Very beautiful site taking shape here. Glad to be a part of it’s beginning.
FIRE DANCE
July 5&6
I will be teaching workshops and doing a benefit performance with Sirocco in Santa Cruz California.

Sulyman El Coyote master musician; ney, violin, oud, sas chumbus, clarintte, cymbulum. He lost everything in the Santa Cruz fires! So sad. instruments, collections, art, recordings, . . . I have played with Sol for over 20 years. He is a special wild hearted coyote. Love him dearly, so I’m flying tomorrow to help my dear friend out.

Summit Fire Benefit Concert for Sulyman
A Musician of Many Talents: Sulyman El Coyote lost all of his life’s work in the Summit Fire. A Benefit concert for Sulyman will be held on Sunday July 6th.

WHEN : Sunday July 6th, 2008
TIME : 6:30 pm (doors open 6:00pm)
WHERE : at the Vets Hall 846 Front Street in Santa Cruz, CA
COST : $15 donation

DETAILS : Featuring world music by Sulyman, Sirocco and Orient¢al with belly dancers Delilah from Seattle and local favorites Sahar, Crystal, Mashuqa, many other amazing performers and a silent auction.

Delilah is still going forward with her Visionary Dance Hawaiian Retreat! Amazing when you consider the terrible weather we’ve been having in the Pacific North West. Anyone attending her retreat is in for not only a weather treat but instruction from a real pro.

I actually filmed the event where House of Tarab launched their new CD ( you have got to go and buy that CD.. really; some of the tracks are already being used by 3 dance companies in their DVD creations) anyway, I have it all recorded… It happened at Columbia City Theater.. and I wish all beginning and intermediate belly dancers would sit and watch my entire,unedited reels; no matter how clever the choreography is, or how many ‘Turkish Drops’ youth can produce… the skill that Delilah has in the real art of entertainment is worth being mentored by. She had them screaming with delight by just moving her head. I am not kidding. I’ll have that footage to show to whomever wants to view it. You can really tell the difference when you see unedited footage; it’s soul satisfying to not only watch a stellar dancer, but also be entertained by someone who can discern what an audience wants and then deliver it!

Thank you Delilah; you make my job a joy.

I was in Washington DC during the election week which was exciting enough, but add to that visit the pleasure I had in Video Recording the ‘Silk Road Dance Company’ and you really top off a special event, not only for the audience, but for me the Cinematographer! ‘The Silk Road Dance Company’ delivers one of the most beautiful performances ever! First, picture the costumes designed by Laurel Victoria Gray, who incidentally has won many awards for her design work not to mention that she also creates these costumes… then think of living silk under stage lights… add to that the most narrative sensitive choreography…then the subject… which also served as the title for the production: ‘Legends of the Silk Road”; then you will have had some taste of what me and my camera saw and recorded… the audience showered the dancers with flowers, but no bouquet was larger than the one handed to the Artistic Director: Laurel Victoria Gray; well, maybe one… the one that bloomed in my heart when I watched her through my camera lens. I feign no flattery here; these Persian Dances… put to the talents and skills of this Artistic Director leave you breathless. At moments, the audience was so quiet, I thought someone should dial 911.