Featured Teachers & Musicians: The Ghosts Project

The Ghosts Project are a band that are near and dear to our hearts.  They were part of the very first (and second) Waking Persephone (back in Providence, RI), and we're thrilled to have them return for Year 5.

Formed in 2006, The Ghosts Project is comprised of Paul Mercer on violin and Davis Petterson on percussion. The band, which is located in Atlanta, features an ever changing lineup of special guest musicians from all over the country.

Paul Mercer began studying violin at age 8, and has performed professionally for over twenty years, His current and past projects include The Changlings, Jill Tracy's Malcontent Orchestra, Faith and the Muse, DP3, Brass Knuckle Surfer and The Sweet Meat Love and Holy Cult. Davis Petterson has been a percussionist for twenty years and has performed with bands such as The Changlings, The Hellblinki Sextet, Strezo, Abney Park, The Nathaniel Johnstone Band and Soriah. They will be joined in Seattle by multi-instrumentalist Nathaniel Johnstone.

The band frequently works with a variety of dancers, pulling not only from their own songs, but creating live improvised music on the spot. This is their third year performing at Waking Persephone, and each year as part of the Gala Shows, the performing dancer gives the band 3 words or phrases, which inspires the music they create right then and there.

Their workshop takes place on Friday 4:30-6pm Dancing To & With a Live Band
Learn the art of improvisation and how to perform with a live band from The Ghosts Project. The percussion, violin & guitar trio will teach you how to adapt your belly dance moves to the spontaneity of live musician with an emphasis on communication between dancer and musician.

And don't miss them making musical magic live at BOTH Gala Shows and dance with them yourself at the Underworld Ball!

Teacher Feature: Somni!

We are pleased to welcome back Somni - this year as Core Instructors offering TWO workshops - one on Friday and one on Sunday!

Somni is Letty Limbach and Sarah Kate Moore. They strive to create dynamic, mischievous tribal fusion that draws from many forms of world dance. Having completed Rachel Brice's 8 Elements Phases I and II, both members of Somni have also trained extensively with their dance mentor Lacey Sanchez of Florida Tribal Dance. Well known in Seattle for their dynamic, surprising performances, they are inspired by diverse forms of dance including Raks Sharki, ATS and ITS, tribal fusion, hip hop, modern/contemporary, tango, and Middle Eastern and North African folkloric forms.

Friday: 10:30-12pm Contemporary Stylizations
Many of us love the rich aesthetics of belly dance that draw from the past - the Victorian, the Art Nouveau, the tarnished but still sparkly shinies - but what if you want to look towards the present or even the future for inspiration? In this workshop, we'll explore contemporary stylizations in both movement and costume. Drawing inspiration from hip hop and modern dance forms, we'll first look at how we can adapt shape, structure, posture, and attitude to create a contemporary aesthetic using the vocabulary of belly dance. You'll then either create your own combination using these concepts or we'll teach a combination that illustrates these concepts. We'll then move to the costuming realm to discuss how you can adapt these same ideas to creating a unique costume that complements/accentuates the contemporary aesthetics of the movement, while still honoring the costuming lineage of our dance form. This will be a combination movement and discussion class and will include take-home handouts and direction toward relevant resources.

Sunday: 1:30pm-3:00pm Intentional JuxtapositionThis thoughtful article by fusion dancer Hilde Cannoodt has been making the rounds: http://www.hildedancer.com/blog/2016/1/18/unintentional-juxtaposition-in-tribal-fusion. We love what Hilde has to say about the importance of avoiding unintentional juxtaposition. It also made us wonder--what does intentional juxtaposition look like?--and how can we use it to create motivated, inspirational, badass fusion dance? Get ready to explore any and all movement and dance forms you have experience with to create your own "intentionally juxtaposed" combination. This will be a combo discussion/movement class with a focus on personal exploration, including take-home handouts and direction toward relevant resourc

Teacher Feature: Sara Beaman!

Another familiar face to WP is the multi-talented Sara Beaman! Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sara Beaman has a passion for contemporary bellydance in all its forms. She performs as a soloist and as a member of the League of Extraordinary Bellydancers, a geek-themed bellydance troupe, and stars in two instructional DVDs, "Fluid Transitions" and "Swordplay for Bellydance". Her style is always emotional, often dark, and usually improvised.

This year Sara is presenting the challenging art of floorwork on Friday from 4:30-6pm: Get On The Floor - Floorwork and Levels. This workshop demystifies the art of bellydance floorwork. Through a series of flowing combinations, we’ll explore basic and advanced floorwork techniques as well as the transitional elements between them. We’ll discuss conditioning, safety considerations, how to integrate props into floorwork, how to ascend and descend gracefully, and how to do floorwork in different kinds of costuming. You’ll come away from the workshop with skills you can put into practice right away. Please bring kneepads, or expect to have very sore knees by the end of the workshop.

She is also vending her gorgeous jewelry as Hazel Planchette in our wonderful marketplace!

Teacher Feature: Samara!

We are pleased to having Samara joining us again from the East Coast!

Samara is a Salem MA-based performance artist who has performed and taught bellydance at events across the US. She earned her Bachelor's in Theatre Arts from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her Master's in Theatre Education from Emerson College, and has been studying Middle Eastern dance and performing as a living statue since 2006. Samara is the producer of several Boston-area events, including the Geeky Bellydance Show at the Arisia convention each January, and is the resident bellydancer for the burlesque collective Geek Girl Boston. She is the dance child of Neylan in Providence and Tempest wherever she roams and has combined her dance, theatre and performance art training into her own unique style of snaky, statuesque, pop-and-lock bellydance.

Samara will be presenting her workshop "All the World's a Stage: Theatre and Theatricality for Bellydancers" on Saturday at 5pm. While actors and dancers often share the same spaces, shared knowledge between art forms is a precious commodity. This workshop has a twofold focus: theatre terminology, history and concepts useful for dancers; and theatrical techniques to enhance a dancer's stage presence and engage their audience. Prepare for dramatic flair!

Check out her dramatic performance from Arisia! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grlBtBsAQ7o

Teacher Feature: Poppy Maya!

Teaching for her first time at WP is third-generation belly dancer and co-author of "Becoming a Belly Dancer" is the wonderful Poppy Maya! She is bringing to our extensive workshop schedule "Your Perfect Belly Dance Wardrobe" which focuses on the crucial topic of putting together the right look and costuming for your dance, regardless of level or style!

Poppy Maya is an international belly dancer and costume designer. As a third-generation belly dancer, she grew up surrounded by Middle Eastern music and dance. Dancers choose to have their custom costumes designed and made by Poppy because she brings her knowledge of performance to the design and construction of her costumes. Her pieces stand up to the strongest shimmy. UK born, Poppy’s belly dance career has taken her to three continents. Poppy performed professionally throughout India for eight months. She was the featured entertainer at Bollywood weddings, beach hotels and cruise ships. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area CA, performing at private events and restaurants. She is known for her exquisite shimmies, dynamic staging, bright smile and sparking eyes. Her family legacy of dance shines through her interpretations of the music.

Saturday 10/15: 5-6:30pm Poppy Maya: Your Perfect Belly Dance Wardrobe
Do you have lots of costumes pieces but nothing to wear? Are you just starting to perform and need to expand or upgrade your wardrobe, but don’t know where to start? In this workshop, Poppy will teach you how to get what you want from your costumes based on your budget, performance style and opportunities. We will review your existing costume collection and evaluate how it aligns with your goals.Poppy will share techniques for getting the most out of your wardrobe and how to complete your performance look. This is a lecture type workshop. Details of preparation work will be sent ahead of the class.

Check out her website at http://www.poppymaya.co.uk/

Teacher Feature: Nawal Doucette

Waking Persephone is pleased to welcome back Nawal as a guest instructor. She will be teaching the following workshop:

Rock N Roll Finger Symbols

Sunday, October 16th 9:00-10:30PM

To register: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/workshops.html

In this workshop We will talk about and hear some of the different styles of music other than Traditional “bellydance music “ where we can play finger cymbals as percussionists and Dancers. These types of music include Folk, Celtic, Blue Grass, Rockabilly and event straight up ROCK! We will play Cymbals and learn a few combos that go well when improvising dance with cymbals to non-traditional music. We will explore Nawal’s approach to playing finger cymbals- Nawal originally learned to play finger cymbals as accompanying percussion as she became too busy with her bellydance business to keep up with her cello parts in Wet Grow Light- and started playing her cello parts with Cymbals. Rather than playing learned patterns over the music she creates patterns live on the spot- “jamming” or “riffing” with the music and complementing the drummer- locking in not only with the rhythm section but also the melodies and playing off the other band members. The Cymbals are written in to the music then the dance is worked in around the primary responsibility of accessory percussion.We will learn: using traditional cymbal patterns vs ‘composed’ patterns | When to back out and let the music breathe How to communicate with your band mates when dancing/ playing | Great warm ups and exercises to prepare for intense cymbal playing. This workshop is suitable for people new to finger cymbals or even experienced cymbal players.

More about Nawal

Nawal teaches finger cymbals, muscular technique , American Tribal Style®, and Salimpour format bellydance. She is Level 1 and Level 2 certified in both the Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour formats, and is currently working towards her teaching certification in both formats. She is also a FatChanceBellyDance® ATS® teacher and Certified Sister Studio; the first person to bring authentic American Tribal Style to New Brunswick, Canada.

Nawal has had her work as a pioneer of west coast bellydance styles in eastern Canada recognized with much praise and support. She has received multiple provincial arts’ grants in order to pursue her studies at the Suhaila Salimpour School of Bellydance in Berkeley, California.

Nawal is also an Experienced Yoga Teacher (E-RYT200) Registered through YOGA Alliance, blending her own practice into classes. She is a also a member of the Psycadelic Rock Group WET GROW LIGHT, playing percussion, keys , or belly dance."
www.maritimetribal.com

Teacher Feature: Leigh Anne Shaw

Waking Persephone is thrilled to welcome Leigh Anne Shaw as a guest instructor this year! She will be teaching the following workshop:

The Shape of the Sun: ATS® Basket Dialect by Al-hambra Tribal Dance

Saturday, October 15th 1:15-2:45PM

To register: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/workshops.html

Learn an exciting new movement dialect for American Tribal Style® Belly Dance that seamlessly integrates baskets into slow and fast ATS® vocabulary. The shape of the basket fused into the ATS® vocabulary recalls iconic postures and ancient symbols while remaining totally improvisational and ready to enhance any ATS® set. Created and taught by an FCBD Sister Studio, this movement dialect requires familiarity with the FatChanceBellyDance® instructional series through Volume 9. Please bring a round basket or object suitable for balancing and manipulating, appropriate headwrap, and knee protection. A limited number of baskets will be available for use and sale.

More about Leigh Anne:
Leigh Anne Shaw is grateful to have discovered American Tribal Style belly dance in 2004. After performing with student troupe Nefer Tem and FCBD® sister troupe Saiidi, Leigh Anne received her FCBD® General Skills and FCBD® Teacher Training certification in 2010 and became an official FCBD® Sister Studio, teaching ATS® on the San Francisco peninsula. Her troupe, Al-hambra Tribal Dance, performs in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to the years of instruction at the ATS® Mothership, Leigh Anne credits the development of her personal style to her studies with Ariellah, Nanna Candelaria, Malia DeFelice, Asia Arabesque, Andrea Sendek, and Wendy Marlatt. Leigh Anne performs world fusion belly dance on occasion with Wendy Marlatt in a sassy duet known as Rashani.

Teacher Feature: Kryss

Waking Persephone is excited to include Kryss as one of our guest instructors! She will be offering the following workshop:

Raqs Duende (Flamenco Fusion)

Saturday, October 15th 10:45AM-12:15PM

To Register: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/registration-details.html

Flamenco is intense passion and deep immersion into the soul. To fuse Flamenco and Belly Dance is to cross a small strip of water that divides two amazingly beautiful cultures. By taking the upper body stylings of Flamenco, the signature turn, “vuelta que brada”, paseos and marking steps and layering with the hip, chest and torso isolations of Belly Dance there is a fusion that comes from the depths of the body and soul. Workshop focus is on arms, posture & attitude..

More about Kryss
We all come to dance from different places on the planet, in our hearts and in our minds. We come here because something stirs in our Souls when we hear the music all around us. I started in the rigidity and conformity of Ballet, was pulled back to dance in college to add Modern and Jazz to my body's vocabulary, and once the pre-requisites of early adulthood were fulfilled, I found my way to Middle Eastern Dance. My cells hold information about Flamenco and the Indian Classical style, Mohini Attam. When I dove into Dance meditation as a dance and personal practice, I figured out that Dance was basically painting with breath and that so much could be learned about Self and Community through Dance and I feel great Joy in seeing these connections created in others.

My stats... Dance Minor from Newcomb College, trained at Boston School of Ballet and Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts. Soloist with Betty Karam & the Desert Dancers, and !Ole Flamenco Ole! in New Orleans. I'm the director of NOLAmazigh and owner of Crescent Lotus Dance Studio. I hold a Teacher Certification in Dancemeditation from the Dervish Society of America. I've studied dance on 2 continents with some truly amazing people.

Teacher Feature: Kelly Holder

Waking Persephone is excited to have Kelly Holder as a guest instructor. Kelly will be teaching the following workshop:

Healing in Dance

Saturday, October 15th 5-6:30PM

Register here: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/workshops.html

Ever notice that dance can make your feel better and not just physically. Well, there is a reason for that! In this workshop we will cover the How, What and Why? of movement and dance. You will learn how dance can be helpful physically and psychologically. We will talk about everything from characteristics of movement to dance therapy techniques to brain stuff...yes, brain stuff to enhance your practice and performance.

More about Kelly

Kelly is a Tribal Fusion Belly Dancer based in Milwaukee, WI. She began her belly dance career with the Improvisational Tribal Belly Dance Troupe, Barika Belly Dance in 2003. In 2007, she became a soloist and studied various forms of Belly Dance as well as Eastern European Romany (Gypsy) Folk Dance from her teacher Elaina Qureshi. The fusion of these elements allowed for Kelly to create her own unique style which is a combination of belly dance, folk dance and skirt work. In 2011, Kelly began learning traditional Russian Gypsy Dance from Viktoria Mitlyng and this further expanded Kelly’s dance repertoire and style. Kelly completed Tribal Style Belly Dance training, Collective Soul Level One, with Paulette Rees-Denis in 2007 and completed a 14 hour Belly Dance Intensive with Zafira Dance Company in 2008.

Kelly continues to learn and teach. Kelly has taught and performed at events throughout the Midwest and has taught at events such as Tribal Revolution and Ooky Spooky. She is known for her spirited performances and use of a big skirt. In her other life, she is a counselor and has taken additional coursework in Movement and Dance Therapy. Kelly incorporates therapeutics aspects of movement and dance into her performance, practice and teaching modalities. Kelly has also been featured in Fuse magazine and the book “I Bellydance Because”.

Teacher Feature: Katrina

We are happy to welcome Katrina Ji as a guest instructor at Waking Persephone this year. She will be teaching the following workshop:

Spice Box: Intro to Indian Dance

Sunday, October 16th 3:30-5:00PM

Register here: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/workshops.html

India is the spice capital of the world enriched with awe inspiring dances. Spice up your dance repertoire with Katrina Ji as she intertwines a variety of Indian dance steps from classical to folk laced with mudras and coy facial expressions. A series of steps will be taught utilizing a variety of steps with cultural references along with mudras (hand poses) and special facial expressions in the form of a mini choreography. Katrina Ji has been dabbling in Indian Dance since 2001 when she first fell in love with Rajasthani Folk Dance. Since then, she has spiced up her dance with steps from the classical dances of southern India: Kuchipidi, Bharatnatyum, Odissi and Kathak and the folk dances of Northern India: Lavani, Garba, Kalbelia Gypsy, Bhangra and more!

More About Katrina Ji
Katrina Ji, Artistic Director of Culture Shakti Dance Company & Rajasthani Gypsy Caravan

She has appeared on several TV programs in India & the USA in addition to podcasts and magazines. She has performed with some of the worlds most famous dancers!

Katrina Ji tours internationally with Rajasthani Gypsy Caravan and teaches Bollywood Dance at her studio, Culture Shakti in Seattle in addition to a variety of public and private schools.

She specializes in Bollywood, Rajasthani Folk Dance & ATS® Belly Dance.

Cultureshakti.com

Teacher Feature: Kamrah

Waking Persephone is excited to welcome back Kamrah as a guest instructor. They will be teaching the following workshop:

Beyond Basic Sword

Friday, October 14th 2:45-4:15 PM

Register here: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/workshops.html

This workshop is not for the faint of heart! Take your sword work to the next level by learning how to dance with your sword…and with an attitude! Balancing is NOT the focus of this workshop. We will be working on other techniques to make your sword performances interesting, dynamic, and bold! A short combo is offered to integrate concepts and for further practice of these amazing techniques.

More About Kamrah 
Kamrah is a Chicago belly dancer that has performed tribal fusion, American cabaret, Lebanese, and Egyptian belly dance since 2001. Noted for their creativity and theatricality, they currently perform throughout the country as a soloist and is a member of Raks Geek, a geek belly dance and fire company based in Chicago. They are a trained massage therapist, and their knowledge of anatomy enables them to teach students how to dance both powerfully and safely.

Teacher Feature: Jaidra DuRant

We are pleased to welcome Jaidra DuRant as a guest instructor this year! She will be teaching the following workshop:

Basic of Poi

Sunday, October 16th 9:00-10:30AM

Register here: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/workshops.html

The word Poi comes from the Maori, and means ""ball on a cord."" Much like dance or music, the art of spinning poi has evolved over time to have many different forms. Today, we spin fabric poi, glow poi, fire poi, and more in intricate patterns mixed with movement to create a dance style that can be meditative or mesmerizing for the dancer and/or the audience. In this workshop, Jaidra will introduce you to the art of spinning poi. We will begin with simple concepts, moves, and circles and build to turns and patterns layered over simple dance isolations. No experience is necessary.

More About Jaidra

Jaidra is a fusion dance performance artist, instructor, and visual artist located in Greenville, SC. She is Co-Director of the captivating theatrical fusion performance group, Discordia Arts. Jaidra has been involved in theatre her entire life and began belly dancing in 2002. Her foray into the fire and flow arts began in 2006 when she picked up fire palms and fans for the first time and fell in love. As a lifelong pyromaniac, the ability to set things on fire and dance around with them is both spiritual and extremely joyful for Jaidra. Her fascination with large dangerous objects and off beat music combine with her background in theatre to create her unique style of dance that often features swords, fire, and intensely engaging imagery.

Finding belly dance was a life altering and healing experience for Jaidra. As a dancer, she loves to work with props as an extension of the body. As an instructor, Jaidra aims to equip her students with the tools to find their personal joy in movement.

Teacher Feature: Troupe ‘Hip’notic

We are excited to welcome Troupe ‘Hip’notic to the guest instructor roster! They will be teaching the following workshop:

Birds of a Feather: Collaboration and Group Dynamics

Sunday, October 16th 10:45AM-12:15PM

Register here: http://www.wakingpersephone.com/workshops.html

There are many reasons to collaborate with other dancers, either in a troupe or as short-term partnerships. However, working together can be difficult, requiring vulnerability and compromise. Troupe ‘Hip’notic has learned and adapted techniques to incorporate members’ thoughts, ideas, and talents throughout the entire process of creating and performing thought-provoking and emotional dances. This collaborative development results in strong pieces which are truly owned by each dancer.

Taking cues from nature, this workshop will explore effective collaboration and group dynamics using simple rules exhibited by flocking birds. Troupe ‘Hip’notic will provide tips and tools for effective communication, criticism, and creation. Movement will focus on dynamic staging, group movement, and creative use of space; all essential parts of conveying emotions and stories through choreography. The troupe will also teach formations and movements that are effective to convey a mood or an idea, as well as some sample combos from troupe choreography that demonstrate various storytelling techniques.

More About Troupe "Hip"notic

Known for their charismatic, creative, and emotive performances, Troupe ‘Hip’notic has been performing their eclectic belly dance fusion throughout Maryland and the mid-Atlantic since their formation in 2004. Troupe ‘Hip’notic is a collective of women who respectfully borrow from traditional music and belly dance, while incorporating contemporary music and dance styles into their performances. As a purely democratic entity, everyone’s thoughts, ideas, and talents go into the entire creative process – from conception to costuming, from storyboarding to stage. For them, the entire artistic process is just as important as the final developed choreography. Over the years, their style has evolved to be increasingly more theatrical. They love to tell a story through characters, emotivity, and movement, and especially, to evoke specific, strong emotions from their audiences. They aim to envelope you in the world of their piece, and to lead you on a journey through their stories.

The troupe members have studied a variety of Middle Eastern dance styles (ATS, ITS, Egyptian, orientale, folkloric, etc.) that all tend to be incorporated into our choreographies, and all end up influencing their dancing. They continually pursue instruction with nationally and internationally renowned teachers to grow as artists and dancers. Their regular instructors include Belladonna (Washington, DC; tribal fusion) and Latifa (Annapolis, MD; Egyptian orientale and folkloric). Troupe members have taken workshops and short intensives with Zoe Jakes, Mira Betz, Mardi Love, Sera Solstice, Kim Leary, Donna Mejia, Shems, and Asharah, among many others. The troupe has performed at shows including Art of the Belly, Raven’s Night, DCTribal Cafe, Moonlight Tribal Lounge, 3rd Coast Tribal, Waking Persephone, TribalCon, and the Maryland Faerie Festival, among many others.