Dance
Instruction
In 1995, I
began belly dance lessons with Saiqa (pictured at left) who
continues to teach the
 “ethnic” or folkloric style of belly dance brought to
us by
Jamilla Salimpour. Since then, I have
studied with many teachers throughout the Bay Area and I have also taken finger
cymbals and percussion classes.
Currently, I take belly dance classes with
Amanda of
Halanda Studio and also with
Alyne Hazard,
the double veil queen. My studies also continue by occasional drops-ins, private lessons
and workshops with various teachers. I find that the best teachers are my
peers, so I
attend as many performances as possible and on my occasional travels, I often look up
local belly dance teachers and take home what I learn as souvenirs.
Classes
In
2002, I began teaching belly dance classes at San Jose
State University through the Associated Students Adventures Program. Currently, I
teach out of my home studio located between Downtown
and Willow Glen in San Jose and find teaching to be very
challenging and extremely rewarding, I love to see students who become hooked
just like I am.
Troupes
and Dance Projects
Raks al Khalil (Dance of Friends), a student
troupe, we had our grand debut at Desert Dance Festival 2006 (see
pix), we had the most fun, honing in our costume and dance groove.
We also performed at Rakkasah 2007 for the very first time (check us out on
You Tube) and just recently were one of
the invited guest performers at Carnival of Stars 2007 where we did an ancient
Egyptian Pharaonic routine. Coming up in December, I will perform a duet
with Simone at the Tribal Fusion Faire, really looking forward to that
one. My last dance project was performing in a duet with Odina at
Belly Dance Fantasy Festival 2006 where we did a funky Tribal Fusion piece
and hope to work together again soon. Before that, I performed with
Troupe Zambalita at Tribal Fest
2006 where we did a Tunisian suite (I love Tunisian style!) and I also
danced in a duet with
Paloma (owner of Lunatic Fringe), we did a sword
routine also at
Tribal Fest 2006.
I have also performed with many groups, most recently
in a foursome
(Odina, Paloma and Za Za), we called ourselves,
Mozaeek
(Farsi for Mosaic) and performed in the Tribal Fusion style, something
different for me. Before that, a trio with Zehayah and Kareemah, we called ourselves
Hazeen Helwa
or "Beautiful Treasure". Our dance and costume was a very earthy
folkloric or ethnic style we all love.
 I was
also the Coordinator and co-founder of Troupe Namaste, a band of musicians
and dancers who performed together throughout the Bay Area and Central
California for about six years .
Other former dance projects I have had the
honor of being
involved with, include:
Malia and the New Moon Rising Belly
Dance Company, Dunia's Nile
Spice Dance Company, Saiqa's student troupe- Sisters of the Temple Moon, Jewels of the Oasis and Ke’kuja.
I have also had the opportunity of dancing to the fiery tunes of the Con
Corazon, formally
know as Modern Gypsies) a band based in Santa Cruz, CA and am featured on the cover of their CD.
Costuming
Besides
belly dancing, I love to sew. For me, so much of the dance
is all about the costume. I enjoy designing, making and dressing up in
costumes and where there is a costume ball,
I am there! A shy person by
nature, costuming helps me to be someone else, my ultra alter ego. With a flair for the
traditional, I favor the ethnic style of costume with a splash of flash.
Dancing Diva
Designs is the name of my costuming company which is my part time work
right now, primarily doing custom work. The most exciting part of
the work is seeing my costumes come to life on dancers. On occasion, I
can be seen vending at the various belly dance events
around the Bay Area. I have been working on a website, which is recently posted
and keep an eye out for exciting costumes! In the
meantime, if you ever have a need for unique and flattering costuming,
look to me!
Art
Fool
 I
have a degree in Photography with a concentration in Commercial
Photography, I am a free lance professional photographer and graphic designer serving the
belly dance community. I enjoy dabbling in anything
artistic: sculpture, painting, drawing
and most recently, web and graphic design. One exciting accomplishment is the completion of
a home dance studio which includes a hand-painted ceiling border and a mehndi
inspired floor design, it was a lot fun to do and now there is a beautiful place
for me to practice and to hold classes.
In
conclusion, I just want to say that belly dance rules. IT RULES! |
