I’m wrapping up an amazing, intense, and inspiring weekend at one of my favorite dance festivals: TribalCon.  TribalCon seems to attract a certain kind of dancer: one that is thoughtful, intelligent, and conscientious.  Not that these dancers don’t attend other festivals, but when an event begins with Professor Donna Mejia giving a lecture on hyper-sexuality in Western culture, the overall tone for the rest of the weekend is greatly different than others.

Next up – Gothla US, which is one of my OTHER favorite events of the year.  While I brought out an old-school-meets-new-school belly dance performance at TribalCon, my Xenomorph from Belly Horror will be returning to the stage again at Gothla next weekend.  I love presenting so many different styles of dance that reflect the many different aspects of my personality.

After Gothla, I head to Europe – Switzerland and Italy.  I have never been to Switzerland, and I’m so excited!  Friends of mine will be taking me to thermal baths, which my tired dancer/traveler body will greatly enjoy.

When I return home, at the end of March, I will travel down to my new home, Columbia, South Carolina, to rehearse with Delirium Tribal Belly Dance Company and Columbia Alternacirque for the outdoor season opener, “Masquerade”.

Full details on all of my upcoming events are on my website here.  Hope to see you on one of my travels!

Just announced! Two shows at the Palace of Wonders this week – 1210 H St NE, Washington, DC.

Thursday, January 14th, 10pm.
Danse Du Ventre! Featuring Anisa, Laura Adrienne, Mavi, and me – Asharah! $10 cover.

Saturday, January 16th, 10pm.
Peekaboo! NYC’s Best Burlesque Meets DC’s Best Bellydancers!  $10 cover.

For more information on either event, visit www.palaceofwonders.com.  Hope to see you there!

“You must have the devil in you to succeed in the arts.” –Voltaire

We are excited to announce a special collaborative intensive, “The Devil in the Details,” created and taught by Asharah and Natalie Brown. We are currently booking for 2010 and 2011.

If you would like more information, or are interested in sponsoring us in your city, please contact us at either alternacirque@gmail.com or asharah@asharah.com

My new (and last!) session of classes at Saffron Dance starts MONDAY! Yup… This is my last full session of classes in the DC area before I move to South Carolina!

Monday: Suhaila Salimpour format drills @ 7:15pm.
Based on the Suhaila Salimpour belly dance format, this is a class for dancers of all levels and styles!  The exercises in this class will improve your strength, technique, poise, balance, and confidence!

Thursday: Modern Tribal 2 and 3 @ 6:15pm and 7:15pm, respectively.
Based on American Tribal Style and Jamila Salimpour’s bellydance format, these classes provide a strong foundation in tribal style.  In Tribal 3, we work with finger cymbals and Asharah’s signature modern and contemporary movements.

Register TODAY at www.saffrondance.com

The Washington Times has some beautiful photograph’s of Saturday night’s show up on their website, and nearly a full-page feature in their print edition.

See the rest of the images here!

Greetings dancers and friends!  I hope the holidays are going well for you and your families.

Just a few notes of some upcoming events and special offerings…

Performance this Saturday in Washington, DC

This Saturday is the Spice of Life holiday gala performance featuring Saffron Dance students and faculty. My students will be performing my choreography to Maduro’s song “Situational Mythos”, and I will be performing solo.  This is a show you don’t want to miss!  Two shows: 5 pm and 8 pm.  Tickets are $25.00 in advance or $30.00 at the door.  Visit the Saffron Dance website for tickets and more information.

Video private lessons and critiques!

For those of you who aren’t in the DC area, or who might have missed one of my workshops, I am now offering video private lessons (via Skype – a free webcam service) and performance critique.  Video private lessons are priced per hour and are meant to bring out the best in YOU as a dancer and performer while refining your technique, expression, and alignment.  When I teach private lessons, I draw on my background as a competitive figure skater when I worked one-on-one with my own coaches, and I hope to bring that same level of mentoring and guidance to my students that my coaches did for me when I was younger.

Performance critiques are priced by the length of the performance, and they include feedback on the following criteria:

•Technique (including control, fluidity, traveling movements, etc.)
•Musicality (Expression of the music’s style, character, rhythm)
•Expression (physical, emotional, intellectual involvement)
•Music selection and editing (flow, cohesiveness)
•Costuming (fit, style, construction, fit with music and theme of piece)
•Appropriateness of performance for venue and type of show
•Presentation (use of space, concept, etc.)
•Use of props (if applicable)
•Finger cymbals (if applicable)

If you’re interested in either setting up video private lessons or a performance critique, send me an e-mail or reply to this post.

Hope all is well and that you’re having a lovely holiday season!

Classes:

I am so sorry to report that classes on Tuesday nights at Joy of Motion Atlas have been canceled for the fall session.  But… keep reading – there’s good news ahead!

New classes at Saffron Dance:

I’m currently working with Saffron Dance to add a Suhaila-format drills class on Thursday nights.  This will be the only class of its kind offered in the Washington, DC area.  Details coming soon!

Weekend Intensive:

Yes.  You read that right!  I’m working with Saphira and Saffron Dance to hold my first-ever weekend intensive in the Washington, DC, area.  Three days of dancing, drilling, and developing yourself as an artist and performer.  Registration will be posted soon.

Hope your autumn is beautiful!

Happy August, everyone!

This fall my teaching schedule will be changing slightly, adding a performance class at Saffron Dance, and a Tribal Belly Dance class at Joy of Motion’s Atlas.  For those of you who are taking my “Skills and Technique” class at Atlas, I’m working with the studio to bring back that class so that you can still get your drills on every week with me.

Tuesdays: Tribal Belly Dance (please bring finger cymbals)
Joy of Motion Atlas, 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC
7:30 – 8:30pm, $195 for 13 weeks
Session begins September 15, 2009
Register at: http://www.joyofmotion.org/adult_schedules.php

Wednesdays: Modern Tribal Belly Dance
Saffron Studios, 3260 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia
Session begins September 9, 2009

Tribal 2: 6:15 – 7:15pm, $225 for 14 weeks
Modern Tribal Performance Class: 7:15 – 8:15pm, $250 for 14 weeks
Tribal 3: 8:15 – 9:15pm (please bring finger cymbals), $225 for 14 weeks

Register at http://saffrondance.com/classes/index.html

If you have any questions about the class material, what level is appropriate for you, or anything else that comes to mind, just send me an e-mail, or comment on this post.  See you in class!

Come out and support your local bellydancers!  We’d love to see you.

August 1, Adams Morgan, Washington, DC

Performance at Queen’s Cafe and Hookah

Performances at 11pm to recorded music at the Queens Cafe in Adams Morgan. Come out for a shisha, Turkish coffee, or mezza. 2405 18th St NW, Washington, DC.  $2 cover at the door.

August 8th, Arlington, VA

Asharah’s students perform solos at Salla Saffron show

Three of Asharah’s students will present their solo performance pieces on which they’ve been working so hard this summer!  Hailed as a favorite event among Saffron students and fans, Salla Saffron offers an intimate evening of nosh, Saffrontinis, and Oriental & Tribal Belly dance featuring student soloists. Performers include: Nikki, Jayme, Becky, Katherine, Keely, Jemina, Jackie, Candita, and Leslie.

7 PM Saffrontinis, Spirits & Lite Fare; 8 PM Show.  Saffron Studios, 3260 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201.  Online Ticket Price: $20.00; At Door: $30.00.  Buy your tickets today at Saffron Dance’s website.

August 22 and 23, Washington, DC

Asharah’s Joy of Motion students perform an original choreography in the Studio to Stage show

Studio to Stage Performance Class Showcase, featuring Asharah’s tribal fusion performance students. My students have worked so hard on this funky, urban, and sassy choreography to Maduro’s song “Situational Mythos”. Come out and support us!

Saturday, August 22, 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 23, 7:00 p.m.  The Jack Guidone Theater @ JOMDC Friendship Heights, 5207 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20015. Tickets: $15 General admission, $12 Child (12 & under), $ Senior (w/ID). Buy your tickets today!

I have finally posted my Tribal Fest 9 performance on YouTube!

Featuring Samantha Hegre on cello. Three movements from Bach’s cello suite in D minor. Enjoy!