Here's a tribute to my teacher and belly dance, also known as Raks Al-Sharqi(Dance of the Orient). Since I saw the old TV show I Dream of Jeannie, I have been fascinated by anything Middle Eastern or Egyptian. I have always thought of taking belly dancing but not until one of my friends suggested that we try it together in 1996 that I actually gathered the courage to join in.
Our teacher is Daisy Raihani. She is an excellent teacher not to mention a great dancer. She has had ballet, tap and jazz in her dance background. She lived in Saudi Arabia for three years where she taught belly dancing and also trained with professionals such as Rakia Hassan, Farida Fahmi and Mahmoud Reda. She was the featured belly dancer at the reknowned Marrakesh for ten years. She currently teaches in the Newport Beach and Irvine communities.
Why take belly dance lessons?
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Daisy and Maria at Marrakesh Restaurant, March 1996
I posted this animation because I like the way she moves!
Too cool!
Sometimes I volunteer to take pictures and/or video tape. I have
just as much fun as a photographer, or as part of an audience and/or
as well as a performer.
Click on the arrows below to see more belly dancing pictures:
I placed this animation here because I thought it was so cute!
I couldn't just let it go!