Snake Dancing an ancient tradition in modern performance
By Stasha Vlasuk Photos provided by Stasha Vlasuk
Snake Dance : is it dance or is it ritual ? Is it both ?
The Warner Brothers Studio in Hollywood invited a snake dance performance for a massive special event on their famous backlot . Asia Teresse Killeen , California ’ s consummate snake dancer , envisioned “ Snake Goddess and the Acolytes ” for the event . Tazneem and myself were the weapon wielding Acolytes . We constructed our costumes while rehearsing our performance : a flashy axe weapon dance that led to the dramatic snake dance featuring “ Rajah ,” Asia ’ s six foot long Demerils Boa Constrictor from Madagascar ( note : all Asia ’ s snakes are captive bred ). Did you know snakes have a sense of humor ? At one rehearsal as Asia moved up through the finish of the weapon dance raising the center body of Rajah over her head , that sneaky guy slithered his tail down and around her left ankle . As Asia lowered her arms to begin the dance , Rajah quickly dipped his head down and captured her right knee , effectively binding her legs , almost causing her to topple ! As she gently disengaged him I swear I heard that snake giggling : “ ssss-ssss-ssss .”
Snakes move as they do and the dancer dances with the snakes movements , not otherwise . In the best of times it is a duet , however please remember you are dancing with your pet , not a prop . As this incident reveals , the snake is a live ,
Asia and Rajah
32 The Belly Dance Chronicles � September 2022