Letters (24)

Dance Misstep

We would like to thank Cleveland Maga­­zine for publishing “Belly Dance Revolution” (December 2006). We are always striving to eliminate the many myths surrounding the art of belly dance. We appreciate that this article showed our dance in a positive light and are very grateful for any help in educating our community about the many facets of Middle Eastern dance. We would like to say that we feel some statements in the article were taken out of context. In particular, we would like to clarify that we do not feel the management at Niko’s on Detroit or Kan Zaman has ever stolen or taken a cut of our tips that were picked up off the floor. We have always had a good relationship with the management at both restaurants and have greatly enjoyed working for both establishments over the years. Also, our schedules have changed a bit. We are not currently performing regularly at Niko’s on Detroit. Leyla performs every other Sunday at the Club Roma party at The Mercury Lounge. Cassandra performs at Tannour’s in Pepper Pike, and we both still perform at Kan Zaman.

Leyla Soleil & Cassandra al Warda

Naked Truth 

There was some fraternal comedy underlying “Streak­ing (And Getting Caught),” (“The Cleveland Experience,” December 2006). “Phil” did what he said he would do if he lost at shuffleboard — skedaddle through the summer sunshine unparalleled and never mind the neighbors or the consequences. There may have been a kind of honor in that. The prank cost the guy some money, but it also taught a trenchant civics lesson: Not all forms of behavior are legal. And though scripture records Job’s lament: “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return thither,” it’s sensibly assumed that he was decently clad during much of the womb-to-tomb interval.

William Dauenhauer

Willowick