IBCC Speakers
May 3-6, 2012
Join in on Panel Discussions, Lectures, Presentation Panels featuring the most famous Middle Eastern dance scholars and artists and the hottest topics!
Panel Discussion Topics:
- Bellydance Competitions - Pros vs. Cons
- Foreign Influences - Impact of global Bellydancers on Arab Art and vice versa
- Impact of Marketing Bellydance as Fitness
- Current Commercialization & Sexualization of Bellydance
IBCC 2012 featured Speakers:
Alia Thabit
New York, U.S.A.
Presentation:
Midnight at the Crossroads: has Bellydance Sold It’s Soul?
Alia Thabit, an Arab-American and a Vermont Juried Artist, draws from over three decades of belly dance technique, history, regional and folkloric styles, props, theatrical and fusion elements, costuming, music, choreography, improvisation, and performance. Dance study in Lebanon, Brazil, Palestine, and Egypt enrich her dance experience. Alia teaches classes and workshops nationally. A teacher’s teacher, she highlights creativity, empowering students to find and express their own unique voice. She has appeared on radio and television, received grants in Vermont and New Hampshire, and presented numerous seminars with international stars such as Elena Lentini, Tamalyn Dallal, and Leila Farid. Alia has performed with such luminaries as the Freddie Elias Ensemble, the Safaa Farid Orchestra, and the Istanbul Oriental Ensemble. A musician’s dancer, versed in Arabic music theory, structure, and interpretation, enhanced by study of the frame drum and nay, Alia brings a deep feeling for the music and powerful stage presence to her performances. A novelist and playwright, Alia also teaches writing at Lyndon State College.
Amara
Texas, U.S.A.
Dr. Laura Osweiler (Amara) holds a PhD in Dance History and Theory from the UC Riverside, a BA in Music History and Literature and a certificate in Ethnomusicology from The Florida State University, and worked towards an MA in Dance Ethnology at UCLA. In addition to teaching dance studio classes, Amara has taught accredited courses at UCLA, UCR, and Cal Poly Pomona and workshops at a number of universities and colleges. She also has held long-term performing engagements at many nightclubs and restaurants in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Austin and has been highlighted in over 15 commercial videos. Osweiler is the Director and Choreographer of Ya Helewa! Dance Company, Director of “Training 4 Dance Teachers,” and Producer of “An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance” concerts and “X-MED,” workshops on creating experimental Middle Eastern dance.
Lecture: Dancing in the Fringe: The Development of the Experimental Middle Eastern Dance “Genre”
Andrea Deagon
North Carolina, U.S.A.
ndrea Deagon received her Ph.D. in Classical studies from Duke University in 1984, and she currently coordinates the Classical Studies program at UNC-Wilmington, as well as teaching in the Women’s Studies program. Since 1975 she has studied, taught and performed Middle Eastern dance, and has taught workshops for professional dancers throughout the Southeastern Unites States. She delivered the keynote speech at the First International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance (1998), and has spoken widely on Middle Eastern dance for both dance and academic audiences. She is a frequent contributor to Habibi, and her articles on dance history and spirituality have appeared in other dance and academic publications.
Lectures:
Oriental dance in France and the Path to Raqs Sharqi
Oriental dance and danse du ventre in North America, 1890’s – 1910’s
Aurora Ongaro
Alberta, Canada
Aurora is an accomplished and graceful dancer. Belly Dancing since 1999, Aurora has studied extensively with Arabesque's founder and artistic director Yasmina Ramzy and other Arabesque Academy instructors such as Denise and Audra. Other influential instructors include Anemone of Edmonton, Magdy El Leisy of Germany, Hiba Al-Kinani of Guelph, Beata and Horacio Cifuentes of Germany, and Aida Nour of Egpyt. In addition to classes and workshops, Aurora completed both the Teacher's Course and Professional Course provided at Arabesque.
A member of Toronto's Arabesque Dance Company from 2002-2004, Aurora performed in company tours and performances such as Dance Ontario Dance, In Search of the Almeh, Descent of Ishtar, numerous corporate and gala events, music videos and the televised Toronto Show. As a soloist, she is experienced dancing with Arabesque Orchestra and other live bands during Hezz ya wezz, Haflas, and Layali Arabesque. Aurora and her students have performed for many events such as Heritage Days, International Bellydance Conference of Canada and the Festival of Trees.
In addition to dance training, Aurora’s love for Middle Eastern music and prompted her to study dumbek (Egyptian Drumming) with Suleiman Warwar. Per invitation, Aurora performed with Suleiman as a back up drummer in Edmonton's 2004 Sisters in Dance; Sisters in Solidarity workshop and show, and again in 2006.
Aurora is the Artistic Director and principal instructor of edVenture Arts Academy. As an instructor, Aurora has also taught bellydance for Arabesque Academy, Euphoric Fitness, Harmony Health and Club Fit. Aurora currently lives and teaches in Edmonton Alberta.
Presentation:
Anatomy for the Bellydancer
Brigid Kelly
New Zealand
Zumarrad a.k.a. Brigid Kelly is based in Christchurch and started studying Middle Eastern Dance in 1998 and started teaching in 2002, initially under the tutelage and mentorship of Christchurch's Gendi Tanner.
Zumarrad is an independent belly dance teacher, researcher, and performer. She cites as influences and inspirations Tahia Carioca, Suher Zaki, Tito Seif and Randa Kamel, Dr Mo Geddawi, Denise Enan, Cassandra Shore of Minneapolis and Hadia of Canada. She continues to pursue education wherever possible with contemporary teachers of Egyptian-style dance, most recently with Jennifer Allen of Glasgow, who specialises in khaleegy and modern Egyptian orientale.
Zumarrad is the dance name of Brigid Kelly, who completed New Zealand's first masters-level academic inquiry into belly dancing in 2008. She retains a deep interest in the complex ways belly dancing plays out in our contemporary globalised culture. As part of that globalization of belly dance Brigid has be asked to present part of her paper to the IBCC in Canada. As a dancer, her passion is Egyptian raqs sharqi and its music, and good, old-fashioned, entertaining belly dance. She also loves world dances of all kinds.
Panel Discussion:
Competitions: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Hosted by Cassandra Fox (Thursday)
Dr. George Sawa
Egypt/Canada
George Sawa was born in Alexandria , Egypt in 1947. He studied Classical Arabic music at the Higher Institute of Arabic Music specializing in qanoon, voice and theory. After immigrating to Canada in 1970, he studied ethno-musicology and obtained his doctorate in Historical Arabic Musicology at the University of Toronto.
He has taught medieval, modern and religious Middle Eastern Music at York University and the University of Toronto, and is the author of "Music Performance in Early Abbasid Era 750-932AD" published in 1989. George Sawa has given numerous concerts and lecture demonstrations at universities, museums and art galleries in Europe and North America He has been teaching at Arabesque Academy, School of Middle Eastern Dance and Music Arts since 1995 and regularly teaches alongside Yasmina Ramzy in many dance workshops.
He was awarded the 1990 Ontario Folk Arts Recognition Fellowship for his performances and lecture demonstrations on the qanoon. George served as a performer, composer and music coach in R. Murray Schafer's RA in Toronto (1983) and Holland (1985). As well as serving as the Musical Director for the Egyptian exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, George has arranged music for and directed the musicians of the Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra since 1996 where he also plays the qanoon and naye in all of their performances.
Presentation: "The Power of Women Artists: Evidence from the Medieval Arabic Sources"
Holly Luky
Shimmy In The Spirit of Bellydance Magazine
Arizona, U.S.A.
Originally I started taking classes as an alternative to working out at the gym in college.
I was fortunate enough to learn immediately from Kathryn Ferguson, my inspiration for this dance. I quickly fell in love with the movements, the freedom of expression, the music and the powerful feminine energy that filled the room when we had class. It became something I had to do, as often as possible!
In 2007 I began teaching at the request of fellow dance friends. I specialize in fusing together elements of my modern dance and jazz background with the foundation of American Cabaret style to form a fluid and graceful style of bellydance. This journey led me to become a certified group fitness instructor (AFAA certified) which allowed me to expand my instruction to include fitness and wellness classes. In 2009 I also became a certified instructor with Myra Krien's SEEDs program, a teen program that promotes self-esteem, education and empowerment through dance. Teaching dance has allowed me to reach deep within to find the true source for why I dance, allowing me to share this journey with all of the wonderful people who join me in class. Experiencing their journey is both exciting and rewarding!
Panellist: " Impact of Marketing Bellydance as Fitness "
Cassandra Fox
Coldwater, Ontario, Canada
Cassandra Fox is a multi-award winning belly dance and Caribbean fusion dance performer and instructor. Born in Canada to Jamaican parents she grew up with Caribbean music and movement and began belly dancing while attending the University of Guelph. She has taught and performed in Canada and the United States and is known largely for her unique Caribbean fusion style, strong technique and the energy and joy that she puts into both her teaching and performances.
Panel Speaker: Bellydance Competitions
Dr. Isabelle Gagnon
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
For more than 10 years, Dr Isabelle Gagnon, clinical psychologist, has been treating families in a private practice setting in the province of Quebec. As a complement with her traditionnal career as a psychologist she is also known as the belly dancer Izzah who dedicates her life to Middle Eastern Dancing. Not only does she teach bellydancing, but she is also actively involved in the belly dancing community organizing workshops, as well as writing articles relating psychology to oriental dance. Her main focuses of interest are in women’s body self image, self-esteem, as well as emotional expression.
Presentation:
"Body language of the Oriental dancer: the unconscious communication of emotions"
Emilia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
"Emilia is a professional Middle Eastern dance artist based in Toronto (www.dancewithemilia.com). She is one of the seasoned faculty members at the Egyptian Dance Academy (www.hannandance.com) and is the choreographer for W.O.W. troupe (Women of the World). Emilia is also a licensed Zumba Fitness Instructor and is actively pursuing her Fitness Instructor Specialist designation through Can-Fit Pro."
Panel Discussion:
"Marketing Bellydance as Fitness"
Iana Komarnytska
Ukraine, Canada
Iana started to learn the art of dance at the children's dance studio and afflicted to Ukrainian State Folk Dance Ensemble Virsky at the age of four, then studied at the State Choreography School for almost 5 years. Since 2004, Iana Komarnytska has attended numerous international festivals in Egypt, Turkey and other countries and different workshops of world known dance masters of Middle-Eastern dances. She has performed at different bellydance productions in Ukraine and in 2009 she became an absolute champion among the youth in Ukraine at bellydance championship "Bastet". Currently she is obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Dance at York University (Toronto), and participates in Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra.
Panel Discussion:Foreign Influences: Global Influences on Arab Dance and Visa Versa - Hosted by Rany Renee (Friday)
Kathleen Fraser
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kathleen Fraser received her MFA in dance history from York University (Toronto) in 1991, with a thesis entitled “The Aesthetics of Belly Dance: Egyptian Canadians discuss the Baladi”.” Since then she has continued to research and teach in her favourite topic, belly dancing. She has taught at Scarborough College (University of Toronto), made numerous presentations at scholarly conferences, and her written work on dance appears in North American journals. She has recently completed a ten-year study of Egyptian belly dance history of the late 18th and 19th centuries. During the course of this long study she discovered a number of intriguing “side bars” to belly dance history. Her conference talk explores one of these.
Presentation: "Scheherazade at large: then, now and forever …?"
Khairiyya Mazin
Egypt
Khairiyya Yusuf Mazin is the youngest of the famous Banat Mazin, one of the last exponents of Ghawazi dance, which is perhaps the primary origin of Egyptian "belly dance." She is the sole remaining practitioner of the authentic dances of the Nawari Ghawazi of Upper Egypt. When Khairiyya Mazin retires, one of the most distinctive traditions of Ghawazi dance may come to an end. The Ghawazi are the famed female dancers described so often in Western travelers' accounts since the 18th century, and probably the major wellspring of Egyptian danse orientale.
Loulou
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Loulou is a professional Middle Eastern dance artist and instructor known for her grace and elegance. Her passion for dance began with Latin ballroom training at the Dancing at Twilight studio and continued at the UFT dance club where she was an active member, regularly taking classes in several dance styles. She first discovered the enchanting art of belly dance in 2003. She quickly fell in love with the rich music, the complex movements and everything to do with this ancient and yet always evolving art form and it has been her passion ever since. She has studied extensively with master teacher Yasmina Ramzy in Toronto; she joined Arabesque Dance Company in 2006 and went on to become a lead dancer of the company in 2008 and a member of the teaching faculty at Arabesque Academy. She has performed in major productions Asala (2006 Arabesque production) and La Traviata in 2007 with the Canadian Opera Company. Loulou choreographed a dance piece for the talent portion of the Miss Kohinoor International Beauty Pageant for the 2009 winning contestant. In September 2009 Loulou moved to Barcelona, Spain where she spent the year studying dance under the tutelage of several master teachers and perfecting her third language. Loulou is committed to providing quality, artistic and passionate work as a performer and teacher.
Panelist: Impact of Marketing Bellydance As Fitness - Hosted by Mayada (Sunday)
Mahmoud Reda
Egypt
Mahmoud Reda is the pioneer of theatre dance in Egypt. In 1959 he founded the world renowned Reda Troupe. By the mid 60s the troupe had over 150 members including, dancers and musicians. As soloist, choreographer, and artistic director, he was instrumental in creating a legitimate theatrical dance genre that embraced many styles. He has choreographed more than 300 dances including for many Egyptian feature films, and has starred in three musicals directed by his late brother Ali Reda, two of which are major productions and are regarded as mile stones in the history of Egyptian cinema. With the troupe he has performed in prestigious theatres in more than 60 countries such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, The Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York and Stanislavski in Moscow.
Maki Natori
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
A lifelong dancer, Maki teaches and performs internationally, captivating audiences with her style, grace and engaging stage presence. As a featured performer for the 2010 International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Maki is honoured to be invited to return to dance in this year's Opening Night Gala. In addition to being featured in the film "Almost a Turkish Soap Opera", Maki won the world-wide casting competition for Jillina's Bellydance Evolution show in LA. Maki was also the main choreographer for the first ever Shimmy Mob, which was danced by over 300 dancers in over 30 cities around the world! This year, with over 9 countries signed up for the Shimmy Mob, dancers all over the world are experiencing Maki's effective teaching techniques. In addition to her regular classes, Maki is currently the folkloric instructor at Ammara Dance Company for the award-winning Raks Devas advanced/competitive group.
Panelist: Impact of Marketing Bellydance As Fitness - Hosted by Mayada (Sunday)
Mayada
Ontario, Canada
Since discovering Middle Eastern dance in 1994 when she was fifteen years old, Mayada has become a dynamic teacher, a popular performer, a creative choreographer, and creator and editor of Canada's first bellydance magazine: MID-BITS!
Mayada has taught bellydance classes across Toronto at various venues including Arabesque Academy, the Royal Ontario Museum, Ryerson University, York University, Toronto Bellydance Collective, as well as running specialty workshops across the continent. Background and studies in fitness and personal training allow Mayada an informed perspective on the anatomy of movement, around which she designs her teaching of technique. In September 2003, Mayada opened flow fitness, giving her the opportunity to share her experience and expertise by teaching at her own studio.
Mayada has performed - as a soloist, and as a lead dancer with Arabesque Dance Company - throughout Canada and the United States. Performance highlights have included opening for many great masters (Wael Kfoury, Assi Helani, George Wassouf, Ragheb Alameh, and others), Egyptian Exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, Caravan/Toronto (Cairo & Istanbul pavilions), United Nations Millennium Summit (New York City), Int'l Conference on Middle Eastern Dance (Los Angeles), theatrical presentations Descent of Ishtar and Isis. Mayada also appears as a regular soloist at various Arabic restaurants, clubs, and special events. Her career has been tracked through media coverage on T.V. shows such as Munawaat Arabia, Diverse City, Mosaic Magazine, Eye on Toronto, Breakfast Television, City Line, and Canadian Living, and in newspapers like the Toronto Star and the Oakville Beaver.
Panel Speaker: Bellydance as Fitness? & Bellydance as Fusion
Ranya Renee
New York, U.S.A.
RANYA RENÉE, of New York City, began her performing career in theater, and has been dancing since 1990. Specializing in holistic Egyptian-style dance and performance coaching, Ranya tours internationally, has created popular instructional DVDs, and co-directs the NY Theatrical Bellydance Conference. A longtime student of Arabic music, she produces regular concerts in New York City featuring live music and dance. She has conducted research in the Middle East, published articles, and given talks at universities. Ranya holds a BA from Yale University in Linguistics and Theater Studies, and speaks several languages, including Arabic.
Panel Speaker: Foreign influences and authenticity in Egyptian Oriental Dance:
Foreign dance forms have shaped the evolution of Egyptian Oriental style over the last century, complicating our modern definitions of what “pure” Egyptian style entails. In tracing a shift from the awalem/Mohammed Ali Street tradition, through various international dance influences, to the largely choreographed contemporary Oriental style, we will explore this question: In light of the historical development of Egyptian Oriental style as a form that absorbs non-native artistic attributes, what are the implications, benefits and limitations in identifying and preserving qualities of “Egyptianness” in the dance, as it is practiced within Egypt and internationally? As points of analysis, we address effects of folklore training, such as by the Reda Troupe, on Egyptian and foreign Oriental dancers, as well as attempts by non-Egyptian dancers to establish or reinforce “markers of authenticity” in their performances. Other areas of discussion: social factors such as demographic trends; colonial, Ottoman, and Egyptian nationalist influences; changing musical technologies and economies of dance music; globalization in the dissemination of the dance; and issues of cultural access and appropriation.
Roula Said
Ontario, Canada
Roula Said is a Middle eastern dancer, musician and actor. She dances, sings and plays percussion in Gypsy funk band Nomadica, produces the hippest global grooves party in town, Funkabelly, and teaches her unique system of Bellydance based movement, rhythm and vocalization, the Om Laila System. Roula has toured extensively with Maza Meze which she co-founded and has appeared a s a guest performer with world music acts Maryem Tollar, Jesse Cook, Samba Squad, Toronto table Ensemble, the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and Levon Ichkhanian. She often collaborates with her husband, trumpeter and composer, David Buchbider.
Panelist: Current Commercialization and Sexualization of Bellydance (Saturday)
Sahra Saeeda
California, U.S.A.
Sahra has performed and taught Egyptian style Orientale and Folkloric dance on five continents.
Originally from the Los Angeles, California area, Sahra lived, danced, and researched in Egypt from 1989 to 1995. Since then she has been touring the world teaching and performing Egyptian Orientale and Folkloric dance.
The "Sahra Show" performed over 1600 performances in Cairo, Egypt alone. The ensemble included Sahra, Egyptian musicians, singers, folkloric dancers and authentic Saidi musicians and dancers. Sahra is currently director of Ya Amar! Middle Eastern Dance Company (California, USA) and is a contributing choreographer to many European dance companies.
She is also president of Layali Yasmine Productions, an independent recording and distribution label for Egyptian music, Middle Eastern dance performance and instructional videos.
she has academic degrees in both Dance and Cultural Anthropology, and a MA in Dance Ethnology from UCLA.
Sahra regularly gives lecture/demonstrations on Egyptian dance, costumes, customs, ritual and folklore to doctorate-level symposiums, university ethnic dance festivals, museums, and dance ethnology forums. Sahra has many publications, TV and video credits worldwide.
Sahra is a Panellist on Foreign Influences: Global Influences on Arab Dance and Vice Versa - Hosted by Ranya Renee (Friday)
Saqra
Washington, U.S.A.
Saqra from Seattle is a 35 year veteran of oriental dance, an international master instructor and multi award-winning performer. She teaches worldwide including Asia, Europe, both of the Americas and points beyond. Festival producer, event sponsor, musician, and choreographer with over 17 instructional DVDs. Voted Zaghareet Magazine's Teacher of the Year '08.
Saqra is a Panellist on "Competitions: Pros vs. Cons", Thusrday, May 3, 10:30am in the Seminar Room
Shira
Iowa, U.S.A.
Julie Anne Elliot first began studying Middle Eastern dance in 1981. She pursued her studies while living in Iowa, Ohio, and California. Over time, she began performing professionally under the dance name of Shira.
In 1997, she began her focus on the pursuit of the historical and cultural foundations of the dance form. For continuing education, she has traveled multiple times to Turkey and Egypt. She is known worldwide as the creator of the web site www.shira.net.
Her academic credentials include Bachelor of Arts double major in journalism and French, and Master of Business Administration in Management Sciences.
Stavros Stavrou
Cyprus
Stavros was born in Cyprus and pursued English studies in Canada on a Commonwealth scholarship. He has published work on culture, gender, and sexuality in the Middle East but belly dance has been his artistic passion and the main focus of his intellectual interest and research. His book Dancing Fear and Desire: Race, Sexuality and Imperial Politics in Middle Eastern Dance (Wilfrid Laurier UP 2004, reprinted 2005, 2007) reveals the intricate ways in which the present tradition of this controversial dance has been shaped by Eurocentric models that define and control identity performance. Stavros has broken new ground for belly dance by incorporating it in his presentation of academic papers at international conferences. In 2006 Dancing Fear and Desire won the European Society for the Study of English book award in Cultural Studies. Since 2007 he is Managing Editor of Cadences: A Journal of Literature and the Arts in Cyprus. He is Associate Professor of English Literature and Cultural Theory and Chair of the Department of Humanities at European University Cyprus.
Presentation: “Private Ritual, Public Embodiment: Oriental Dance and the Politics of Artistic Expression”
Tamalyn Dallal
Florida, U.S.A.
Having started her study of Middle Eastern dance in 1976, Tamalyn Dallal has enjoyed a prolific career. She has taught and performed in 38 countries. In 1990, she founded the non profit arts organization "Mid Eastern Dance Exchange" in Miami Beach, through which she mentored thousands of dancers around the world. Through sixteen years of directing the organization, Ms. Dallal produced numerous stage productions and dance festivals, including the famed Orientalia Festival of Ethnic Dance in Miami Beach for fourteen years.
She authored three books, They Told Me I Couldn't, about living and dancing in Colombia in the 1980's, and the instructional bookBelly Dancing for Fitness. In September, 2005, Ms. Dallal moved to Seattle, Washington, and began her latest endeavor, "40 Days and 1001 Nights", in which she lived in five Muslim countries for 40 days each (Indonesia, Egypt, Zanzibar, Jordan, and China's western most province, the predominately Muslim Xinjiang Autonomous Region.)
Meanwhile, Ms. Dallal continues to teach Middle Eastern dance workshops, perform, and do speaking engagements around the globe.
Panelist:Current Commercialization and Sexualization of Bellydance (Saturday)
Thania Meneses-Flores
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Thania, (Zahira), holds an MA in Art History, is a PhD candidate in Medieval Studies (UofT) and is artistic director of Dragonfly Dance. Originally from Mexico, she came to Toronto in 2002 falling in love with Canada and with bellydance. A protégé of Hannan Sultan and Roula Said, she has developed an impressive C.V. of dance training.
She was a founding faculty member at Hannan’s Bellydance and taught at OmLaila. She founded Dragonfly with her partner in 2012.
Zahira is the artistic director of Dragonfly Student Troupe and the Dragonettes. She performs as a soloist and as member of Mirage.
Presentation: "The Rhetoric of Dance: The Medieval Salome"
Yasmina Ramzy
Ontario, Canada
After many years of performing throughout the Middle East for royalty and heads of state, Yasmina Ramzy founded the critically acclaimed Arabesque Dance Company and Orchestra, Arabesque Academy and the International Bellydance Conference of Canada (IBCC). She received her key training from leading masters in Egypt and Syria including Aida Nour and Mohammed Khalil of the National Folklore Troupe of Egypt.
Her unique and highly creative choreographies have been commissioned internationally by universities, museums, ballet companies, figure skating teams and many Middle East dance companies including the internationally renowned Bellydance Superstars. She has been awarded numerous grants for her choreographies by all levels of arts councils.
Yasmina is invited to teach and perform regularly in over 60 cities on five continents. She has produced 8 instructional DVDs, 7 performance DVDs and 6 CDs that sell worldwide. The "Ask Yasmina" column which is published in the world�s largest Bellydance magazine is translated into several languages.
Yasmina is well known for elevating the status of Middle Eastern dance as high art and conveying its relationship with Arab music and culture. She is a member of the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists and has served on the Board of Directors for Dance Ontario since 1996.
Willow Chang
Hawaii, U.S.A.
For dance audiences worldwide, Willow fuses scholarly devotion with emotional, dramatic presentation to give performances that take ones breath away. Whether performing a traditional raks baladi, or retelling ancient myths through original contemporary dance, or elegantly pushing the boundaries of fusion dance forms, Willow connects with audiences, moving and amazing them.
For the dancers in her companies Jasmine Revolution and SANGHA Dance Theater, Willow leads with compassion, choreographs with imagination and innovation and creates unforgettable performances for her dancers and audiences alike. Through methodical and holistic ways, she incorporates the wisdom of master teachers, continued discipline, ferocious reading, cultivation of sacred practice, annual global travel, nurturing new and old friendships and continued analysis of these relationships – to discover how they inspire the creative process.
Panelist: Foreign Influences: Global Influences on Arab Dance and Vice Versa - Hosted by Ranya Renee (Friday)
Zahra Zuhair
California, U.S.A.
Master teacher, performer, and choreographer, Zahra is world renowned for her knowledge, authenticity, and dedication to the art of Middle Eastern dance. Raised in oriental dance from a young age, Zahra is known for her musicality, flawless technique, and elegant style. She has trained and influenced many of today’s international, Bellydance stars! Zahra has performed and taught workshops worldwide. Zahra also teaches regular weekly classes in her studio, DanceGardenLA, in Los Angeles, CA.