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Calendar of Middle Eastern Dance and Music Events
last updated November 21, 2006
With apologies....I finally gave up trying to keep this
calendar up to date on all the numerous events happening in the Bay Area
(we are very lucky here!) and will defer that honor (?) to others with more
time. (I can recommend Khajulah's comprehensive Calendar.)
Instead, I will focus on compiling recurring (weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual) events, with
particular emphasis on events that offer opportunities for dancing. I hope
you find it useful.
Weekly Events
Pizza Hafla
Fridays, 8-10pm
Straw Hat Pizza, 1535 Meridian Avenue, San Jose, CA
1st Friday: hosted by Zephyra
2nd Friday: hosted by Zari
3rd Friday: hosted on alternate months by Setareh or Zelina and Masouma Rose
4th Friday: hosted by Saiqua
Lammam Ensemble at Peña Pachamama
Sundays, 8pm-midnight
Peña Pachamama Bolivian Restaurant, San Francisco, CA
dance hostess varies week to week
Georges Lammam info: amorfiaproductions.com
Monthly Events
El Morocco Dancers' Night
1st Sundays
El Morocco Restaurant, 2203 Morello Avenue, Pleasant Hill, CA
www.lostprophets.org/y_dancersnight.htm
Cleopatra Night
Last Sunday
Amira Restaurant, 590 Valencia, San Francisco, CA
Contact Amina for more info
Quarterly and Recurring-but-Irregular Events
Ma*Shuqa’s Open Stage Hafla Party
select Saturdays, 5:30 - 9:30pm
Empire Buffet Restaurant, 35 East Rosemary, San Jose (Off North First Street & Hwy 880)
(408) 452-8383 call to reserve a table
to perform call Ma*Shuqa (408) 356-9473
Cafe Bellie
select Sundays, 7:30-10pm
Free Belly Dance Class at 6:30pm
Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley
presented by Luna
www.cafebellie.com
UCSB Middle East Ensemble End-of-Quarter Concert
usually two or three Saturdays before the end of the academic quarter (November, March, June), 8pm
Lotte Lehman Hall, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Dr. Scott Marcus, director of musicians
Alexandra King, director of dancers
www.music.ucsb.edu/mee/
Annual Events
January
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Auditions
Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
www.worldartswest.org
March
Rakkasah
Richmond Civic Auditorium, Richmond, CA
www.rakkasah.com
May
TribalFest
Sebastopol Community Center, Sebastopol CA
www.blacksheepbellydance.com
Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant
Walnut Creek, CA
www.bellydc.com
June
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA
www.worldartswest.org
Kosmos World Music and Dance Camp
Saratoga Springs, CA
www.kosmoscamp.com
Ahlan wa Sahlan Festival
Mena House Hotel, Giza, Egypt
www.raqiahassan.net
July
Tatseena's Fantasy Dance Festival
San Leandro, CA
www.tatseena.com
August
Mendocino Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp
Mendocino Woodlands, CA
www.middleeastcamp.com
Utah Belly Dance Festival
Liberty Park, 900 South 700 East, Salt Lake City, UT
www.kismetdance.com/belly-dance-festival/index.htm
September
Desert Dance Festival
San Jose, CA
www.desertdance.com
Arabian Nights at Sea, a Middle Eastern Belly Dancing Seminar Cruise
3-night/4-day Baja Cruise with dance workshops and performances
www.arabiannightsatsea.com
October
Redwood Coast Bellydance Festival
Arcata, CA
www.redwoodcoastbellydance.com
Sirens in Sanity's Belly Dance Competition
Benicia, CA
www.sirensinsanity.com
Luna Gitana Bellydance Festival
Santa Cruz, CA
www.bellydanceodyssey.com
San Francisco World Music Festival
various venues, San Francisco, CA
www.sfworldmusicfestival.org/
November
Carnival of Stars
Centennial Hall, Hayward, CA
www.clonecomics.com/carnivalofstars.com/
Kolo Festival
Slavonic Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
www.kolofestival.org