Local belly dancer Raye De Ross will be in Idyllwild's Parade Saturday
Besides the horses, marching bands and floats, they’ll be plenty of “colorful” locals in this Saturday’s Independence Day Parade in Idyllwild, including Raye De Ross, and her belly dancing troupe, “The Outskirts.”
Raye’s the front desk secretary-receptionist for Idyllwild Arts Academy, but also teaches belly dancing classes once a week at The Chakra Shack.
“The Out-Skirts” belly dancing troupe is made up of her friends and customers, namely Sherry Cheney, Dakota Bailey, and her mother (who begged not to be identified for this article.)
“I have to live in this town!” she exclaimed.
She also insisted that she be covered in black from head to toe, including a veil for her face, that only exposes her eyes.
“If no one knows who I am, I can be free to have a little fun,” she said.
“Then we’ll have to put a lot of eye makeup on you, and put a bindi on your forehead,” De Ross said.
She is dressing the rest of them in colorful outfits with veils that cover their faces, long skirts that show off their waists, and belts that “chime” as they move.
Colleen is part of a belly dancing troupe called "The Outskirts"
De Ross started belly dancing 16 years ago, when her then-5-year-old daughter, Colleen, exclaimed that she wanted to take lessons. They were living in Seattle at the time, and had just watched an international belly dancing competition on TV.”
“It’s a misconception that belly dancing is erotic dancing,” said De Ross, who encouraged both of her pre-teen girls to take lessons. “It was originally created by women for women.”
She said belly dancing builds self esteem in young women and in larger women like her, who often don’t feel coordinated and pretty.
“Belly dancing is embracing our sacred feminine,” she said.
De Ross and “The Out-Skirts” plan to be walking more than dancing in the parade, however.
“Anyone who has been to a parade knows there’s a lot of standing around, waiting for everyone to catch up,” she said. “But, this year, we’re behind the jeeps.”
Like other parade participants, De Ross will be handing out candy and maybe some business cards to the crowd. She hopes to drum up more clients for her $10 lessons on Tuesdays at The Chakra Shack.
Idyllwild Independence Day Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 3rd, at the top of North Circle Drive, then winds down to the center of town. For more information, call the Idyllwild Rotary at (951) 659-4957. For belly dancing lessons by Raye De Ross, call The Chakra Shack at (951) 659-3191.
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