Originally chartered in 2005 to promote the art of belly dancing by providing free classes at the Flamingo library, Shifting Sands Belly Dance established its own encampment that year at the Las Vegas Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival.  This event is sponsored each year by the Clark County Department of Parks and Recreation.  Our students had performed at the Festival for several years, as did the LeVana Dance Troupe under the direction of David and Tracy McClendon.  Our two organizations merged together under the SSBD name and we provided more dancers, sound equipment, and a professional 20’ x 16’ stage for the enlarged encampment.

Parks and Recreation gave us a 50 foot by 100 foot site which housed seven tents, four dance troupes, and 34 dancers who performed three times each day.  We adopted the theme of a caravan traveling along the Silk and Spice Roads, gathering merchants and eclectic performers from China to Morocco.

By 2006 we required a larger space for our growing number of overnight campers and dancers, so the Parks and Recreation department relocated us to our second site which then measured approximately 83’ x 150’.  We increased the size of our stage to 24’ x 16’ to support the many new members who wanted to perform.  We had eight troupes totaling 50 entertainers and 19 tents on site.  This included ten dancers and musicians from the California professional belly dance ensemble, Oojahm, who were invited to camp over the weekend and participate with us at the festival.

In 2007 we again asked for an increase in the size of our encampment and were allowed to expand our area to 180 feet x 83 feet.  We had 19 tents on site, 11 performing troupes, and over 64 entertainers.  Oojahm contributed again with live music and performances.  We had acquired two new hexagon-shaped tents which were placed side by side to provide a main pavilion measuring approximately 32’ x 13’.  We were now providing continuous daily entertainment throughout the entire three days of the fair.  We were honored with an exceptionally talented volunteer announcer/master of ceremonies, David Sinclair, who spiced up the performances and drew in record crowds.

The 2008 encampment again sported the covered tents and decorations reminiscent of the Orient, Middle East, and North Africa.  Our main pavilions displayed rich tapestry walls, plush carpets, floor cushions, padded stools and arm chairs, hanging lanterns, and two large brass trays for the hookahs.   David Sinclair again gathered in the crowds for each act.  Our dance ensembles numbered 13 with over 90 dancers providing continuous performances each day, and our tent population moved up to 21.

2009 showed another overall increase.  Tents numbered 25.  There were 35 performances and 132 dancers utilizing our stage.  The year 2010 brought 115 dancers; however, some performed in more than one troupe, which made the true total 98.  There were 43 scheduled acts, and 19 tents arranged in a Bedouin camp style that enhanced the encampment atmosphere.