~ EVENT REVIEW ~
Karen Barbee’s 20th Anniversary
Give Belly Dance a Chance ~ July 2016
You Should’ve Been There!
By Jeanna Driver
You just shoulda been there! I’m talking about Karen
Barbee’s 20 th Anniversary Give Belly Dance a Chance, July
15-17, 2016 (San Antonio, TX). She promised a multi-
media show and by Georgette, she delivered!
Held at the Josephine Theater, a large screen hung over
the stage, where brightly colored designs, Karavan Studio
Trivia, videos and photos of past GBDAC recitals from
the past 20 years were shown. Online students, musicians,
and others flashed at various times during the show and
intermissions. I STILL cannot believe it: 20 YEARS!!! It
was like old home week because of all the former students
who came out of the woodwork to see the show, and then
started classes again! I reminded some of them to save me
my “usual” spot in class – and they promised they would…
From the very first number, Qarat Al Feenjan (aka
Coffee Cup), the audience knew this was going to be a
different animal from the usual belly dance program. During
various times in the routine the dancers would split into two
lines and, while clapping to the music, they would all back
away from the front of the stage.
A line of former dancers – including me! – ran down
from the audience, up onto the stage and across, each in her
own particular manner. I just knew Mercedes Foster was
going to do a cartwheel! What I mostly remember is I had
to really haul *bleep* to get out of the way in time! Whew!
Gianna and Karen: Ok, let me state from the start that
I’m not a kid person. Just not. However, the little call-and-
response routine featuring Karen Barbee and Gianna was
really cute! Gianna is about 6 years old, but she could do
those pops, locks, and shimmies as well as any adult. And
then the lil’ stinker did a solo all by herself !
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The Belly Dance Chronicles
July 2017
Karen Barbee - Photo by Le Vieux Loup Photography