Sultana has been the home of the monthly Shahtazad's Showcase ahows for the past year, but that has come to an end. Ayman who owned Sultana in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with his partner Coco, sold Sultana to a new owner and it is just not the same venue. We had our last show scheduled for June 21st (last week) and had an elaborate functioned planned (it was Shahrazad's annual birthday show) and when we got there to set up the stage at 7 pm we were informed by the new owner that she decided to book the night to two other private party venues that had signed a contract with her. She knew of our show and gladly agreed to continue to host the show on a monthly basis, but it seems that when someone crossed her palm with some more green, that agreement went out the window. Ayman would have never treated us like that and although they (Coco and the new owner) blamed Ayman for erasing our venue from the book the previous week, that didn't ring true because Ayman had surrended his keys to the place the previous month. Ayman is a great guy and actually got us placed in another hookah lounge in Astoria for that evening, but we decided to just take our show to Shahrazad's studio in Carroll Gardens (because it was closer for people that were showing up at the Sultana space). We text messaged as many as we could about the venue change (and not all people got the message) and we left accurate directions with the wait staff and bartender at Sultana (who always loved our show and hated what happened).
The show went on an hour later in the Albee Studios on the corner of Court St. and Carroll Street , and it was one of our best shows (although lightly attended). There was an outpouring of affection for Shahrazad and all of the dancers there in honor of her birthday (as well as Magdalena and Chrystine's birthday.............you missed Jon Hanley and I playing the Beatles birthday song for them :)).
This show was and is what a belly dance show is supposed to be. A "hafla"! A party that celebrates dance and joy. A very friendly gathering full of comraderee and affection. That's what happened!
We are taking a break for July and August (as usual) but Shahrazad's Showcase will be back in the fall at a new venue (either in Manhattan or Brooklyn) we are in the midst of finalizing the venue, but it will be in a bigger place for certain, So please keep an eye out for our announcements for the new shows. Shahrazad's Showcase is alive and well and will be back in full steam.
We look forward to seeing you there.