Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why) -  Nikki Giovanni

I was born in the congo
I walked to the fertile crescent and built
    the sphinx
I designed a pyramid so tough that a star
    that only glows every one hundred years falls
    into the center giving divine perfect light
I am bad

I sat on the throne
    drinking nectar with allah
I got hot and sent an ice age to europe
    to cool my thirst
My oldest daughter is nefertiti
    the tears from my birth pains
    created the nile
I am a beautiful woman

I gazed on the forest and burned
    out the sahara desert
    with a packet of goat's meat
    and a change of clothes
I crossed it in two hours
I am a gazelle so swift
    so swift you can't catch me

    For a birthday present when he was three
I gave my son hannibal an elephant
    He gave me rome for mother's day
My strength flows ever on

My son noah built new/ark and
I stood proudly at the helm
    as we sailed on a soft summer day
I turned myself into myself and was
    jesus
    men intone my loving name
    All praises All praises
I am the one who would save

I sowed diamonds in my back yard
My bowels deliver uranium
    the filings from my fingernails are
    semi-precious jewels
    On a trip north
I caught a cold and blew
My nose giving oil to the arab world
I am so hip even my errors are correct
I sailed west to reach east and had to round off
    the earth as I went
    The hair from my head thinned and gold was laid
    across three continents

I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal
I cannot be comprehended except by my permission

I mean...I...can fly
    like a bird in the sky...

www.bellydancenationals.com
INTRODUCING
The 2009 Belly Dance Nationals Competition!
November 21, 2009
Hosted at the brand new BWI Hilton.
Featuring Ahava, Ava Fleming, Tanya of Las Vegas, Oreet, Azhia, Lisa Zahiya, and many more!

Because the East Coast has fabulous mega-metropolitan cities such as New York City, Miami, and Washington, D.C., the organizers of the BDNC (who are city girls themselves!) saw a need to have a large scale competition right in their own backyard...the East Coast. The Jewel of the Nile is now The Belly Dance Nationals Competition! With the blessing of Alexandra Ahnide, founder of The Jewel of the Nile, we are keeping her traditions and going upscale. You, our honored guests have also spoken, providing enormous feedback, and tips about what you want in a competition. So far, the response to the BDNC has been incredible, so we have to limit the amount of entries for each category. Competing or thinking about competing, pre-register now!

Our hope is that we will continue the wonderful event bequeathed to us by Alexandra with the class and professionalism you have come to expect from The NDC. The BDNC event planned for 2009 is going to be a spectacular event! We have been working hard to put together a glamorous event that will be run with integrity, ethics, and professionalism. As with the past Jewel of the Nile events...expect nothing but the best!

In celebration of our first year:
~The first ten registered contestants will receive a free workshop and two free All Day passes for the event. (Troupes
count as one entry). 
~We are gifting 25 Gala Show tickets! Just look for me or one of the members of The NDC! Tell us you want your free ticket! The free tickets will be limited edition, commemorative Gala Show tickets to help celebrate the 2009 BDNC event!

Want to advertise, vend, or sponsor at our event? Visit: http://bellydancenationals.com/VENDORS.html
Feel free to contact us with comments or questions. eventinfo@bellydancenationals.com