Travels with Tamalyn

Summer-Fall, 2003

Hong Kong, September 24 -October 13

Wow! What an exciting city! I was brought by the Habibi Restaurant Group to perform six nights a week. Two restaurants, situated side by side on Wellington street are "Kushari", a reasonably priced and casual eatery, and "Habibi", which is an upscale dining experience. While dancing in Habibi, there were incredible amounts of press, both in the Cantonese and English newspapers.

Hong Kong is an amazing juxtaposition of ultramodern skyscrapers and Chinese street market activity. Every culture converges on this tiny island, where anyone you meet is well travelled and sophisticated without being snobby. In 17 days, I crossed the border into China for a day of decadence (Shop till you drop, manicure, pedicure, and delicious food). I also visited Macao, a former Portuguese colony that now belongs to China and rode a junk to out islands that are exotic and rural.

Thanks to the generous hospitality of Mey Jen Tillyer, director of the Oasis Dance Studio, I taught a series of workshops for professional dancers, and experienced the beautiful dance of Xing Xiang (Northwest province of China where the Uygars speak a Turkic language). At Yoga Planet, I took Classical Indian and Bollywood style dance classes almost every day.

*If the idea of a "Hong Kong Belly Dance and Shopping Retreat", featuring four hours of daily classes in Belly Dance (Taught by me), Indian, and Xing Xiang style dances, plus an Egyptian cooking class aboard a junk boat en route to the out islands, nightly parties (Belly dance, Bollywood, and more), and shopping, manicures, massages, plus incredible food appeals to you, please e mail me and I will put you on the mailing list for when I am able to manifest such a splendid event. Hong Kong awaits, full of surprises.


Bridgewater, Mass. September 6

Amar Gamal, the belly dance phenomonon (and founding member of "Bellyqueen") got married...I was the maid of honor, and danced for the reception accompanied by four live drummers. See the photos on bellyyqueen.com/wedding.


Prague, August 28- September 1

The most beautiful city, full of history, art and music. For me, the music was most enchanting, from Dixieland bands to classical concerts in centuries old churches. Being surrounded by generations of high art layered atop one another was a humbling experience for one who considers herself a (dance) artist.




Ms. Dallal with the Roma Emperor and Empress

Romania, August 20-28

This progress oriented country has all the elements to become the next hip hot spot in Europe. Fortunately for those who go now, it is inexpensive and quaint. The national color is blue, and the soldiers all wear bright blue "camoflage". We took a fancy bright blue train to Brasov, where Ricky Martin had just performed in the town square. It is a magical mideval walled city, where hipsters, traditionalists, Roma and street musicians mingle on a long pedestrian street lined with beautiful buildings. People cruise the suburbs nitely to watch bears eat from the garbage bins and watermelon vendors sleep with their wares, warding off bears who usually make off with a few watermelons anyway. The people of Romania are so genuinely warm and kind that they hold many lessons for the rest of us to learn how to be.

A highlite of the trip was that in Sibiu, I met the King of the Gypsies (Roma), Florin Cioaba, visited his home, and discussed everything from culture to politics with him. Soonafter, I visited the Roma Emperor, Iulian Radelescu, and his family, who reside nearby. This 65 year old leader went back to school and finished high school at age 61, then got an engineering degree this year. He is supporting the education of dozens of Roma and helping produce a documentary on Roma culture.  


Bulgaria, August 4-20

Photographer extraordinaire, Denise Marino and I spent 15 days travelling through Bulgaria on our own, decifering signs in Cyrrilic and getting by with hand signal-language. Bulgaria is a dreamland of antiquities, towns from every period of history, incredibly delicious food, and cheap, stylish shopping. The Bulgarian style of Belly Dance "Kuchek" was brought by the Roma from Turkey during the Ottomon Empire, and lives on today. The music is ever more energetic and modern, and we loved belly dancing the night away at the "Bulgari" restaurant in Varna.


Switzerland, July 28- August 3

I taught classes organized by Elisa Niederer, who teaches in Zurich, then performed outdoors with flashing lights in my hair during the Swiss National Day while fireworks exploded overhead. Egyptian male dancer Hani did an impromptu stick dance around me even after his stick broke into small pieces from striking it on the cement.


El Salvador, July 11 and November 15

Bozenka and I danced at an elegant cancer fundraiser organized by the Arabic community. President of the Republic, Francisco Flores and his wife were honored guests in the front row. The next day, we were invited to a feast of cinematic proportions on a black sand beach along the coast.


Jamaica, June 26-30

The "Elegant Affair" womens retreat in Ocho Rios was a gig that also served as a relaxing treat. I taught daily belly dance classes in an oceanfront villa, performed at the evening parties, and enjoyed live poetry by "Seiku the Misfit", who taught us how to write our own poems. We learned the latest reggae steps from georgeous male models brought in to party with the ladies, and had all sorts of scrumptious meals, trying all the local specialties. For information on next years retreat, contact anelegantaffair_ia@hotmail.com.


Italy, June 8-16

The fitness Festival in Rimini, Italy was over the top! Neon colors screamed almost as loud as dozens of fitness instructors yelling over pumped up music, all in one room that pulsated with house music from many different sound systems simultaniously. I performed in the midst of the melee on the Crunch Stage, and taught classes in a room off to the side. It was fun hanging out with the Greek folk dancers, who were as out of place as I , and I was fortunate to be brought in a few days early so I could visit the tiny nation of San Marino, Venice,and Bologna.


Big Pine Key, Florida:, May 15-16

Visiting Israili Belly Dancer Tamar and I participated with the Marine Mammal Concervancy to help with rescue efforts for a pod of beached whales. We swam a four hour shift, keeping them out of further trouble and helping out at feeding time. This island is home to a rare breed of miniature "key deer" that are the size of dogs and can be seen everywhere. Afterward, we drove on to Key West and danced all night in Reggae and Salsa clubs