BAGDAD NIGHTS is a photonovela about a dream come true.
Once upon a time, many years ago, kan we zaman, there was a little girl
who collected rocks and seashells
who wanted to be a dancer
or an Egyptologist
or maybe a drummer.
Instead she obeyed her parents, learned to cook and sew, got married and had children.
But her dreams remained lurking in the secret crevices of her mind and imagination.
When her babies took naps she would travel to the far-off distant lands of Exotica and Primitiva and play dress-up
while ironing and folding laundry and she would happily dance on the green plush carpets with the vacuum cleaner.
She was content but not totally fulfilled.
Something was pulling her to explore other avenues.
So on the eve of her middle child's birthday,
she dared to do what was necessary to achieve her desires.
She went across town to unknown territory to take her first belly dance lesson.
This was the beginning of her journey that will be known as Bagdad Nights. (My teacher Bettina Robbi)
Following will be a series of vignettes telling and reliving those times. Other people will also help tell the story.More will be added periodically - including photos donated by other Bagdad artists.