Dancers from "Back Then"

[Azhia]

I have some in mind but I wanted to get your opinions as to who you think are well-respected, relatively well-known dancers who specialize in and/or still teach American belly dance as it was performed in the 70s and 80s (4-part sets to live music of Arabic/Turkish/Greek/Armenian mix, floor work, finger cymbals, etc.).

And if you have URLs for their websites (if applicable), please include.

Thanks for your opinions!

[Lauren_]

Alexandra King
Anaheed

[Suzana]

Artemis

[Lauren_]

I don't think it's necessary to list them in alphabetic order.....g.:

[mahsati]

Alexandra King - Belly Dance Santa Barbara, CA
Anaheed - Belly Dancer
Belly Dancing By Zamoras - Bellydancing Guild, Bellydance Classes, Videos, Links and Photos, Gypsy History and Music
Home
HelenaVlahos.com Belly Dance Phoenix

hmmm - there are quite a few, but now my brain just went blank! I'll be back to check the list again when my brain unfreezes LOL

[Fotia]

I don't think it's necessary to list them in alphabetic order.....g.:

..l;,..l;, Here goes!

I don't know if she's quite like back then, but I thought Aziza of Montreal was pretty classic.

[mahsati]

http://www.pipermethod.com/

[Azhia]

Excellent, keep 'em coming!
Any more on the east coast?

[kina]

Melina of Daughters of Rhea
Amira Jamal

memory failing me, but there are a huge amount on the East Coast, NY girls will have more names and hopefully better recall

[mathkitty]

Serena Willson, she's in New York:
Serena Studios

Delilah:
Belly Dancing with Delilah: Beautiful Images, Belly Dance Videos, DVD's, Costume, Supplies, Articles, Music, Bellydance Information and Fun!

Dahlena:
Home

What about Ansuya and Janaeni?
Welcome to Ansuya's Online Belly Dance Videos and DVD

[Alyssa Springs]

Ansuya just opened her studio in Naples, FL and her mom is teaching a class too.

[Fotia]

Not the east coast, but I think Hadia is one of those from back then.

[Azhia]

Not the east coast, but I think Hadia is one of those from back then.

True true. But from what I've seen of her performances she focuses mainly on Egyptian style?

[Monica]

Leea Aziz, Walnut Creek, California (San Francisco East Bay Area).

[Qamar60]

Serena Willson, she's in New York:
Serena Studios

[/url]

Hum? I think she pass away last year? But her scholl might still be in business...

Qamar

[Lauren_]

True true. But from what I've seen of her performances she focuses mainly on Egyptian style?

Yes, Hadia performs and teaches Egyptian and Turkish rather than the old-school American.

[david]

Judeen Belly Dancer Judeen
Patrisha (as in Patrisha here on Bhuz)
Troupe Sahah
Feyrouz Aram (pre Egyptian)
Shareen El Safy (pre Egyptian)
Jenaine Rathore
Fahtiem belly dance performer and instructor

[Asim]

Hum? I think she pass away last year?

Serena has, indeed, passed on. It's likely no one has moved to update her website; that happens a lot unless you set up something in advance where someone has the passwords, etc.

[mathkitty]

Serena has, indeed, passed on. It's likely no one has moved to update her website; that happens a lot unless you set up something in advance where someone has the passwords, etc.

Ooops, sorry about that.

[jchance]

Veda Sereem.

[Lesgemini_Zafirah]

Jamilla Salimpour?

...and Amina Goodyear (isn't she Susu P.'s mom?), Amaya & Ma'Shuqa...?

[tamrahennatx]

Amaya AMAYA - Wise Woman Dancer

Helena Vlahos HelenaVlahos.com Belly Dance Phoenix

Isis Isis and the Star Dancers

[sophie]

Not the East Coast, rather West, but you need to add Alcina to the list! She fuses influences from Tribal and Egyptian, but she's adept in Cabaret style. Veil, finger cymbals, sword, you name it. I just wish she'd put her videos online...
edited to add: she is not back from then, much younger, she started performing in the beginning of the 90ies, but some of the names mentioned here including Judeen & Alexandra King were her main influences.

[kahaz]

Actually, Hadia dances and teaches pretty much anything ME including Turkish, Egyptian, and Spanish. And zills. And floorwork. Which put together spells old-school American to me!

Shakira of Columbus is younger, but well-respected and well-known

Za-beth of Boston. I've never taken from her, but how about Paedra (also of Boston)? She's a great cab dancer.

Elena Lentini of NYC usuually performs a more out-there style, but her teaching is old-school. Zills, veils, floorwork, routines

[zamora]

layla has taken over for serena and carries on her tradition.

[zamora]

that is spelled, jenaeni rathor, ...she was my teacher.her daughter does not do much her mother did/does, to much fusion.

[gypsydanse]

Judeen!
Belly Dancer Judeen

[SatinWorship19]

How about Aszmara?

Aszmara's Home Page

She's an amazing teacher and a true cabaret dancer!

[Fotia]

True true. But from what I've seen of her performances she focuses mainly on Egyptian style?

She does a lot of styles - you are right. I took an Egyptian workshop with her though and her "looseness" of style really impressed me, reminding me more of the "back then" type of dancing.

[Azhia]

Which is good, Fotia, coz then it forces me to define what it is I'm really looking for when I say "back then"! ..l;,