She is still teaching on Zoom as well as in-person , with Zoom students up the West Coast to Washington State . “ All the practice we do for troupe is hybrid ; can ’ t fight so it must embrace it . Some pluses to teaching on Zoom are it is easier to pay attention to separate people , the scale allows me to see the whole body easily and pinpoint and adjust a step . New ways to describe things is a silver lining to Covid and being on Zoom . Coming back to performing or the classroom , there is small attendance yet great energy . Being and dancing with another human being in-person , there is a sense of gratitude to be in the space with other people , it makes you cherish it more ; absence makes the heart grow fonder .”
“ May 2022 ’ s Manifest Unity festival strove to be very inclusive of all traditions , community and non-Middle Eastern people : to provide a window on amazing cultural dance and music , to engage others who didn ’ t realize they ’ d love it . We use flyers at our performances with information on the music , dance and costuming , this is also mentioned by the emcee during the event . To grow our audience past people of Middle Eastern culture or those who already love it , we have to reach out with a sense of gratitude for the people who brought this over . I enjoy bringing the dance and information to people . My dance troupe has done a two-hour show for “ Christmas in the Park ” in San Jose for the past 10 years . It ’ s Santa ’ s winter wonderland with large Christmas dioramas . It ’ s a very sweet-hearted thing . There ’ s a field of differently decorated Christmas trees , food , holiday lights , and a roller skating rink . All communities are represented : kids jazz and ballet , hip hop and various traditional dances . My troupe performances include Rajasthani , AmCab , Egyptian , Sword , Egyptian and Greek Folkloric , ATS and Tribal Fusion , Khaleggy ; a variety of styles for more people to be inspired by . So many venues have gone by the wayside , it ’ s important to find these alternate dance opportunities . We are so fragmented . A lot of people feel they lost their mojo : fake it or try something a little bit different . Step into the breach and you ’ ll find stepping stones .”
Sausan
Besides being a Belly Dance Chronicles cover girl in 2014 , Sausan is also a teacher , chef and restaurant owner of al Masri Egyptian Restaurant in San Francisco , “ Independently owned and operated by a native born and raised United States female citizen and military veteran . At the restaurant I ’ m doing social media , Saturday live music and careful individual food presentation as opposed to the previous buffet style . I don ’ t check vaccination cards or make you wear a mask . All feel welcome whether vaxed or not , whether they wear a mask or not ; no judgment one way or another .”
House of Inanna , clockwise from the top : Petra , Niffer , Chelly , Stacy , Leigh Anne , and Dolunay
“ I ’ m now getting up early to fulfill ( Bitchin ’ Baklava ) orders that I got by sending more newsletters . I ’ m also making savory hand pies : beef and yogurt , Syrian kalamata and walnut , spinach and feta , black bean with
42 The Belly Dance Chronicles � January 2023