June 2008 Press Release from Serpentessa:

LOCAL DANCER TO APPEAR ON ABC’S POPULAR REALITY SHOW, WIFE SWAP

Serpentessa will belly dance with her snakes on the Wed. 6/25 episode airing at 8pm

ROSENDALE – Every snake has its day…. For local belly dancer and “snake priestess” Serpentessa, two of her red tail boa constrictors will see their 15 minutes of fame while slithering over her on an upcoming “Wife Swap” on ABC TV.

On Wife Swap, two families, often from vastly different lifestyles and social classes, swap wives/mothers for two weeks. During week one, the old house rules apply; in week two the “new” wife gets to make the rules.

On the June 25th episode, the wife subject to swapping is Jehan Kamal, of Sunnyside Queens in NYC. Mom to 10-year old Serena, Jehan is an international belly dance star, plus singer and songwriter of Arabesque world fusion music. She trades lives with Brandy, mom of four pre-teens and a pig farmer from Reno, Nevada, who clearly doesn’t think too highly of the belly dancing lifestyle. In the show, Serpentessa is teaching Serena some of the techniques of dancing with her gentle boa constrictors, which weigh anywhere from 12 to 60 pounds.

Serena & Serpentessa on YouTube

“Without giving away too much, I think people will learn from the surprising outcome of this Wife Swap,” said Serpentessa. “I enjoyed participating and am delighted to spotlight the wonderful healing and transformative power I believe my snakes can impart.”

“Physical inter-species communication with snakes is a rare and unforgettable experience that is very empowering,” explains Serpentessa. Since this is not widely known or understood, and to help people appreciate and understand the unique benefits this can create in one’s life, Serpentessa recently produced an instructional and educational DVD, Belly Dance with Snakes: Embody Your Inner Serpent, available at Amazon.com.

Serpentessa, a Hudson Valley resident and 21st century Snake Priestess and belly dancer, has cared for snakes for nearly 30 years. As a priestess and dancer she says she considers her snakes “an equal – albeit silent – partner and collaborator,” adding that, “working with and performing with snakes is a privilege and responsibility I take very seriously. They have never been a prop and never will be!” Serpentessa has taught over 10,000 people through her national network of workshops, classes and ceremonial rituals with, and without, the snakes.

WifeSwap on ABC.com