Anaheed |
| Comments or experiences to share about Anisa? Let us know! |
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I am a native Californian with a mixed heritage from the
paternal side (Greek, Italian, and a lil' Armenian). For 30+
years I've combined two very different life styles by
being both a professional Belly Dancer and a Librarian.
("Librarian by day, Belly Dancer by night!," as one
interesting magazine article put it...)
I have always loved moving to music throughout a
childhood of ballet, gymnastics and Hawaiian dance. I
met the Belly Dance bug in the early 1970's, and partially
supported myself through graduate school by dancing
three to four nights a week, along with working a day
job, and carrying a full class load for the M.L.S. (Masters
in Library Science). I experienced the rise and fall of the
Hollywood belly dance scene, and worked so many
places that are now gone: The Fez, Coco's, Ali Baba's,
Hadji Baba's, Grecian Village, Seventh Veil, etc., etc. I
survived through sheer flexibility of dance style (much
credit to teacher Diane Webber, of the former "Every
Woman's Village"), learning to enjoy all music styles from
the Middle and Near East (Arabic, Greek, Persian,
Armenian, Moroccan) to American - whatever the setting
called for!
I became the Managing Director of the Perfumes of
Araby Dance Company in 1979 when our "founding
mother" Diane Webber scaled back her group activities.
This was the same year as my marriage to my still
understanding husband, Larry Rotunno. I have enjoyed
the challenges of solo and group work, and gratefully
acknowledge the contributions of many wonderful
women (and men!) whom I've met through the dance,
both in the U.S. and elsewhere.
At this time, I continue to work in the Los Angeles City
Library system (to pay the mortgage!) and I teach and
perform the dance as much as possible, for my heart and
soul. I truly love sharing this art form, and try to
communicate to students that you receive as much as
you give to this dance. I've seen some roller-coaster
decades, but as long as the endurance and the bod
holds up, I'm on for the ride!
Happy dancing to all!
paternal side (Greek, Italian, and a lil' Armenian). For 30+
years I've combined two very different life styles by
being both a professional Belly Dancer and a Librarian.
("Librarian by day, Belly Dancer by night!," as one
interesting magazine article put it...)
I have always loved moving to music throughout a
childhood of ballet, gymnastics and Hawaiian dance. I
met the Belly Dance bug in the early 1970's, and partially
supported myself through graduate school by dancing
three to four nights a week, along with working a day
job, and carrying a full class load for the M.L.S. (Masters
in Library Science). I experienced the rise and fall of the
Hollywood belly dance scene, and worked so many
places that are now gone: The Fez, Coco's, Ali Baba's,
Hadji Baba's, Grecian Village, Seventh Veil, etc., etc. I
survived through sheer flexibility of dance style (much
credit to teacher Diane Webber, of the former "Every
Woman's Village"), learning to enjoy all music styles from
the Middle and Near East (Arabic, Greek, Persian,
Armenian, Moroccan) to American - whatever the setting
called for!
I became the Managing Director of the Perfumes of
Araby Dance Company in 1979 when our "founding
mother" Diane Webber scaled back her group activities.
This was the same year as my marriage to my still
understanding husband, Larry Rotunno. I have enjoyed
the challenges of solo and group work, and gratefully
acknowledge the contributions of many wonderful
women (and men!) whom I've met through the dance,
both in the U.S. and elsewhere.
At this time, I continue to work in the Los Angeles City
Library system (to pay the mortgage!) and I teach and
perform the dance as much as possible, for my heart and
soul. I truly love sharing this art form, and try to
communicate to students that you receive as much as
you give to this dance. I've seen some roller-coaster
decades, but as long as the endurance and the bod
holds up, I'm on for the ride!
Happy dancing to all!
| "Only by the hope that we give to others do we lift ourselves out of the darkness into light." Anaheed's inspiration from Dean Koontz, "One Door Away from Heaven" |
| Next Swap Meet TBA Cabaret Beledy Showcase on January 31, 2009 Click for info |
| Veil Clinic! with Anaheed Sunday, November 9 at DanceGarden Click here |