Belly Dance Legacy Photo Album

Vina Haddad Instructional Insert

[Error generating content] — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:28:06 GMT

Insert to "The Art of Belly Dancing" by Vina's brother George Abdo.

Sultana Noga

[Error generating content] — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:21:41 GMT

"Music for Belly Dancing" by Monitor Records. Anesto Athaniasou and Ensemble. Saleas the great clarinetist is on this one. Cover of British Jewish Belly dancer Sultana Noga is by Tassos Mavris. My mother Johanna liked Sultana. She was a nice gal.

John Berberian Band Promo

alexia — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:04:46 GMT

John Berberian's recording of "Azziza" was very popular in the late 60's & early 70's

Princess Madiha Recholar

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:22:52 GMT

Princess Madiha started her career very young at the age of 14. By 16 she was a star. You can go to www.princessmadiha.com for more information.

Princess Madiha hands crossing heart

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:20:56 GMT

Princess Madiha dancing on table

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:19:51 GMT

Princess Madiha backbend with oud player

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:10:08 GMT

Princess Madiha floor pose 1

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:07:37 GMT

Princess Madiha -floor pose

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:02:15 GMT

Princess Madiha-splits

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:58:52 GMT

Princess Madiha Newspaper Photo

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:37:48 GMT

First U.S. appearance

Princess Madiha with Oud Player

Norma — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:35:08 GMT

Publicity photo of my teacher and mentor Princess Madiha of Syria.

Ozel Turkbas "Keyif in Istanbul"

[Error generating content] — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:31:11 GMT

The gorgeous Ozel Turkbas as she looked when my mother knew her. Johanna's first belly dance gig was with Ozel at Arabian Nights. This record, "Keyif in Istanbul" ("Party in Istanbul") was put out by the popular record company "Nina" at 614 Eighth Ave. Johanna bought the record at the "Sparta Record Co." at 302 W. 40th St. The bio on the back says Ozel was born in 1940. She was taught singing, ballet, and acting as a member of the State Children's Theatre in Ankara. She starred in 14 Turkish films. She came to U.S. the first time in 1959 for a tour. At time of the record she was in the Texas Dallas Civic Opera production of "Thais" playing "La Orientale." Johanna loved Ozel's dancing. Her act was beautiful. She had her regular belly dance act, but also did another act where she sang and danced in three languages, Turkish, Greek and Arabic and each layer of clothing was a different costume to represent each song from those three countries. Ozel was an example of the "cream of the crop" in foreign dancers that came to work in NYC's Greektown (and other cities as well).

Ozel "Keyif in Istanbul"

[Error generating content] — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:22:17 GMT

Ozel Turkbas on an early record cover, "Keyif in Istanbul" ("Party in Istanbul").

Tribal Caravan 2008

Raymond — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:14:19 GMT

The only place to be in the Universe April 26, 2008 ~ www.tribalcaravan.com/ Photography and Design by Raymond Van Tassel - www.raymondvantassel.com/

"Johanna's Oasis Ballet"

[Error generating content] — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:01:54 GMT

This is a photo of Johanna playing Kashik with members of her "Oasis Ballet." Johanna was inspired to learn to play kashik when she worked with the Armenian singer Suger Mary Vartanian who played kashik while she sang. Pictured from left, "Baba" Ajdin Aslan, Johanna, Turhan, and Aiyupa.

Johanna in La Meri's Shawl

[Error generating content] — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:55:57 GMT

This is my mother Johanna in La Meri's shawl. Johanna and La Meri's sister Lillian were pupils of Flamenco maestro Juan Martinez and Antonita. When La Meri was retiring she had a sale of her dance stuff. Lillian had La Meri give Johanna a good deal on it. This dramatic shot was taken by "Diaz."

7-Day Intensive Seminars for 2008, Levels One and Two

sausan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:26:52 GMT

Come and learn the Egyptian way of dancing.

Carol Shannon now

katherinesummer — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:28:53 GMT

I would love to have been a fly on the wall when she danced for the defense minister.

"Gulbahar/Rachaela" in Mystery Club

[Error generating content] — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:43:08 GMT

This lovely lady was trained by Morocco who sent her to my mother Johanna for further "polishing" of her act and a black costume that Johanna had for sale "Way Back When!" She was one of the many lovely Jewish girls who were drawn to the mystery and femininity of the art of belly dance. Her first name "Gulbahar" was Turkish. After she spent time on a Kibbutz she decided to change her name to "Rachaela." She was still belly dancing in the 70's and I enjoyed some of her performances as a child. This is the club we can't remember. We don't know the name of the girl on "riq" either. Photo by Johanna

"ID" This Dancer and Club!

[Error generating content] — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:30:13 GMT

Hey everyone! If anyone can Identify this lovely Hispanic looking dancer, let us know (also the club). Johanna was a photography enthusiast and took many pics during those years, but can't remember this place. On drum in background to the left is one of my favorite dancers "Gulbahar/Rachaela." I will post a pic of her to. I don't recognize the girl to Gulbahar's right on the bandstand, either.

Aziza and Johanna, 1973

[Error generating content] — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:45:36 GMT

This was the year I was absorbed with belly dancing and the "Watergate" hearings.(I was against Nixon!) I was five years old and Johanna and I had gone to her hometown of Charleston, WV to teach for a year. After teaching five hundred students in Charleston, we returned to NYC with the money we made so I could start school. Johanna made me a new costume after returning to NY and I started a seven year stint on the "Turkish Voice" T.V. show that used to be shot in West Orange NJ at the "Wometco Network" studios (which I've heard was purported to be haunted!). In 1974 I also began working gigs with my mother's longtime business associate "Baba Ajdin Aslan" as our personal accompanist on oud. He was the owner of "Balkan Records" which store was in Greektown, NY for many years. I worked with many great musicians and dancers at many venues around NY and elsewhere. Sadly, Greektown, my mother's home base for many years was dying out during my childhood. Watching it's sad demise was painful for me, like "taking candy from a baby." I've never recovered in my heart from the loss of the wonderful world that was my playground. After I was seriously injured in school Johanna took on the New York School Board about my education and her rights for "home schooling". The experience was bitter and she fell ill. After recuperating, we moved away from NY when I was 14.

Lisa Guiraud from the James Bond movie, starring Sean Connery "From Russia with Love".

Grisel — Thu, 10 May 2007 18:43:26 GMT

Bert Balladine

demonica — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 03:36:44 GMT

Bert Balladine

demonica — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 03:36:24 GMT