2010 Earth & Sky Workshop- Sky with Estelle Shao (Isis Belly Dance)
Estelle Shao is a founding director of the Isis oriental dance school of Shanghai, which is the first oriental dance school in Shanghai and one of the foremost in China.
Estelle was the first person to host such internationally renowned belly dancers from the the world to mainland China as Tamalyn Dallal, Morocco, Kaeshi Chai and Amar Gamal,Leila Haddad,Jillina,and the Belly Dance Superstars in Shanghai. as a consequence of these visits belly dance has become a significant trend in Shanghai.
Influenced by her mother’s passion for dance, Estelle Shao has made dance a lifestyle and a way of expressing a woman’s beauty. After practicing ballet for 7 years, Estelle fell in love with belly dance in the summer of 2005 when she began classes led by a half-Arabian, half Italian belly dancer. Estelle visited Egypt in both 2006 and 2007, where she took workshop from a lot of teachers at Raqia Hassan’s festival. In 2008,she went to Seattle and took Tamalyn’s week long workshop with Helene Eriksen as guest teacher.
Currently, she is collaborating with a few masters in Traditional Chinese Art Form and also those in the Mastery of Qi, researching into the relation between “Orientalism” in the Middle East and the traditional Chinese “Oriental” culture, how it is being expressed both in dance and in music. Through the fusion of both, exploring into the possibility in creating a new form of performance art style and trend.
For more information about Estelle Shao, please click here.
Estelle was the first person to host such internationally renowned belly dancers from the the world to mainland China as Tamalyn Dallal, Morocco, Kaeshi Chai and Amar Gamal,Leila Haddad,Jillina,and the Belly Dance Superstars in Shanghai. as a consequence of these visits belly dance has become a significant trend in Shanghai.
Influenced by her mother’s passion for dance, Estelle Shao has made dance a lifestyle and a way of expressing a woman’s beauty. After practicing ballet for 7 years, Estelle fell in love with belly dance in the summer of 2005 when she began classes led by a half-Arabian, half Italian belly dancer. Estelle visited Egypt in both 2006 and 2007, where she took workshop from a lot of teachers at Raqia Hassan’s festival. In 2008,she went to Seattle and took Tamalyn’s week long workshop with Helene Eriksen as guest teacher.
Currently, she is collaborating with a few masters in Traditional Chinese Art Form and also those in the Mastery of Qi, researching into the relation between “Orientalism” in the Middle East and the traditional Chinese “Oriental” culture, how it is being expressed both in dance and in music. Through the fusion of both, exploring into the possibility in creating a new form of performance art style and trend.
For more information about Estelle Shao, please click here.
2010 Earth & Sky Workshop- Earth with Tamalyn Dallal
Having started her study of Middle Eastern dance in 1976, Tamalyn Dallal has enjoyed a prolific career. She has taught and performed in 38 countries. In 1990, she founded the non profit arts organization “Mid Eastern Dance Exchange” in Miami Beach, through which she mentored thousands of dancers around the world. Through sixteen years of directing the organization, Ms. Dallal produced numerous stage productions and dance festivals, including the famed Orientalia Festival of Ethnic Dance in Miami Beach for fourteen years.
She authored three books, They Told Me I Couldn’t, about living and dancing in Colombia in the 1980′s, and the instructional book Belly Dancing for Fitness. In September, 2005, Ms. Dallal moved to Seattle, Washington, and began her latest endeavor, “40 Days and 1001 Nights”, in which she lived in five Muslim countries for 40 days each (Indonesia, Egypt, Zanzibar, Jordan, and China’s western most province, the predominately Muslim Xinjiang Autonomous Region.) “40 Days and 1001 Nights” became a book, documentary film, music cd (by Africa’s oldest orchestra, the 103 year old Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club of Zanzibar), and dance concert, all produced by Ms. Dallal. The final edition of the book came out in February, 2008, and it is now published in the US, India and Russia. 10 percent of the proceeds from this project go to the “1001 Nights Fund” to help people in the countries she visited and beyond.
Tamalyn is currently producing a second cd with the Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club of Zanzibar entitled “Made in Zanzibar.” Meanwhile, Ms. Dallal continues to teach Middle Eastern dance workshops, perform, and do speaking engagements around the globe.
For more information about Tamalyn Dallal, please click here.
She authored three books, They Told Me I Couldn’t, about living and dancing in Colombia in the 1980′s, and the instructional book Belly Dancing for Fitness. In September, 2005, Ms. Dallal moved to Seattle, Washington, and began her latest endeavor, “40 Days and 1001 Nights”, in which she lived in five Muslim countries for 40 days each (Indonesia, Egypt, Zanzibar, Jordan, and China’s western most province, the predominately Muslim Xinjiang Autonomous Region.) “40 Days and 1001 Nights” became a book, documentary film, music cd (by Africa’s oldest orchestra, the 103 year old Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club of Zanzibar), and dance concert, all produced by Ms. Dallal. The final edition of the book came out in February, 2008, and it is now published in the US, India and Russia. 10 percent of the proceeds from this project go to the “1001 Nights Fund” to help people in the countries she visited and beyond.
Tamalyn is currently producing a second cd with the Ikhwani Safaa Musical Club of Zanzibar entitled “Made in Zanzibar.” Meanwhile, Ms. Dallal continues to teach Middle Eastern dance workshops, perform, and do speaking engagements around the globe.
For more information about Tamalyn Dallal, please click here.
2010 Narrative Belly Dance with the Mezmer Society
Onca O'Leary, August Hoeer, Natalie Brown, and Asharah
The Mezmer Society was founded in the Autumn of 2007 and fits loosely within the Tribal Fusion genre. Some of the elements that are fused include belly dance, cabaret performance, Romany music, foppish occultism, unapologetically pretentious Belle Epoque café living, goodwill, bad behavior, misappropriated pop songs, and the horribly misguided notion that one can try and squeeze an entire Balkan brass band into one accordion.
For more information about the Mezmer Society, please click here.
The Mezmer Society was founded in the Autumn of 2007 and fits loosely within the Tribal Fusion genre. Some of the elements that are fused include belly dance, cabaret performance, Romany music, foppish occultism, unapologetically pretentious Belle Epoque café living, goodwill, bad behavior, misappropriated pop songs, and the horribly misguided notion that one can try and squeeze an entire Balkan brass band into one accordion.
For more information about the Mezmer Society, please click here.
2010 Anatomy of Belly Dance with Shamsi
2 Week Series
Shamsi (Charlie Pettus) is a professional dancer with a background in Middle Eastern, North African, Persian and Turkish dance, Bharatanataym, Yoga and Tai Chi. In addition to being one of 14 certified teachers of Dancemeditation in the world, Shamsi is a Certified Angel Practitioner, Certified "OM" (Oracle Messenger) and a Level III Usui and Kundalini Reiki Master. Shamsi offers classes in Dancemeditation, bellydance, and general fitness as well as classes on meditation and communicating with your Angels. Shamsi also offers intuitive readings and Reiki healing sessions locally in South Louisiana and around the nation. Shamsi's teaching is guided by a desire to make beautiful, healing movement accessible and possible for everyone. By cultivating constant, subtle awareness, Dancemeditation reaches in and wakes our sleeping inner beauty. Shamsi brings these dynamic principals to her teaching.
For more information about Shamsi, please click here.
Shamsi (Charlie Pettus) is a professional dancer with a background in Middle Eastern, North African, Persian and Turkish dance, Bharatanataym, Yoga and Tai Chi. In addition to being one of 14 certified teachers of Dancemeditation in the world, Shamsi is a Certified Angel Practitioner, Certified "OM" (Oracle Messenger) and a Level III Usui and Kundalini Reiki Master. Shamsi offers classes in Dancemeditation, bellydance, and general fitness as well as classes on meditation and communicating with your Angels. Shamsi also offers intuitive readings and Reiki healing sessions locally in South Louisiana and around the nation. Shamsi's teaching is guided by a desire to make beautiful, healing movement accessible and possible for everyone. By cultivating constant, subtle awareness, Dancemeditation reaches in and wakes our sleeping inner beauty. Shamsi brings these dynamic principals to her teaching.
For more information about Shamsi, please click here.
2010 Tribal Fusion with Mardi Love
Mardi Love is an assistant director, choreographer, and part time costumer for the internationally-renowned dance company, The Indigo. Being part of Miles Copeland's Bellydance Superstars show, she has toured extensively throughout the world. A former member of Urban Tribal Belly Dance, in San Diego, that she connected with Rachel Brice, Michelle Campbell, Sharon Kihara, and Zoe Jakes. She moved to the Bay Area in 2004 to expand her horizons in tribal style.
Mardi is always looking for new ways in all aspects of the dance and pays attention to a distinct tribal maquilage and outfit and doesn't limit her creativity to dance. She now dances with Rachel Brice and Zoe Jakes of the Indigo and the Le Serpent Rouge Revue.
For more information about Mardi Love, please click here.
Mardi is always looking for new ways in all aspects of the dance and pays attention to a distinct tribal maquilage and outfit and doesn't limit her creativity to dance. She now dances with Rachel Brice and Zoe Jakes of the Indigo and the Le Serpent Rouge Revue.
For more information about Mardi Love, please click here.
2009 Rhythm & Sk'Zils with Lady Morrighan (The Belly Room)
I started dancing at the awkward age of 15 after discovering a dog eared copy of "The Compleat Belly Dancer" inside a box of old costumes, and have loved it so much, that I have tirelessly pursued the art since my first class (back in 1993). I take every opportunity to study with talented professionals. For nearly two decades, my focus has been on dances from the Middle-East and parts of North Africa (commonly referred to as Oriental Dance). While I have attended a vast variety of workshops, I have also been blessed to have had two talented and radically different principle teachers.
My first teacher, Suzanna Armetta, was an Oriental Dancer (peace be upon her). I feel fortunate to have been influenced by her grace and passion for Egyptian dance. She taught me zils, veils, and the importance of sequins. She was such an elegant woman. My second instructor, Teresa Tomb of Rakadu Gypsy, is always changing. She is earthy and raw, and it was with her that I began learning American Tribal Style. She dances from her heart, and that inspired me to move from mine. All-the-while, the regional dance community organized fantastic workshops with Master Instructors. At these same events, I was exposed to dance workshops that explored South African, Hula, Indian, and Flamenco steps.Dance is a form of self-expression, and to fully experience this, I have been open to experimenting. I "discovered" erotic dance in my 20's after entering a local gentlemen's club. I watched the ladies on stage and I was completely transfixed by their movements and confident attitudes. They were women like I had never witnessed before. I realized I wanted to learn how move and feel like them. The ladies and I had a great thing goin'... I would tip or buy them drinks, and in exchange, they would show me different dance steps. It wasn't long before I was welcome in the dressing room and allowed to come in before the club opened to practice pole tricks with a few of my favorite cats. In 2007, I got a deal with World Dance New York to create 2 programs in the art of exotic dance (with a third one coming in 2011)!! Recently, my studies have included Ballet and Modern. These styles are radically different from folk dances that I generally study, but I am finding the movement vocabulary is very benefical. These styles have improved my arm carriage, foot work, and my ability to exicute spins and hold poses. These days you might spot me riding my bike across Southeastern Louisiana University campus where I am pursuing a BA in Psychology and Modern dance. My future plans are to obtain a Masters in Dance Therapy.
For more information about Lady Morrighan, please click here.
My first teacher, Suzanna Armetta, was an Oriental Dancer (peace be upon her). I feel fortunate to have been influenced by her grace and passion for Egyptian dance. She taught me zils, veils, and the importance of sequins. She was such an elegant woman. My second instructor, Teresa Tomb of Rakadu Gypsy, is always changing. She is earthy and raw, and it was with her that I began learning American Tribal Style. She dances from her heart, and that inspired me to move from mine. All-the-while, the regional dance community organized fantastic workshops with Master Instructors. At these same events, I was exposed to dance workshops that explored South African, Hula, Indian, and Flamenco steps.Dance is a form of self-expression, and to fully experience this, I have been open to experimenting. I "discovered" erotic dance in my 20's after entering a local gentlemen's club. I watched the ladies on stage and I was completely transfixed by their movements and confident attitudes. They were women like I had never witnessed before. I realized I wanted to learn how move and feel like them. The ladies and I had a great thing goin'... I would tip or buy them drinks, and in exchange, they would show me different dance steps. It wasn't long before I was welcome in the dressing room and allowed to come in before the club opened to practice pole tricks with a few of my favorite cats. In 2007, I got a deal with World Dance New York to create 2 programs in the art of exotic dance (with a third one coming in 2011)!! Recently, my studies have included Ballet and Modern. These styles are radically different from folk dances that I generally study, but I am finding the movement vocabulary is very benefical. These styles have improved my arm carriage, foot work, and my ability to exicute spins and hold poses. These days you might spot me riding my bike across Southeastern Louisiana University campus where I am pursuing a BA in Psychology and Modern dance. My future plans are to obtain a Masters in Dance Therapy.
For more information about Lady Morrighan, please click here.
2009 Tribal Fusion Experiment with Lady Morrighan (The Belly Room)
The Belly Room is located in Hammond, LA.
2009 Bikini Belly with Safira (All Points Belly Dance)
Safira has been dancing as long as she can remember and through the years has studied ballet, tap, jazz, and square dance. She also has studies in gymnastics, lyrical, modern, and hip hop as well. Safira began her studies in belly dance with Halima in Richlands, North Carolina in an effort to get back in shape after the birth of her son and the form quickly became an integral part of her life. After relocating back home to the New Orleans area in 2005, she began studying with Lady Morrighan of Boundless Fusion Belly Dance in Hammond, Louisiana and was an original member of her student troupe “Hip’notiq Boundless Belly Dance”. She has also studied with Kryss of Crescent Lotus Studio in New Orleans, Louisiana and has attended workshops with Hadia, Yasmina Ramzy, Sahra Saeda, Tobias Roberson, and many more. Safira earned her Level I Teacher Training Certificate in 2006. In May of 2009, she completed level one of Journey Through Egypt, a series of Intensive Workshops in Egyptian Folkloric Dance. She opened All Points Belly Dance in 2008.
For more information about Safira, please click here.
For more information about Safira, please click here.
2009 Mother/ Daughter Day with Safira (All Points Belly Dance)
All Points Belly Dance is located in Mandeville, LA.
2009 Shimmy Concentrate with Safira (All Points Belly Dance)
4 Week Series
2007 Dance Mediation with Shamsi
In 2000 Shamsi began what she calls “waking up.” After a series of seeming coincidences, Shamsi embarked on a vision quest, spending six months of intense preparation culminating in three-days of fasting spent alone in the woods near Brevard, N.C. Through this experience, her life path was revealed and she has never looked back.
During the course of preparation for the vision quest, Shamsi worked daily practicing numerous meditations and meditative techniques that included astral projection, journeying and working with Power Animals, as well as re-discovering and developing her intuitive and psychic abilities. She also acquired her Usui Reki Levels I, II & III while researching different energy healing methods for vision quest "homework." Somewhere during this path, Shamsi began working with Angelic energies. Initially the Angelic realm was something she thought to be more mythological in nature until Shamsi realized, that these beings had always been with her; as much a part as breathing or blood running through her veins.
Less than two years later, Shamsi’s introduction to Dancemeditation seemed a natural continuation of the spiritual and meditative practices begun with the vision quest. The ability to heal through Dancemeditation without examination of an issue has given Shamsi the freedom and strength to plumb the depths of her own psyche and soul, in turn allowing her the ability to help others do the same. Shamsi now shares techniques learned through spirit animal meditations, astral projections, past-life regressions, energy work, drumming, dancing, finger cymbals, Dancemeditation, whirling, and general awareness.
For more information about Shamsi, please click here.
During the course of preparation for the vision quest, Shamsi worked daily practicing numerous meditations and meditative techniques that included astral projection, journeying and working with Power Animals, as well as re-discovering and developing her intuitive and psychic abilities. She also acquired her Usui Reki Levels I, II & III while researching different energy healing methods for vision quest "homework." Somewhere during this path, Shamsi began working with Angelic energies. Initially the Angelic realm was something she thought to be more mythological in nature until Shamsi realized, that these beings had always been with her; as much a part as breathing or blood running through her veins.
Less than two years later, Shamsi’s introduction to Dancemeditation seemed a natural continuation of the spiritual and meditative practices begun with the vision quest. The ability to heal through Dancemeditation without examination of an issue has given Shamsi the freedom and strength to plumb the depths of her own psyche and soul, in turn allowing her the ability to help others do the same. Shamsi now shares techniques learned through spirit animal meditations, astral projections, past-life regressions, energy work, drumming, dancing, finger cymbals, Dancemeditation, whirling, and general awareness.
For more information about Shamsi, please click here.
