Belly dancer name

by Dawn Devine~ Devina

During the 1950s, the most famous belly dancer working in the US was the incomparable Nejla Ates. Hailing from Turkey, this petite dynamo arrived in New York City early in the decade and signed with legendary nightclub impresario Lou Walters of the famed Latin Quarter. Dubbed the Turkish Delight, she went on to star on Broadway, perform on TV and in Movies, and toured the US not only as a showgirl but as the first multi-media belly dance superstar.

Nejla The Early Years

Necla Batir, Nejla’s given name, was born in Romania in either 1927 or 1932. Her family was Tatars, a Turkic ethnic minority dating back to the 12th century. Young Necla showed an aptitude for dance and grew up dreaming of stardom. As soon as she was able, Nejla moved first to Istanbul where she performed in nightclubs, honing her skills. She was booked to appear in the 1947 movie “Kerimin Cilesi” where she appeared as a dancer in the background. Biography definition and examples!