Monday, April 24, 2006 | 7:21 a.m.
Who: "Bellydance Superstars"
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Flamingo Showroom
Tickets: $41.95
Information: 733-3333
Belly dancing is hot.
In the roughly three years since he founded "The Bellydance Superstars," Miles Copeland's troupe of dancers has performed 250 shows in 16 countries. By any measure, that's a lot of gyrating, undulating navels.
Despite his troupe's extensive international itinerary, Copeland regards his dancers' appearances Friday and Saturday at the Flamingo Showroom among his company's most important performances yet.
"It's a big deal," Copeland said. "Vegas represents the center of world entertainment - it's the big game."
On May 12 they'll head back to Europe.
The Las Vegas cast will be made up of 18 dancers - including six stars and the chorus line - performing varieties of belly dancing from different parts of the world.
"It will be our biggest show yet," said Copeland, who created the production after detecting growing interest in the art form.
He compares the phenomenon to that of "Riverdance," the Irish folk dance production that debuted in 1995 and rapidly gained worldwide popularity, spawning Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" and other shows featuring Irish folk dancing.
"No one would have imagined the success of 'Riverdance,' " Copeland said.
Copeland knows a thing or two about success in the entertainment world. He says his interest in entertainment began in Beirut, Lebanon, where he once put together an act of go-go dancers.
"I spent my first 25 years in the Middle East," said Copeland, whose father was in the CIA.
He attended high school and college in Egypt. Eventually he went to London in the mid-'70s, and later got his start in the entertainment business by representing Wishbone Ash, Joan Armatrading, the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Blondie and others.
His younger brother is Stewart Copeland, a founder and former drummer for the Police, the Sting-led supergroup. Miles Copeland represented the Police and later managed Sting when he went solo.
In 1999 Copeland introduced Sting to Algerian singer Cheb Mami and the two collaborated on the hit "Desert Rose," a breakthrough for Arab music that crossed over into mainstream American music. Copeland is now the leading U.S. distributor of labels carrying the songs of Mami, Hakim, Rachid Taha, Amr Diab and others.
He feels Middle Eastern music and dance are just as infectious as their Irish counterparts.
"And the dancing is more interesting, more varied," Copeland said. "In Irish folk dance the dancers' arms are glued to their sides."
Copeland says he has seen widespread interest in belly dancing among women in the United States.
"It's a kind of empowerment for them," he said. "It's relatively easy, something you can do whether you're large or small, young or old.
"Ballet, if you aren't into it by 6, you're over the hill. But women who go to a belly dance show see the dancing and think, 'Wow, I can do that.' "
Sonia Ochoa is one of the lead performers in Copeland's production.
"For belly dancing, there is no age limit," she said. "It is a dance for all ages."
Ochoa, born and raised in Los Angeles, is a belly dancer of Mexican descent who began dancing at the age of 20. She started her training with classical ballet, jazz and modern dance.
"There is something intriguing about belly dancing," she said. "You are able to study at a late age and still perform as professional - but the music alone is beautiful. The costuming is amazing."
Scintas moving
After five years at the Rio, the Scintas are headed for the Strip.
The final performance at the present venue by the popular family of entertainers will be May 3. They hope to debut at the Sahara on or around May 23.
"That's our target date," said Frankie Scinta, who has been performing with brother Joe and sister Chrissie for more than 30 years. Drummer Peter O'Donnell is an honorary member of the family.
"We loved the Rio," Scinta said. "What Harrah's (owner of the Rio) did for us was make us a household name in Vegas. We are extremely grateful to them for that."
There was some talk of the group possibly going to the Golden Nugget, which is undergoing major renovations - including the showroom.
But the Sahara was more appealing to the Scintas.
"It's a chance to perform on the Strip, which is something we have always wanted to do," Scinta said.
"We're making some changes," Scinta said. "A little more high-end lighting and sound and overall production."
Hogs & Heifers Charity
Hogs & Heifers Saloon will sponsor a charity motorcycle ride on May 7 for the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation's Camp Cartwheel, a camp for children undergoing cancer care and treatment and their siblings.
The ride begins at 10 a.m. at Hogs & Heifers (201 N. Third St.) and will go through Red Rock Canyon to the Mountain Springs Saloon and back to Hogs. Registration and breakfast will be from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Tickets are $20 per rider and $10 for each additional rider.
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