The Egyptian Gardens was across the street from the other clubs and up a flight of stairs. It was also different in the fact that most musicians there were Turkish along with most of the dancers. It also did not have a pull out stage. The band did sit back on a smaller platform like the other clubs but the tables were situated around a huge dance floor.
Here performing was the famous Turkish singer and dancer Saliha. She was the only dancer “ever” to dance once a night, at midnight. Everyone else did two shows.
The Egyptian Gardens is where I really learned more about that 9/8 (Karshlama) that Sabah had whipped out for Athena. All the Turkish dancers used it. I never worked the Egyptian Gardens.
Then there was Soraya Melik “Turkish” who also sang. As beautiful as Saliha was, it was Soraya that caught my eye with that special something that I wanted to capture. Pure Class on stage with a sense of rhythm. Soraya Melic taught me how to cut skirts.
These are the dancers that did work there during my time in New York and they are the ones that I watched every chance I could.