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A Guide to the Adriana Miller, papers

Collection Number Collection number: MS2005

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Collection Information

Historical or Biographical Note

Adriana Miller was born in Boston, Massachusetts in the midst of the Great Depression. She studied dance at the Boston Conservatory of Music and continued her studies at the Stanley Brown Dance Studios. In 1972, Adriana opened her own school in Washington, D.C., called Adriana's Mecca of Middle Eastern Dance, where she taught dance, make-up, and skin care, as well as costume construction, and music theory classes. She also had her own troop of dancers called Adriana's Mecca of Middle Eastern Dancers. In 1979, she was recognized at the Kennedy Center for her talents and achievements. She closed her school in 1982 and retired.

Adriana returned to the dance scene in 1990. In 1992, she presented her first Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Danse Orietale Gala Review and Reunion. The following year she was inducted into the American Academy of Middle Eastern Dance Hall of Fame. In 1997, the documentary Adriana: Shadows on Yellow Silk premiered at the Mary Pickford Theater at the Library of Congress. The film chronicles Adriana's rise to fame and the role she played in the renaissance of Middle Eastern dance in Washington, D.C., as well as her personal struggles, retirement, and return to the dance scene.

Collection Organization

Arranged in three series: Administrative files, Photographs, Audio and visual materials.

Subject Terms

  • Miller, Adriana
  • Adriana's Mecca of Middle Eastern Dance
  • Dance
  • Dancers
  • Dance schools
  • Washington (D.C.)

Detailed Description of the Records

  • MS2005/001: Administrative files

    .25 Linear feet

    This series consists of brochures, articles, correspondence, flyers, press releases, programs, and reviews all related to Adriana Miller's career as a dancer, entertainer, and teacher. The dates covered include 1978-2000.

    • :
      • Administrative Files

        		[Box 1]
      • Brochures 1992-1998

        		[Box 1 Folder 1]
      • Clippings and Articles 1964-1998

        		[Box 1 Folder 2]
      • Correspondence 1967-2000

        		[Box 1 Folder 3]
      • Flyers 1968-2000

        		[Box 1 Folder 4]
      • Press Releases 1992-1998

        		[Box 1 Folder 5]
      • Programs 1978-2000

        		[Box 1 Folder 6]
      • Reviews 1995-1996

        		[Box 1 Folder 7]
      • Miscellaneous

        		[Box 1 Folder 8]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]

  • MS2005/002: Photographs

    0.3 Linear feet

    This series contains black and white photographs of Adriana Miller performances as a dancer and also some images of her as a teacher. This material dates from 1950-67.

    • :
      • Photographs

        		[Box 1]
      • Adriana Miller standing in a grass field, bushes in background 1951

        		[Box 1 Folder 1]
      • Studio portrait of Adriana Miller and seated on a cloth-covered stool, curtain in background 1950-1960

        		[Box 1 Folder 2]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1950-1960

        		[Box 1 Folder 3]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1950-1960

        		[Box 1 Folder 4]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1950-1960

        		[Box 1 Folder 5]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1950-1960

        		[Box 1 Folder 6]
      • Adriana Miller dancing the Torrentela Italian dance at a Stanley Brown Dance School recital, Boston, MA 1956

        		[Box 1 Folder 7]
      • 8" x 7 ???? " photocopy of a photograph of Adriana Miller performing at the Suez Club in Washington, DC 1960

        		[Box 1 Folder 8]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Suez Club in Washington, DC 1961

        		[Box 1 Folder 9]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Suez Club in Washington, DC 1961

        		[Box 1 Folder 10]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Acropolis Lounge and Restaurant in Baltimore, MD 1962

        		[Box 1 Folder 11]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Acropolis Lounge and Restaurant in Baltimore, MD 1962

        		[Box 1 Folder 12]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Acropolis Lounge and Restaurant in Baltimore, MD 1962

        		[Box 1 Folder 13]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Acropolis Lounge and Restaurant in Baltimore, MD 1962

        		[Box 1 Folder 14]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Acropolis Lounge and Restaurant in Baltimore, MD 1962

        		[Box 1 Folder 15]
      • Adriana Miller performing 1962

        		[Box 1 Folder 16]
      • 5" x 7" color photograph and 8" x 10" color photocopy of Adriana Miller on the cover of an Eddie "Sheik" Kochak and Hakki Obadia album 1962

        		[Box 1 Folder 17]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1963

        		[Box 1 Folder 18]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1963

        		[Box 1 Folder 19]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1963

        		[Box 1 Folder 20]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Torch Club in Baltimore, MD 1964

        		[Box 1 Folder 21]
      • Adriana Miller performing at the Torch Club in Baltimore, MD 1964

        		[Box 1 Folder 22]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 23]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 24]
      • Studio portraits of Adriana Miller 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 25]
      • 8 ????" x 11" photocopy of a studio portrait of Adriana Miller 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 26]
      • Adriana Miller teaching in Cheverly, MD 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 27]
      • Adriana Miller teaching in Cheverly, MD 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 28]
      • Adriana Miller teaching in Cheverly, MD 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 29]
      • Adriana Miller teaching in Cheverly, MD 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 30]
      • Adriana Miller teaching in Cheverly, MD 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 31]
      • 10" x 7" photocopy of a photograph of an Adriana Miller performance that appeared in US World News, June 26 1967

        		[Box 1 Folder 32]
      • Adriana Miller and Abrahim Farrar 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 33]
      • Adriana Miller performing at private events 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 34]
      • Adriana Miller performing at private events 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 35]
      • Adriana Miller performing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 36]
      • Adriana Miller performing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 37]
      • Adriana Miller performing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 38]
      • Adriana Miller performing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 39]
      • Adriana Miller performing at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 1960-1970

        		[Box 1 Folder 40]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]

  • MS2005/003: Audio and visual materials

    0.25 Linear feet

    This series contains several audio casettes and video casettes of Adriana Miller dance performances. The years covered are 1983-98.

    • :
      • Audio/Visual Materials

        		[Box 2]
      • Audiocassette:Strictly Ya Habibi Belly Dancing USA, performed by Eddie "The Sheik" Kochak and Hakki Obadia, vols. 1-6 1983 ca.

        		[Box 2 Folder 1]
      • Audiocassette:The Best of Belly Dancing, performed by Eddie "The Sheik" Kochak and Hakki Odadia, vol. 1

        		[Box 2 Folder 2]
      • Audiocassette:Golden Hits For Belly Dancing, performed by Eddie "The Sheik" Kochak 1987 ca.

        		[Box 2 Folder 3]
      • Videocassettes:Adriana: Shadows on Yellow Silk, Real Earth Productions 1997

        		[Box 2 Folder 4]
      • Videocassettes:Screening and post-screening discussion at the screening of Adriana: Shadows on Yellow Silk held in the Marvin Center at the George Washington University, February 4 1998

        		[Box 2 Folder 5]

    [Return to Descriptive Summary]