When the pros or the people who deal with the pros stop what they're doing to watch, Norma, that is indeed a high compliment. I noticed something similar in the Greektown clubs. For non-Detroiters, they tended to attract a crowd that was less belly dance fanciers and more just out for an ethnic experience. With some dancers the show would be as much background as anything else and the customers might watch it or they might focus on their food and/or compansions and look over at the stage every so often.

I used to sit at the bar and had a good look at the rooms, which were both large. With you (and Shadia) I could see that as the show progressed more and more people's eyes would look to the stage and leave the food and chat for later. Mine, of course, were fixed on the stage the moment they announced you.

The Greektown clubs are long gone. The Mykonos expired many years ago. The Bouzouki is still in business but does not have belly dancing and as to the dancers they have...let's just say that I know for belly dancers professional costumes are expensive and require a lot of maintenance. The Bouzouki's current dancers...their costuming problems and their costumes are much less extensive.

As I say, Norma, your fans were disappointed that you retired but we have our memories and now our Youtube.