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| Teachers Amanda / Angie / Ashley / Carolina / Erma / Farima / Hala / Jena / Leslie / Parna / Setareh |
Amanda Near Eastern Dance: Bellydance and Beyond Amanda has over 15 years experience studying and performing Near Eastern Dance, preceded by 19 years studying Classical Ballet. She was a member of Alexandra King's Seher Dance Ensemble for five years, and performed extensively throughout California as Folkloric Dancer with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble, a 60-member university music ensemble under the direction of Dr. Scott Marcus. Amanda has been a member of San Francisco's Hahbi'Ru Dance Ensemble since 1999. She also performed Turkish folk dance with the Yore Folk Dance Ensemble from 2003 through 2006, and Algerian dance with Danse Mahgreb in 2004 and 2005. Since 2005, she has performed extensively as a soloist throughout the Bay Area, including performances at the SF/BA MECDA Galas in January and December, 2006. Amanda is co-owner of Halanda Studio. Amanda specializes in Oriental dance (Bellydance) and Turkish dance styles, including Turkish Oryantal, Folk, and Romani Dance. She is accomplished in Oriental, folkloric, and classical dance styles from throughout the Near Eastern world -- from North Africa to the Levant, from Turkey to Central Asia. Her dance style is traditional, but often includes modern music and always a sense of fun. For more information, please visit Amanda's website: www.AmandaDancer.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Ashley López Tribal Basics and Tribal Fusion Ashley López has been studying bellydance for several years and is a passionate instructor and performer. Her stylistic influences come from the heart of San Francisco in American Tribal Style (ATS) and Tribal Fusion. She has studied with Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Kami Liddle, Carolena Nericcio, and others. She enjoys combining her knowledge of Jazz Dance, Hip-Hop, Flamenco, Salsa, Modern Dance and Yoga in her choreography and performance. She is a certified group fitness instructor and teaches Yoga, Pilates, Zumba and Bellydance full-time. In addition to teaching, performing and constantly learning more, she takes great pride in creating her own costumes and collecting antique ethnic jewelry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Angie O'Sullivan Qi Gong Flow Angie is a Licensed Acupuncturist, state and nationally certified to practice Traditional Chinese Medicine. A graduate of Five Branches Institute in Santa Cruz, CA, she currently practices at Lokahi Acupuncture in San Jose, where she focuses on treating digestive disorders, mental-emotional issues, and women’s health. When starting her studies at Five Branches, Angie was first introduced to the ancient Chinese exercise system known as Qi Gong. She quickly came to recognize its value in both maintaining and restoring health and became a dedicated student of this meditative, centering art of movement. She is now committed to bringing the healing value of Qi Gong to others through teaching. Angie studied for many years under Lee Holden, renowned Qi Gong practitioner and himself a Licensed Acupuncturist, attending his every class and interning with him in his private practice in Los Gatos, CA. She also attended numerous workshops of world-renowned Qi Gong masters, including Master Mantak Chia, Grandmaster Fu, and Grandmaster Zhang. For more information, please visit Angie's website. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Carolina Lugo Flamenco Director-Dancer-Choreographer-Master Teacher, Carolina Lugo is widely regarded as one of the most gifted Flamenco-Spanish dance artists of her generation. Carolina is a master of the castanets and Spanish dance. Her music video of her castanet interpretation of "Leyenda", is shown on the nationally broadcast show, Classical Arts Showcase. Carolina has dedicated herself over the last ten years to preserving the lineage of artistry of La Argentina, Antonio Triana, Luisa Antonio Triana, Lola Montes, Merche Esmeralda, Ciro and Azurin, by teaching the art form of both genres-Flamenco-Spanish dance, to a new generation of artists and dancers. Carolina made her professional debut at the age of 14. She has danced and toured the United States and internationally with leading companies, Lola MontesSpanish Dance Company, Luisa Triana Flamenco Dance Company, Jose Greco, Rosa Montoya Bailes Flamencos and has shared the stage with international Flamenco artists from Spain, such as Genaro Gomez, Cruz Luna, Teodoro Morca and Benito Palacios, performing in major concert halls throughout the United States and internationally as well as with leading symphonies throughout the country. Carolina danced as a guest artist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for multiple seasons at the Hollywood Bowl and was a featured soloist with the Los Angeles Opera in their productions of "Carmen" and "La Traviata" at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Most recently, Ms. Lugo has danced and collaborated on choreographic works with international Flamenco artists from Spain, Manuel Betanzos, Concha Vargas, Antonio Vargas {featured artist in the films "Strictly Ballroom" and "Mission Impossible II"} and Pepa Montes. Carolina received her training in Flamenco, Spanish Dance, Spanish Classical {Escuela Bolero}, Neo-Classical and Regional Dances in Spain from master Flamenco artists such as; Ciro, Luisa Triana, Antonio Vargas, Azurin, Concha Vargas and Pepa Montes and in the USA from Lola Montes, Jose Greco, Teo Morca, Rosa Montoya and Sarah de Luis. She is a world class artist having toured nationally and internationally with leading companies in the USA and abroad and has shared the stage with many international Flamenco artists from Spain and the USA, such as Lola Montes, Jose Greco, Antonio Vargas, Luisa Triana, Teo Morca, Cruz Luna, Pepa Montes, Jesus Montoya and Gino D'Auri, to name a few. Ms. Lugo is a master of the castanets, an integral part of Spanish dance. Her music video of her castanet interpretation of "Leyenda" is shown on the nationally broadcast show "Classic Arts Showcase." More information at http://www.carolinalugo.com/Lugo.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Erma Kalf Ashtanga Yoga Erma is a certified Yoga instructor with the White Lotus Foundation of Santa Barbara. Erma also holds certificates of the American Fitness Association of America as well as of the University of Hayward for Group Exercise and a certificate for Mat Pilates with Stott of Canada. Erma teaches yoga, Pilates, and salsa throughout the South Bay. She continues to enhance her yoga training with meditation classes and Continued Education yoga classes. She regularly takes master classes. When not teaching, Erma likes to ski, hike, read and practice yoga. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Farima Berenji Persian Dance Farima Berenji holds a B.S. in Health Science/Art History, as well as an M.A. in Anthropology/Archeology with a special emphasis on Egyptian and Mesopotamian Archeology. As a child, Farima was exposed to the world of art and dance by her mother who was a dancer, writer, and a musician. Farima continued her dance studies by taking extensive training in Persian Folklore dances, Cultural/Spiritual dances, Gypsy and Middle Eastern dances, and has performed with various professional dance groups. She is often a guest dancer and choreographer as well as a soloist performing abroad. Farima continued her passion by teaching ethnic and folkloric dance styles as well as teaching Mesopotamian, Persian, and Egyptian History in various educational institutions, community organization, as well as internationally. She has performed in various international music videos and has been in variety of international magazine advertisements. Through out her anthropological career, Farima had the privilege of working with the United Nations, and since then, she has done various anthropological research endeavors and archeological excavations in Iran and neighboring countries. Some of her theoretical research and publications include: “Wonders of Egypt,” “Nomads of Iran,” “Tribal and Cultural Dance of Iran,” “History of Persian Miniature Painting,” and “History of Persian Literature.” She also had the opportunity to be part of the CSU Hayward and the National Geographic research team for extensive research and a documentary project on “Human Genome Project/DNA.” Farima is currently a performer, instructor, and choreographer of Ballet Afsaneh and Ariel Dance Production. She has been awarded “Instructor of the Year” by Ballet Afsaneh. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Hala Middle Eastern Bellydance Hala has been dancing to the rhythms and melodies of the Middle East since she was a child in Alexandria, Egypt. She has been praised for her authentic form, elegant style and immaculate rhythms. Captivating audiences with her passion and energy, Hala performs solo and with her troupe. Hala teaches and performs her native dance all over the world. Her dance troupe was selected from over 115 dance companies to represent Middle Eastern dance at the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival in 2004. In 2005, she performed with master percussionist Hossam Ramzy in London, England and presented her native art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts in celebration of the King Tut exhibit. In 2006, she was elected the Vice President of the San Francisco bay area chapter of MECDA (Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association). In addition to performing & teaching, she leads dance tours to Egypt, hosts dance workshops by Master Egyptian teachers & provides information, performances and assistance to schools, cultural institutions & web-magazines on the origin and survival of this beautiful art form. She recently jointly opened Halanda Studio, a dance studio in San Jose where she hosts monthly live music open stage parties. For more information, please visit Hala's website: www.haladance.com. |
Jena Inay Inayan System of Eskrima - Self Defense Jena grew up in the Filipino Martial Arts under the training and guidance of her father and uncles. Though Eskrima has always been a part of her life, she really began her training at the age of five and continues today to teach and train. Being the daughter of a founder of a system has provided for a very unique perspective on life and training. It is this perspective that makes her versed as a teacher, and in life. Jena balances her martial arts life with her healing arts practice and knows this gives her a thorough understanding of the body and its capabilities. As a family tradition, Jena teaches with her brother, uncles and brothers in the art in a traditional class in West San Jose. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Leslie Funk Zumba - Latin Dance Fitness For information about Leslie, please visit her website: www.wellness-design.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Parna Basu Kathak Dance Vibrant stage presence, excellent command over rhythm and felicity of expression best describe Parna. She received her early training under the eminent Kathak Guru Smt. Reba Vidyarthi, prime disciple of Pt. Shambhu Maharaj of the legendary Kalka-Bindadin Gharana of Lucknow style of Kathak. Later Parna received her training in intricate nuances of Kathak under the doyen of Kathak, Padma Vibhushan Pt.Birju Maharaj for many years till she moved in the Bay Area after marriage. Before that she was regular faculty in her Guru’s institution, “Kalashram.” Parna has participated in many of the choreographic compositions of her Guru, Pt. Birju Maharaj and has accompanied and performed with him in far flung venues such as in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, China as well as prestigious venues in the West such as Queen Elizabeth Hall, London and Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, where again Parna recently gave her solo performance in the World Ethnic Dance Festival on June 24 and 25, 2006. An “A” graded artiste of Doordarshan, India, Parna has already to her credit several solo and group performances at many prestigious auditoriums and also historic venues in India such as Khajuraho Festival, Khajuraho, the Purana Qila, Delhi, the Taj Mahal, Agra etc. in the past. Parna has participated in a dance choreographed by Pt. Birju Maharaj in the film Devdas alongside Madhuri Dixit and also in the film Gadar. Now she has started her own company, Nritta Katha, School of Kathak Dance in this area after successfully carrying on the role of the Artistic Director in “iKathak” School of Dance for more than a year, teaching in various locations in the Bay Area. In that short tenure, she had the credit of organizing a successful annual show for her students at the Performing Arts Center, Sunnyvale. It is her constant endeavor to help her students develop an all-rounded personality through dance and to inspire them with the aesthetic and spiritual merits of Kathak. Parna is also faculty in ICC Sunnyvale and earlier ICC Milpitas. Recently, Parna choreographed a Bollywood dance number based on Kathak for Naach Company for a show presented in September 2006 in San Francisco. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Setareh Setareh's Passport to Bellydance For information about Setareh, please see her website: www.setarehdancer.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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