Artemis

By Nerissa

You could say she was obsessed with her art. Perhaps it was more like fate spinning its crystalline web, putting layer after layer together to create a masterpiece. But no matter how it happened, after thirty years of shimmies and spins, Artemis Mourat is a living bellydance legend.

On a weekend night might you might see her on stage at Casablanca, glittering in a red Turkish costume, the crowd fascinated by her every move. And every sound, for it is a rare dancer who can compare to Artemis when it comes to the music of her zills.

Her first teacher was Adriana, who had a studio in Georgetown. Artemis went to see her class and then saw her that night in a club. "I was so fascinated, I said I was going to do that dance and do it on that stage and in 2 1/2 years I worked there," said Artemis. "I danced every day for two hours a day, I was bitten by the bug. The dance was elegant and powerful - the art form, this dance, allowed women to express all aspects of who they are. They can be feminine, powerful and childlike. It's incredible."

Though her professional career began quite quickly, Artemis doesn't recommend anyone beginning to perform after only 2 1/2 years of study. "I did practice intensely. It takes time to become a professional, but a lot depends on talent and diligence regarding practice and classes. If you only dance once a week in class and say you've danced for two years, that's cheating. You will improve at a snail's pace," she explained.

What Artemis loves about performing is interacting with her audience. She finds inspiration in the interchange of positive energy that takes place between dancer and viewer.

One time, when dancing at a party for the Redskins, she experienced a little too much good energy, though.

"A player picked me up - these are huge guys with no necks and the guy grabbed me so fast - he was holding me over his head and I didn't want to ruin the party, so I told him 'My chiropractor will kill me if you don't put me down!' and we both laughed and the next day I had perfect hand shaped bruises on my side. They were there for weeks," she said, laughing at the memory.

During her dance career, Artemis has performed in France, England, Spain, Turkey, Greece, Canada, and all over the United States - from Seattle to Maine and from California to Florida. She once worked at Busch Gardens in Florida where she did 15 shows per day! Though Artemis has been a full time professional dancer on and off for many years, it isn't a path she recommends to others because of practical considerations. A career as a full time dancer may be emotionally and artistically rewarding to some, however it offers no health benefits, no social security, no time off with pay, no retirement plan and no job security.

"It's wonderful to follow your bliss, but you also have to look at where there's a future for you," she said. "There's not enough money or stability in it, it's just impractical. You can get undercut by another dancer or even fired for no reason without notice."

So, despite her passion for bellydance, Artemis was aware of these potential employment concerns and went to college and grad school. She studied clinical psychology at Loyola, social work at University of Maryland/Baltimore and dance movement therapy at Goucher College.

Artemis named herself after a Greek goddess of the moon and magic. This goddess was also a hunter and protector of the woodlands, which is very appropriate because Artemis is more than a dancer; she is also a protector of a people and their history.

"My biggest influence is Greek and Turkish dance. And Roma dance was my first and favorite form of oriental dance. I felt had to pay a debt to them, I didn't have a right to do their dance unless I honored their existence and you can't talk about their existence without talking about their plight," she said.

The Roma (correct term for gypsy) people are victims of a systematic holocaust taking place every day, of blatant and vicious racism. People often imagine Roma people as carefree and living by a campfire, dancing and singing happy songs. Artemis said it doesn't help the Roma to picture this romantic lifestyle while their children are starving or hiding and it's not safe to tell people who they are.

To help the Roma cause, Artemis lectures and writes about their history and situation and is working on a book. But even more importantly, she spreads their culture and story through her art. "I teach their dance, which is a way of building bridges between people," she said.

Artemis has been teaching for 25 years. Locally she teaches six classes a week at all levels, as well as privates out of her home studio and at Joy of Motion in Bethesda. She said she believes the most important lessons for students to learn are humility, hard work and respect for this great dance.

"(Bellydance) is not just a physical or intellectual exercise," said Artemis. "It is a healing art."

And as the crowd at Casablanca might say as Artemis exits the stage, seeing her perform is truly a healing experience. The room is full of laughter and smiles, and all healing begins with a joyful heart - a quality Artemis clearly possesses from the radiance she leaves behind her.