A Night For Sharing

The year was 1989; the date, Tuesday, March 14.  The first of its kind in our dance community surrounding the controversial disease of the time, Jaleh, Sharifa, and I saw “A Night for Sharing,” an AIDS benefit, come to fruition as the doors of the Elks Lodge No. 3, auditorium, located on the third floor at 450 Post Street in San Francisco, opened to a soon packed house.  This special show would celebrate Vince — Dick “Kamaal” Magnanti’s life partner — who had been diagnosed with and was now dying of AIDS.  The entire community had come together under one roof to show their love, support, and heartfelt solidarity to a distinguished and talented dancer and performer, Kamaal, who was losing his devoted better half.  Kamaal, in his off-dancing time, was also employed as my waiter.

Official Flier

Jaleh was the first to come up with the idea of a benefit for the AIDS cause.  She had approached Sharifa and me with this idea, and we both immediately agreed to it.  AIDS was just coming into the public eye, and now it had hit the very heart of our community.  And with the date set, Sharifa, Jaleh, and I went to work to produce the first AIDS benefit in the San Francisco Bay Area belly dance community.

This event raised around $5000, a large amount for that time.  The Elks Lodge, with its large seating capacity, high reverent stage, and large space and sound system, donated free-of-charge.  The Grapeleaf restaurant, of which I was a part with my then husband and chef Gabriel Michael, donated the food and all the sales proceeds.  And talented and wonderful dancers, Amina Goodyear, Asia, Baraka, Devi Ananda Baptiste, Dunia, Hoda, Kari Duke, Horacio Cifuentes, Jaleh, Jordan Dancer, Leah Aziz, Rashid, Sabiba, Sharifa, Suhaila Salimpour, Youssef Hassan Deeb, and Yours Truly donated their performances.  Radio Station K101 personality Barry Wood emceed the event with his professional and resonant radio voice.  Volunteers donated their time as ticket takers and ushers, and lodge members reveled in the excitement of the evening saying it was one of the best evenings they had ever been involved in and one of the best shows they had ever seen.

Although it had been rumored that perhaps Kamaal would be needed at Vince’s side on that night, Kamaal attended and sat in the front row.  Kamaal was of our tight knit community regardless of this sexual orientation, and in 1989, no one had a second thought about Kamaal and his relationship to Vince.  We all knew they loved each other and that was all we had to know — and it was a good thing.  We all wanted to support Kamaal and to let him know that we loved him and who he was regardless of his relationships.  Kamaal now resides in Southern California.

Event Program Front Cover

Event Program Back Cover