Through belly dance, song, poetry and drums, Jezibell Anat invited her audience to join her in ancient Egypt.

Hands clapped, heads swayed and people watched intently as she shared an Egyptian mythological story.

For Ms. Anat, the performance wasn't just a show. It was a way to share her love for ancient Egypt with others.

"I'm a longtime Egyptophile, so I saw the performance as a way to pay tribute to ancient Egypt and to get others involved," she said.

More than a dozen people gathered to watch the performance at the Friedman Branch Library on Saturday.

Creativity was key in keeping the audience attentive, Ms. Anat said.

"I like breaking outside of the box and combining forms that aren't typically seen in one performance," she said. "By combining all the art forms, I wanted them to feel as though they were playing a part in the performance and not just watching it. It's a way to really hold their attention."

Ms. Anat has been performing since 1992, mostly in New York. She moved to Augusta in December.

"I love theater, but I like being my own creative mind, my own director," she said. "That's why a lot of my performances tend to be theatrical."

Since moving to the area, she has performed at First Friday and at events held by Alchemy, a troupe of belly dancers.

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.