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DeAnna first discovered
belly dance (a.k.a.
“Raqs Sharqi”
in Arabic) while on
a working vacation as
a journalist in Lebanon.
During her trip she
met up with local music
promoters and a famous
Lebanese dance choreographer
amidst the growing nightclub
scene in Beirut along
the former Green Line,
where the worst of the
fighting was during
Lebanon’s civil
war. She came back to
Boston, wrote an article
for the Boston Herald
on the post-war rebuilding
of Beirut and promptly
enrolled in belly dance
classes.
In 2002, she traveled
to Afghanistan and wrote
about that country’s
new health care system,
which was featured with
a spread of her photographic
work in the MetroWest
Daily News. She also
wrote about belly dancing,
which, believe it or
not, does go on in Afghanistan.
She flew out of Kabul
with the clothes on
her back, her notes
and camera, and a horde
of Afghan Kuchi nomad
jewelry, which is popular
among American belly
dancers.
DeAnna has performed
at Boston-area nightclubs
and restaurants including
Sahara, Tangierino,
Caprice, Sophia’s,
Embassy, and La Boom.
She performed in Athens,
Greece in 2002 and 2003,
and she danced in the
opening act for Earth,
Wind & Fire at the
Hynes Convention Center
in 2004 during the Big
Brothers Association
of Massachusetts Bay
fundraiser, an event
which has been named
by the Boston Herald
as Boston’s “Party
of the Year.”
She also is a member
of the Daughters of
Rhea troupe of Boston
led by internationally
known belly dancer Melina,
daughter of the infamous
Rhea of Athens. DeAnna
appeared on “Chronicle”
when that New England
television show profiled
Melina and the Daughters
of Rhea.
DeAnna has a bachelor’s
degree in theology and
philosophy, a Master
of Divinity, and is
pursuing a master’s
program in museum studies.
She recently finished
her first book “God
Belly Danced”
(see latest news) and
is working on her second
book, a historical mystery
fiction entitled “Pompeii
Blonde.” She is
available for performances
at corporate and fundraising
events, as well as special
family celebrations
such as weddings, anniversaries,
birthdays, and holiday
parties. She also offers
belly dance seminars
for bachelorette parties
or bridal showers, and
for girls’ and
teens’ birthday
parties.
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