Merrybellies Belly Dance

July 28th 2006 Hafla at Madia's Studio

Featuring Persephone

 

Hafla = Party  

Dance performances featuring Gems of the Oasis, Jillanna, and special guest from Washington DC, Persephone!

The show included choreography by Jillanna: Egyptian cabaret and raks assaya (cane dance), zils, veils, swords, and Turkish cabaret.  Persephone's performance added a good dose of punk rock fusion! 

After the show, people stayed to learn some basic belly dance moves and join the dancing.  This was an all ages, family-friendly event... and we had a wonderful party! 

Gems of the Oasis features dancers of all levels of experience who study with Jillanna, including dancers who take classes at Madia's Studio!

Jillanna Babb-Cheshul enjoys belly dance as a teacher, choreographer, troupe director, event organizer, performer, and art historian.  Her training and knowledge includes Egyptian and Turkish styles as well as folk dances of the Middle East and North Africa. As an art historian, she specializes in Islamic and African art and culture as well as modern and contemporary Western art.  Jillanna also offers doula (labor assistance) services, conducts a midwifery study group, and works in other art mediums (painting, henna, creative writing). 

Persephone (Sarah Hope Fitch): For most of her life, Persephone has lived in the Washington, DC area, where she has studied bellydance since she was 16 under teachers like Laurel Victoria Grey, Yasmin, and People's Artist of Usbekistan Qizlarhon Dustmuhamedova. Persephone has performed in the Washington area alongside inspiring dancers like Momo Kadous and Rajaa from Egypt, the Silk Road Dance Company, and the Santi Budaya Indonesian Dance and Culture Society, and has always tried to learn as much as she can from everyone she performs or studies with. In her own choreography and improvisation, Persephone seeks to combine her Egyptian cabaret-style background with her enthusiasm for punk rock and other contemporary music. Performing for her is a transformative experience, drawing inspiration from the vibrant tradition of improvisational dancing as well as the explosive energy of rock 'n' roll performance.

 

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