Cairo Caravan 2010

Oooooh, it's almost here.... :-)

For more info, visit www.mecda.org/cairo.

Celebrating 117 years of American belly dance with a giveaway

The summer of 1893 was an important one for American belly dance. While the Egyptian belly dancers were scandalizing the crowds at the Chicago World's Fair with their shimmies and hip drops, they were also introducing a generation of women to this exciting dance form.

And it seems belly dance has never been more popular than it is today. Not only can you find festivals dedicated to its art, history and practice in most major cities, belly dance classes can now be found alongside ballet, tap and jazz in many colleges and community dance programs. Imagine what those prim and proper Board of Lady Managers would say about that!

So, in honor of that momentous occasion 117 years ago, I'm giving away a cheery yellow hip scarf that's perfect for summertime!

To enter the contest, visit my website at http://www.deannacameron.com/ and follow the contest link.

I'll be choosing a name at random on Monday, June 21. There are more details on the contest page.

Good luck!

Belly dancing invades the Scottish games...

This weekend at ScotsFest -- the annual Scottish games event at the Orange County fairgrounds in Costa Mesa -- there were no less than three vendors selling belly dance hip scarves. Celtic belly dancers -- how awesome is that!

Just added to the O.C. Dancers lineup: Meliza

Meliza is a terrific O.C. belly dancer that I've just added to the roster in the right column (O.C. Dancers). She leads the popular Jewels that Raq shows and you can find out more about her and her shows at http://www.bellydancingshows.com/.

Thanks, Meliza!

Pics from the Ren Fair

I missed the fair last year, but it seemed to me that there are a lot -- a lot -- more belly dance-type costumes roaming around this year. And there were new troupes (but many familiar faces) dancing at the Trader's Market stage.

The musicians of Baba Ku (including Gorkem Somer, far right, and Ed Lee beside him)

Baba Ku dancers and musicians

Baba Ku dancers and musicians

Baba Ku dancers and musicians

Bey Abi dancers and musicians (Yes, that's Sooz dancing far left)

Bey Abi dancers and musicians

Bey Abi dancers and musicians

Hanging out with Long Beach-based dancer Katerina

My baby belly dancer's first faire! (Yes, we're pretty proud parents...)

Market at the Casbah 2010

Another year, another wonderful Market at the Casbah at the Fullerton Senior Multi-Service Center. It's so nice to be able to enjoy a day full of belly dancing and shopping with friends without having to drive all the way into Los Angeles or Long Beach. Wanda Lee Sundberg and Deborah Peterson put on a terrific event every year and I can't thank them enough for doing it. I came home with a couple new CDs from the terrific people at Hollywood Music Center and some amazing new jewelry from Diamond Pyramid, and some pics of some of the lovely dancers who graced the stage all day long.

The event floor

Taji and the Johara Dancers

Taji

Atlantis

Johara Two

Cynthia

Raqs Belam

(I apologize if the spelling is wrong. They were a late add to the lineup and weren't listed in the program.)

Katarina and the Kabuki Dolls danced with live music from Marc Cornelius on the oud and vocals, Ed Lee on the doumbek and another wonderful musician on the didgeridoo.

Christina Rizkallah

Troupe Raihanna

Marlena

John Bilezikjian and his band

Interview with Drumming Great Remo Belli

All our wonderful Middle Eastern drummers owe a debt of gratitude to drum pioneer Remo Belli, and it's so nice to see him featured in this Los Angeles Times interview, which focuses on his business savvy.

Click here to read:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-himi-belli4-2010apr04,0,525419.story