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vid clips:Gig Bag Check #1- Monica, Gig Bag Check #2 Jillina, Gig Bag Check #3- Malia, New kid on the block-Nathalie
Holiday photo from Bijan Reastuarant, Roxxanne and friends, Yasser Darwish workshop, Linda's group do Algerian Kabyle and Algerian Ouled Nail, Orit in Toronto workshop,
Tamalyn breaks her leg! Leila workhop in Mexico, RaksW teachers carpool, Asia's coming benefit.

May 1, 2008
Notes from Miles and BDSS on tour

This is a shot with the US Ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley with Sonia, Jillina, Issam, Kami, Me and Embassy staff, back stage after the show in Casablanca April 26

May 1, 2008 I'm here in Marrakech with my wife taking in the sites for a few days. The BDSS did extremely well for the 2 shows in Casablanca, Fri sold out (850 seats) and Sat 90%. Ambassador Riley and many of the US Embassy staff came and loved it. I was invited to stay with the Ambassador in Rabat for two days and we had the opportunity to discuss the positive affect of the BDSS show on East West relations. The show in Dubai also was a big success. It reinforces my belief that bellydance is a natural bridge that can have a real affect in diminishing the negative feelings this US Government has projected to this part of the world. Given the state of world politics it really does allow us all to claim that bellydance is the most socially significant dance art in the world today. May 1- Hi Lynette, We had an interesting situation the other day at the photo shoot we did with the BDSS in Casablanca to capture the atmosphere of being here. The promoter set up several places the first of which was Rick's Cafe. We arrived and were welcomed by the American lady (Kathy) who runs the place and the ladies went off to a room to change only to start yelling my name a few moments later. I arrived at the room on the second floor where a man would not get out of the room where they were changing and some were already half dressed. Turns out the venue had not been warned that we were there to do photos, some crossed wires and they thought we were Russians there for tea. The American woman came up and I apologized that she had not been warned but please have the man get out of the room so the ladies could dress. I then asked how we could arrange to do photos there, if there was a more convenient time, we would be happy to pay etc. Jillina was standing near me at the time. The lady then told me in no uncertain terms that we could never take photos there as she did not want her venue associated with "Oriental Dancers". Needless to say that did not go over well and we left. We sent to a second place, Sqala run by a Moroccan who could not have been more gracious and accommodating, did not want money and bent over backwards to enable us to get a great shoot. To repay him I ordered a Moroccan lunch for everyone and that turned out to be great and repaired the mood totally so we got a great shoot in spite of the insult delivered by the Rick's Cafe lady. So if you are a bellydancer in Casablanca I strongly suggest and recommend Sqala for atmosphere and great food and avoid Rick's Cafe like the plague. - Miles Copeland April 22, 2008 The Dubai show was a great success. People were stunned after and were even more stunned when they discovered it was all American dancers. They are now talking about shows in Beirut and Amman. Morocco is sold out for the Fri night (850 seat theatre) and 70% on the saturday so far. The US Ambassador to Morocco and his wife are coming on Fri to see the show. We went shopping in Casablanca today and had a great day. Tomorrow we all take a day trip to Marrakesh to check it out. Jan 24, 2008 Hi Lynette, some news for you. I have confirmed the BDSS to perform in Casablanca, Morocco on April 25 & 26. this will follow our Italian dates and Dubai which we are trying to fit in. What is most interesting is that the promoters are insisting that we do a lot of the fusion elements --Tribal, Bellynesian, Ballet, as they feel this is an exciting addition to the dance and shows its world relevance and adaptability to compete with the other great dances of the world. On the event front we are now confirming the teachers for the LA event as, Morocco, Jillina Ansuya, Bozenka, Sonia, Issam Houshan, Helana Vlahos, Petite Jamilla(double veil), Sabah (ballet for bellydance), Sonia will do a special Bellynesian workshop with live Tahitian percussion. We are also going to have a free workshop for children (12 and under) Sunday morning. We will have a great show Saturday night followed by a hot live band, The Milli Collective who are fronted by three Iraqi Americans (including the singer who sings in Arabic) with a Brazilian, Pilipino, Iranian, Jamaican -a virtual united nations of 13 players who play great up beat bellydance music. We are also holding auditions for the BDSS starting at 6: pm on the Sunday.

Asia and Stasha at Carnival of Stars

March 31, 2006
Benefit for Asia
A Benefit for Asia to be held at 3 pm, on Sunday, April 13th to help cover the expenses incurred during a gap in her medical insurance. Asia had to receive emergency blood marrow tests and blood transfusion along with a stay in the hospital before her medical insurance kicked in. Asia has Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and is receiving chemotherapy. She has a great prognosis but will have to deal with this condition the rest of her life. She is managing to teach and perform and will be performing at this coming event. Be sure to come and help support Asia in her fight with this disease. The event will be held at Sanchez Concert Hall in Pacifica, California. Pacifica is on the beach just south of San Francisco. Tickets will be $20 for adults and $10 for kids over 5 years old. There will be easy ample parking. Stasha will also be performing just after her recent surgery. Also on the program is Asia’s Troupe, the Arabesque Bellydance and Drummers, and Mara Reggae Samba Dancers. Arabic food for sale. Call Nisima for more details: (650) 359-3195

Posted March 27, 2008. Thank you Alheenaa and Niral!
Leila of Cairo's Seminar in Tijuana, Mexico.
"This is the group of students and Leila at Marriot Hotel. The seminar took place on March 8 and 9, 2008."

click for larger photo
Names needed!

Niral sends us help with names: "first row from right to left on pink
Michelle Olga Nayelli, Alheena with a big smile, the little one is Kate then Leila her son and Niral on red Samirah Anel Fercha, Francis and Jayanti, lay down on the floor Nadia and Nefertiti
beside Leila on her back from the right to left Giselle, Mariamor, Jesica, Selene, Natali, Atifa, Maryam,
in the last row on foot from right to left
Rosy, Linda, Airam, Claudia, Patty, some girls from Ensenada, Araceli, Cinthia from Mexicali, Desiree Zaidm also from Mexicali, Rosy
and i cannot see the other girls. Thanks so much for this"

• Current CK- you are here!
• June 2007 through December 2007
  Pasha Restaurant of SF sells to new owner, FCBD in SF Gay Pride Parade, Contests, Hadia in TX, Baby BDr, Randa in TX, Video Clips begin!, Astryd teaches, Turk Fest, Miles rescues Suhaila, Mendocino ME M&D camp, Helene's travels, Helm at home in Fairfax, Miles and the bigwigs of the ME, Mr Ahmed Asad dies suddenly during workshop weekend in Montreal, Fiesta in Albaquerque, Spirit of the Tribes in Florida, Holiday greetings from all over!, DDF, Cartoonist runs for president, Bobby's Girls reunion, Rakksah East, Dancer photos from Mexico and Colorado and more
• January 2007 through May 2007
  BDoY 2007 winners, Leila's beautiful baby boy!, East Coast Classic, Dondi, Aziza's world adventures, Rhea's dtr Melinda marries in Greece, Serengheti Nights benefit , Reda's Son's BD party, Kami Liddle Workshop, Siren Insanity, Tribute to Rhonda, BDSS audtions in San Rafael, Kaya's Baby girl!, Dancer night at San Jose pizzaria, back stage video shoot pics.
• June 2006 through December 2006
  Flamenco in West Marin, John and Sharlyn pose together again, Sherry and Taiwan dancers, Sahira teaches in Taiwan, Michel and Sophia play dress up in Spain, Leyla Lanty dancing at AWS in Cairo. Snake dancer gives birth to a troupe!, BD cruise, Pr Farhana is as a tattoo, Mark of Wash DC in SF, Holiday photos, contests.
• January 2006 through May 2006
  grade school interpretations of world dances, Helene's intl travels, Goth DVD teaser video, BDSS auditions, Aida, Magdy and Leila in LA, cruising sites in SF, Salahs family in Iran, Contest, Dondi workshopp, Suhaila workshop, Vince gets down with fellow beatniks, Helm making a CD, Jill Parker's undulation, Meena in Iraq, MaryEllen with students from Taiwan- Cheg yi and Sherri, SFMECDA officers for 2005,
• April through December 2005
  Alexandria in London, Khalid in SF, BD in Maui, Gia and pet, Tracking BDrs after Hurricane Katrina, Papa's Taverna in N California, Princess Farhana Teaches, Angelika's tour in Turkey, Giza Awards for video, Egyptian Folkloric troupe in SF, contests all over, gilded serpent sited in zoo, BDr in local parade. Bdr dolls hit toy stores