Event

Paintings - Harem Girls and Femme Fatales

A presentation of Classical and Modern Bellydance inspired by the images from paintings, costume design sketches, and cheesecake art from the Industrial Age up to the Golden Age of Classical Bellydance (late 1800's-1960's). Each piece is inspired by an image from Orientalist artwork, when European and American painters traveled to the Middle East for inspiration, and they found the fascinating subject of the dancing girls. A flood of Bellydancers became the subject for paintings for several decades, and the turn of the century brought in the highly sexualized, Western interpretation of the "Harem Girl", mostly non-MidEastern ladies depicted in cheesecake poses with tiny bras and sheer pants. Salome' is one of the most frequently depicted subjects, and the whole idea of the dangerously sexy femme fatale became wildly popular.

The show brings to life these vintage Orientalist paintings. The sassy Modern and Classical Bellydance pieces are reminiscent of the fantastical showgirl choreography of 1930s Hollywood director Busby Berkeley and 1950s Egyptian film classics featuring Samia Gamal.

Featuring music from classical orchestrations to modern mash-ups.

Come witness these beautiful paintings come to life......