BAGDAD NIGHTS
Carnival of Stars Belly Dance Queen
I started dancing at the Bagdad in 1966.
In 1974 Gordon Inkeles filmed a short docu-drama called Gameel Gamal (Beautiful Dancer) using me as a featured dancer. Although it wasn't filmed at the Bagdad, it captures a bit of the feeling of what it was like dancing at the Bagdad. I hope you enjoy this clip of
Gameel Gamal
Yousef Kouyoumjian, Henry Hurst, Amina and George Elias
Henry Hurst used to play the flute and the drum at the Bagdad.
He now lives in 2 different places - two different stages - Louisiana and Washington. He was originally from Louisiana and it was the Mardi Gras parades, with the drumming bands, that got him interested in rhythm! He likes going back home and in May he'll go to New Orleans to videotape a relative's wedding. After the Bagdad he became a professional videographer.
He also Iives with Maureen (not a bellydancer) in Port Ludlow, Washington about 2 hours from Seattle. "I escape the heat of the South in summer living here, and in winter, we go down to the old family house in New Roads, Louisiana."
George Elias, Henry Hurst, Yousef Kouyoumjian
Taja, Rayna, Stassa and Amina
(They didn't know it, but Taja was in high school and would sneak in with a coat covering her school uniform)
George Elias, Yousef Kouyoumjian and Henry Hurst
??, Taja, Rayna, Stassa and Amina
A video and photo collage of the Bagdad plus the Renaissance Fair with Bal Anat
A memory from Henry of the Bagdad:
"And I remember that glass eating group that I think you quit over! 'Shango! Ah key wawa! Hababo!' I remember their yells! What a time."
Amina recalls that time very well:
Yes, I did quit because of those performers. I actually liked them, but their act was too weird for me and I couldn't handle it. It was a husand and wife team from the Caribbean and they sang and danced like a calypso Harry Belafonte show. And that's where the resemblance ended. First they would lay and dance barefooted on a bed of broken glass.Then the woman would proceed with her audience participation act. This meant inviting a customer on stage, invite him (mostly men customers) to finish his drink and then she would start eating his glass. YES, she would bite off bits of the glass, eat it, chew it, swallow it and continue eating. I quit and went next door to the Casbah to work telling my boss, George Elias, to call me when he decided to have more traditional acts. Eventually he came to his senses and eventually I went back to work at the Bagdad.
Henry today singing
a love song to his wife
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