[Belly Dancer Photo Album and Scrap Book]

Michigan, 1982. Very good. 15" x 12". Full leather post binder. 128 pages with 423 photographs, 143 items of ephemera and a few dozen news clippings. Photos are in a range of sizes, most are in color and most are captioned. Album very good with light wear and lightly toned leaves; contents generally near fine or better.

This is a massive scrapbook documenting international dance culture throughout the state of Michigan with an emphasis on belly dancing in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. It was compiled by Joan "Mikola" Burnham of Kalamazoo. Per the scrapbook, Joan was the wife of an attorney and started a small business around 1975, the Belly Dance Academy of Kalamazoo, (BDAK). While we don't know when Joan started in belly dancing, the book shows that when she decided to make a business of it, it took off immediately.

Per the scrapbook, BDAK's first workshop was held March 13, 1976. That seminar also featured a famous dancer named "Süheyla" was held at a Kalamazoo YWCA and featured an Arab makeup demonstration as well as a bazaar. In the eight years covered by this book, Joan compiled documentation which shows she helped expose thousands to belly dancing and other international forms of dance such as Egyptian, Tunisian and Bedouin. The book also documents other women-owned businesses and performers as Joan performed with a number of other groups, and nearly every dance group documented here was led by a woman.

The book has flyers and event programs from dozens of shows, from hypnosis conventions to Middle Eastern festivals, mall openings to women's club demonstrations. There are also two rare books of poetry -one related to prisoners, another written by a belly dancer. The book has performance contracts, correspondence and thank yous, and some exposure to national dance events and conferences as well. The album also shows that Joan reached out to important dancers asking for tips and written materials.

The photos are devoted almost exclusively to dance demonstrations including two shots of performing for a Jerry Lewis telethon in Kalamazoo. Some show outside gatherings of dancers, and a couple show dancers getting dressed and madeup. We'll note here that the photos also document hundreds of authentic costumes.

A massive and comprehensive resource documenting international dance communities of Michigan, with an emphasis on belly dancing and women-owned businesses.