The Belly Dance Chronicles July/August/September 2017 Volume 15, Issue 3 | Page 66

Cairo Cats... Only in a Cairo Nightclub By Judy Reda Judy performing in a nightclub, around 1978-1979, wearing a rhinestone costume made in the USA This was one of my earlier “unusual” experiences: Most of the large nightclubs were outdoors (which was fine because of the good weather). All the stages were large and raised quite high, so there was a definite separation from the audience. (The “morals” police wanted to discourage any “liaisons” between entertainers and patrons.) Well, it so happens that there were many feral cats living in the clubs and staying around the guests who were eating. The people would usually throw food to the appreciative cats under their tables. Perhaps Mama Diva cat remembered when cats were worshiped as the Goddess Bastet 66 The Belly Dance Chronicles  One night, as I was doing my usual show, I was aware of the audience looking at something and laughing....(Luckily, it was not a costume “malfunction”). A mother cat had proudly sauntered onto the MIDDLE of my stage area....followed by a lineup of her cute kittens. Mama cat then tried to “upstage” me by lying down and calmly nursing her brood!!! (What a DIVA!) Apparently, she was not at all disturbed by the high July 2017