CORVALLIS - Twenty-two years ago, a small group of local dancers came together looking for a place to perform American-style Belly Dance and Ted Cox, owner of the Old World Deli, opened his doors to them. They became known as the Corvallis Bellydance Performance Guild.

In those early years the dancers performed in a corner of the Deli in front of a sheet of fabric made and decorated with stuff brought in from the dancers' homes. The music was provided by a boom box.

Over the years, things have changed for the better. Cox built a stage. A professional music system was installed. Theater lighting went up.

"Because of Ted's generosity I have had 22 years to share my art with the Corvallis community," said Tina Empol, who has danced with the guild from the beginning.

The local belly dance community will celebrate that partnership with performances to the live music of Karsilama! Karsilama!, a band that plays a wide rage of Middle Eastern and Celtic music, from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the deli, 341 S.W. Second St.

A short list of performers for the evening include Empol, Lyanna, Samara, Nessim, Teivela, Laura, Shoshanna and Siobhan Van Lanen.

"To dance is to express communion with the universal source and is like tapping into a wellspring of healing, love, beauty, inspiration, light and spirit," Van Lanen said.

Van Lanen was a finalist of International Ambassador of Bellydance 2009 and Lyanna winner of the Alternative Music category 2008.

Also performing will be some surprise dancers from outside of the Corvallis area and a cast of strange creatures, dazzling spell casters, bejeweled genies and more.

Dancer Tia Knight warns, "be ready for a spooktacular night of celebration and dance from the haunted harem that appears every 22 years before fading away into memories of fun, dance and celebration of all things Belly Dance."

There will be a costume contest for the scariest harem dweller. Admission is a $1 cover charge. Information: 753-1782 or empolt@gmail.com .