"The Divine Divas of Oriental Bellydance"

In the summer of 2003, Shamira was commissioned by Lincoln Center to create and direct a show using New York City's top middle-eastern dancers and musicians. The show was called "The Divine Divas of Oriental Bellydance" (the title was given by Lincoln Center) and was part of Lincoln Center's Summer Out-of-Doors series. Lincoln Center Out of Doors presents over 100 different events: world music, internationally acclaimed dance, cutting-edge performances, special events, cool jazz, with performances representing cultures from all over the world.

Performing on the Josie Robertson stage at Damrosch Park and accompanied by Shamira's band, the "Mogador Band," each dancer presented an aspect of middle-eastern dance. In solo numbers, the dancers depiced various specialties and skills.

On August 14, to a sold-out crowd, during the sound check, the great Blackout of 2003 occurred! This meant no electricity, which meant...no sound. The troupe decided to "go on with the show" anyway, minus Ayshe who was stuck in an elevator for seven hours. The band played acoustically and the other four dancers performed shortened versions of their numbers. The enthusiastic crowd fully appreciated the non-cancellation with wild applause. Although it was chaos trying to get home after the show, Shamira made the best of it by picking up stranded, walking hitchhikers (one of them a pregnant woman!) and drove them home.

Shamira 2003

Samara 2003

Elena 2003

Rayhana 2003

Elena, Rayhana, Samara

Shamira, Samara, Rayhana