The art of American belly dancing was born in San Francisco, in the liberated 60's and 70's. Here in rare footage, the great San Francisco belly dancing pioneers are shown at the height of their powers. Two young dancers, Katarina and Taia, help each other through a first nightclub performance and deal with some of the social problems Belly Dancers face. We see the dancers becoming craftswomen, designing and manufacturing their own elaborate costumes and body jewelry. We see Balladine teaching a class, filled with enthusiastic dancers. The great De Ann performs outside at San Francisco's Ferry Building, an unforgettable moment. She balances -- and rotates -- a sword on her head, while keeping perfect time, and her presence keeps the crowd spellbound. The film concludes with an electrifying appearance by Amina, the guru of San Francisco belly dancing. Exquisitely poised and utterly compelling to watch, she is the consummate belly dancer. 25 minutes. DVD.
