NEW FORMAT: I have recently figured out (d'oy!! duh! d'oh!!) how to load clips and pics from my Kodak EasyShare digital camera (I know, welcome to this century, Brandon...) to my PC and to the net, which'll be seen on my YouTube channel and/or be highlighted in GOLD in the future. Woo-hoo!

:)

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NEW!! BRANDON'S OASIS ROLL CALL Of BELLYDANCE CONVENTIONS and COMPETITIONS:

NOTE: as the ongoing pandemic continues, many of what's listed below have been cancelled/postponed, and/or will resume hopefully in 2022...

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*EAST COAST BELLYDANCE FESTIVAL & COMPETITION (VIRGINIA): JANUARY

*TRIBALCON (GEORGIA): FEBRUARY

*USA BELLYDANCE QUEEN COMPETITION (ARIZONA): FEBRUARY

*BELLYDANCER OF THE UNIVERSE COMPETITION (CALIFORNIA): FEBRUARY

*RAKKASAH WEST (CALIFORNIA) : MARCH

*ART OF THE BELLY FESTIVAL (MARYLAND): MARCH

*GEMS OF THE SOUTH COMPETITION (GEORGIA): APRIL

*SPRING CARAVAN (NEW JERSEY): MAY

*DETROIT RAQS BELLYDANCE CONVENTION (MICHIGAN): MAY

*BOCA & SOUL YOGA EXPO (D.C./MD): MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

*BELLYDANCER OF THE YEAR PAGEANT (CALIFORNIA): MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

*CAIRO CARAVAN (CALIFORNIA): JUNE

*MISS BELLYDANCER USA by Jareeda Magazine (OREGON): JUNE

*AUSTIN BELLYDANCE CONVENTION (TEXAS): JUNE

*JEWEL OF THE ORIENT COMPETITION (DELAWARE): JUNE

*RAKKASAH SPRING CARAVAN (NEW JERSEY): JUNE

*MARYLAND BELLYDANCE CONVENTION (MARYLAND):JULY 2014

*STELLAR PRO CHALLENGE (FLORIDA): JULY 2014

*ULTIMATE BELLYDANCER.COM ONLINE COMPETITION (CALIFORNIA): JULY/AUG

*YAA HALLA Y'ALL (TEXAS): AUGUST

*CINCINNATI BELLYDANCE CONVENTION (OHIO): AUGUST

*MIAMI BELLYDANCE CONVENTION (FLORIDA): AUG/SEPT

*LAS VEGAS BELLYDANCE INTENSIVE (NEVADA): SEPTEMBER

*JEWEL OF THE SIERRA COMPETITION (CALIFORNIA): SEPTEMBER

*PROJECT BELLYDANCE ONLINE COMPETITION (CALIFORNIA): SEPT/OCT

*RAKKASAH EAST (NEW JERSEY): OCTOBER

*BEACH BLANKET BELEDI (NORTH CAROLINA): OCTOBER

*HAWAII BELLYDANCE CONVENTION (HAWAII): OCTOBER

*BELLYDANCE NATIONALS COMPETITION (MARYLAND): NOVEMBER

*PITTSBURGH BELLYDANCE FESTIVAL (PENNSYLVANIA): NOVEMBER

##=newly added.

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BRANDON'S OASIS BELLYDANCER PHOTOGENESIS GEMS :)

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BRANDON'S FACEBOOK* & FLICKR.COM** KODAK EasyShare PHOTO GALLERIES:

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*THE 2011 FIESTA ASIA (WASHINGTON, D.C.-MAY 21)

*EGYPTIAN SUN's 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW @ JHU-SHRIVER HALL

(BALTIMORE, MD-MAY 7TH)

*2011 ART Of the BELLY-SUNDAY PERFORMANCES (OCEAN CITY, MD-MARCH)

*SAHARA DANCE SALON with BOZENKA (WASHINGTON, D.C.-MARCH)

*2012 ART of the BELLY-FRIDAY/SATURDAY PERFORMANCES (OCEAN CITY, MD)

*MY BRIEF 2012 FIESTA ASIA PIX (N.W. D.C.)

*BOCAFEST 2012 PIX (CHEVY CHASE, MD)

*DC TRIBAL CAFE JUNE @ MELLOW MUSHROOM (N.W. D.C.)

*SAHARA DANCE CARNIVAL @ ARTISPHERE (ROSSLYN, VA)

**2013 FIESTA ASIA @ PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW DC (5/18/13)

**2013 FIESTA ASIA: SET 2 @ PENN. AVE., NW DC (5/8/13)

**2015 EAST COAST BELLYDANCE CLASSIC-HAMPTON, VA FRIDAY (5/29/15)

**2015 THE DC HAFLA (5/29/15)

**2015 ART OF THE BELLY FESTIVAL (5/29/15)

**2015 FIESTA ASIA STREET FAIR-PENNSYLVANIA AVE,. NW (5/29/15)

*2017 ART OF THE BELLY COLLECTS (Others Included via Instagram-5/25/17)

**2018 ART OF THE BELLY COLLECTS-FRI/SAT (3/23&24/18)

###-NEW SET ADDED.

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OASIS NEWS & NOTES:

===================

(8/1) IT's THAT TIME OF DA YEAR AGAIN...

While tempering my anticipations, I'm waltzing into Virgodom with a rush of happiness and appreciations after a rough July that saw me KO'ed for a weekend from work with a unprompted ear ache (but no infection) and dealing with sweltering temps that played havoc with my sinuses, both at home and at work.

Nevertheless, I'm looking to re-energize myself (missed the latest Yayla Bistro Hafla in Falls Church this past Sunday due to selling out while I was ill) and just wanna speed on out of summer on a decent high note, which will include as many bellydancer opps in public as humanly allotable. Wish me luck, I think I'm gonna need it...

(8/1) OASIS HONORS DELAYED A BIT LONGER...

Yeah, sorry abourt that, I'm slipping again. The recent workloads and health snafus has it where I just don't have the same energies to update as I would like, but will try to use the upcoming week to formalize nominees for the Top 3 tier categories in the Oasis Honors 2025, ''aiming'' for an 8/8th reveal.....

(8/1) BLOCKBUSTER NIGHT OF EGYPTIAN FOLKLORIC AWAITS

Faten Salama (VA) does her damnedest to bring the best of the classic forms of Egyptian-style bellydance to this region, has done so for more than a generation now. Tonight will be no exception as KAREEM GAD of Cairo will bring his expertice not onlt to Marymount University (8pm, day of tix available only while they last) in Arlington at the Reinsch Library auditorium (and a very roomy one at that when I went ot see legend Tito Seif perform there a couple years back), but the stylings and energeticness of Faten's dance company, AL MASSRAWEYA perform with local DMV soloists as well. Gad will also spend the weekend offering his workshop brilliance to wrap it as always with any Faten gathering, in a nice historically folkloric bow....

(8/1) NO WORD YETON A RB GALA IN DC....YET....

Of course, fingers and toes crossed, we do know many folks will be heading up to the Big Apple the weekend after, but for now, the 10/3-5 edition has only announced workshops, although that may change after Sahara Dance's Summer Caravan (Imagination Stage, Bethesda on 8/10th 3&6pm/$35) is completed. Stay tuned for further details....

=========================(Updated 9/5/25)==========================

(9/5) SO BRANDON, YOU'RE SOBER YET? :)~~

As you can imagine, I needed time to unwind (more on that later) after an amazing ''birthday weekendxtension) that started with a juicy, rewarding performance from Lara Adrienne (MD) at Bacchus of Lebanon in Bethesda on Saturday night. Then, I had the fun of watching Rhia (DC) turn up the heat with the staff and always stacked crowd at Vera Cocina's (NE DC) Sunday brunch hafla, doing the double that afternoon.

Then, after grinding through the 1st (and probably last) working on my birthday (Monday 8/25), and spent a nice quiet evening celbrating with online pals and such (and avoiding the increasingly boring stripclub scene in this area), I had arranged a ''daycation'' on Tuesday to attend the excellently mature-themed RVA Tummy Tuesday at Natalie's Taste of Lebanon (Richmond, VA) for a nice ''school noight'' evening hafla before heading home back to DC's Union Station, cementing an awesome birthday stretch unlike many I've had.

Thanks to all participants that made this ever so possible, and looking forward to maybe putting together some form of hafla on my birthday to attend in 2026, celebrating my 35th anniversary of involvement in this awesome art form...

(9/5) AND NOW FOR ''MORE ON THAT LATER'' ISSUE...

Depending on how you look/view the situation, I'm calling it a 50/50 transition that I had to make on the fly at my current employer, no longer working in Georgetown (Saturday was my last day) and moving just up the street and to the west tiwards Bethesda, MD. Gone is haivng to go into work at 4am (now 6am), but now haivng to adjust to both Uber/Lyft-ness and mastering cheaper alt measures through Metro late at night to get there will now be the future for me. Yes, I'm still owrking 6 days a week, but now haivng to get off work at 2p instead of noon, this obviously throws a wrench into attend early afternoon bellydance gigs around the DMV, especially on weekends, and will need to take a ph flyer to pull that off (more on Saturdays than Sundays) and will be getting home for the late 2nd halves of most Commander and NFL games this season, althpough for fantasy purposes, I like to focus on the 4pm and night prime time slate anyways....as always, I will find a way to make it work..... :)~~

(9/5) ''DASHAMANIA'' ON THE VERGE OF INT'L EXPLOSION

More competitions, more titles and a protege' she teaches winning her 1st honors. This is the ordinary progress from an ALMOST 18-year-old. Dasha Villareal Chacon (VEN), last month's birthday bellydancer of the month, performed and took workshops at the Festival Golden Camel weekend late last month at Teatro Don Bosco Altamira, in her 1st competitng as a professional bellydancer and instructor (at Introvert Dance). Chacon, who will be 18 on 9/15th, is poised to expand her bellydance horizons into womanhood, with nothing standing in her way to ''push the envelope'' in making a powerful name for herself as a young woman in the art form in a country that is a lot more enriched with bellydance talent, male and female, than we think, and those workshops in her teen years are now running through her veins to make a mark for future inspirations like her for this generation and well beyond. Congrats and zaghareets, young Princess Dasha, that queen's crown awaits!! :)

(9/5) MORE BELLYDANCE HAPPENINGS POPPING UP AROUND THE AREA

As the summer winds down, many folks who still craves the nightlife are enjoying rotations on late SAT nights at Layli (Fairfax), where dancing starts around 11pm, and Asala (MD/DC) will begin a stint as the proincipal bellydancer on WED nights, starting tonight at 7-9pm at Hemen's Cigar Lounge in Alexandria, VA (not far from Van Dorn Metro-Blue/Yellow Line). KabanaDMN is now going by NOsh Lounge, with bellydancing also on SAT nights, around 1030pm, that night feat. Kalayla (MD). Once again, showing that bellydance has regained its form as a central entertainment postur in nightlife in the DMVD once again.....

And as of this post, Tiffany's (H St, NE) is still doing the once-a-month bellydance serenade, more details as they come across as well...

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INSTAGRAM BELLY GEMS

CREATED 1/13/23, UPDATED 3/2/24

Go to INSTAGRAM

=========================================

COMING SOON....

TIK TOK BELLY GEMS

CREATED 1/13/23 , UPDATED 3/2/24

Go to TIKTOK

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COMING SOON...

YOU TUBE BELLY GEMS

CREATED 1/13/23, UPDATED 6/16/23

Search on YOU TUBE

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COMING SOON...

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OASIS

BELLYDANCE

CALENDAR

===============================================================

OASIS COLOR CALENDAR CODES:

RECOMMENDED WORKSHOP SPECIAL EVENT MUST EVENT

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND PLANNED EVENT :)

================================================================

GO HERE FOR SALOME's BELLYDANCECLASSES.NET

SITE FOR INSTRUCTORS IN US & ABROAD

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**Online Workshop Info for Various International Bellydancer Links/Info Can Be Found In My BDNation FB Group

UPCOMING SAHARA DANCE WORKSHOPS:

$30-50 + Choice of Live+ Virtual Later On(Hybrid) or Virtual

(Unless Otherwise Differently Indicated)

======================================================

LIVE & ONLINE INFO FOR BELLYDANCERS of COLOR

COLLECTIVE: (In Bowie or Lanham, MD)

======================================================

WORKSHOP & CLASS INFO @ BORN2DANCE STUDIO:

(In Vienna or Arlington,VA)

(Vienna)

Suzana M's Intro to Bellydance 6-WK COURSE @645-745pm (Vienna)

Victoria Bloom's Intro to Bellydance 6-WK COURSE @645-745pm

(Vienna)

=====================================================

ELECTRIC NOMAD STUDIOS in RICHMOND on WEDNESDAYS @

CRESENT COLLECTIVE:

=====================================================

DONNA MANALO now teaches at DIVA FIT in Herndon (VA):

Click HERE for more...

======================================================

FEATURED BELLYDANCERS @ CAZBAR (Columbia, MD)

*lineup subject to change w/o notice, call 410-528-1222 to verify

NOTE: NOW 1 SHOWS on FRIDAY & SATURDAY staring in July....

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SCHEDULED UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

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COLUMBIA, MD LOCATION, SHOWS AT 830pm:

====================================

9/5 Lara Adrienne

9/6 Crystal Silmi

9/12 Lara Adrienne

9/13 Rhia

9/19 Rhia

9/20 Crystal Silmi

9/26 Rhia

9/27 Lara Adrienne

10/3 Crystal Silmi

10/4 Rhia

10/10 Lara Adrienne

10/11 Shiraz

10/17 Rhia

10/18 Sophianna

10/24 Lara Adrienne

10/25 Rhia

10/31 Crystal Silmi

N. CHARLES ST., BALTIMORE LOCATION

NOW BACK to weekends! Now starting just after 830pm...

====================================================

9/5 Crystal Silmi

9/6 Lara Adrienne

9/12&13 Sophianna

9/19 Crystal Silmi

9/20 Lara Adrienne

9/26 Crystal Silmi

9/27 Sophianna

10/3 Sophianna

10/4 Crystal Silmi

10/10 Shiraz

10/11 Lara Adrienne

10/17 Sophianna

10/18 Shiraz

10/24 Sophianna

10/25 Shiraz

10/31 Lara Adrienne

======================================================FEATURED BELLYDANCERS @ BACCHUS for BETHESDA BACCHANALIA (7945 Norfolk Ave, Bethesda, MD)

Shows begin @ 830pm, RSVPs for 8pm, highly suggested + $25min.

spending @bar/tables...

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SEPTEMBER:

5&6 Jacinda Dalal

12&13 Crystal Silmi

19 Leilah Moon

20 Rhia

26 Lara Adrienne

27 Jacinda Dalal

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NOW at PHOENICIA RESTOLOUNGE (VIENNA, VA) on WEEKENDS:

Leilah Moon w/ DJ Sam just after 9pmish...

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SEPTEMBER:

5/6 Bellydancer @ Yalla (NW DC) 10pm

5/6 Bellydancer @Nosh Lounge, u2b Kabana (Arlington, VA) 10pm

5 Bellydancer at MoonLounge (Sterling, VA) 1030pm

5 Bellydancer @ The Lounge at Massaya (Ashburn, VA) 1030pm

6 Bellydancer @ Caspian's Kabob & Grill (Gaithersburg, MD) 730pm

6 Melaya @ The Aladdin (Allentown, PA) 730 & 830pm

6 Bellydancer at Byblos (Gainesville, VA) 730pm

6 Ewelina @ Grand Middle Eastern Lounge (Bryn Mawr, PA) 930pm

BYOB&Food

6 Bellydancer @ Layali (Fairfax, VA) 11pm

6/7 The NEW Weekend Brunch Hafla @ Vera (NE DC) 1230-3pm,

min $35 for RSVP(2nd show now back on SUN, 330-6pm)*

7 Serayah @ Blue Olive (Warrington, PA) Call 215-337-3113 for times

10 Bellydancer @ Hemen's Cigar lounge (Alexandria, VA) 7-9pm

12-14 Zahra Noor present NADA EL MIASRIYA Weekend @ George

Wilson Community Center (Newark, DE): Gala Show 9/12, 8-10

pm, Tix Info TBA

12/13 Bellydancer @ Yalla (NW DC) 10pm

12/13 Bellydancer @Nosh Lounge, u2b Kabana (Arlington, VA) 10pm

12 Bellydancer at MoonLounge (Sterling, VA) 1030pm

12 Bellydancer @ The Lounge at Massaya (Ashburn, VA) 1030pm

13 Moonshine Fall Festival @ STAR Centre (Harve de Grace, MD)

10am-930pm, Workshops in Day, Hafla @ 7pm

13 Bellydancer @ Caspian's Kabob & Grill (Gaithersburg, MD) 730pm

13 Bellydancer at Byblos (Gainesville, VA) 730pm

13 Bellydancer @ Layali (Fairfax, VA) 11pm

13/14 The NEW Weekend Brunch Hafla @ Vera (NE DC) 1230-3pm,

min $35 for RSVP(2nd show now back on SUN, 330-6pm)*

17 Bellydancer @ Hemen's Cigar lounge (Alexandria, VA) 7-9pm

19/20 Bellydancer @ Yalla (NW DC) 10pm

19/20 Bellydancer @Nosh Lounge, u2b Kabana (Arlington, VA) 10pm

19 Bellydancer at MoonLounge (Sterling, VA) 1030pm

19 Bellydancer @ The Lounge at Massaya (Ashburn, VA) 1030pm

20 DMV Bellydancers on 7th & H Street Stage for the 20th H Street

Festival (NE DC) 11am-7pm, Dancers/Times TBA

20 Bellydancer @ Caspian's Kabob & Grill (Gaithersburg, MD) 730pm

20 Bellydancer at Byblos (Gainesville, VA) 730pm

20 Meesha w/ Musical Guests @ Alamodak Arabian Night (Philadel-

phia, PA) 9pm est Tix start at $25

20 Bellydancer @ Layali (Fairfax, VA) 11pm

20/21 The NEW Weekend Brunch Hafla @ Vera (NE DC) 1230-3pm,

min $35 for RSVP(2nd show now back on SUN, 330-6pm)*

24 Bellydancer @ Hemen's Cigar lounge (Alexandria, VA) 7-9pm

26/27 Bellydancer @ Yalla (NW DC) 10pm

26/27 Bellydancer @Nosh Lounge, u2b Kabana (Arlington, VA) 10pm

26 Bellydancer at MoonLounge (Sterling, VA) 1030pm

26 Bellydancer @ The Lounge at Massaya (Ashburn, VA) 1030pm

27 Bellydancer @ Caspian's Kabob & Grill (Gaithersburg, MD) 730pm

27 Bellydancer at Byblos (Gainesville, VA) 730pm

27 Bellydancer @ Layali (Fairfax, VA) 11pm

27/28 The NEW Weekend Brunch Hafla @ Vera (NE DC) 1230-3pm,

min $35 for RSVP(2nd show now back on SUN, 330-6pm)*

30 RVA Tummy Tuesday @ Natalie's Taste of Lebanon (Richmond, VA)

7-9pm, pre-fixed menu offered

OCTOBER:

1 Bellydancer @ Hemen's Cigar lounge (Alexandria, VA) 7-9pm

3-5 Sahara Dance presents RACHEL BRICE WEEKEND in the DMV!!

(Further Details Forthcoming...)

3/4 Bellydancer @ Yalla (NW DC) 10pm

3/4 Bellydancer @Nosh Lounge, u2b Kabana (Arlington, VA) 10pm

3 Bellydancer at MoonLounge (Sterling, VA) 1030pm

3 Bellydancer @ The Lounge at Massaya (Ashburn, VA) 1030pm

4 Bellydancer @ Caspian's Kabob & Grill (Gaithersburg, MD) 730pm

4 Bellydancer at Byblos (Gainesville, VA) 730pm

4 Bellydancer @ Layali (Fairfax, VA) 11pm

4/5 The NEW Weekend Brunch Hafla @ Vera (NE DC) 1230-3pm,

min $35 for RSVP(2nd show now back on SUN, 330-6pm)*

10-12 RACHEL BRICE in NYC presented by BellyQueen (New York

City, NY)

10/11 Bellydancer @ Yalla (NW DC) 10pm

10/11 Bellydancer @Nosh Lounge, u2b Kabana (Arlington, VA) 10pm

10 Bellydancer at MoonLounge (Sterling, VA) 1030pm

10 Bellydancer @ The Lounge at Massaya (Ashburn, VA) 1030pm

11 Bellydancer @ Caspian's Kabob & Grill (Gaithersburg, MD) 730pm

11 Bellydancer at Byblos (Gainesville, VA) 730pm

11 Bellydancer @ Layali (Fairfax, VA) 11pm

11/12 The NEW Weekend Brunch Hafla @ Vera (NE DC) 1230-3pm,

min $35 for RSVP(2nd show now back on SUN, 330-6pm)*

12 Kalayla: Yayla Bistro Hafla (W. Falls Church, VA) 6-9pm RSVP Early

26 Amustela: Online Spooktactular IV via Crowdcast 7pm FREE

28 RVA Tummy Tuesday @ Natalie's Taste of Lebanon (Richmond, VA)

7-9pm, pre-fixed menu offered

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