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Sabah Performing Arts’ 5^th Annual Event

Review by Nadiyah Vahdahty

Photos by Kaela

The event took place on November 5, 2005 in Wenatchee, Washington in a wonderfully accommodating venue, The Riverside Playhouse.

The Workshop

Ravisha was the featured instructor and taught a fun and playful choreography to Cindy Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Since the annual hafla entails an alternative belly dance experience, Ravisha’s workshop was the perfect fit. After a thorough warm up, Ravisha broke down the movements of the routine. She built each section upon the previously learned sections, making it easier to remember the progression. After a short break, she handed out a tray of Halloween candy bars. Each workshop attendant unknowingly determined what group she’d be in by choosing a Milky Way, Three Musketeers, or Snickers. Each group had an assignment: time keepers and clappers, flirters, and audience up to dance. Four ladies won a feathered boa while the rest of us chose a borrowed boa from Ravisha’s stock of assorted colors. After the assignments and boas were distributed, we polished up the routine with the boas in hand. Ravisha did a great job and stressed the importance of enjoying yourself and involving the audience in your dance.

The Hollywood Hafla

Act 1

Sheik of Araby – The Sabah Tribe (Wenatchee, WA)

Moulin Rouge – Nah’Joom Dancers (Spokane, WA)

The Littlest Mermaids – Nadiyah & Ravisha (Spokane, WA)

Walk Like an Egyptian – Sharon Wilk (Richland, WA)

You’re the One that I Want – Binat Sabah (Wenatchee, WA)

Betty Boop – Sha-Mal (Coeur d’Alene, ID)

Into the West – Sisters of Sabah (Wenatchee, WA)

Genie in a Bottle – Zarina Israh (Spokane, WA)

Mambo #5 – Fathiyya (Spokane, WA)

Sultana Dancers & the Tri-Cities Drum Circle (Tri-Cities, WA)

Act 2

King Tut – Sahaila & Darrell Duffey, Wendy Edwards (Seattle, WA)

Theme from Love Story – Desert Silk Dance Co. (Spokane, WA)

Show Business – J’tia (Spokane, WA)

The Look – Sultana Dancers (Tri-Cities, WA)

Turkish Pop - Kaela (Wenatchee, WA)

Fifi, Fatima & The Kairo Kats – Nizana & Linda (Moses Lake, WA)

Drum Solo - Shennteelaa Raks (Pasco, WA)

Vintage Sabah – (Wenatchee, WA)

‘Oscar’ Presentations

Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Ravisha & Workshop Attendees

Turkish Pop & Drum Solo - Ravisha & The Scabland Band

As expected, the evening was filled with entertainment. Many of the performers drew inspiration from Hollywood characters such as Steve Martin (Darrell Duffey) and Mickey Mouse (Fathiyya). The venue offered an in-house amphitheater style arrangement with the stage at floor level. With a close-circuit television in the green room, we were able to view the show while getting ready for our next number. The line-up was filled with a variety of serious, comedy, and authentic Belly Dance routines.

The Sheik of Araby was a well-chosen opening act. The whole Sabah tribe set the mood illustrating the early years of film as recreated through ‘Belly Dance.’ The audience chuckled as the routine evolved. The Sisters of Sabah returned to demonstrate a beautiful veil number. The theater drew silent and many of us cried.

Sha-Mal did an excellent job portraying Betty Boop and caught the audience off guard when she tossed to them her glow-in-the-dark bracelet. Another unsuspecting routine was King Tut. It started off serious and broke into a comedy – a rendition of Saturday Night Live. We were all rolling in laughter as Darrell Duffey mimicked King Tut.

The Oscars went to Shennteelaa for “Favorite Costume,” Kaela for “Favorite Solo,” and Sisters of Sabah for “Favorite Group.”

Shennteelaa – “Best Costume”

Kaela – “Favorite Solo”

Sisters of Sabah - "Favorite Group"

Ravisha and the workshop attendees performed the newly learned choreography with their fluffy and flirty boas. A member of the audience remarked, “It was like a free-for-all.” Yes, in the midst of our routine, we characterized that we “just want to have fun.”

The crowd was fabulous. They quickly joined in and clapped when appropriate and played with the dancers when invited. One older fellow even took off his jacket to dance with Ravisha. It was apparent: he was serious about the dance. The crowd roared.

Alwiyah, Roy, and the rest of the Sabah Performing Arts group did a wonderful job producing this event. We’ll be sure to attend and again next year. Here are some other pictures of the show: