Hello, my name is Za-Beth, born and brought up in Boston Massachusetts. We have had bellydancing here as far back as the 50’s.  My childhood was all about dance, from ballet, tap, and jazz - to “Goldilocks”, “The Nutcracker Suite”, and Gene Kelly’s “Singing in the Rain”.  I ate and slept dance! At a very young age I imagined I was in front of an audience and danced for them.  My mother taught me how to dance in the living room of our house…waltz, foxtrot, rumba, etc.  I was very attracted to the rumba back then (and still am!)

    When I was in grade school there was a club across the street, The Club Zara, with the most beautiful neon sign of a full length bellydancer, her hips swaying side to side.  (I’ve always wondered if that had any influence later in life.)  Anyway, it caused more than one traffic jam, so they had to take the sign down.

    The 60’s were great.  You dressed up and went night clubbing with your friends.  I found myself in the “El Morocco” one night where the master of ceremonies, “Mike Sarkissian” invited girls in the audience to join him on stage and take a lesson.  I wanted that sooo bad, but, I wasn’t lucky that night.

    Purely by accident I became a real 60’s go-go girl; boots, fringe, and booking agents.  My first go-go club was the New Yorker in downtown Boston.  The shows were full of singers, dancers of all types, and comedians.  Because of the new era of go-go, I had to learn fast if I expected to be in the shows. It was during this time frame I saw my first bellydancer and knew it was another form of dance to learn.  My first bellydance lesson was with one of the strippers.  Back then to earn a living you had to dance almost any style.  You never knew where an agent was going to book you and what type of dancer was needed, so you had to know them all.  You could make a living at traveling as a show girl.  It was show biz and we were show girls.  You could work six nights a week and actually make a living from it.  Eye lashes were on and off every day. 

    The Juke Box supplier at the club had connections at the “El Morocco”.  Before you knew it, I had an audition with none other than Mike Sarkissian.  I passed the audition and before you could say “step-hip step-hip shimmy”, I was a belly dancer!  For the first few weeks I was trying to find a name.  The name Za-Beth was not my first choice.  One of my agents, Tony Tawa had a list of names. I wanted the name Athena but it was already taken and back then you wanted to be original and so my second choice from the list – Za-Beth – was born in 1963/4.

  El Morocco Club was run by Joe Tbajy and his wife Morocco who was from Lebanon.  The music and musicians consisted of Armenian, Turkish, and Greek.

  The traditional music was brought from their countries and passed on to them from their parents.  It was usually played for family and friends, at church picnics, family functions and eventually into the clubs.

    For the American Cabaret dancer, the usual routine consisted of 5 parts or 3 parts.  An upbeat opening, chifti-tele/rumba, drum solo, and a close (sometimes a Karsilama).  It was veil and floor work-EVERY ONE PLAYED ZILLS-and wore shoes.  The Cabaret dancer did it all!  From attitude, to drama, to variety.  It was very competitive.  You had to be strong minded, focused, and motivated.  Well - being a single mom and having no rent money, I was very motivated!  Then you could make a decent living.  Costumes were made by dancers for dancers, or, a seamstress could do the job.  To have a coin costume was to die for!  Bra, Belt, skirt, veil, hair ornaments, heels, and zils.  That was the standard of the time.  Bead work!  Beaded fringe was all done by hand.  I made a costume with over 3000 silver coins, all sewn by hand!

     The 70’s brought more private club work which also brought more money.  Teaching sprang up every where, at the Y’s and community centers; which was good because we were still fighting for our image as not being hoochy-coochy dancers (it still exists today, although not as bad).  But the women coming into bellydance class were the best word of mouth because they help spread the word that bellydancing was an art form.  And of course radio and TV guest spots were always a great image booster for the bellydance community!

    I met George Abdo in the 70’s performing nightly shows at the infamous Averof restaurant in Cambridge, Mass.  It was a great opportunity to perform with him singing and sometimes playing tambourine or zils for your show (who knew at the time how important that would be!)  Traveling on the road with George and his Flames of Araby band and sometimes with his sister Vina joining in was a great experience.  As time has gone by, George has become somewhat of an icon. 

    To be asked by George to be part of the Magic of Bellydance album was an honor.  We began rehearsals in September of 1980 for a June recording.  We would meet at some ones house every week and write (phonetically) as the word sounded to you.  Most of us were not of that background (language).  Needless to say, we could not read each others notes!  As we got closer to the date (June) rehearsals began with the band (I happen to have a piece of one of the rehearsals on cassette).  George insisted we tape to help us with a better understanding of the words we were singing and learning the accents.  The day of recording was so exciting.  Some of us went back the next day and over-dubbed voices and zils and claves.  What a time it was, standing around the microphone with our headphones on.  We felt like such professionals! Who would have ever thought that George Abdo’s music would still be as popular in 2006 as it was back then?

 The early 80’s brought many changes.  My Phaedra Rose was born in June.  She was named after a Greek movie (Phaedra) with Melina Mecouri and Tony Perkins.  The name comes from Greek mythology, so…if she ever decided to become a Bellydancer, she would already have the name. Phaedra Rose is a Gifted and talented bellydancer in her own right! 

    Bellygrams also sprung up in the 80’s.  You could become rich if you didn’t mind traveling.  My own experiences were good, but, making a living at the art form was not happening.  Taped music and less musicians was becoming the norm.  Music & costumes evolved.  Performing at the Averof, which offered bands and dancers every night of the week, was a good place to stay fresh and see other performers from beginners to seasoned professionals.

 Since the 90’s I have been producing shows and Haflis/Dance parties for Bellydancers of all ages and backgrounds, offering them the opportunities to perform with the band or their own choice of music.  Bringing a variety of teachers in for workshops to give the local bellydance community opportunities to see what is in the other parts of the world.

The big word now is “Fusion” of many contributions of styles of dance and costumes…and here we are…

2000

    The last few years I have been promoting the Diva Pageants. To enter into one you must be of a competitive nature and enjoy the challenge of the preparation from mental to physical from music to costuming and not afraid of the devastation of not winning.

  I am still producing shows and conducting workshops for the up-and-coming and “seasoned” dancers, to give everyone an opportunity and a place to perform.  I also enjoy putting together my Show-Biz Newsette to give dancers the chance to showcase themselves.

  I never dreamt my career would continue this long.  I am still traveling on my “Magic Carpet”, performing and teaching seminars.  I have acquired the title of “Boston’s Grande Dame/Diva” by the local bellydance community.  Everyone tries to convince me that this title has nothing to do with age!  Who knew that my “Magic Carpet Ride” would take me through so many years – TV, radio, cruises, teaching and performing up and down the East Coast!  I feel I am a pioneer in this field, leading the way for women of all ages to continue the Art, the Joy, and the Magic that is dance! 

    Having been the winner of the 2005 Zaghareet Magazine Life Time Achievement award is most rewarding.  Competing with performers like Morocco, Amaya, Fateima, Amara Al Amir and John Compton made the winning even more special!

Now I am working on a long awaited DVD and CD, bringing a mix of music and dance from the past to the present with my daughter Phaedra Rose and some of Boston’s finest musicians, including our own George Abdo.  

I believe every one should have balance in there life.  This dance makes for a perfect one.

 Today in the year 2009, her daughter Phaedra Rose, second generation Bellydancer, is now performing with the Musicians that Za-Beth started with in the 60's at the El Morroco,with the original Morroco, making it a full circle,and makes the Bellydancin' Momma proud-

  Za-Beth still produces shows and conducts workshops for the up-and-coming and “seasoned” dancers, to give them an opportunity and a place to perform. She feels she is a pioneer in her field, leading the way to inspire women of all ages to continue the Art, the Joy, and the Magic that is dance !                       

                                           Winner/Zaghareet "2005 Lifetime Achievement Award ,

                                         Cover story in the May/June issue of Zaghareet Magazine 

                                            

       http://www.zabeth.com    http://www.youtube.com/zabeth44        zills@earthlink.net