USS Saratoga CV-60 1984-87 Cruise-Athens Greece Port Call 06

Chapter 70 of 86 - This is no ordinary belly dancer!

This is "Piper". - Belly Dancer Extraordinaire!

Piper began performing at the age of 8 in Rhea's (her Mother's) troupe "Nar El Nisaa".

Throughout the 1980s, she was the featured dancer at numerous "bouzoukia", Lebanese and Syrian restaurants and tourist tavernas in Athens, Greece, usually doing 4 to 6 shows a night, 7 nights a week.

It was August 23, 1987, while I was visiting Athens Greece as a young U.S. Navy sailor, that unbeknown to me, I was privileged to witness, the making of a great dance artist and performer.

Needless to say, I immediately fell in love with Piper's dance and dance style with her captivating facial expressions and eye movements.

For me, the opportunity to speak to Piper that night in Athens, never presented itself. So, I returned back to the United States, never knowing what became of Piper until this writing, May 4, 2007.

Piper has seen my raw video recordings of her on youtube.com. I believe she was pleased to know that this video existed. I will always have a special place in my heart for Piper.

In 1989, Piper moved to Montreal and began studying at McGill University and dancing at popular Greek and Lebanese restaurants in the area.

She was awarded her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995 and immediately began graduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University Medical School.

While completing her doctorate in Molecular Biology, Piper took time off to enter (and win!) the Belly Dancer of the Year 2000 contest and performs at charity events.

Piper is now a PhD (read more about her academic credentials) and Director of the Baltimore Daughters of Rhea Dance Ensemble.

She is also founder of The Piper Method of American Belly Dance.

Piper teaches group and private Classes in Baltimore. She is invited to teach guest seminars around the world.

Visit Piper's website for more details on her classes, seminars and teaching philosophy, and to learn more about The Piper Method of American Belly Dance.

What is the Piper Method of American Belly Dance?

What is American Belly Dance?

The term "la danse du ventre" or "belly dance" was coined by the French author and traveler, Gustav Flaubert in 1849 in a letter to his mother in which he describes the dances of Egypt. American belly dance encompasses a Mediterranean cornucopia of folk and professional dance styles from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece, done with an American flair for presentation and style. Precise hipwork and fluid body movements are emphasized in this beautiful and lyrical art form.

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• zeplin69

[paco41e]

She's an excelent dancer

[jtgf94]

bravo piper mou. orea. (sry, im trying to talk greek, but i dont know how to right it in english.)

[bellywoman]

Wow,beautiful dance! Piper is so young here,really pretty..like her mother Rhea!

[Soraya1980]

Bravo Piper!!!!! She is amazing!!!She has a sister, Melina, who is also a dancer... They are both beautiful people inside and out!!!THis is a very nice clip!!!