Last Contract in Jordan

The lobby of the Jerusalem Hotel was a large rectangular space with many French Colonial-style couches in different soft colours along all the walls. A heavy, ornate coffee table was in front of each. I was meeting my manager at the start of my engagement in this hotel to sign the contract as usual. With Bassam as my manager, I worked in all the major hotels in Amman from 1988 to 1995. He opened his briefcase and displayed a pile of full-colour three-panel brochures. There were photos of dancers in the two-piece Bellydance attire but with swords, eating fire, performing the splits, or kicking a leg up high.

Bassam was upset. “I don’t know what to do with all of this. I receive a new brochure every day from Russia and Germany.” He seemed to be asking me for an explanation. Then he pointed to a young non-Arab woman at the other end of the lobby kitty-corner to us. “Do you see that girl? She is from Russia. She wants to work for $25 USD a night. Our time working here is finished. This may be the last contract.” I earned ten times that amount, so his commission of $25 was a significant pay drop for Bassam.

I asked if she danced with a sword or fire like in the brochures. He shrugged. “Do they dance to Arab music? It does not make any sense. Is it circus performing but in a Bellydance costume?” He shook his head, looking at the floor defeated, then perked up with a big smile and said, “Don’t worry, a peace treaty has been made; the border between Jordan and the West Bank is now opening. Lots of hotels and nightclubs will be built, and the next time you come, you will work on the West Bank.” I looked forward to that excitement.