AV Beat - Sedona

America’s fascination with belly dancing can probably be traced to the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, when the artist Little Egyptian stole the stage with what was considered outrageous, risqué, exotic, and wildly popular performances. Since then, the Middle Eastern dance form has been here to stay. In fact, yet another revival is underway, and the Antelope Valley is no small player in it.

Two recent events have helped regenerate interest in belly dancing, which is also known as Raks Araby or Raks Sharki. First, Miles Copeland, the former producer for The Police, kicked off his Belly Dancing Superstars tour, which is now in its 4th year. Secondly, the growing popularity of pop artist Shakira has stoked additional interest among the younger crowd.

Locally, a few performers and two businesses have been key players in the resurgence in belly dancing.

The Middle Eastern Cultural Dance Association’s (MECDA) promotes the art form in a variety of ways.

“We have around 50 chapter members now,” said local chapter (Desert Communities) president Sedona. “We’re a non-profit, educational organization. We promote and publicize dance events, provide instruction, and set up workshops. We also bring in big-name dancers from out of the area to speak and perform.”

Sedona is one of the more popular dancers in the region. She performs at Moun of Tunis and The Tangiers in Hollywood, as well as regularly at Mythos, the Greek restaurant in Palmdale. Various local performers take to the floor at Mythos every Saturday night, and MECDA puts on a showcase is held at the restaurant on the third Thursday of each month - the only belly dance showcase in the Antelope Valley! MECDA also produces a handful of yearly events: Dance in the Desert, the Student Recital in September, and Jingle All the Way, a yearly Christmas fundraiser for local children’s charities.

But the real hub of Middle Eastern dance in the AV is the Black Sea Trading Company. “Cindy Kazmer is the Grand Dame of Middle Eastern dance in this area,” said Sedona. Black Sea is a combination

dance studio and martial arts training center, and is where Sedona and Faizeh both teach weekly belly dance classes for different ages and ability levels.

The best way for locals to enjoy an evening of belly dancing is at Mythos. The authentic and reasonable priced Mediterranean cuisine and casual atmosphere are a perfect fit for a performance by Sedona, Faizeh, or one of their peers. Sedona and Faizeh are also available to perform at private parties, large or small.

As for Sedona, she began studying Middle Eastern dance in 1993. Like most belly dancers, her love of the art form was immediate. She is also accomplished in English Country dance and Irish Step dance. For more information on Sedona, or to inquire about instruction, use the link below to visit her web site.