Beyond the belly
Belly dancers headline ‘sizzlin’ hot’ entertainment extravaganza at Glendale’s Beyond the Stars Palace
By Carl Kozlowski 08/20/2009
Fans of exotic dance normally head over to Burger Continental to see belly dancers work their magic during meals at the popular South Lake Avenue restaurant. But this Sunday night, people hungry for adventurous dancing will be more than satisfied by the “Arabian Summer with Kaya & Sadie” show at the rarely used Beyond the Stars Palace on North Brand Boulevard in Glendale.
While spotlighting the talents of Kaya and Sadie, international belly-dancing stars who also happen to be Denver’s leading belly dancers, as well as another dancer, Leela, with the 10-woman Salome Jihad Belly Dance Troupe, the night features other award-winning troupes from across the nation, along with burlesque acts, samba dancers, contortionists, snake dancers, old-school go-go girls and tribal gypsies. All told, more than 100 performers will rock the stage.
Neither Kaya nor Sadie returned calls for comment at press time. Sadie has both studied and taught belly dancing and numerous other world styles — from Brazilian Samba to Tahitian — in 15 countries since taking up dance and gymnastics as a teenager.
Kaya (neither performer wants their last name used) has teamed with Sadie to found and co-direct the cutting-edge Denver dance company Groove du Monde, which offers classes in belly and circus-burlesque dance.
If that’s not enticing enough, La Crescenta-based Leela will be performing her elaborate fantasy dance production called “Beyond the Sea,” which brings together pin-up sailor girls, hula-hooping mermaids, mysterious Thai goddess dancers and a fight to the death between Good and Evil. Leela also will lead a troupe of Bollywood dancers in a high-energy presentation of the “Jai Ho!” dance from the musical score of the Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire.”
A group called Unity and its belly-burlesque-hula-hoop troupe, The Hoop Unit, takes over the stage before another dancer, Princess Farhana, guides audience members into a performance by Mesmera and her Sacred Serpent. Finally, Kristina Canzares and the Mandala DanceWorks troupe round out the bill before an action-packed finale and a post-show World Beat Dance Party onstage at 9 p.m. with Danyavaad & The Shimmy Sisters.
The “Burn Baby Burn!” dance pre-show opens the evening at 6 p.m., with the main show at 7 p.m.
The “Arabian Summer with Kaya and Sadie” begins at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Beyond the Stars Palace, 417 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $30 for the show, $40 for one of two belly-dancing workshops earlier that day, $75 for both workshops, and $100 for a VIP package that gets you both classes and a ticket to the big show. Call (866) 55-TICKETS or visit leelabellydance.com.
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