Tribe.net. Local Connections Amy http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#7635376c-49de-411a-9144-77c4850ce47b 2008-07-06T18:29:57Z 2008-07-06T18:29:57Z

Hi again - thanks! Actually, Amber and I are in touch, as well. I'm also working on another "legends" project (actually, this one spawned the documentary) - a photographic essay of Boston area belly dance musicians and dancers. I'm collaborating with none other than Michael Baxter on that one.

Amy 2008-07-06T18:29:57Z ~Chantal~ http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#ba3cfa93-83ea-4b77-ae7f-984b76f4651a 2008-07-06T14:00:48Z 2008-07-06T14:00:48Z

If I'm correct, I think Zabeth had Amber judge the first belly dance competition Zabeth sponsored at the Middle East. I was in the audience for the competition supporting fellow competitors. Maybe Zabeth might know where she is?

~Chantal~ 2008-07-06T14:00:48Z $item.owner.firstName http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#7c800e19-f5ca-4ec9-bada-5b468ba1b147 2008-07-05T15:07:37Z 2008-07-05T15:07:37Z

Amy, I forgot to mention that when I danced at the Averof in the 80's the dancer I admired the most that was there at the time was Amber. She was so polished, so "with it" such a professional attitude-she didn't participate in some of the "dramas," hehehe. Eric Peterson told me that Amber hadn't been heard of in years. Too bad! Maybe you can find her! He said she used to be married to Steve Kouyoumjian the drummer. Amber had been around since, I guess the 70's where she can be heard playing zil on some of the Abdo recordings.

$item.owner.firstName 2008-07-05T15:07:37Z Amy http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#9fbbc5fb-7d3b-4781-8024-d3babae73833 2008-06-27T20:40:59Z 2008-06-27T20:40:59Z

Za-beth and I go way back. We're already interviewed her former partner, Kasim.

Amy 2008-06-27T20:40:59Z Jessikah http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#f2c4a1a5-8bb2-4f83-840b-7838e8adf72c 2008-06-25T12:17:42Z 2008-06-25T12:17:42Z

I pretty sure Za-Beth of Boston would have some great info.Sounds interesting!

Jessikah 2008-06-25T12:17:42Z Amy http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#13346ef8-c332-436e-992e-603411480f0e 2008-06-05T20:48:58Z 2008-06-05T20:48:58Z

They are definitely on the list! I remember seeing Walid play at the Averof.

Amy 2008-06-05T20:48:58Z Lee http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#c1c9513c-a627-47c3-beaa-9d360e3dfb57 2008-06-05T05:49:17Z 2008-06-05T05:49:17Z

Contact Walid and Morwenna Assaf, currently living in Oceanside California.

Lee 2008-06-05T05:49:17Z Amy http://bellydancelegacy.tribe.net/thread/20ea49b2-00d9-4f80-9622-17759450e74e#5ddef87f-ff7c-40ab-b573-f750de205fbb 2008-06-04T13:52:19Z 2008-06-04T13:52:19Z

Greetings! I'm glad to have found this tribe. I publish a magazine and Web site (www.bellydancenewengland.com) for the New England Middle-Eastern music and dance community. I've always been interested in our local history - George Abdo, Mike Sarkissian, Morocco (not the one from NYC!), Artie Barsamian - it's a rich history indeed. I'm collaborating on a documentary about this very subject with a Cambride-based media company, Interlock Media (www.interlockmedia.com). A summary of the film: "Aziza!" is a new documentary profiling the history of belly dance in the Boston area as it has evolved and thrived over the past century within various local ethnic groups including the Armenian, Lebanese, and Greek communities that have settled here since the early 1900s. This documentary presents a unique perspective on how music and dance has played a crucial role in the immigrant experience of these communities, and how belly dance - a fringe ethnic art form - eventually gained popularity in mainstream America. This tribe might be the right place to put out this request. We are in the pre-production phase and are just beginning our research. We are looking for historical material on the Boston belly dance scene - photos, film and video footage, articles, show recordings - from the 1950s - 80s. We are especially interested in talking with anyone who was a regular club goer in those days, to get the audience perspective. If anyone here has such material, or knows of someone who might be able to help, please email me at info@bellydancenewengland.com. I'll also just put it out there - while we're going for grant money, we need seed money for the next 4-5 months to bring the production staff on board. If anyone might be interested in donating or investing, please email me at info@bellydancenewengland.com. Thanks so much! I'll post periodic updates here, if anyone is interested. Amy Publisher/Webmaster, Middle-Eastern Dance in New England

Amy 2008-06-04T13:52:19Z