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Galaxy &
Constellation Seminar
Instructors |
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Thursday Galaxy
Instructors: |
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Frank Farinaro
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Frank, a life-long dancer, is Colorado's premiere male
bellydancer. Over the past decade, Frank has trained in numerous
contemporary
and ethnic dance styles. Since 2005, Frank has
performed and taught classes
and workshops at events in over 18
cities and 6 states across the US. In 2009,
Frank won Yaa Halla
Y'all's the
People's Choice Award
Tribal/Alternative Star in
Dallas, TX. Frank's current project is
developing his signature Hammerhead
Sharqi Dance Technique, a
style of dance and dance instruction which focuses
on artistic
dance fusion,
athletic body conditioning
and new-age meditative practices. |
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Yana
- Yana comes to us all the way from Russia and is a
second generation dancer known for passionate and soulful perfrmances
ranging from traditional to theatrical and fusion. She is the
founder of Daytona Beach Bellydance, one of the esteemed instructors of
the Orlando Bellydance Academy and is also a multi-award soloist who was
recently crowned 'Bellydancer of the World'.
‘Yana is an absolutely breathtaking dancer that has the rare ability
to transport you into her magical world… and make you never want to
leave. As
an instructor, she passionate about sharing not only her vast knowledge
of the art form, but to truly help each dancer find their own voice. She
is a unique and magnificent gem in the Middle Eastern Dance Arts.’ –
Suspira, Orlando Bellydance.
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Arielle
- Arielle is a dynamic and passionately
dedicated dancer based out of Orlando and Coral Springs, Florida. Her
infatuation with bellydance began when she was growing up in Egypt,
where she fell in love with Middle Eastern culture, music, and dance.
Currently, Arielle is a popular teacher of Orlando Bellydance and an
in-demand performer throughout Florida. With her distinctive style and
look, Arielle is an up-and-coming dancer that we are all sure to see
more of.
Arielle received her first tiara at Bellydance Masters in Orlando,
Florida winning the 2013 Stellar Advantage Professional Cabaret Soloist
competition. The next year, 2014, was Arielle's debut at Yaa Halla,
Y'all and competing in The Yellow Rose of Texas Belly Dance Star
Competition. There was no stopping Arielle, as she won both the
Judge's Choice and People's Choice for Professional Tribal/Alternative
Soloist AND the Judges Choice for Professional Cabaret Soloist, the
first time anyone had ever achieved this at the competition.
This speaks of her versatility, as Arielle is trained in many styles of
dance besides Raq Sharki such as: Middle Eastern folk, Burlesque,
Flamenco, Jazz and several others. This vast background contributes to
her unique style, which ranges from sassy to sorrowful, feminine to
fiery, goofy to elegant.
This will be Arielle's first
time teaching at Yaa Halla Y’all and she looks forward to sharing her
knowledge and love for the dance with everyone. For more information
about Arielle, check out her Facebook fan page under ArielleBellydance.
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Thursday
Constellation
Instructor: |
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Sal Maktoub
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Sal has been dancing for as long as he can remember. He grew up
with
music and dance, particularly that which was heavily infused with
drumming. He spent
summers on the beach with his family, dancing to the
Latin social dances – punta,
salsa, merengue, bachata. As he grew older,
other forms of music and dance came
into his life, such as Brazilian
Samba and Middle Eastern dance. His natural curiosity
for these art
forms and the cultures from which they stem quickly became an obsession
and a passion to improve.
In 2010, Sal attended Black Orchid Danse’s event in Atlanta, GA, and
entered in
the Drum Solo Competition. Considering his upbringing and his
affinity to percussions,
it seemed appropriate and fitting. He won first
place in the competition, which was judged
by Tito Seif, Kaeshi Chai,
and David of Scandinavia. In 2011, he decided on taking his
talents to
an international stage and competed in London’s Shimmy in the City Male
Competition. He won third place in the competition, which was judged by
Egyptian
superstars Asmahan, Khaled Mahmoud, and Tito Seif.
Today, Sal is an accomplished dancer, performer, instructor, and
choreographer in
Middle Eastern, Brazilian, and Latin-style dances. In
any genre, he has outstanding musicality and mesmerizes audiences with
his amazing technique. His time spent within the Middle Eastern culture
and his own Latin background bring to his performances an authentic and
very musical quality. His dedication to the culture behind his dancing
has made him a well-rounded dancer with a great connection to the
meaning behind the movements and
the music.
Click here to view
Sal's performance at Yaa Halla, Y'all 2012! |
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Karlos Khalil
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A
dramatic
performer, Karlos Khalil loves to blend traditional moves with lyrical
expression. His awards include Bellydancer of The Universe 2015 - first
place in Fusion, Props, groupp and the Universal categories. At Yaa
Halla, Y'all 2012, he gave a stunning performance, inning first place in
the Tribal/Fusion Professional Solo category.
Karlos started in belly dancing 10 years ago.
He has an extensicve background in
various branches of the fine arts such as Acting, Contemporary
Dance, Jazz, Yoga and more.
After a busy year of teaching and performing in 2014 - Texas, Florida,
Las Vegas and Germany, he is returning to once again bring his dramatic
flair to students who crave a deeper meaning in their performances.
'I
believe in humanity and if we all love the world it has a future,'
Karlos.
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Friday Galaxy
Instructors: |
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Princess Farhana
- Internationally acclaimed dance star Princess Farhana
(Pleasant Gehman) has performed, taught, researched and written
about belly dance and burlesque since 1990. She has appeared in Egypt,
Turkey, Hong Kong and Australia; toured several times across Europe and
The United Kingdom, as well as throughout North America. An artistic
chameleon and a boundary-pushing pioneer, she performs many styles of
dance with ease, from ultra traditional to contemporary belly dance and
burlesque. Her diverse talents encompass visual, literary, musical and
dramatic arts as well as dance. Trained in Egyptian style belly dance by
Zahra Zuhair in Los Angeles and Raqia Hassan in Cairo among many others,
The Princess is well known as a theatrical belly dance fusion performer,
conceiving and executing fantasy tableaux in minute detail, a
dramatically recreating vintage styles of Oriental Dance from the
Edwardian Era, the 1920's, The Egyptian Golden Age, and the American
Cabaret Style of the Sixties and Seventies. The Princess is known for
her high-concept, innovative performances, dramatic stage presence, and
incredible abdominal work. Her warmth, enthusiasm, extensive knowledge
and her adventurous spirit -both on and off stage- captivate audiences
worldwide. |
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Silvia Salamanca
- Silvia Salamanca is an internationally acclaimed
performer
and instructor
from Mallorca, Spain.
A
life-long dancer, she graduated at the age of nineteen as a
major in ballet
and performed professionally as a modern dancer in major Europe
festivals
with the contemporary dance company of the University of
Barcelona.
She started her career as a belly dancer in 2001,
when realizing the
enormous benefits that this art-form brings to women in both
body and soul.
As a natural evolution in her journey, Silvia discovered tribal
fusion in the
USA and combined it with a deep research into her own cultural
roots:
spanish gypsy and arabic. Hence with
her work in the field of Zambra
Mora (spanish gypsy-oriental dance fusion) Silvia gained
international
recognition and is currently invited to teach workshops and
perform in major
festivals world-wide, including being twice headliner for the
Contest of the
Bellydancer of the world in Germany,
and being featured as the local talent
for the Bellydance Superstars shows in October 2011 – Houston.
Silvia is also the director of Shunyata Belly Dance, a nationally awarded
tribal fusion company and a proud member of Urban Gypsy,
Houston’s
premiere ATS troupe.
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ShoShannah
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ShoShannah is a professional Belly dance and World Fusion Artist. She is well versed in ballet,
jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, belly dance, modern, and tribal fusion. She also has a comprehensive knowledge of Indian, African,
Brazilian, and Latin styles of dance. With over 15 years of experience in dance, music and theatre ShoShannah combines her knowledge of the stage with her love of world dance. She is a
choreographer, dance instructor, fitness coach, and so much more. A true visionary she is very passionate about life and dance.
ShoShannah was the winner of the Yellow Rose of Texas Tribal/Alternative
Solo Star at Yaa Halla, Y'all 2011 and Tribal Soloist at Belly Dancer of
the Year 2012. |
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Friday
Constellation
Instructors: |
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Doug Adamz
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2014 marked the thirty sixth anniversary of the album’ Dream
Dancer’, said to be the first album of belly dance music
composed and performed entirely by North American musicians.
It was on the forefront of the genres that came to be known as
‘New Age’ and ‘World Beat’ music. Regardless of where it
might stand on the constantly shifting landscape of musical
styles and classifications, there is no doubt that the music of
‘Dream Dancer’ has touched the lives of listeners and dancers
around the world. In this story Doug Adamz, producer,
violinist, and principal composer for ‘Dream Dancer’, reflects
on its creation and history.
Click here to read the entire story.
Doug Adamz has recorded five albums of original, instrumental
music and three albums of his songs. His compositions have been
used by The Joffrey and other ballet companies (Santa Fe/Aspen,
Oklahoma City, San Francisco), featured in a film by Robert
Altman (The Company), heard in a PBS documentary soundtrack (Jim
Thorpe, World's Greatest Athlete) and in two Spanish television
series (La Frontera Herida, Sahel). The Kronos Quartet
commissioned Doug to write several short pieces and Stevie Coyle
(The Waybacks) and Dr. Elmo (Grandma--Reindeer) have recorded
and released some of Doug’s songs on their albums. He’s
performed with Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Joan Baez, and many
finger-style illuminaries like Stevie Coyle and Doug Young,
played (informally) with Maria Muldaur, and Jim Messina,
recorded with Peter Rowan and Huey Lewis and opened for many
stars including Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jesse Colin
Young, Leo Kotke, David Lindley, Dottie West, The Chambers
Brothers, Steppenwolf, Johnny
Rivers and Johnny Lee. His 1973 degree in music is from the
University of Texas at El Paso, with a major in guitar.
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Saturday Galaxy
Instructors: |
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Mia Sha'uri
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Mia Sha'uri is an incredible rising star we have watched
blossom over
the last 7 years. Her amazing maturity, talent, diversity and
discipline prepared her for her recent title of
Belly Dancer
of the Universe
2008 and Cabaret Professional Dancer 2009. Mia's wide
range of professional
artistic talent including not only Cabaret, but
also Tribal, Gypsy, Latin and Bomba,
coupled with her dynamic stage
presence, make her a crowd favorite everywhere
she performs and a
shooting star to watch! Winner of Yaa Halla, Y'all
People's
Choice Award
Cabaret Star Competition in 2008 and 2009!
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Silvia Salamanca
- Silvia Salamanca is an internationally acclaimed
performer
and instructor
from Mallorca, Spain.
A
life-long dancer, she graduated at the age of nineteen as a
major in ballet
and performed professionally as a modern dancer in major Europe
festivals
with the contemporary dance company of the University of
Barcelona.
She started her career as a belly dancer in 2001,
when realizing the
enormous benefits that this art-form brings to women in both
body and soul.
As a natural evolution in her journey, Silvia discovered tribal
fusion in the
USA and combined it with a deep research into her own cultural
roots:
spanish gypsy and arabic. Hence with
her work in the field of Zambra
Mora (spanish gypsy-oriental dance fusion) Silvia gained
international
recognition and is currently invited to teach workshops and
perform in major
festivals world-wide, including being twice headliner for the
Contest of the
Bellydancer of the world in Germany,
and being featured as the local talent
for the Bellydance Superstars shows in October 2011 – Houston.
Silvia is also the director of Shunyata Belly Dance, a nationally awarded
tribal fusion company and a proud member of Urban Gypsy,
Houston’s
premiere ATS troupe.
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Amaya
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Amaya, The Desert Queen of New Mexico
Dance History and Highlights…
Early in her career, Amaya she won 1st Place at a
dance competition at the Cairo Sheraton in Egypt (1979). She
even admits to “running away to join the circus” (Salome
Traumtheatre in Hamburg, Germany and Circus Conelli in
Zurich, Switzerland, 1980- 1982).
She was a featured performer in the German
extravaganza, “Salome,” and also in the theatrical
production “Zorba.”
Amaya won the prestigious “Dancer of the Year”
awarded by the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance
(IAMED). She retired her annual “Shake & Bake Dance
Festival” in New Mexico after 15 years.
This festival added thousands of dollars to the
tourist economy in her state…dancers from many different
countries joined her in the Land of Enchantment for long
days of dance and tours.
Then along came Bert Balladine.
He was her very first seminar teacher.
He noticed Amaya dancing in a homemade green costume.
He was overheard to say, “Too bad that girl won’t
make it.
She’s
good, but
has no
money to be discovered.”
Yet, Bert and Amaya’s path kept crossing. He became
Amaya’s mentor and dance partner and helped open doors for
her around the world. Together they performed with many of
the greats in this fascinating dance until Bert transitioned
into the Big Stage in the Sky in 2009.
Today Amaya produces her
intimate and intensive Wise Woman Dance Retreat in the Land
of Enchantment, New Mexico.
This retreat is an intense and intimate gathering of
like-minded dance spirits for dancers from around the world.
She is also the proud producer of the best selling
dvd “American Legends in Belly Dance,” honoring the American
icons that lead to the explosion of Oriental Dance around
the world.
Currently, Amaya, is working on her latest project, “Magical
Meditation for the Dancer,” a cd/dvd package of soul
inspiring music and energies.
Instructional video/dvd/music
production, teaching local dance and aerobics classes, all
keep Amaya’s Dance Productions busy on a daily level when
she is not traveling.
As a performer,
Amaya has roots in Southern Spain through her infamous name.
“Amaya” represents a long line of Gitanos ---both dancers
and musicians.
She took on her last name as her stage name at the
suggestion of a yellow-page ad salesman who promised her
that her name would be at the top of the list in the phone
book if she chose an “A” name.
Amaya’s dance is filled with passion and fire,
tempered with elegance and flashes of fun. Her dance is an
unusual showcase of Spanish/Arabic styling with
soul-stirring taksims (slow, dramatic dance).
This fusion expresses the heart of Andalucia with the
spirit of Arabia.
She has chosen “La Mora Gitana” to describe her
unique interpretation to this dance.
Amaya
gives credit…
… to the many who gave her training, emotional and business
support:
Libby
Prothero and Bert Balladine, DeAnn of Light Rain fame for
her instruction in spinning, laughing in life, and moving
seamlessly across a stage; Isis and Del of Dallas, TX for
their abounding energy and support in all areas; and Suhaila
Salimpour for her friendship, support and inspiration.
Her mentor and dance
partner, Roman “Bert” Balladine, has said
“Amaya is a jewel in the crown of the Oriental World.”
Her educational background…
…includes a BS degree from the University of New Mexico,
Massage Therapy license
(State of Texas), is a certified aerobics instructor, and
has dabbled in studies in African, Indian Kathak, Spanish
Flamenco, Samba, Mexican Folkloric Dance, yoga, home
construction/design, and, most importantly, intensive
studies in
life.
WWW.WISEWOMANDANCER.COM – EMAIL: AMAYADANCES@GMAILCOM
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Saturday
Constellation
Instructor: |
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Susu Pampanin
- Susu
Pampanin is a master of all types of percussion instruments and
styles of music; and her incredible talent is especially evident
in her work in Middle Eastern drumming. Susu is well known for
her virtuosity in Arabic drumming and is one of the few female
Middle Eastern drummers highly respected by the Arabic
professional music community. Additionally, she is proficient in
Salsa, Latin, African and many other types of fusion and
individual composition of drum styles. Susu's talent and
passion for percussion rhythm has enabled her to fuse
traditional and contemporary Arabic sounds and Belly dance
rhythmic styles with both Latin beats and American pop elements
to create her fresh innovative sounds.
Susu began honing her techniques as a small child, and by the
age of 13, she was sitting in with Arabic orchestras. Her
studies eventually expanded to include the complex rhythms of
Afro-Cuba, Brazil, North Africa and even traditional Western
percussion techniques. Her interest and studies have taken her
to Egypt and Morocco. She is now one of the most sought after
percussionists in the U.S. and is an expert on Middle Eastern
rhythms. Two of her more popular CDs are
Susu and The Cairo
Cats and Hands
of Time.
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Sunday Galaxy
Instructors: |
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Stacey Lizette
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Stacey began studying belly dance in 1995. In 2001, she was
introduced to Suhaila Salimpour''s format and has been hooked every
since.
Stacey
enjoys cross training in other disciplines such as ballet, jazz, modern,
Pilates and weight training. She continues to attend numerous belly
dance workshops with instructors from around the world: Momo Kadous,
Randa Kamel, Yasmina of Cairo, Aida Nour, Mo Geddawi, Farida Fahme,
Jillina, Magda & Atef Farag, Aziza, Bozenka, Delilah, and many others.
Stacey currently teaches weekly beginner and advanced belly dance
classes in Austin, TX based on the Salimpour School of Dance formats.
She has instructed for several years in group, private and semi-private
venues (Diva Dance studio, Tapestry Dance Studio, UT Informal Classes,
Open Lotus).
Stacey is pursuing her Level V certification in the Suhaila format,
which is the official teaching level enabling graduates to offer Suhaila
CEC’s (Continuing Education Credits) to certified students. She has
traveled with Suhaila Salimpour nationally and internationally (Denver,
Maryland, Belgium, Milan, Hong Kong, Taiwan) as a teaching assistant.
Stacey directs the Tekatek Dance Ensemble, her advanced student
dance troupe.
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Mia Sha'uri
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Mia Sha'uri is an incredible rising star we have watched
blossom over
the last 7 years. Her amazing maturity, talent, diversity and
discipline prepared her for her recent title of
Belly Dancer
of the Universe
2008 and Cabaret Professional Dancer 2009. Mia's wide
range of professional
artistic talent including not only Cabaret, but
also Tribal, Gypsy, Latin and Bomba,
coupled with her dynamic stage
presence, make her a crowd favorite everywhere
she performs and a
shooting star to watch! Winner of Yaa Halla, Y'all
People's
Choice Award
Cabaret Star Competition in 2008 and 2009! |
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Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan
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Ma*Shuqa's dance style and teaching
repertoire reflect years of study evident in her dazzling performances to
Egyptian, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, Moroccan, Persian, and
Lebanese music. Ma*Shuqa's
method of teaching Oriental Dance blends instruction in technique
and performance and utilizes a self-discovery format combined with
structured scaffolded instruction. Scaffolded instruction
provides a framework for learning. During instruction Ma*Shuqa
brings to light elements of movement that each dancer can reflect
upon to understand and develop her own dance style. The Ma*Shuqa
Method includes instruction and awareness of: body posture, dance
stance and weight shifting, foot fall style, dance movement
preferences for torso, arms and hands, movement tempo preference,
and the 80:20 body undulation that determines individual dance
style. Students taking a workshop with Ma*Shuqa experience
'the
professional difference, elegance of style'. |
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Sunday
Constellation
Instructor: |
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Carmine Guida
- Carmine says: ''Teaching is my
passion. I have the wonderful job of traveling the world
teaching people how to play doumbek. It brings me great joy to
have someone who has never played a musical instrument before be
able to play several rhythms after just one class. My specialty
is teaching drummers and dancers how to work together. I love my
job.'
Carmine has taught drum classes in California,
Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington. He has also taught
and performed in Greece, Hungary, Mexico.
Additionally,
his sheet music and recordings are being used for Carnegie Hall's
Citi Global Encounters program
which introduces high school students to music styles from
around the world. |
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