Dancers of the Dawn

Middle Eastern dance benefits VIP

By SANDY LONG

HONESDALE, PA — Seven beautiful women from the Upper Delaware region filled Honesdale’s Grace Episcopal Parish Church with expressions of female grace as they performed a program of authentic Middle Eastern dance accompanied by exotic Arabic, Turkish and Persian music last weekend.

Dancers of the Dawn, comprised of six students and their instructor, Sabah, presented the event to raise funds for the Victims Intervention Program (VIP) serving Wayne County and the surrounding region. VIP is a private non-profit agency providing support to victims and co-survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other serious crimes such as homicide and DUI.

The dancers—Firuze, Aziza, Dounia, Houria, Layla, Savra and Sabah—select special names to express a particular quality related to their role as a dancer. “Each has a story and through the dance, they’ve realized life experience to bring beauty to the world and celebrate the strength of womanhood,” said Sabah.

Between dances, Sabah read “The Story of Layla and Majnun,” a famous Middle Eastern folk tale. She also encouraged audience members to support the VIP program by volunteering or making donations of clothing and toys to The Other Shop in Honesdale, which accepts the items on behalf of VIP.

According to VIP’s executive director Michele Minor Wolf, the agency assisted 395 new victims of domestic violence, 136 victims of sexual violence and 56 others receiving comprehensive services during its past fiscal year. All funds raised by the event will be applied directly to the services provided to victims and remain within the local community, said Minor Wolf, who added, “We’d like to mention how much we appreciate the dancers for doing this for us.”

Volunteers are currently needed to staff the agency’s hotline, a task that can be performed from the volunteer’s home. Help is also needed with general office work at the agency’s location in Honesdale. Training is provided free of charge to all volunteers. Call Minor Wolf at 570/253-4401 for more information.

In response to the successful event, Sabah expressed special thanks to the church vestry for its ongoing support, to Socrates Kehagias for stage management, Joseph Agugliaro for operating the sound system and Judy Rigall for preparing the hall. All contributed their services as volunteers. The event raised $450 for the VIP program.

Sabah teaches Middle Eastern dance every Monday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the church. Classes are $12 each and all proceeds benefit the church. No experience is necessary and classes are open to all women age 16 and up. Another event featuring professional Middle Eastern dancers has been scheduled at the church for the evening of July 19. For more information call 917/445-5274.

Victims’ Intervention Program

The following services are offered at no charge. All are completely confidential.

• Crisis counseling and intervention

• Individual and group counseling

• Legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment

• Emergency shelter assistance and transportation

• Risk reduction programs in schools

• Professional training for those who serve victims

• A 24-hour hotline is maintained at 570/253-4401 or 800/698-4VIP