This year is no exception to the wonderful years in the past. Always filled with performers and live entertainment, belly dancers are always one of the main attractions at the Texas Renaissance Festival.

I have been invited to assist one of the most respected shop owners at the festival. Saturdays and Sundays you will find me dancing in front of Mrs. Frances Doran's Ye Olde Belly Dance Shoppe. I dance around, wearing one of Mrs. Doran's popular belly dance costumes.

Every now and then, people approach me asking me where the belly dancers perform and I gladly point them in the right direction. It is exciting to know that people are attracted to belly dance performances. Women, men, and young adults ask me directions to the Greek Agora and Castle Theatre stages.

At the Greek Agora stage you will encounter the Gypsy Dance Theatre. Beautiful belly dancers in gypsy attire entertain large crowds. Performers dance with zills, veils, and swords. One dancer in particular dances with a snake. She is amazing and graceful! From what I was told, she was proposed to on stage.

Last year, I and my dance troupe were invited to perform our sword routine at the Greek Agora stage. That was the first time dancing to live music. However, the audience loved it all. It is the people, the audience, the cheers that make it all worthwhile.

If you visit the website at texrenfest.com, you will get to see a schedule that has the performance times and list of artists. Set aside an entire day to enjoy this festival, for there is much to see.

E-Muzeki is a band that is popular at many of the renaissance festivals throughout the nation. In fact, if you check them out on youtube, you will see that there are comments from people wishing to see them. Hear their music. It is amazing!

There are also several tribal dance groups that perform. To my understanding, they perform at the Castle Theatre stage. Between performances, they stroll the grounds taking pictures with admirers.

At one of the shops, a belly dancer performs solo on the balcony of this particular shop with a small band. The band starts playing and she gracefully enters the balcony. With such small space, this dancer really shows her talent.

There is still plenty of time to visit the Texas Renaissance Festival. The festival will run through the last weekend of November 2007. Get there early, so that you enjoy all that Texas Renaissance Festival has to offer.