32 = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2003
DANCE
Dance teacher brings allure of Middle East to Lawrence
By Amy Kelly
akelle@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
JoAnne Zingo-Hargis' hips swivel in a snake-like motion. Her hands caress the air delicately, slowly. The combined actions could be mistaken more for a ceremony than a dance rehearsal.
With her brainchild Cairo on the Kaw: The Classics performance approaching on July 19 and 20 at Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampshire St., Zingo-Hargis is using every second she can to practice shoulder drops, neck slides and her queen walk.
Since 1995, the Lawrence Parks and Recreation dance instructor has performed the Middle Eastern-themed show that features Raghsidad, a troupe made up of her advanced students.
Stout started taking lessons after seeing Zingo-Hargis at Aladdin's Café and started performing in Cairo on the Kau last year.
Alex Stout, Wichita senior, first saw Zingo-Hargis' troupe perform at Aladdin's Café, 1021 Massachusetts St., two years before joining.
When she tried encouraging others to belly dance, Stout said some students thought it was only for extremely limber individuals.
"Many of them said, 'There's no way I can move my hips like that,'" Stout said. "But it's not hard once you start learning the steps."
The traditional Middle Eastern dance steps will have a twist, literally, this year. Cairo on the Kaw: The Classics will include oldie-but-gooodie moves such as "The Pretzel," "The Wipeout," and "The Monkey."
Most of the performances contain subtle humor, but a show called Saturday Night Live gave birth to the opening number.
Zingo-Hargis' son will play the role of King Tut — a la Steve Martin in 1980.
JoAnne Zingo-Hargis, founder of the Middle Eastern dance troupe Raghssidad, leads her group through a stretching routine in a practice room at the Lawrence Community Building. Raghssidad met yesterday to rehearse for its annual show, Cairo on the Kaw.The show will be held at the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampshire St., on 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Middle Eastern dances still would be the focus, Zingo-Hargis said.
Zach Straus/Kansan
Using the Lawrence Community Theatre to perform Cairo on the Kaw, Zingo-Hargis said she could better expose the
dance form she had practiced for the past 27 years. She said that the number of people who would attend the show was unpredictable. Full house or not, Stout said she knew one person who was coming all the way from Wichita.
"One of my aunts who belly dances is so excited to see me," Stout said. "And I think
she's even going to help me make costumes now."
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, $4 for children 6 years and older. Admission is free for children younger than 6. For more information, call 785-842-3010.
— Edited by Kevin Wiggs