This year at Cairo Caravan, vendors and performer came from all over the world for the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association’s 33rd annual belly dance carnival. If you have ever heard the term “you can watch belly dance till your eyes pop out,” this was the event that people said it about.

Princess Farhana of Hollywood performing at Cairo Caravan's Evening Show. Photos used with permission courtesy of Richard G. Lowe. Jr.

Beginning Friday, Jun 4, all styles of belly dance were featured on three stages, on three separate levels inside the Queen Mary’s Exhibit Hall. The Upper most level was the Luxor stage level on the Queen Mary’s D deck. The deck below it, E, was the Thebes level. This was the level where the World of Wonders stage presents family-friendly freak show acts like the Hoop Girl, the Half of a Woman, the Goldfish Girl, the Bearded Lady and the Snake Charmer. From the hoop salesgirl to the young lady selling candied apples, all of the vendors on the Luxor level made you feel like you had stepped into a sideshow carnival.

The Valley of the Kings level was on the Queen Mary’s F deck. Just because it wasn’t carnival themed, didn’t mean there was a lack of action on this level. This year there were six free lectures and five free film screenings all held on the F deck boiler room. Free Lectures and Film screening weren’t the only extracurricular to Cairo Caravan. This year MECDA provided a ghost tour of the Queen Mary on Friday night. One of the guides, Princess Farhana, led guests through the Queen Mary for a night of scary frights.

“I did research for a few months before,” Princess Farhana said. “I found every possible haunting and gory happening that you could possibly think of the occurred on board this ship pre, during, and post World War II.”

Though she did not perform until Sunday, Princess Farhana taught two workshops during this year’s Cairo Caravan, one on Friday and one Sunday. Other workshop instructors included Ariellah, Amy Sigil of Unmata, Leela, Valentina (Unity) and Jeremiah of Solace.

More than 250 troups and soloists performed on the Valley of the Kings and Luxor stages including Unmata, Mandala DanceWorks, 2 Hip Tribal, DeVilla, workshop instructor Cassandra Shore and Troupe Mélangées.

Troupe Mélangées on the Valley of the Kings stage. Photos used with permission courtesy of Richard G. Lowe. Jr.

Most performers brought grace and beauty to their performances like … many other groups, like Troupe Mélangées and Mandala DanceWorks, tried to bring something different to the table. Whether it was the Asian inspired tribal fusion of Troupe Mélangées or the hot and sexy soloist, Tracy Stanbury, at the beginning of Mandala DanceWork’s piece, something always caught your eye. “Clockwork,” Stanbury’s solo was orignally a side project that won the People’s Choice Award at the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition for Tribal Fusion Solo.

Troupe Mélangées is know through out the belly dance community as doing “tribal with a smile.” They derive their name from the French word for mixed, because they incorporate American Tribal Style (ATS), with ethnic dances from Polynesia, Africa, India and the Middle East. They are also know for their colorful costumes and high energy, according to the company website (http://cardiotribalbellydance.com/Troupe_M_langees.html).

Mandala DanceWorks brought with also brought high energy with them in a piece called “Beats Antique Suite.” The Artistic Director, Karin Jensen, and her dancers combined three separate dances to make one. The first was Stanbury’s solo. The second was choreographed to “Beauty Beats” by Beats Antique and the third was choreographed to “Oriental Uno,” also by Beats Antique. “We tried to incorporate elements from modern dance, partnering, lifting, also some hip-hop elements with the gliding and popping and all that. It was very different,” Jensen said. This year’s Cairo Caravan was the first time they had done all three together.

Tracy Stanbury performing her solo "Clockwork" as part of Mandala DanceWork's "Beats Antique Suite" on the Valley of the Kings stage. Photos used with permission courtesy of Richard G. Lowe. Jr.

More than 60 vendors were at Cairo Caravan this year including Geisha Moth Designs, Silk Road Tribal, Gypsy Bazaar, Firefly Style, Artemis Imports and Dancing Rahana’s Boutique. Mesmera was one of the vendors who not only sold her wares, but performed with her troupe. Her table was right next to the Luxor stage and she offered not only instructional and performance DVDs but quality silk veils and decorative hip scarves. Flip’n Tribal and Geisha Moth Designs offered one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces in a variety of sizes.

“We sell our clothes in real sizes,” Geisha said. “We try to cater to all body types.” Unlike Dancing Rahana’s Boutique which has a storefront on Venice Beach’s boardwalk, Geisha Moth Designs and Flip’n Tribal primary sell online through their websites or through Etsy.com.

All of the vendors are listed in the program next to their web address or email. There were far more vendors and much larger crowds than last year according to guests. Never before has Cairo needed to have three stages, proving that MECDA’s annual belly dance carnival grows in popularity each year.