I am proud to announce that I was included in the research project "Armenian in World Dance" by the State Museum of Art and Literature in Yerevan, Armenia. There will be a companion book published with my bio and reminiscences about my dance career and life and the special impact it has had on me through my ethnic identity.

When I was approached, I so wanted to give credit to my mother and father and their musical talent and careers. The researcher stopped me and said, "I would love to really know more about you!" So I gave him my all.

I shared my life in dance which started professionally at the age of one in 1969, took him through some of my experiences with our music and culture, and related my love for not just the music but our romantic and passionate people. I related to him what it was like to be a dancer deep in the heart of the "Immigrant Experience" and the special bond that the peoples of the Near and Middle East formed together in this country. I also told him that my return to belly dancing after a break for a time in the 1990's helped me to heal a devastating illness that crippled me for a time.

The researcher Artsvi Bakhchinyan, was very pleased. He said he had spoken to a lot of people, but that I was the only one who "could provide any details."

Look for my "youtube video" in the next few weeks or so.

The photo above is me at age six upon return to NYC after a tour out of town. I had been dancing since age one and playing zil since age two. At this time I began a seven year run on Turkish Television.