Photographer of the Raq Stars

Carl Sermon, also known as Ma*Shuqa's husband, is the photographer to the San Francisco Bay Area Orientale Dance community. He is known for taking photos that capture the “Golden Moments of Dance. In an article in The Chronicles magazine, Ma*Shuqa describes Carl’s photographic work with dancers and coined the term “The Golden Ya Habibi Moment”.

Carl captures that special moment in time when the dancer is: glowing,  smiling and showing her joy and enjoyment of the dance or showing her passion for the dance during her taqsim, and her costuming, pose, head and facial expressions are superbly framed, her arms and torso are perfectly aligned, her veil(s) are captured in a picturesque arcing flight around her, and her hair is dancingly stunning.

The secret to successful performance photography is a photographer with over 30 years of dance photography experience who knows the music and the dance form and anticipates the best moment to capture the dance.

Carl books photography sessions in Ma*Shuqa's dance studio in Los Gatos, California, USA which include: Ma*Shuqa’s makeup and costume consultation, performance pose coaching, and photography assistance to capture that perfect photo with backdrop and professional lighting for your professional portfolio. Consider booking Carl to take your photos at the next festival, hafla, or recital. Think about booking “on location” photo sessions for special photography with Carl and Ma*Shuqa.

Raq Stars
Photographed by Carl F. Sermon

Sohair Zaki
Bert Balladine
Tito
Momo Kadous
Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan
Beata & Horacio Cifuentes
Leila Haddad
Nakish
Jillina, Sonia, and the Belly Dance Superstars
Naheda of Germany
Meera
Kaeshi & Belly Queen
Oreet
Sahra Saeeda
Mesmera
Neena & Veena Belly Twins
Tanya of Las Vegas
Isis and the Star Dancers
Hadia of Canada
Tonya & Atlantis
Dondi Dahlin
Shukriya & Dancers of the Pharoahs
Pangia: Denise & Pat
Aneena & Dancers of the Desert
Siwa and the Dancers of the Crescent Moon
Michelle, Zoe, & Troupe Mahalat
Natica Angilly
Suzanna Del Vecchio
Jamila, Suhaila Salimpour & Bal Anat
Dhyanis
Sabiba
Judeen
Willow Chang
Aziza
Fatima and Jamilla Al Wahid
Saqra
Noel of Toyko, Japan
Tatseena & Troupe Tareefa
Masumi with Dance Arabesque
Tarik and Morocco
Amaya
Dahlia Carella
Angelika Nemeth
Fahtiem
Fat Chance Belly Dance
Amir & Mayyadah, Germany
Ansuya Rathor
Ava Fleming
Sadie & Kaya
Alexandra King
Leyla Jouvana and Roland
Amy Sigal
Anaheed Sofian
Heather Stants
Kami Liddle
Dunia
Alexandra and the Ghawazee
Zaina Hart
Karim Nagi
Mary Ellen Donald