Boheme Belly Dance
Belly Dance Performance & Instruction based in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Mystery. Grace. Strength.
Flexibility. Community.
Learn the ancient art of Belly Dance!
Locations
Friday Night Meet & Greet
Grand Traverse Distillery
224 E Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Saturday:
Unitarian Universalist Community Church
10441 Shaver Road
Portage, MI 49024
Sunday:
Jerico Studio
1501 Fulford St
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Please note that we will be using three separate locations!!!
Silvia Salamanca
SILVIA SALAMANCA is an internationally acclaimed performer, choreographer 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. In her own studio, she keeps observing how women can get closer to their self identity and discover oneself in a new level, increasing self-esteem, and getting deeply in touch with the feminine essence in their soul through bellydance.
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 as a headliner in major festivals world-wide. Silvia is also known for her work dancing with swords, which she feels depicts the strength of women. 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 ITS troupe.
Saturday Afternoon with Silvia Salamanca (4 hrs)
1pm - 5pm
Sword Technique and NEW Sword Choreo
Creating a beautiful balancing act: an original (and NEW!) sword routine
In this workshop we will learn a full choreography using a sword as the
exciting element to mesmerize our audiences! The routine will include slow
and sinuous movements, turns on the floor, and a fast and furious section
with energy and fire!!! We will break down the most intrincate of steps so
you can go home with a good foundation to master them!!
Sunday Afternoon with Silvia Salamanca (4 hrs)
12pm - 4pm
12pm-2pm - "All About Layers: Who Knew Your Body Could Do That?"
Get ready to spice your dance with the universe of layers! We will break
down different approaches to master layers and then we will learn those
jaw-dropping combinations that use all the different parts of the body in
mesmerizing ways.
2pm-4pm - "The Most Spanish Prop: Learn to Dance with a Manton (piano shawl)"
Who has not been intrigued by the mystery that evokes watching a dancer
unwrapping from a "manton"? In this workshop we will break down the proper
technique, the steps and the combinations in the use of the “manton” (Spanish
triangular shaped shawl) to build-up and entire routine full of feeling and
intensity. Please bring a skirt and a manton (any triangular scarf big enough to
wrap yourself in it will do, we will do the rest with attitude and a big ole!)
Dawn
Dawn Xiana Moon is the Founder/Director of Raks Geek, a bellydance and fire company that was recently voted "Best Dance Troupe in Chicago" (runner up) by the Chicago Reader. Raks Geek has garnered international accolades through their commitment to blend a high degree of artistic and technical mastery with fun, creativity, and themes from geek culture; they achieved internet notoriety with a video of a Wookiee bellydancing to a Klingon band. This earned them a spot on UK Channel 4 TV's "50 Funniest Moments of 2012"; The Daily Mail hailed the group as "sci-fi seduction." Dawn also dances and spins fire with Acrobatica Infiniti Circus and was a longtime member of Read My Hips. WGN-TV called her "spectacular!"
In addition to her work as a dancer, Dawn is a singer-songwriter who's performed in 10 states and released two albums - she fuses elements from traditional Chinese music with folk, pop, and jazz. She's also written cultural commentary on film, TV, and music for a variety of publications; acted in theatre and independent films; designed graphics for Anheuser-Busch; and coded websites for the University of Chicago. She has a degree in theatre from the University of Michigan and over 25 years of formal acting training and performance experience.
Workshop - "Theatricality and Creating Captivating Performances"
Mesmerize your audience while standing still, and leave them hanging on your every look.
Learn how to create characters that appear larger than life, turning audience members into friends (or minions who will do exactly what you want them to). Learn how to express real emotion rather than simply pasting on facial expressions. And learn how to tell stories without using words. Dawn Xiana Moon has a degree in Theatre from the University of Michigan and over 25 years of formal actor training and performing experience; we'll apply acting techniques directly to dance, and you'll leave with concrete ways to blow your audience's minds.
Heather
Coming from generations of artists, musicians, and dancers, it was only a matter of time before Heather discovered her love of Middle Eastern Belly Dance. Training for close to two decades, Heather is currently Suhaila Salimpour Level-2 and Jamila level-1 Certified. As
well as a Fat Chance® Belly Dance Sister Studio of American Tribal Style® belly dance. Today her unique style pulls from contemporary, Tribal Fusion, Folkloric, and Classic Golden Era style bellydance, sprinkled with Hip Hop, Pop & Lock, and Liquid Dance from the early 90s electronic scene. Throughout the years her intensive studies the following include Suhaila Salimpour, Kami Liddle, Jill Parker, Carolena Noriccio, April Rose, Zafira, The Indigo and Naad Yoga, to
name a few. Spicing it up, Heather Marie also dabbles in the Circus arts, to which she has been an Insured Fire Performer the past decade. Heather teaches workshops throughout the US and Canada, holds weekly dance classes at Detroit School of Burlesque in Ferndale as well as
her home studio in Warren.
A seasoned performer, Heather Marie can list opening for Beats Antique as well as Thomas Dolby in 2012. Performing in full stage productions like "Club Belly Dance" with the Belly Dance Super Stars in 2012 &13, "Stardust Follies" w/ Kami Liddle and Goldstar Dance Co. in 2015, 16,
& 17 and "Torch with a Twist", the longest running Detroit based vaudevillian variety shows, among her many accomplishments.
Workshop: "Skeleton Key"
“Whew...Last room!!! Just what I was looking for! Buried deep down the long hallway to the left. That’s where I put it!! Just brush off a lil dust, and it’s good as gold!!!” Let’s unlock that hidden door, and spread an extra layer into your dance!!! Trust me, It’s there, you just need the key!! In this workshop we will use our own skeleton keys, knock on a few doors, maybe even wiggle some handles.....!!! Beware! This is not for the faint of hearts hahahahaha!!! Aside from all the hocus pocus, we will apply what we find to a short gooey combo! Join the fun as I have a few more tricks up my sleeve!!! You’ll just have to wait n find out!
Kelly Holder & Lesley Inman
Kelly Holder has been a part of the Bellydance Community since 2003. Improvisational Tribal Style, Romany Folk Dance, and her own Fusion Skirt work have all been a part of her journey that led to traveling, performing, and teaching. Through her work and training as a counselor, she discovered how Dance and Movement apply to healing. Kelly has taken additional coursework in Movement and Dance Therapy. Kelly incorporates therapeutics aspects of movement and dance into her performance, practice and teaching modalities.
Lesley Inman - Now residing in Waterloo Ontario, Lesley began belly dance in 2003 after a trip to Turkey. It enabled her to explore the music that she had fallen in love with in a different way. In a freak trip to TribalQuest Northwest in 2006, she found her passion; Tribal Fusion. Then began the spiral into this new art form and style of belly dance. Lesley has been very fortunate to be able to call some of the pioneers of the style her teacher; Rachel Brice, Jill Parker, Zoe Jakes, Ariellah and Mardi Love. She is a certified Datura practitioner and teacher (8 Elements through Rachel Brice), has studied both Key of Diamonds and Spades (DanceCraft through Zoe Jakes) and recently studied in Alchemy (Jill Parker’s new program). As an information geek, exploring and studying deeply allows Lesley to develop her own style and interpretation of movement. Belly dance now has become a way for Lesley to travel, visit and make new friends all while developing and deepening her own voice in this dance.
Workshop - "Wheel of Archetypes"
All you bellydancers, come on down! Be the next contestant on the Archetype is Right. Join your hosts Kelly Holder and Lesley Inman. Come for the games, stay for the prizes. That's right...we have prizes!!! In this class we will be exploring the concept of archetypes through discussion & exercises/games. Carl Jung defined an archetype as a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, or image. By understanding and relating to certain archetypes, we can better tell our stories. This workshop will carry all the seriousness and whimsy from Kelly & Lesley.
Liz
Liz is a life long performer and supporter of the arts. She chose to focus on belly dance in a total moment of clarity 15 years ago. Based in Indianapolis Indiana where Liz directs the fusion troupes Ursula and The Vera’s, she is passionate about contributing to a vibrant dance community and building strong and confident dancers. Liz teaches with patience, encourages positive body image and self esteem and always brings the fun!
Workshop - "Spliced: The Haunted House Edition"
Come learn several spooky combinations inspired by haunted houses and horror movies. Combos like “Did You Hear That?” and “Don’t split up!” plus others can be spliced together in any order to create a choreography dripping with nuance and style. You better be there, because these combos will help you survive the night!
Serpentfuze
SerpentFuze is the collaborative duet and artistic work of Chicagoland's premier twin contemporary bellydancers, Katie O'Brien and Jeanne Frymire. Recognized for the attuned synchronized movements and kinetic intertwining stylization, they attribute their craft to a lifelong exploration in dance and music. At age 4, they put on their first pair of ballet shoes in an attempt to focus their uniquely constructive and destructive shenanigans. This immediately ignited a passion much more exciting than their homemade closet trapeze and swing set tightrope. A slew of art forms were quickly added to their repertoire including jazz, lyrical, and dance theory. In addition, their musical training in piano, vocal opera, and music theory has remained a strong presence in the creation process of their choreography. Though they never gave up their love of amateur improv circus arts, they discovered other means of expression. Throughout their school years, they took every opportunity to perform, create, act, and choreograph. In 2008, they began belly dance under the direction of Donna Diva and Christina King quickly advancing to their respective advanced troupes. In 2010, the duo began a five year adventure with Blue Lotus Tribe. This provided them a unique opportunity to work with a professional troupe, travel internationally, teach, and understand their own strengths and limitations. They continue to work and grow as Tribal Revolution's Showcase Organizers.
With life providing no end of inspiration, the twins' conceptual choreographies are ever evolving.
Workshop: "Constructing Dynamic Duality"
Learn Dynamic partnering tools that enhance duet or troupe choreography beyond synchronicity. Tap into a bit of twinanigans as we explore these concepts through artistic movement. We’ll apply each concept to a combination and build a short choreography. These tools can be used to enhance existing choreographies or aid in creating new ones.
Suitable for all levels. Register with your dance partners. Soloist willing to pair up are encouraged.
Schedule
Saturday (At UUCC)
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Room A - 9am - 10:30
Liz -
"Combos"
Room B - 9am - 10:30
Dawn -
"Theatricality"
Room A - 10:45 - 12:15
SerpentFuze -
"Constructing Dynamic Duality"
Room B - 10:45 - 12:15
Kelly Holder & Lesley Inman -
"Wheel of Archetypes"
12:15 - 1pm - Lunch
1pm - 5pm
Saturday Afternoon with Silvia Salamanca
(4 hrs)
Sunday (At Caravan of Dreams)
******
10am - 11:30pm
Heather - workshop
12pm - 4pm
Sunday Afternoon with Silvia Salamanca
(4hrs)
Registration
To register, please send your total amount via Paypal to raksanais@gmail.com. Be sure to include your choice of workshops and your name. Only one name per registration please. No exchanges or refunds unless event is cancelled.
Early bird registration will open February 21st! Early bird registration ends midnight of June 1st.
Workshop Pricing
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Silvia Salamanca Workshops
Saturday (4 hours)
$85 early bird
$95 after
Sunday (4 hours)
$85 early bird
$95 after
All other workshops:
$25 each early bird
$35 after
Silvia Weekend Pkg
$150 early bird only
Whole Weekend Pkg:
$225 early bird only
(Incl. 1 Friday Meet & Greet ticket & 1 Saturday Showcase ticket, all Silvia Salamanca workshops, 2 Saturday morning workshops, and 1 Sunday morning workshop.)
Show
If you catch only ONE belly dance show this season, make sure it's this one! This is our 13th year in a row producing this show! Expect so much ooky and even more spooky! Performances by world class soloists and troupes, with a fun Halloween theme!
Saturday, October 19th - Doors 7:30, Show 8pm
Tickets: $10 before August 20th, $12 after
Location:
Unitarian Universalist Community Church
10441 Shaver Road
Portage, MI 49024
Meet n'Greet
Back by popular demand, we are having a Friday night Meet n'Greet from 7-9pm at Grand Travers Distillery! We'll have a Halloween candy buffet and lots of surprises! Let's get this party started right!
Tickets: $7 before August 20th, $10 after