Paintings- A Study of the Orientalist Image is a presentation of Classical and Modern Bellydance inspired by the images from paintings, costume design sketches, and cheesecake art from the Industrial Age up to the Golden Age of Classical Bellydance(late 1800's-1950's). Each piece is inspired by an image from Orientalist artwork, when European and American painters traveled to the Middle East for inspiration, and they found the fascinating subject of the dancing girls. A flood of Bellydancers became the subject for paintings for several decades, and the turn of the century brought in the highly sexualized, Western interpretation of the "Harem Girl", mostly non-MidEastern ladies depicted in cheesecake poses with tiny bras and sheer pants. Salome is one of the most frequently depicted subjects, and the whole idea of the dangerously sexy femme fatale became wildly popular.

with Melanie, dancer and artistic director; Jayna of the Bellydance Superstars as Salome'; local LA favorite Olu; local Morroccan talent, Kaotar; Rachel, a multi-talented dancer; and Josie, a lovely classical Raqs Sharqi dancer.

Each painting comes to life!

Saturday, September 19th
8:00pm
X Repertory Theatre
1581 Industrial St.
LA, CA 90021
www.xrtc.org

suggested donation- $10-15

people.tribe.net/melania/blog