To the island's children, all foreigners, regardless of national origin, were thought to be Americans. Helena recalls that the foreigners were regarded with something approaching the status of "gods". Then home to about 3,000 residents the population of Hydra could swell to 7,000 during tourist season, bringing in welcome revenues and the benefits of contact with cosmopolitan influences. Though geographically a small island, Hydra is close to mainland cultural centers. Here in the spring of 1948 Helena Vlahos was born, surrounded by the crystalline blue Aegean Sea and sky. Off the northeast coast of the Greek state of Peloponnesos lies the tiny island of Hydra (or Ydra).
For those of you who've had the pleasure of her acquaintance, here is an intimate portrait, sure to deepen your appreciation of her Art. To those of you unfamiliar with Helena, read on for a wonderful, multi-faceted journey into the world of a living Belly Dance legend. What in human experience conspires to produce such an individual? A precise answer is perhaps impossible, but by examining such a person's life experiences, we may find clues that will help guide us on our own paths. Given the time frame, it's entirely possible that Mick Jagger and company might have been inspired by seeing Helena in action. Such words might just as accurately describe the great Raqs Sharqi dancer, Helena Vlahos. The elegantly spare composition has an evocative, haunting quality that can only be explained by the depth of feeling in the performance.
The year was 1967 when the Stones stormed the top 40 airwaves with this wildly popular single. _from She's A Rainbow, by the Rolling Stones
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