Merrybellies Belly Arts
Jillanna's Arts Résumé
Education, Certificates & Awards
Belly dance training since 1999: Classes and workshops with Rose Champagne, Mellea, Shifah, Emuna, Eva Cernik, Leyla Jouvana, Elizabeth Artemis Mourat, & Gina. On-going study of Middle Eastern music and culture, Arabic language, and all forms of Middle Eastern Dance.
Currently serving as adjunct professor at University of Tennessee - Chattanooga, teaching belly dance.
University of Massachusetts (University Graduate Fellowship/Art History department; Masters Degree awarded 2004)
Amherst College (Graduated summa cum laude with High Distinction for honors thesis in painting) Amherst, MA
Phi Beta Kappa (Initiated in 1998)
ALACE Labor Assistant Training Workshop Chattanooga, TN
Advanced Doula Training: Optimal Foetal Positioning (DONA & CAPPA CEUs awarded; workshop taught by Crystal Sada, CCE, CD)
WomanCraft Midwifery (Currently in advanced class; graduate of first year; doula certification Neonatal Resuscitation, CPR)
Amrita Gallery/Highland Cultural Center 2nd National Juried Exhibition (2nd place for painting) Highland, NY
Erato (1st place for short story) Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Stipe Society Competition (Second place for short story) Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Teaching Experience
Belly Dance Instruction (Various locations, including UTC (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga); Chattacon 33 (Chattanooga Choo Choo; Camp Coca-Cola (at Camp Adahi), Menlo, GA; Christ the King Church, Dalton, GA; Chattanooga Jewish Cultural Center, East Ridge, TN; Madia's Studio, Chattanooga, TN; AbsoluteFIT, Fort Oglethorpe, GA; Fit One, Ooltewah, TN; Old Green Eyes, Ringgold, GA; Northwest GA YMCA; Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton, MA, with Mellea; Golds Gym, Amherst, MA; and the Barn Studio, Amherst, MA) **private classes & workshops not listed. Began: 2002
Prenatal Belly Dance Instruction (Barn Studio in Amherst, MA; WomanCraft Midwifery for the advanced midwifery class, Amherst, MA; Claudia Conn, CPM's home, Kennesaw, Georgia, Old Green Eyes Gallery, Ringgold, GA) **private classes & workshops not listed. Began: 2001
History of Modern Art (Teaching Assistant, 2 semesters, at University of Massachusetts, Amherst)
Junior Year Writing (Teaching Assistant, at University of Massachusetts, Amherst)
Creative Writing Group (Organized and led with Chris Babb-Cheshul weekly) Northampton, MA
Private Tutoring (visual art, writing, dance, midwifery)
Performance (public events)
Middle Eastern Belly Dance (Most private events not listed)
ConNooga 2008 (Jillanna & Graveyard Dollies) Chattanooga Choo Choo, Chattanooga, TN (February 23, 2008)
Images (Jillanna & members of troupes, with Victoria St. James) Miss Hamilton County Pageant (winner: Victoria St. James), Chattanooga, TN (February 17, 2008)
Pokey's (Solo) Cleveland, TN
Chattacon 33 (Solo, with members of Gems of the Oasis and Kira & Heather from Atlanta) Chattanooga Choo Choo (January 25, 2008)
Merrybellies Holiday Hafla 2007 (Gems of the Oasis, Mermaids, Graveyard Dollies, and solos by Jillanna) Old Green Eyes, Ringgold, GA (December 15, 2007)
Gems of the Oasis 3rd Annual Student Show (Merrybellies student troupes Gems of the Oasis, Mermaids, Graveyard Dollies & guests including Debka & Khrista, Liora, Amberetta, Zuhra, Troupe Hyetti, Mahsati Janan, and Gina. Jillanna solo and in duet with Desiree' and Ursula) Barking Legs Theater, Chattanooga, TN (November 17, 2007)
HallowCon (Jillanna & Gems of the Oasis) East Ridge, TN (October 27 & 28, 2007)
Georgia Winery Grape Stomp (Jillanna & Gems of the Oasis) Ringgold, GA (2007)
Warner Park Zoo (Jillanna & Gems of the Oasis; Private Wedding) Chattanooga, TN (Summer 2007)
Merrybellies Summer Oasis (Gems of the Oasis; Graveyard Dollies; Event Organization) Colonnade Theater, Ringgold, GA (July 7, 2007)
Alexia Show (sponsored by Mary/M'Alin) (Solo) Chattanooga State College Theater (June 24, 2007)
East Meets West (Gems of the Oasis) Chattanooga Market (June 10, 2007)
Moon Haven Studio First Anniversary Hafla (Gems of the Oasis; henna by Jillanna) Ringgold, GA
April Fools Weekend DaDa Dinner Cabaret ( Gems of the Oasis and Desert Sirens; special guests included Alexandria and Caleb) Old Green Eyes, Ringgold, GA
Eva Cernik Event (Produced by Central Fusion Productions) (Solo) March 10, 2007 Newnan, GA
Gems of the Oasis 2nd Annual Student Show (Gems of the Oasis, Ballista Bellies, & Solo; guests included Belly Bellies, Gypsy Dreams, Luna Mara, Nanda Devi, and Soloists Danika, Alexandria, and Hellcat) Barking Legs Theater, Chattanooga, TN
Night at the Oasis (Produced by Debka) October 2006 (Gems of the Oasis) Pellissippi State Auditorium, Knoxville, TN
Latin American Community Alliance 7th Annual Health and Cultural Fair 2006 (Solo) October 28, 2006 Northwest GA Convention and Trade Center, Dalton, GA
Brainerd Arts Festival (First Annual!) (henna, art exhibition, belly dance) Chattanooga, TN
Arts & Educations Council's Culture Fest 2006 (Henna, children's activities, & belly dance by Gems of the Oasis, with solos by Jillanna, Alexandria and Hellcat) Coolidge Park, Chattanooga, TN
First Friday on Frazier: Dharma & Deena's (Henna; Belly Dance by Gems of the Oasis) Sept. 1 & Nov. 3, 2006 Chattanooga, TN
Summer Oasis: Featuring Leyla Jouvana & Roland from Germany (Gems of the Oasis, Ballista Bellies, Solo; Guests included performers from Atlanta, Knoxville, & Chattanooga) August 12, 2006 Ringgold, GA
July Hafla at Madia's Studio July 28, 2006 (Gems of the Oasis; Jillanna solo; guest performances by Persephone from Washington, DC and Yasmin II) Chattanooga, TN
Magic of Arabian Nights Benefit (Partnership Associates and Kiwanis Club) (Gems of the Oasis; Ballista Bellies; Jillanna solo) May 13, 2006 Chattanooga Convention & Trade Ctr.
Mary's Hafla (Solo) May 6, 2006 Barking Legs Theatre, Chattanooga, TN
National Dance Week 2006 Hafla (Gems of the Oasis; Ballista Bellies; Solo) April 28, 2006 Old Green Eyes, Ringgold, GA
Hafla at Zanzibar Studio (Ballista Bellies) March 25, 2006 Chattanooga, TN
Winter Hafla at Madia's Studio (Gems of the Oasis; Ballista Bellies; Solo; Guests included Alexandria and Malin) February 11, 2006 Chattanooga, TN
Merrybellies First Annual Student Show (Gems of the Oasis; Ballista Bellies; Solo; Guests included Alexandria, Linda Linda, Luna Mara, Ahalia) December 16, 2005 The Colonnade, Ringgold, GA
Reclaiming Family Gathering (Solo) June 25, 2005 Campground in Cleveland, GA
Atlanta Shimmy-a-thon 2005 (Solo) May 14, 2005 Several Dancers Core Studio, Decatur, GA
Northampton Center for the Arts (Solo) July 24, 2004 Northampton, MA
Jewels of the Valley 1999-2000 Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA
Other performances
WREK 91.1 FM (hosted diverse weekly shows 1989 to 1993) Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (hosted diverse weekly shows 1989 to 1993) Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
"Who are you? Tea Party" (Performance art) 800 East, Atlanta, GA
Alpha Chi Omega Dance Performances, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
The Shape of Art Cable TV show, Northampton, MA
Readings (Poetry, short stories, organization of events)
Exhibitions & Events
Hunter Museum of Art & ARC (Art Revolution in Creativity) Multicultural Fair (Belly dance workshop) GPS (Girls Preparatory School), Chattanooga 4/7/07
April Fools Weekend Event (Belly dance performances and workshops; henna; art & writing games) Old Green Eyes, Ringgold, GA 3/30 to 4/1/07
Partnership for Families, Children & Adults Belly dance workshop for some awesome girls! Chattanooga, TN 3/15/07
Madia's Studio Open House (in conjunction with Tanner Hill Gallery opening) (Henna) Southern Saddlery Building, Chattanooga, TN
The Holiday Showcase of Art (Watercolors & ink paintings exhibited in group show) November/December 2006, Old Green Eyes, Ringgold, GA
Brainerd Arts Festival 2006 (First Annual!) (Henna, art exhibition, & belly dance) Chattanooga, TN
Arts & Educations Council's Culture Fest 2006 (Henna, children's activities, & belly dance) Coolidge Park, Chattanooga, TN
First Friday on Frazier: Dharma & Deena's (Henna & belly dance) Sept. 1, 2006 Chattanooga, TN
July Hafla at Madia's Studio (Henna & belly dance) July 28, 2006 (featuring Persephone from Washington, DC) Chattanooga, TN
East Meets West, Chattanooga Market (Henna at the India Association table) June 4, 2006 Finley Stadium
Magic of Arabian Nights Benefit (Partnership Associates and Kiwanis Club) (Henna & belly dance with my troupe, Gems of the Oasis) May 13, 2006 Chattanooga Convention & Trade Ctr.
GreenLife Grocery Earth Day Celebration 2006 (Henna body art) Chattanooga, TN
A-Muse-em Discovery Museum Benefit (Henna body art) Chattanooga, TN
Winter Workshops & Hafla (Organized, taught workshops, danced) Madia's Studio, Chattanooga, TN
Merrybellies First Annual Student Show: Gems of the Oasis & Special Guests (Belly Dance) Colonnade Performing Arts Theater, Ringgold, GA
Hafla at Barking Legs Theatre (Henna body art) Chattanooga, TN
Asian Bazaar at Keene State College (Henna body art) Keene, NH
Oriental Caravan (Helped facilitate the Middle Eastern Arts Collaborative (MEAC) student dance event; Mellea's & my Monday night class performed) Karuna Yoga Center, Northampton, MA
Cafe Lebanon Student Night (Mellea's & my students performed) Springfield, MA
ArtShow Amherst (Downtown "street gallery" in Amherst, MA; June 24-25 & September 25-26, 2004; exhibited paintings and offered henna body art) Amherst, MA
Middle Eastern Dance in Pulaski Park (Henna body art at outdoor belly dance event) Northampton, MA
Old Green Eyes Art Gallery ("Fanatic Five" founding members exhibition) Ringgold, GA
18th Annual Juried Exhibition Cleveland State Community College, Cleveland, TN
Creative Arts Guild Annual Purchase Prize Exhibition (Juried) Dalton, GA
Gallery 115 Artist Book Exhibition (Group) Northampton, MA
Pahana Gallery (Group) Northampton, MA
The Naked Art Gallery Northampton, MA
--Collaborative exhibition with husband
--"Visceral Reality" solo exhibition
Eli Marsh Gallery Amherst College, Amherst, MA
--"Visceral Reality" honors thesis
--Group exhibition
Mead Art Museum Annual Student Exhibition (Juried) Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Women’s Week Art Exhibition (Juried) Campus Center, Amherst College, Amherst, MA
2nd National Juried Exhibition Amrita Gallery/Highland Cultural Center, Highland, NY
2nd Annual National Runners-up Exhibition Cuneen-Hackett Cultural Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
"Dream House" Juried Exhibition Radius Gallery/Berkshire Artisans Gallery, Pittsfield, MA
"Sacred Arts of Women" (Group) East-West Arts, Millerton, NY
All Campus Theatre (For P. Grimm’s "Definition of Gyrrrl") University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Square Art Gallery (Group) Bellows Falls, VT
Stipe Society Exhibition (Juried) Goodrich C. White Hall, Emory College, Atlanta, GA
Women’s Week art exhibition (Juried) Campus Center, Emory College, Atlanta, GA
"Whiplash" (Exhibition with Mother) Grace Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, TN
"Nests" (Group) 800 East, Atlanta, GA
Gallery 253 May Day Exhibition (Group) Atlanta, GA
Restaurant & Café Exhibitions (Amanouz in Northampton, MA; El Nopal in Bellows Falls, VT; Many in Atlanta, GA. List provided upon request)
Writing & Illustration
New Life Health & Wellness (journalism)
"Myriad Properties of Glass" (Novel, as yet unpublished)
Prism (Illustration) Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Madness This (Poetry) Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Erato literary magazine (Poetry, Short Stories, 1989 to 1993) Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
The Village Idiot literary magazine (Illustration, poetry) Idaho
Potato Eyes literary magazine (Short story) Maine
Eye of the Kudzu by Priscilla Grim (Art, short stories 1991 to 1994) Atlanta, GA
Great Speckled Bird Revived version of the old hippie 'zine. Atlanta, GA
North Avenue Review (Co-founder, editor, writer, illustrator, photographer 1989 to 1992) Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Self-published ‘Zines
Community
Ballista Bellies (Belly Dance Duet, founded in 2005)
Gems of the Oasis (Student belly dance troupe, founded in 2005)
Desert Sirens (Professional Belly Dance Troupe, founded in 2006)
Graveyard Dollies (Fusion Belly Dance troupe, founded in 2007)
Chaotic Necrotica (Professional Belly Dance & Suspension Group, founded in 2008)
Mountain Mothers Birth Network (founder 2004; e-group moderator, activist)
Middle Eastern Arts Collaborative (MEAC)
Old Green Eyes Arts League & Gallery (Co-founded 1998; organized exhibitions and correspondence with press) Ringgold, GA
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