all pictures are available for purchase
Ladies, I want to apologize for taking so long to get these photos up. Nine days
is too long. But I took way too many shots (over 700) and sorting through and editing them took a while. Then there is the matter of that pesky day job. Photography is my “night job” - I have to work my love into those hours not seized by my drudge.
Anyhow, here they are – over 160 photos of your performance. May they capture the beauty of what you do.
For those of you who were not able to attend here's what you missed.
The performance (not hafla in this case) was The Gypsy Heart: BellyDance Meanderings. The show took place in the early evening on May 2nd at
Barba Yianni, a chichi Greek/Mediterranean restaurant in Lincoln Square. (BTW the menu is fantastic and I definitely recommend it for a nice night out!)
Barba's dance floor, surrounded on three sides by dining tables, made for an wonderful venue. The dancers were close to the patrons with no stage to separate a grateful audience from vibrant dancers. The energy flowed from dancer to viewer beautifully.
The evening's featured performer was
Paola Blanton, a fantastically talented Brazilian dancer. The show was the culmination of her Balkan / Turkish Gypsy Workshops held that Saturday and Sunday. But the scope of the classes didn't limit the style of performance. Gypsy Heart featured a wide assortment of styles – from Turkish to Saidi, Egyptian Oriental to Tribal, Cabaret to Fusion.
Event organizer
Laila Aziz set the event up as a fundraiser. Fifty percent of the proceeds were given to the
Voice of Roma a group that promotes, presents and develops appreciation for the Romani cultural arts and traditions. (You can find out more about them by clicking on the link.)
In addition to giving me a chance to see and photograph a fantastic show, The Gypsy Heart allowed me to meet two Facebook friends, dancers who I got to see perform for the first time. With luck, these pictures convey the beauty and grace of their dance.
Of all the belly dance performances I've attended this was the one of the best. The depth of talent was fantastic and there was a wide range of dancing to enjoy. The dancers looked to be enjoying themselves on stage. And the joy of a dancer is quick to communicate itself to an audience.
Ladies, thanks for for your beauteous and heartfelt performances!
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