I am currently spending time focusing on my own training and artistic development, but I am always available for private lessons in the Berkeley/Albany area.  I will be starting up regular classes in the coming months, so stay tuned for updates and information.

In the meantime, I will be traveling to many cities throughout the United States to teach and perform, as well as a few outside the US. In 2012, I’ll be participating in many exciting events such as Art of the Belly in Maryland, Tribal Fest 12 in northern California, Tribal Revolution in Chicago, Waking Persephone in Rhode Island, FolkTours Dance and Music Camp outside of New York City, and Rara Avis-Gothla AR in Argentina.  And I am still taking bookings for 2012 and the first half of 2013.

I hope to see you along my many travels!  Happy dancing!

For the summer, I’ll be in Pacific Grove (Monterey Bay area), and I’ll have limited time for private lessons, but I won’t be teaching regular classes. I’m taking an intensive Arabic language program as I prepare to apply to graduate school. After the summer, I hope to start regular classes in the San Francisco area, most likely in the East Bay. Of course, I’ll keep you all posted.

Happy dancing!

First off, the not-so-great news. Lack of attendance and my crazy travel schedule have made me decide to cancel my Thursday night classes. I am still teaching Suhaila Salimpour-format drills on Wednesday night at 8:15pm in Lexington, SC.

Good news, though! I am announcing a monthly workshop series in Columbia, SC. The exact location is still to be determined. Many dancers in the wider South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia areas have expressed interest in my weekly instruction, but have lamented that it’s too far to drive on a weeknight. My travel schedule does not allow me to commit to weekly weekend classes, but monthly workshops will fit in just nicely. Workshops will be $45 for pre-registration and $50 at the door. Topics will range from perfecting technique, theater and stagecraft, constructing a dance set, playing finger cymbals, old-school bellydance a la Jamila Salimpour, working with odd meter in Middle Eastern music, and more…

Tentative dates:

November 14, 2pm-5pm
December 12, 2pm-5pm
January 16, 2pm-5pm
February 13, 2pm-5pm
March 20, 2pm-5pm

I hope that this helps those of you who are farther afield. Thank you for reading, and for all of your support. I couldn’t do any of this without you!

The circus, Columbia Alternacirque, is gearing up to put on a reprise of our summer production, A Midsummer Night’s Cirque, on July 23rd… and on the morning of the 24th, Natalie Brown and I head to Atlanta, Georgia, to teach the first running of our joint intensive, The Devil in the Details. On Saturday we are teaching two low-key workshops: Mine, a workshop on hair and makeup for dark fusion dance, and Natalie’s a workshop on flattering and appropriate costuming for fusion performance.  Then, we get all dolled up and perform along side some of the Southeast’s best belly dancers.  Then, on Sunday, we teach our pairing of my “Pops, Locks, and Tick Tocks” and Natalie’s “Elegant Extension and Poses.”  To register for this weekend of dancing, head on over to Beledi Boutique.

Weekly classes are ongoing:  Wednesday nights I’m teaching Suhaila Salimpour format bellydance at the Old Mill in Lexington, and on Thursdays I’m teaching my mash-up of old and new belly dance at Gyrotonic Vista in downtown Columbia.  More information on my classes page.

And during the days, working on new solos, preparing for the Level 3 weeklong workshop in Berkeley, California, with Suhaila, and trying to keep cool in the summer heat…

And this California girl is moving to the heart of the American South: hot humid summers, woody swamps, vestiges of the Civil War (this will be my first time living in a former Confederate State), sweet tea, southern drawls, and much more conservative politics.  I never ever imagined I would end up in The South, let alone South Carolina, but Columbia called to me, and I’m moving.  I’ll be bringing a little bit of California with me… and some of that includes belly dance!

Ahh, yes… Soon I will be teaching regular weekly classes, but this time in my new home of Columbia, SC! Both classes are open to ALL LEVELS, and we begin on May 12, 2010.

Belly Dance Drills and Technique. Wednesdays, 8:15pm-9:30pm

Join us at the Old Mill in Lexington we’ll be drilling, working, and learning hardcore technique in a fun and supportive environment. $15 drop-in, $125 for a ten class card.

Lexington Old Mill, First Floor at the Center for Dance Education
711 East Main Street
Lexington, SC

So you want to be a belly dancer? Thursdays, Time TBD

We’re kickin’ it old school at Gyrotonic Vista Studio and learning the fundamentals of belly dance. With a focus on safe execution of movement and muscular isolation, this class offers challenging yet accessible material for dancers of all skill levels. And I mean that – all skill levels! $15 drop-in, $125 for a ten-class card.

Gyrotonic Vista
911 Lady St., Suite H
Columbia, SC

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Last month was grey and rainy, but it took me to some amazing places.  Gothla US in Pomona, California, was successful and is always a great joy to participate in the production of this annual event.  Nearly everyone I have talked to about it tell me that it feels more like home than most festivals… all of the dark misfit dancers together in one place.  After that, I headed east to Switzerland, not only to teach two workshops, but also to visit a dear friend of mine who, with her husband, two cats, and child-on-the-way, moved to the land of chocolate and cheese several years ago.  My several days there were filled with walks, cheese, and relaxation.  From there, I took the train through the Alps and into Milan, Italy, where I taught three workshops and performed at Gothla.it.  What a fantastic weekend!  The sponsors, Silvia and her crew, took amazing care of both me and fellow instructor Morgana, and I met so many amazing dancers and people.  One of the things I love about my job is that I, the little girl who didn’t have many friends growing up, now have friends and contacts all around the world!  What a trip, yeah?

From there I drove down to my future home, Columbia, South Carolina, for the Columbia Alternacirque outdoor season opener.  The opening night wasn’t without challenges: a new backdrop, new lights, a taller stage, and near gale-force winds which threatened to blow away not only the backdrop but the stage to which we had tied it…. not to mention that it threatened to blow out all of the spectacular fire props!  But, we did it, even if we were freezing cold in the wind and 40°F temperatures.  My visit to Columbia also resulted in signing a lease on a rental home with my best friend and partner in crime/dance/adventure, Natalie Brown.  We will have a small dance studio in the new place, available for private lessons and group lessons for up to 4 people at a time.  It will be my first-ever in-home studio!

Back up in the DC area, I had my intensive, which we had to postpone because of low registration… so… those of you who keep asking for an intensive with me: What can I do next time to make sure that it’s easier for you to register?  Location, price, time of year?  Let me know.  Without you, I am nothing, dear students!

What’s on the horizon?  Moving, of course…and a few other events that you might want to know about…  in New Orleans, Charlottesville, Virginia.; Louisville, Kentucky.; Washington DC; Barcelona, Spain; Oahu, Hawaii; and Las Vegas, Nevada.  Check it all out here…..

For now… I hope to see some of you soon, somewhere on my travels. Happy spring!

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!

The Cymbalist Movement: Integrating Finger Cymbals into Your Dance

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
$65 Online Registration | $75 At Door

Finger cymbals are an integral part of American Tribal Style bellydance, and can be a lovely accompaniment to a solo performance. However, many dancers often feel daunted by cymbal playing and have been using them less and less… Finger cymbals aren’t scary, and this workshop will help you approach cymbals as an instrument and as a way to enhance your performance. With the right exercises, anyone can play cymbals and dance! Asharah will lead you through an intense warm up, teach drills that layer movements and cymbal playing, introduce common cymbal patterns found in Middle Eastern music, and teach a short dance combination focusing on the playing of your cymbals with the music and your movements.

Register now!

…quitting my day job.

It’s scary and there are a lot of uncertainties, but the sense of imminent freedom is exhilarating. I have several creative projects on the horizon, just waiting to be tackled. Most of all, I’m excited about being able to give more energy to my dance, and even more to my students.

Updates on new projects and ventures soon to come…

Wish me luck! I couldn’t make this leap without all of you.

—

A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission…

- Neil Peart, Rush, “Mission”

• March 28-29 :: Boston, Massachusetts
• April 11-12 :: New Orleans, Louisiana
• May 22-15 :: Folk Tours USA, Pennsylvania

Some of these events might be rescheduled, and I’ll announce new dates as they are confirmed.

And remember that my workshop schedule is always available on my webpage.  Thanks for your support!