| I LOVE ETHNIC DANCE--especially the Middle Eastern styles which inspired me to begin learning 12 years ago and continue to fascinate today! My most recent projects are the creation of The Souk (a new performance space in the making), and Arabesque; a music & dance group. Arabesque dance choreographies are a fusion of styles, and often include nontraditional (sword and fire) balancing and floorwork segments set to live music composed by Spence Harrison (using predominately Arabic rhythms and instruments). Prior to Arabesque, I was the 'house dancer' every weekend at Club Euro and Hollywood Restaurant (2000- 2001), performed with Aalim Dance Company (1998-2003), and managed Son of William (1993-2003) with emphasis on arranging theatrics for live shows that involved a cast of 15 performers. I spent the past six years co-creating and developing Utopia Studios (a center for music and dance rehearsal, which currently serves over 500 groups in a 25,000 sq ft facility). I enjoy participating in events and group routines with other dancers (or solo), creating new choreographies, improv, freedom of expression, forever learning new techniques, and witnessing the awesome dedication and beauty of other dancers at their craft. I dislike competitiveness, jealousy, fickleness, and oppression in every form. Ultimately I dance to connect with universal energies of our shared ancestry through patterns of movement. Below is a partial list of some places where I've performed and trained: | ||
| Venues | Events | Training |
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NIGHTCLUBS & BARS: Club Euro Firehouse Galaxy Zoo Room, Berzerker Studios The Shanti Venice Cafe Jazz at the Bistro
RESTAURANTS: St. Albans Country Club Collinsville Country Club Olympia Greek Restaurant Hollywood Bosnian Restaurant Schlafly Tap Room
MUSEUMS History Museum City Museum
THEATRES & BANQUET HALLS Edison Theatre Queeny Park theatre SLU campus UMSL campus Washington University Cheshire Inn (wedding reception) Midtown Arts Center Union Station Pavilion State Capital Building, Jefferson city Wood River Midtown Theatre
GALLERIES Windows On Washington ArtLoft Gallery MadArt Gallery
CITY PARKS Tower Grove Park Forest Park Maryland Plaza Oak Knoll Park Kiener Plaza |
A-List Party, St. Louis Magazine Belles at the Bistro Summer Soiree Channel 4 Morning Show with Virginia Kerr The LOT music festival Renaissance Faire of Wentzville Renaissance Faire of Kansas City Renaissance Faire of Jefferson City St Louis Ren Faire at Oak Knoll Park Color Fest Earth Day Parade, Forest Park Mardi Gras (Soulard) Traditional Bosnian Wedding Pit & the Pendulum SOW show Night of the Ripper concert Guerrilla ArtFare with KAAN Hearses & Hotrods concert Dirty Ernie's GreaseBowl concert New Years Eve Armaggedon Ball w/ Son of William Night at the Casbah Celebration of Raqs Sharki with Yousry Sharif Black History Expo with Cedric the Entertainer Working Women's Survival Convention Illinois State Fair Pagan Picnic Private celebrations--birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Charity fundraisers, benefit concerts Dance Haflas & Workshops
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1996 Holborn Dance Studios, Jacquelyn Chapman. London. Raqs Sharki group classes & workshops.
1997 Sahara Sand Productions, St. Louis. American belly dance techniques with Jasmin and Mona. Aalim Dance Academy, Barb Nicholson. St. Louis. Beginning belly dance techniques & choreographies.
1998-2003 Aalim Dance Academy, Lois Marshall. St. Louis. Intermediate-Advanced Turkish, Egyptian, American-style cabaret, traditional folk dances from throughout the middle east.
1999-2003 Joined Aalim Dance Company as a performer. Participated in group and solo dance events. Workshops with Suhaila Salimpour, Jasmin Jahal, Yousry Sharif, Leila Gamal and Diana. COCA (Center of Creative Arts), Drazi. Beginning Modern Dance. Golds Gym, Power Yoga and Pilates.
2004 STLCC (St Louis Community College), Holly Seitz Beginnng Ballet & Modern Dance Intermediate Ballet & Modern dance COCA (Center of Creative Arts). Mostly Modern intensive workshops with Jennifer Medina on Horton technique, Germaul Barnes (Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, NY) on Horton, Dunham, traditional African techniques, and Angie Campbell on Yoga for Dancers. Desert Moon Dance with Arleah on Raqs Sharki. Workshops with Hadia and Yousry Sharif.
2006 City Studio, Keith Tyron Williams, Dunham technique. 2007-Present Utopia Studios, Exotic Rhythms Bellydance, Tribal Fusion technique taught by Ami Sprandel. Utopia Studios, Mixed Martial Arts training by St Louis Training Circle.
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