farrah, Morocco, and Dahlena. To
revisit the original copies of Habibi newsmagazines now is
truly seeing a historical timeline in American Middle Eastern
Dance and Music from the ‘70s through the early ‘90s. Cost
Less Imports of Berkeley, (owned and operated
by Philip Au) was the first major supplier of coin and mirrored
bras and belts for dancers was, for most of this time, the
only full-page advertiser on the back page, supporting the
continued viability of the publication.
Habibi also
brought us the incredible written essays by Edwina Nearing also
known as Qu’uamar Al Malouk on the “Secret
Lives of the Ghawazee”. Besides Aisha
Ali, Edwina was the first researcher to unveil
totally this important part of dance history. These
articles have been now republished in the Gilded Serpent,
and I encourage many to read them because you will never find
a more thorough understanding of the history, and background
of the Ghawazee dancers!
While
everyone knew of Bob Zalot, who came to so many performances
sporting his happy smile and booming laugh, many had no idea
that his wife, Lynn was the true guts, heart, and workings
of Habibi.
Personally,
I was so grateful to be friends with Lynn and Bob! Friendship
with them included an annual invitation to their summertime,
(whole-lamb) barbeques where there were dancers, musicians,
and kids just hanging out, playing music, swimming, and enjoying
the occasion.
Most importantly,
I am grateful to have been a close friend of Lynn. Lynn
Zalot in the early ‘70s had danced briefly at the Casbah and
worked as a cocktail waitress there. Lynn was a beautiful
and comedic personality with energy like a newly popped champagne
bottle! Lynn “held her own” with suave diplomacy, an
underlying wit of worldliness, and she was able to deal with
any dance personality with whom she came into contact. She
never appeared star-struck by anyone, and treated everyone
the same with her vivacious laughter, sparkling blue eyes and
compassionate nature. Lynn would have made a great mediator
as she had had the full responsibility of “running shotgun”
on many a dance diva’s demands for attention.
Habibi was
a large endeavor for two people to put together and produce
every other month. This was before computer help with
layouts, fonts, etc. It was just the old-fashioned newspaper
press style of typesetting and printing. All of this
production happened in a very cramped garage in the Zalot’s
home yard. Lynn took care of orders, soothed harried
writers and dancers, bought postage, expedited mailing, composed
the layouts, and hand-pressed every issue of Habibi! Additionally,
Lynn and Bob had three active children at the same time they
were publishing Habibi.
What
was so evident, however, was the passion that went into putting
Habibi together, for each issue. Also notable, was
their dedication to having a place where the dance scene
did not break itself into camps of layered cliques.
While Bob,
so much the entertainer himself, represented the outward appearance
of Habibi, Lynn preferred to remain anonymous and uninvolved
with the outer politics of the dance world. Those who
did know she was the “wizard behind the curtain” loved her
for her loyal friendship. Many times, I would see
Lynn in her sweats, with ink stained fingers and pants, bundles
of newsprint around her ankles, talking about some disaster
or other with the antiquated machinery and trying to reach
for the ringing phone at the same time. She was a bundle
of energy and quick wit. We laughed for hours at the
absurdities of life and sometimes wanted to do anything that
had nothing to do with anymore Belly dance.
I remember
one of the summer parties at the Zalot’s house, where the whole
lamb was roasting in the backyard, people were swimming in
the pool, drummers were playing, and Lynn and I got into the
hot tub. Lynn’s son, decided to pour liquid detergent
into the hot tub and before we knew it, we were encased in
frothy, bubbles, overflowing onto the patio. We loved
it! We made soap bubble beards, hairdos, bathing suits, and
we laughed uncontrollably as others dived into the fun.
In
the 1980s Bob Zalot and Lynn decided to produce the first
seminar and show held by Habibi. It was during this
time that Lynn began to notice she was exhausted and in a
lot of back and muscle pain…
The show
was extremely stressful. It became a 4-hour production with
dancers and musicians, all well known, performing. Nakish was
mistress of ceremonies and the announcer; it was one of the
biggest shows of its time. After the extravaganza was
over, Lynn noticed she was still having problems with her muscle
pain and some balance problems. She went to chiropractors,
acupuncturists, and tried everything, but her symptoms became
progressively worse. She was having trouble sleeping,
and her words began to jumble, but she never complained. Lynn
joked about her trips to the store, running the shopping carts
into the aisles, or not remembering what the food was she was
supposed to buy. The only way you would know that anything
was going wrong with Lynn was by noticing the dark circles
under her eyes.
Finally,
she went to a specialist to find out if she could get relief. I
think I was one of the first of her friends that she called
to tell me what disease the doctors had diagnosed; it was
Multiple Sclerosis, she told me over the phone.
I was in
shock, and tears started to pour down my face. As usual,
Lynn made a joke about the stupidity of the situation, and
we talked of other things. She didn’t tell anyone of this diagnosis
until quite awhile later—when it began to become apparent. Lynn
was a fighter and refused to let this illness stop her in any
way. She was also a stubborn woman who denied that any
of the limitations she was experiencing should be thought of
as permanent.
The Habibi
annual parties continued, and Habibi went out regularly. I
noticed Lynn, losing her balance, or sometimes calling me into
the garage to cry for a few minutes because she couldn’t remember
something, and she needed me to remind her. I know
this time was difficult for Bob and the entire family, but
because of Lynn’s tenacious attitude about this disease not
affecting her, and demanding that no one help her; its debilitations
did not appear to be severe for a long time.
Multiple
Sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system,
messages to the brain, and is a long-term wasting-away disease
that affects the muscle’s ability to remember how to function,
the brain’s ability to remember or speak. To see a person’s
slow descent into this formable disease is incredibly painful
to watch. Famous people whom you may know, who have fought
this disease and finally succumbed, to it are: Richard
Pryer and Marie Funnicello. The
statistics on acquiring Multiple Sclerosis are on the rise. It
strikes at the prime of life and leaves a person a prisoner
of his own body.
Lynn tried
non-traditional Western medicine, and she tried fighting her
MS, but it began to take its toll on this incredible life-loving,
energetic woman. It started in little bits: an unsteady
gait, slight stuttering, and problem with grasping or holding
objects. I continued to talk to Lynn by phone as it became
harder for her to travel. She never wanted anyone to
see her as limited, until the day came when she told me she
was going to have to use a wheelchair. I remember watching
the tears streaking a trail down her cheeks as we both made
jokes about racing her down the hills in the wheelchair.
At about
this time, Shukriya, produced the Rakkasah
Festival, had started giving awards to recognize people in
the community who had been instrumental in affecting the dance
world. Lynn Zalot was the first award recipient at Rakkasah,
for her work with Habibi. She was nervous, letting
others see her in her wheelchair, having to go on stage and
accept the prize. Lynn had always hated being the center
of attention. We made an agreement: I would wheel her
up on stage and off, and I also promised to help her look beautiful
by doing her make up that day. I wheeled Lynn into the
women’s bathroom and got out my make up kit. She was
already beginning to look pale and tired from her illness. We
giggled as I put overly heavy Belly dance style make up on
her face. Under all the bravado, I could tell she was
scared.
Her
name was called, and I wheeled her up to the stage to receive
her plaque. The whole audience arose to give her a standing
ovation. She glowed! That was the last time I remember
Lynn allowing herself to be seen in public.
There comes
a time when even the strongest person can no longer hold on
to the frail net of beating and fighting against a formidable,
relentless foe. Lynn’s health began to decline rapidly,
and she hated the process. She became dependent on others
to help her move from place to place, help her to eat, and
eventually, to take complete care of her. Her husband,
Bob, never wavered a moment from his love and caring of her
and became her full time caregiver. I visited her, and
each time I arrived, she would have deteriorated to an even
greater extent. I felt helpless and overwhelmed by emotion. I
loved Lynn; I knew she hated being in this body that was failing
her, and I talked to her as if nothing had changed. Then,
it came to the point when she needed to be fed, and I tried
to do that during my visits with her, with dignity and some
of the old humor. The next visit, Lynn was in a hospital
bed in her living room. I’d massage her muscles in her legs
that had begun to become useless. Soon, she was unable
to talk to me anymore, though she could understand what was
said to her. That was the hardest thing of all, seeing
Lynn, who was like a bright blue jay chattering away at the
sun, lying there unable to say more then a single word. Finally
she turned her face away from me and stared out her window. She
never looked back at me, and I knew this was more difficult
for her to handle than it was for me.
I never had
the opportunity to visit my beautiful friend again after that. Her
life had cycled into the impartial grip of a terminal disease. Multiple
Sclerosis sneaked behind us and replaced Lynn’s bright flame
with a simple golden glow. Lynn lived for
many years at home while Bob took care of her, and then, for
a while, in a nursing home. With Lynn unable to work
on Habibi, it, too, foundered.
Lynn Zalot
passed away quietly a few years ago, and I believe she dances
now among the clouds. I have written this accounting in her
memory and spirit—to recognize and celebrate her life and the
impact of her inspiration to create Habibi, the first Belly
dance newsmagazine. Habibi is the Arabic word meaning
“sweetheart” and nothing better describes my friend, Lynn.
In loving memory, ya Habibi, Lynn, shukran!
Have
a comment? Send us a
letter!
Check the "Letters to the Editor"
for other possible viewpoints!
Ready
for more?
6-16-03 Samiramis
Imports and the Arabic Movie Nights
Samiramis was an incredible
store, not only did Sam have the largest selection of records, and cassette
tapes of Arabic and Middle Eastern music, but he and his wife Mona embraced
the dance community and their desire to find music, videos, and help
with anything under the sun.
10-8-02 Charismatic
Sultana changes North Beach
She was the only dancer I have ever seen walk off in the beginning,
or middle of her set , not to return, because the music or audience did not please
her
5-13-02 Aisha
Ali & The Birth of the Ghawazee
" This
could not possibly be a dance to take seriously", people
whispered
3-15-03 Review
and Rating of 2002’S MIDDLE EASTERN DRUM CD/TAPES
This
is a review of eight of the most popular Middle Eastern Drum recordings
produced this year. Incuding works by Reda, Susu, H Ramsy, Zaid,
Mafufo, and more...
1-7-08 IBDC
Part 2:- A Gilded Serpent tale, Alex in Wonderland,
by Amina Goodyear
Unfortunately,
the event did not draw the amount of vendors he had expected and,
I believe, because he himself had not yet made a reputation for
himself as a credible festival producer, he did not get the numbers
of the dancers he wished for. Belly dancers are special people
and Alex personally did not understand their basic nature.
12-29-07 Behind
the Scenes of " Bellydance Workout" by
Venus
The
television crew said that in the control room it was dead silent
during filming as they strained to listen to what I was saying
so they’d know where to aim the shots.
12-27-07 Surreal
Experience with Mahmoud Reda: A Little Aloha goes a
Long Way by Tammy Yee
By
the end of the evening Ric, Walid and Mr. Reda were huddled together
like little boys, telling naughty jokes. Ric, of course, telling
jokes beginning with "There are three friends, an Egyptian,
a Lebanese, and a Filipino..." These jokes, surprisingly,
initiated my Mr. Reda himself, who from the workshops I had taken
to be a distinguished and refined gentleman. They laughed like
old friends.
12-20-07 Bella:
Profile of a Costume Designer by Michelle Joyce
When I asked her if she would soon retire, she just frowned and said that there
are too many mothers who need her to stay in business for the good of their
families. |