The Story Behind the TV News:

As dancers, we considered the Beirut Restaurant the premier place to dance – the owner was a musician and chef, the staff all very supportive of the dancers made it a fun place to work. As a new performer, I was more than honored to be on the schedule.

I had only been dancing at the Beirut a short while, when a regular customer came up with the idea of using me to promote the restaurant. I was not the featured dancer by any means, but I was a wholesome looking housewife with a very different, or exotic, vocation. Thus, I came to be featured on WCCO’s TV news series “Dimension” with Alan Cox, the interviewer.

I agreed to do interview, but was very concerned how the story could and would be twisted. My husband was a rising executive in construction - how would this affect his career? Alan seemed to be understanding, but I feared this was TV and sensational is what sells. No exact dates were set for the interview as everything would depend on what was the breaking news for the day. My interview would come on a “slow news day”.

I woke to 12 inches of snow one January morning. This being Minnesota, schools close for 6 inches or more. Our 3 sons, all early elementary age, are home. My husband is out of town, but plans to be home that evening. So, added to my morning duties is shovel the driveway before the plows plow us in.

The driveway is clear, I am sweaty and tired, the boys are enjoying a morning of no school, I grab a cup of tea to relax with a sigh and thought “Thank you snow storm, no interview today!” The phone rings…It is WCCO, the TV crew is on their way – UGH!!

Gone is the idea of a slow, housebound snow day with 3 young kids with no visitors. The house is a mess, as am I, the boys are still in PJs - how can this be? I become the frantic housewife. They will be here around lunch time: will I have time to feed the kids, get them dressed, shower and dress myself, toys are everywhere, kitchen sink still has breakfast dishes…

Enter TV crew and Alan to behold the calm exterior of the belly dancer housewife - how I pulled that off must be motherhood training to remain calm until the emergency has passed. Even the boys cooperated - there must have been a guardian angel present. I really don’t remember much of the session, just thoughts of keeping it together – me, the kids, and make the best of it I can. Insha’Allah.

But this is only part one. WCCO wants to another taping with an evening performance at the restaurant to be scheduled at a later date.

With little advance notice, part 2 is arranged with the restaurant. Really! Short notice?! It has to be a test – how quickly can a woman go from busy house wife and mother to Belly Dance performer? Again, my husband is out of town so I am on my own. The boys come home from school where strep throat is making it rounds and one says he has a soar throat, sigh. Off to the doctor’s office with all 3 for the quick result strep test (as a carrier can have no symptoms). All cleared. But now I must feed them, get them into hockey gear (yes, they start hockey in Kindergarten in Minnesota) for they have practice tonight. Luckily, because of their current age it is a 2-team year and not a 3-team year, so I only have to arrange 2 carpools. Hot dogs will suffice for their dinner tonight – they can eat them as they dress. Once they are out the door, I grab my dance bag and drive the 45 minutes to the restaurant. I enter the Beirut and flip the switch from harried housewife to performer.

I want to thank my interviewer, Alan Cox, for listening to me and my concerns on the “theme” the final take would reveal. He was respectful, and I appreciated that greatly. They didn’t use my last name, just my first and dance name.

Zulaika is featured on WCCO's Dimension Show

No folks, the phone didn’t ring off the hook for more interviews, performances, or gigs. I don’t even remember customers later asking if I was the one on the news – life quickly went back to normal. This is now just a memory for me and my family that I have shared with you. I will say, dance is good therapy!