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We wish to bring people together, to allow diverse artists to find common ground and interests. This is an environment where dancers of all bellydance styles can work together in classes, learn together and learn from each other. The instructors, who come from a variety of bellydance genres and backgrounds of experience, will be offering workshops that will have something for everyone; not just focused on genre-specific bellydance technique, but more on universals that everyone can feel a part of, and that you can apply to your own work.
Our 2014 Conference Featured Presenters and Performers
- ↓Alyssum PohlOriginally from Lexington, Kentucky, Alyssum Pohl brings wit and joy to her performance. A lifelong dancer, she began her study of tribal-style bellydance in 1998 with Rakadu Gypsy Dance. In addition to bellydance, Alyssum is accomplished in front-bending contortion, and has many years of training in dance forms from around the world, besides. Whether coaching troupes in New England, deepening her practice in California, or teaching and performing across the country, she has honed her own style of tribal bellydance by incorporating Rakadu’s improvisational storytelling, splicing in her contortion abilities, and sharpening her isolations. She is now based in the greater Washington DC area.
- ↓Aberrant Dance Theatre Giselle is a New York City belly dancer, choreographer, and producer of a theatrical belly dance Halloween event called, Witching Hour Boo-tique, and creator and dance director of Aberrant Dance Theatre. Giselle began her extensive training at Serena’s Studios. To further her studies and to follow her love for the art of belly dance in a different form, in 2006 Giselle added Sera Solstice’s East Coast Tribal Styling to her dance vocabulary. Through both forms of belly dance, Giselle has found a way to nourish the various aspects of her personality and dance. Known as a versatile improvisational dancer, Giselle allows herself to passionately transform from the gentle to the fiery and sassy. Giselle has performed as a troupe member for Zenaide’s Sirens, Alta’s Caribbean Rose, The Solstice Project, and Ayshe and the Cult of Isis. Giselle has also appeared in World Dance New York belly dance fitness and performance videos. As well as “Life is Cake”. Additional studies include African dance, ballet, dance psychology and imagery, and fire fan. In 2013, Giselle created Aberrant Dance Theatre and debuted in Rayhana’s Rock Show held at Gibney Dance Center. Aberrant Dance Theatre is a professional dance trio with Brenna Crowley and Sam Nieves as members.”
- ↑↓ Alanah moved to New York City in 2001 to pursue her passion for oriental dance and music. Alanah’s dance background includes study with Elena Lentini, Yoursy Sharif, Dalia Carella, and Egyptian stars Randa Kamal and Nour. Her style is greatly influenced by her years of Flamenco training, most notably with Juana Amaya in Sevilla, Spain. Alanah is an instructor and dance coach conducting classes and workshops in oriental dance and fan veil technique/choreography. In 2010 Alanah joined the Dalia Carella Dance Collective and has been a member of Caravanserai Dance Theater, led by Elena Lentini, since 2001. In 2010 Alanah launched “Alanah’s Couture Fan Veils,” her line of silk dance accessories which are now used by performers around the world. Alanah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her other interests include costume and jewelry design, painting, politics, cooking, world travel and opera.
- ↑↓Angeliquebegan studying belly dance in 1997. Her love for the art quickly took her into the classrooms of some of the most notable teachers in the world, includng Raqia Hassan, Yousry Sharif, Nourhan Sharif, and most notably her primary teacher, Suhaila Salimpour. Angelique is currently Level 4 certified in the Suhaila Salimpour Belly Dance (SSBD) format and L2 certified in Jamila Salimpour Belly Dance format (JSBD). Angelique has been teaching since 2005, working with hundred’s of students to help them realize their full technical and creative potential. In September 2013, Angelique released her first Instructional DVD: “Advanced Layers and Combinations”, a high level practice companion for advanced dancers. Visit www.AngeliqueBellydance.com
- ↑↓
Aria Michaels Paradiseis the founder, Artistic Director, and choreographer of New England based ABRAXAS Dance Theatre. As a performer she is known for her effortlessly graceful and ethereal style, powerful, character based narratives, and distinctive choreography. As a classically trained company ballet dancer who performed in Romantic ballets such as Giselle and Coppelia, Aria borrows ballet’s otherworldly, fairy tale elements and stylistically fuses them with vocabulary from modern dance, jazz, lyrical, cabaret, and tribal fusion belly dance. As a solo artist, Aria has performed at theatrical belly dance events across the United States and Canada including Ravens Night, Cabaret Danse Macabre, Lumen Obscura, and the New York Theatrical Bellydance Conference. She is the producer of events including Alchemy, Paradox, Revelations, the ongoing Muse: A Theatrical Bellydance Project, and is co- producer of the monthly theatrical event Belly Dance Underground.
- ↑↓Avianais a performing artist born and raised in New York City. She is the daughter of immigrants from Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She learned to dance by watching music videos as a teenager. While at the University of Pittsburgh, she was a member of one of the Top 5 nationally ranked cheerleading and dance teams. Afterwards, she studied jazz, hip-hop and modern dance in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington DC. Yearning for something earthy, she began to study Flamenco and Middle Eastern Dance. She frequently travels to Madrid, Spain to continue her studies in Flamenco. In 2013, she won the prestigious Tribal Solstice dance scholarship. AVIANA continues her growth as an artist and thanks all of her teachers and dance colleagues in helping shape her dance journey.
- ↑↓Billie Birdis a Tribal Fusion dancer from France. Her dance (as herself) is of mixed heritage. She seeks her inspiration in many different styles from Belly Dance to Hip Hop, Afro Caribbean dance, Contemporary or Martial Arts. She explores movement and energy and is particularly inclined to play with music and is in love with what she calls: “The Poetry of the body”.
- ↑↓Danielle Huttonis a New York City-based belly dance performer, instructor, and choreographer. Known for her stage presence and musicality, Danielle approaches her dance as an intimate conversation with her audience. She was always drawn to dance and movement, but it wasn’t until she first saw a performance at the age of 17 that compelled her to study Egyptian style, and eventually, tribal fusion belly dance. In addition to being a solo performer, Danielle was a principal dancer in Solstice Dance Ensemble from 2008-2010, where she had the opportunity to perform at various belly dance events such as Tribal Fest, Tribal Massive, Rakkasah East and Spring Caravan. Danielle draws her inspiration from ecstatic dance and contact improvisation in addition to classical belly dance to create her style of fusion belly dance. She credits Reyna Alcala, Sera Solstice, Zoe Jakes, and Olivia Kissel for guiding and inspiring her as teachers.
- ↑↓Dounia Dance Collective is a world fusion dance troupe based out of Vancouver, Canada. They are a collection of six women who co-direct and choreograph for the troupe. They have been performing together for two years, most recently as producers of their first full length theatrical production, “Al Musafeera.” As a result of the varied training the ladies bring to the table (bellydance and otherwise), they have created a body of work that is as diverse and unique as each of them.
- ↑↓Entelechy is the essence which completes matter, the soul or intelligent energy of living things. Layla Isis and Mariyah of NYC co-founded Entelechy Dance in 2012 based on a shared artistic frequency that aims to express the elements of spirit, humor, and myth through theatrical dance. The two have worked together for years as company members of the Dalia Carella Dance Collective and Zikrayat, as well as having over a decade of experience working as solo professional dance artists and in dance companies. Drawing inspiration from mystic traditions, nature, and explorations into the psyche, the heart of Entelechy Dance is a journey into authenticity, absurdity, archetypes, and the aether.
- ↑↓Francesca Ferrandois an avant-garde bellydancer who likes to experiment in all kinds of art expressions to achieve a new spiritual Renaissance. Francesca teaches regular bellydance classes in NYC.
- ↑↓Hannah Romanowskyis a professional performing artist and instructor specializing in traditional, contemporary, and sacred cross-cultural dance. She draws her aesthetic impulse from a diverse background in the performing arts, including both Eastern and Western classical, theatrical, and social dance modalities and the traditional repertoire of Central Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and the (Gypsy) Roma. A seasoned performer on the proscenium stage, Ms. Romanowsky has been a principle artist with Ballet Afsaneh, Aywah! Ethnic Dance Company, Shuvani, and a founding member of the ethno-contemporary company Wan-Chao Dance. Ms. Romanowsky is founder of the DanceVersity multicultural youth arts education program and currently teaches adults and youth throughout the San Francisco bay area and beyond. She holds a BA in Dance Ethnology and an MA in East-West Psychology; and her devotion to transpersonal studies and the evolution of consciousness informs her process as an artist and a teacher.
- ↑↓Hybrid Bellydance“Bevin Victoria was first swept away by fusion bellydance 8 years ago and has never looked back. Cultivating a deep love and respect for this dynamic art form, she seeks to create mindful fusion utilizing her extensive background in gymnastics, martial arts, ballet and Tribal Fusion to leave audiences with a feeling as though they have been whisked away to somewhere as exotic and fantastical as the places this dance creates in her heart.”
- ↑↓International Urban Bellydance CollectiveAnasma and Linda Faoro met in 2009 at the Bellyfusions festival. A relation of trust and dialogue built up over time and they progressively developed a mutual desire to share their artistic experience and pedagogy. Their complementarity offers an explosive collaboration. In 2010, both being recognized internationally for their unique and innovative styles, Anasma and Linda tour together in the US. In 2012, Linda Faoro’s Traveling Dance School and Anasma World Citizen Dance School team up on a regular basis to launch a common Training for Oriental Fusion with weekly classes and week-end intensives in Paris. After fours years of artistic collaboration, the multi-facetted dancers and choreographers decide to co-found the International Urban Bellydance Collective in 2013. Their idea is that artist from all over the world can bring to the Collective their unique perspective on Urban Bellydance fusions during exclusive choreographic encounters. For the NYTBC, they will be presenting a trio performance featuring Lei the Night from Paris. Leï TheNight is a complete dancer who evolved through different dances since her childhood: Hip Hop, Modern Jazz, Bellydance, World dances and traditional East Moroccan folkloric dances. One of her dominant style is Waacking and Leï created several years ago an exclusive fusion called “Belly’Waacking”. Leï performed in several festivals such as Bellyfusion Paris, and won the fusion category competitions at the Fantasia festival in London in 2011 and Bellydancer of the World in Duisburg in 2012. With her friend esmii, Leï won the duet Folkloric/ Traditional category in 2012 at Bellydancer of the World. Leï is also known in the Hip Hop community as a Waacking dancer, teacher and choreographer. She is involved in the Paris Voguing community in various dance groups such as Opium & House of la Durée. She often participates to worldwide battles and won in 2010 in Waacking category at The Geneva Unique Battle, one of the largest European competitions. She travelled all around the world to share her love of dances: Japan, Europe, USA, North Africa. She is teaching in Paris and abroad for workshops. Visit WWW.URBANBELLYDANCECOLLECTIVE.COM
- ↑↓Janelle Bel Islehas loved dancing and cultural creative expression since childhood. She enjoys studying dance, language, instrumental music, history and cultures in Egypt, Sudan, Iran, Georgia, Central Asia and the United states and beyond, always looking to enjoy more.
- ↑↓Katalin Schafer From a very young age, I enjoyed acting, dancing and being naughty. I studied different styles of dance such as jazz, ballet, modern and Latin. After discovering belly dancing in Hungary, I travelled many times to Egypt to advance my studies in belly dancing and Arabic folkloric dances. In 2004, I founded the dance company, Effendi, and we won “Best Choreography” that same year at Ahlan Wa Sahlan World Competition in Egypt. In 2005, with the “Art of Orient Masters Company” we won “Best Group.” In addition, I placed second as a solo performer. My wide range of interests has motivated me to create my unique style of dance. If I had to name it, I would call it Oriental Jazz.
- ↑↓Kelli Anneis a bellydance teacher, performer and choreographer. She can(and has been seen) performing at venues all over New York City. She has studied with master teachers such as: Serena Wilson, Zenaide, Jenna, Anahid Sofian, Sira and Dorit and others. Kelli Anne was an actor for many years before discovering bellydance and brings her theatrical training to her bellydance performance.One of Kelli Anne’s greatest joys is to teach this art form. Kelli Anne also choreographs and performs with her Raqin’ Bellies Dance Troupe at festivals(such as Rakkasah) and small community shows.
- ↑↓Krista Sassanihas been dancing since she could sit up. Classical ballet training gave way to lyrical, modern, jazz, ballroom, African, flamenco and hip hop. Though relatively new to belly dance, Krista is inspired by the emotional intensity and freedom of expression this discipline allows – along with the supportive network of dancers it merges together. With a background in teaching and holistic health, she seeks to mesh beauty with body foundation and create sustainable movement that supports as well as challenges.
- ↑↓↓Lavishis well known for its diverse dance works, from the technically challenging, high energy pieces to their ethereal artistic presentations, one never is quite sure what will unfold. The ladies of Lavish strive to present emotionally charged works that push the boundaries of belly dance from tradition into a modern era in which line and shape are as relevant as the hip shimmy. Formed in 2007, Lavish hails from Toronto’s The Dark Side Studio which was Canada’s first belly dance studio devoted to non-traditional belly dance.
- ↑↓↓Layla Isisperforms full-time in New York City, having an active career since 2002 as a renowned professional bellydancer and theatrical dance artist. Drawing on her fifteen years of training in Oriental dance and a variety of movement forms, her formal acting education, and her passion for dance as a conduit to infinite creative potential, her performances have led her to a multitude of diverse platforms. Theatre experience includes performing with and choreographing for productions with The Dalia Carella Dance Collective (company member since 2008), Zikrayat, The Bellydance Superstars, The Gilgamesh Theatre Group, HereArts CultureMart, NYC Fringe Festival, Tomoko Aoki Dance Company, Jehan’s Goddessdance, and countless concerts both here and abroad. In 2012, she co-founded Entelechy Dance with her dance partner Mariyah, and they’ve produced two successful curated theatrical dance concerts in the past year. Additionally, she’s been seen in feature films such as Sex and the City 2, and on television on Dr. Oz and Late Night with Conan O’Brian. www.laylaisis.com is still under construction, but should be up soon. Please visit www.youtube.com/laylaisisdancer
- ↑↓↓LeilahFor the past two years, Leilah has lived and breathed Tribal Fusion belly dance, and has studied nationally with a range of teachers, including Sarah Jezebel Wood, Naimah, Ela Rogers, Ashley Lopez, Kami Liddle, and Zoe Jakes. In July 2013, she completed the Initiation phase of Rachel Brice’s ‘8 Elements’ program. Over the past two years, Leilah has been fortunate enough to grow under the direct mentorship of internationally acclaimed Tribal Fusion artist, Bevin Victoria, who has become an invaluable resource, collaborator, teacher, and friend. In 2013 she co-founded Boston’s premier Tribal Fusion company, Urban Nomad Dance Co., with Bevin Victoria and Laura Blake, and wrote their first full-length theatrical show, “Around the World in One Night”. That same year, she and Aria Michaels Paradise co-founded Boston’s first recurring theatrical belly dance show, Belly Dance Underground. Leilah is known for her passionate performance style and emotional character-building.
- ↑↓↓Lidia Pleaiada
- ↑↓Linda FaoroFrom an early age, Linda Faoro trained in ballet, jazz, music and acting. She passed her State Dance Diploma in jazz, and soon after started teaching and choreographing in her own style: Jazz New School. Always eager to enrich her art, she kept training in other styles – hip-hop, african dance, bellydance – to broaden her range of motion. She has made her mark with many renowned dance companies and TV shows.
In 2000, Linda Faoro created her first company the “Jazz New School company ” followed in 2003 by the troup “Les Muses”; a company formed as a result of Linda’s depth and maturity in bellydance.
Since 2004, she goes regularly to Lebanon to choreograph major TV shows. This allows her to express both her western and oriental sides.
In 2008, Linda Faoro created the group “L’Espèce Urbaine”(“Urbankind”) and performed “Ma Maison ne ressemble pas à celle de ma Mère…” ( “My house looks nothing like my mother’s…” ): a moving dance/drama solo in which she shares with audiences her background as a multicultural woman and artist.
In 2009, Linda Faoro took part in the 1st BellyFusions Festival in Paris, France, an occasion to meet other international artists of the Fusion scene. There she teamed up with Anasma and then in 2010 with Amy Sigil of Unmata. Both urged her to export her style to the US.
In 2011, she is proud to present her new personal concept : Linda Faoro’s Traveling Dance School which the mission is to bring Linda’s different dance techniques refined over these several years all over the world.
Resolutely different, Linda Faoro sees herself as an expression of the urban society she lives in, diverse and pluricultural.
International choreographer for both entertainment and cultural events, she also teaches in several professional dance schools. Visit www.lindafaoro.com
- ↑↓Mariyahis dance artist, choreographer and instructor based in NYC. She draws on a variety of movement forms, the depth and diversity of bellydance, and her passion for myth, mysticism and poetry to create dances which evoke archetypal figures and a journey of the spirit. Her performances have been described as “innovative and inspiring”, “timeless” and “passionate.” As an instructor, Mariyah encourages students to work deeply within the body both physically and energetically to find a uniquely expressive physicality. Since 2001 Mariyah has been a principal dancer and collaborator in projects such as the renowned Dalia Carella Dance Collective and Zikrayat Arabic music and dance ensemble. In 2012 she collaborated with Layla Isis to create Entelechy Dance, which has created theatrical dance concerts “The Siren Revival” series in 2013 and 2014. Mariyah co- created and is featured in the instructional dance DVDs Chakra Dance Flow and Belly Dance Drum Solo. For more information about Mariyah, please visit www.bellydancernewyork.com
- ↑↓Meiver De La Cruz has been a student of dances from the Middle East and North Africa since 1996, has performed primarily within Boston’s Middle Eastern communities since 2000, and has been teaching dance since 2002. Meiver has studied belly dance in 7 countries around the world. She has used dance as part of community organizing and empowerment work at Boston-based community organizations like the Hyde Square Task Force, Sociedad Latina and MataHari: Eye of the Day – and anti-trafficking and immigrant rights group where she also serves as a Board Member. Her dance work has led her to perform in Taiwan with the Belly Dance Superstars, in Canada and around the USA with Ahmet Luleci’s Collage Dance Ensemble (Turkish, Roma, Balkan, and Eastern European Folk Dances). She also choreographed for, as well as toured in the US with Egyptian folk dancer, composer, DJ, and orator Karim Nagi’s modern fusion dance company Belly Dance Overdrive. Meiver is frequently invited to lecture on the history and global context of belly dance, as well as to teach and perform dance by studios, schools, universities, women’s groups, dance research conferences, and community groups. She is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Performance Studies at Northwestern University researching Belly Dance in the US Arab diaspora post 9/11. She is also the artistic director and host of the MassRaqs Belly Dance Festival, the largest in the Northeast of the US. You can find her at meiver.com or massraqs.com
- ↑↓Samara and The Mosaic Dance Theater Company Founded in 2003 by Morgiana Celeste Varricchio, Producing Artistic Director, Mosaic Dance Theater Company evolved out of the dance and theater productions originally developed by Ms. Varricchio for New York Performing Artist Company (NYPACo). Touring since 1992, NYPACo productions have been presented in schools, universities, and at such venues as Lincoln Center (NY), the Brooklyn Museum (NY), Paper Mill Playhouse (NJ), the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts (NY), the Nashville Institute for the Arts (TN), and the NY International Fringe Festival, and are now part of MDTC’s repertory. Samara Adell, MDTC’s Choreographer and Artistic Director for Dance, began her collaboration with Ms. Varricchio in 2000, and since MDTC’s inception, the company has premiered numerous original critically acclaimed full-length dance works. MDTC tours nationally to performing arts venues, schools and universities, and is on the roster of arts-in-education touring artists for Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artist series and Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern PA. MDTC is known for its artistry and authenticity, not only in creating the original works that comprise its repertoire, but also in faithfully researching their origins to ensure cultural integrity. In a world engulfed by popular culture, MDTC embraces the historical treasures of the past, the ways of tradition, and the sensibilities of the present in its goal to celebrate the remarkable varieties and similarities of the Mediterranean cultures
Visit http://www.mosaicdancetheaterco.org/Company.html
- ↑↓Sherrilyn started tap and jazz dance classes at the local studio in second grade, and continued through high school, adding color guard and dance team. In college she studied and performed in modern, jazz, and tap. She has continued with classes in modern, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and tap, including workshops with master teachers. The only dance break she’s had was during the “gauntlet” period at the beginning of graduate school. Sherrilyn discovered bellydance in 2002, and immediately joined multiple weekly classes and her teachers’ performing troupe. In 2005, due to repeated pestering by her friends, she started teaching bellydance classes in her town, and soon had a three-level curriculum and student dance company. Sherrilyn has traveled widely for workshops and performances, and recently moved to Philadelphia, determined to plant and nurture new dance roots on the East Coast. Dance is freedom. Dance is healing and joy. Dance is the way through. Visit sherrilynbillger.com/dancer/
- ↑↓Shoshannais from Arcata, in the redwoods on California’s North Coast. She has danced throughout her life in many styles and found her art in the dances styles of the Middle East in 1991. A dedicated improvisational dancer, Shoshanna strives to delve deep into the emotional quality of the music and counts Dalia Carella, Elena Lentini, Mahmoud Reda and DeAnn Adams as major inspirations. Shoshanna serves on the dance faculty of Humboldt State University, directs the Ya Habibi Dance Company, produces music and dance events such as the Redwood Coast Belly Dance Festival, owns Redwood Raks World Dance Studio, and teaches and performs across the US. She appears on numerous performance and instructional DVDs and in 2004 earned the title of Belly Dancer of the Year.
- ↑↓Tavais a lifelong dancer since the age of four but considers Middle Eastern dance, (bellydance), her true passion. She began studying in January of 2000, after years of jazz, Yoga, ballet and gymnastics. She has performed at numerous restaurants, nightclubs, theaters and cultural events throughout the tri-state area with select dates in PA, RI, FL and Canada. Tava has also taught weekly Middle Eastern dance classes since 2005. She appears on 3 DVD’s, produced by World Dance NY, has contributed articles for dance related publications and has choreographed for several theatrical performances. In addition, for the past 6 years, Tava has taught a college course which covers basic technique, historical information about the dance, regional styling and also requires each student to do a presentation on one of the legends of Oriental Dance. Tava has a Masters in Counseling from Fordham University and has worked to use the dance as a tool for improving body image. Her goal is to do more of this work, working with victims of rape and incest. Visit www.BellydancebyTava.com
- ↑↓↓Yowalka A worldly, graceful, and elegant performer and instructor of Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, is affectionately known as “Yogi.” Yowalka was originally introduced to the art of Raks Sharqui (a.k.a. Bellydance) by Ana Luna, in her home country of the Dominican Republic. Unbeknownst to her, her passion for bellydance would take her around the globe and follow her to her new home in New York City. It was in New York City, referred by her main teacher, where she began her studies with the worldwide famous and unique master Yousry Sharif, and became a devoted student of Egyptian Style dancing and music. She expanded her training under the coaching of renown artist such as Dalia Carela, Ranya Renée, Nany of Egypt, Tamalyn Dallal, and others. Yowalka has worked a variety with renowned artists such as Serena, Dalia Carela & her Dance Collective, Mohamed Shahin and Helm Music Ensemble among others. She is currently a member of Zikrayat, and El Puente’s CADRE.
Yowalka holds a degree in Anthropology from Hunter College.
- ↑↓Zilla Dance Ensembleis a fusion bellydance troupe based out of NYC, led by director and main choreographer Brenna Crowley. Since its inception in 2009, they have performed in numerous theatrical shows, bellydance festivals and other dance events each year. The dancers that make up this ensemble come from all walks of life and various bellydance disciplines; together they celebrate the exuberance of movement and music.
- ↑↓ Delilah is an award winning performer, coach and author. She is the author of the book ‘Performance Mastery: Stage Presence Skill for Belly dancers’ which is available globally. It features the Performance Mastery method, which successfully combines her academic knowledge and performance experience to give you a unique understanding of stage presence and performance. Delia has always been fascinated by how people come to understand one and other. This naturally led her to pursue Social Anthropology at university. Academically Delia has studied at two world renowned institutions – The University of Oxford and The School of Oriental and African Studies, London. While here she studied Social Anthropology, and specialised in performativity, the use of non verbal expressive action to perform a constructed identity.
Delia is also the director of the Performance Mastery Production Aladdin: The classic tale told through dance. Visit www.delilahbellydance.com
- ↑↓Kelley McKinnon
See bio on the Directors and staff bio page.
- ↑↓Kierra Foster-Bahas studied the 5Rhythms® with Gabrielle Roth, the founder, for 15+ years. Kierra appears in Gabrielle’s Power Wave video and in the documentary “Dances of Ecstasy”. She also dances with PURE (Public Urban Ritual Experiment) an international organization of artists devoted to using belly dance to promote peace and end suffering. Kierra has been offering 5Rhythms® classes in New York City since 2008. She has given classes and workshops in Philadelphia; Washington D.C; Maryland; Connecticut; Brazil, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Visit www.shakingspiritwaves.com
- ↑MoroccoWith 53+ years researching/assimilating/performing/ lecturing/ teaching classes & master seminars internationally in Near/ Middle Eastern & North African dance, learned “in culture” here & “Over There”, Morocco has received numerous awards & accolades in her field & an interview with Morocco is in the Lincoln Center Dance Collection’s Oral History Archives. Nominated as one of America’s 100 Dance Treasures, her recently published reference book (in its 4th printing), already published in German (2013), is coming out in Chinese (Shanghai, July, 2014). Morocco organized/directed/choreographed for Morocco & the Casbah DanceExperience. She performed & lectured regularly in NYC’s Museum of Natural History (1970-98). Her articles have been published internationally since 1965. She’s been both a presenter & subject of other’s papers at CORD, ICHPER-SD/UNESCO, CID & SDHS conferences. She filmed & produced 6 research videos/ DVDs that won the Giza Award.
