Tamalyn Dallal, world reknown bellydancer, teacher, and intrepid traveller takes you on a ropm through Colombia, South America in the 1980's, where she dances for mafiosos, becomes friends with a "Gamine" (street child), gets swept off her feet by a lawyer affiliated with the guerillas, gets stuck in a remote jungle on a broken bus,etc. This is the story of a belly dancer, and of Colombia in the 1980's. "They Told Me I Couldn't" is fascinating, funny, and you won't want to put it down.
One Woman's Dance Through Life in the Islamic World
308 pages
11 hours of reading
To understand a people, one must live among them for 40 days, an Arabic proverb that Tamalyn Dallal embraced as she sought to uncover the realities of the Muslim world. Leaving her glamorous South Beach lifestyle behind, she embarked on a journey to dispel misconceptions about Muslims, immersing herself in five countries for 40 days each without revealing her identity as a renowned bellydancer.
Her adventure begins in Aceh, Indonesia, where the tsunami is seen as divine, and life pauses five times daily for prayer. Next, she travels to the Siwa Oasis in the Sahara, home to Berber farmers whose traditional ways face threats from environmental degradation and tourism. In Zanzibar, she falls under the spell of the Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club, learning about local culture, the heroin trade, and an all-women spirit channeling community.
In Jordan, she connects with diverse groups, including nomadic Bedouins and Palestinian refugees, gaining insight into their lives and struggles. Finally, she visits the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China, where modernity meets tradition among the Uyghur Muslims. This journey offers a fresh perspective on a world often misunderstood, revealing a tapestry of stories that are surprising, delightful, and sometimes shocking.
