The evening air filled with the clanging of cymbals, as the lights of Philadelphia's Middle East restaurant dimmed. A veiled, glittery-costumed woman shimmied into the aisles, accompanied by pulsing, hypnotic music. Seated at a table -- not expecting live entertainment -- Dezra was mesmerized. From that moment on, she could not forget the gyrating belly dancer, smartly snapping her zills in time with the patrons' clapping.

Dezra's interest in belly dancing may have been piqued on that evening, but the seed had been planted years before. As a child, she often "dreamt of Jeannie"; it was Barbara Eden, star of a TV show about a bottle-dwelling genie, who first inspired the young Dezra. Eden's exotic costume, given to Dezra in the form of novelty pajamas, first "awakened" her the mystic art of Middle Eastern dance.

A muscle injury in her hip area, which she sustained as an adolescent, was what coaxed her dream into reality. Belly dancing seemed like both an interesting and a practical form of rehabilitation. Upon finding a beginner class at a nearby high school, Dezra began her journey.

When the course ended, she yearned to continue. After moving to the Princeton area, Dezra sought the highest caliber of instructors. She worked with such well-known performers as Zora of Athens (Philadelphia, PA) , Helena (who studied with the late Ibraham Farrah in New York), and Alia Saleem, performing with the latter's dance company for two years. Dezra also took workshops with such greats as Eva Cernik, Aszmara, Dahlia, and Suhaila Salimpour -- even studying by video with Serena (NY) and Shamira (NJ).

Dezra's commitment and hard work culminated in one of the proudest moments of her career. Less than seven years to the day after that pivotal evening at The Middle East Restaurant, Dezra was dancing there. Since then, she has continually danced at private parties -- including an event at rocker Jon Bon Jovi's estate. Dezra has also appeared at Renaissance fairs, festivals, ethnic celebrations -- even a gig at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. And she's been a featured performer at such venues as:

· The Middle East - Philadelphia, PA

· Al Khima - Cherry Hill, NJ

· The Cedars - New Brunswick, NJ

· Ali Baba's - Stroudsburg, PA

· The Oil House Cafe - Toms River, NJ

Always willing to inspire and share, Dezra teaches at the Princeton Center for Yoga & Health, while continuing her studies through videos, workshops, and master classes.

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