is known as one of the most experimental, cutting-edge dance companies in the Los Angeles area, nominated for the WeHo Award 2005 in California as "OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP" For this Dance.

We are extremely excited to have them as
SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS at THE SPIRIT OF THE TRIBES # 6

They are performing the most fascinating, intriguing dance... their own creation ...KALI
 

COLLEENA (INDIA) -

Colleena lives in India, much of her time, with a tribe of Khalbelia 'Gypsies', performing and documenting Rajasthani dance. She has performed with some of the most sought after Khalbelia dancers and musicians in the world and continues to perform regularly in Rajasthan, India with Benwari lal and Party and well as Kalu Nath and Party. She has recently opened a dance center in Rajasthan where her beloved Odissi classical dance guru, Padma Cheran Dehuri, teaches workshops in addition to the regular classes in Rajasthani folk dance and Belly Dance. Colleena has done extensive research into Rajasthani dances, and teaches workshops and classes in both the USA and India.  colleenashakti@yahoo.com

THE CLASSES :

1) KHALBELIA GYPSY DANCE-
    Rajasthani snake-charmers dance –

From the desert region of Rajasthan, India comes the snake-charming dance of the Khalbelia Gypsies. Wild and sensuous, the skilled dancers accentuate subtle, snake-like movements. As they dance, they fall into rapid spins, whirling their large black skirts adorned with ribbons of color. We will focus on rhythmic footwork, hand positions, facial expression, spins and jumps to give everyone an understanding of this beautiful style that is featured in the film “Latcho Drom”. A large skirt is recommended for this workshop.

2) Rajasthani Dance–
    Contemporary combinations from tribal roots! 

Rajasthan is a state in Western India rich with colorful folk dances. From the Khalbelia ‘Gypsy’ snake-charming dance to the delicate Ghoomar, Rajasthan’s folk dances are often borrowed from to create Bollywood’s exciting film dances. In this workshop we will use traditional movements in Rajasthani dance to create new combinations that can easily fuse into your Belly Dance. We will focus on a choreography as we break down the movements and discover new techniques for spins and hand positions. A large skirt is recommended for this workshop.

UNMATA (CA)

AMY SIGIL is owner and director of Hop Pot Studio in Sacramento, CA, home of UNMATA. Amy has been performing and teaching bellydance classes for over eight years. She danced for several years as half of Haruspicy Dancecraft. She formed the professional fusion troupe UNMATA in 2003.

Amy's Belly Dance style integrates not only her signature Hula Fusion but also Bharat Natyam, Flamenco, Hip Hop and modern dance. Put to the test, Amy’s exacting choreographies, unique style and Unmata ‘s hard work brought home several recent awards such as Ensemble of the Year 2005 (NV), BD troupe of the year 2004 (CA) and belly dance Troupe USA 2004 (OR).

Amy and UNMATA have taught workshops and performed nationwide at events such as last year’ s Spirit of the Tribes and Domba’ s Tribal Mania II in Arizona. In 2005 Amy judged for pageant competitions such as BD of the Year and Enchanted Camelot. Each year at Halloween, UNMATA hosts the Blood Moon Regale, Sacramento’s largest weekend of workshop, dance fellowship and a fully produced showcase of students and professional dancers. http://www.unmata.com/bloodmoon.

THE CLASS:
UNMATA AU NATUREL -Modern Belly dance Fusion- This multi level workshop will outline 2 tribal fusion combinations technique and isolation. The first combination will incorporate the building blocks of UNMATA ‘s modern belly dance style.

The second combination will focus primarily on the Hula Fusion nuance. Each movement will be outlined within a tribal cueing system so that it may be added to any troupe’s choreography or tribal vocabulary.

Amy will describe and drill each individual movement, then fasten them together into an accessible tribal combo that will be practiced in useful group and duet formations.
This workshop will be fun, fast, and furious. UNMATA believes in beat-your-butt technical practice, so bring water and come prepared to sweat.

worlddancecraft@yahoo.com

URBAN TRIBAL –
HEATHER STANTS
& SARA PLAISTED - (CA)

Urban Tribal Dance Company has been performing their unique fusion of traditional and modern movements, under the direction of Heather Stants, in San Diego and beyond since 1999. They have become a major innovative force in the world of tribal belly dance. Their style is a blend of middle eastern and other world dance forms fused with modern american dance influences, creating powerful performances which reflect and inspire current culture. Urban Tribal was named "troupe of the year" by Zaghareet magazine in 2003 and 2004. www.urbantribaldance.com   hastants@earthlink.net

THE CLASS :
Essential urban tribal style - Insights into technique for Urban Tribal Dance Company's ground breaking style. Students will learn movements and combinations. Bring knee pads for floor work  

Heidi Alexander of Domba! (AZ)

Heidi Alexander has been studying Middle Eastern dance since 1987, originally learning a folkloric style of cabaret, and then expanding into American Tribal Style Belly Dance. She has also studied both the music and dances of Ghana, Senegal and Guinea, and incorporates this style into her distinctive, high-energy African/Tribal fusion belly dance.

Along with dance, Heidi also is one of Domba’s musicians, playing davul, zills, and the West African dun-dun and agogo bell. Heidi has been studying Middle Eastern and West African music for 8 years.

Heidi directs Domba!, a Tribal Fusion performance troupe consisting of dancers as well as musicians. Domba! Has taught workshops throughout the United States. In 2005, Domba traveled to the U.K. and Japan as featured teachers at Maharajan (Tokyo) and Tribal Ford (UK).   domba@cox.net

THE CLASS :
AFRICAN SPICE - Want to add some ‘umph’ to your performance? Need some high-energy to get your blood pumping? Then come join Domba for a fun-filled workshop of African Spice, drawing inspiration from the energetic dances of Ghana, Senegal and Guinea, fused with bellydance movements, for an exciting combination! This is a energetic class in which we’ll spin, shake, shimmy and toss our heads, so be ready! It is ALL-levels, so beginners and advanced dancers are welcome, and African dance experience is not necessary. If you have physical limitations, still join us and we’ll adjust the movements to work with your body. Come Spice it up with us!

Samantha Riggs FROM DOMBA (AZ)

Samantha Riggs is the founder and director of the Boom Boom Bollywood Community Connections dance troupe as well as the Artistic Director and CEO of Boom Boom Productions (www.boomboombollywood.com). In addition to directing and dancing with Boom Boom Bollywood (since 2004), Samantha is also an enthusiastic, long-time member of Domba (www.domba.com). She is seriously obsessed with Bollywood movies and has (somehow) managed to infect others with this fanaticism... leading to the much higher goal of East/West connection and understanding. Samantha has a long history on stage with various forms of theatre arts including fire arts (now with Fyrae - www.fyrae.com), stage combat (past stints as a Fight Choreographer with the Arizona Renaissance Festival and the Arizona Shakespeare Festival plus current work with Fyrae), acting, singing, guitaring, drumming, concertinaing and English folk dancing (as the founder of Bedlam Bells Morris).

Her dream is to someday dance alongside Shahrukh Khan.

Samantha started learning the great dances of Bollywood films in 2003 when Danielle Van Dobben (an incredible dancer and instructor) turned her on to the movies Taal and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (still two of her favorites). She started performing Bollywood numbers as solos in bellydance shows and much to her surprise, there was a great deal of interest shown by fellow bellydancers in learning Bollywood-style dance, so she started a class... and the class turned into a dance troupe... and people who saw the dance troupe demanded more classes... and so on and so on!  domba@cox.net

THE CLASS :
BOLLYWOOD - Bollywood Combos - Form and Attitude - Hooray for Bollywood! What is Bollywood, you ask? "Bollywood" = "Bombay" +"Hollywood". It’s the catch-name for the Indian movie industry… and Bollywood movies are musicals that are just packed full of funky versions of traditional Indian dances. Imagine hip-hop combined with Bharatanatyam, silk saris plus glitter, athletic movement plus controlled hand expressions! Samantha Riggs has studied Bollywood dance and made it into a tribal form, complete with cues, combos and formations. The style has engendered rave reviews from audiences all over the world! Come and dance "Bolly" with us!

In this workshop we will learn a number of original Bollywood combos, plus the footwork, body postures and hand positions necessary to create your own. We will also be learning a combo straight from the movie, "Lagaan", and by the end of the class we’ll be able to dance an entire song using that combo as the chorus - just as if we were in a real Bollywood movie!

THE CLASS :
BELLYSALSA WORKSHOP - In this workshop you will learn salsa Latin dance techniques combined with belly dance. The fusion of these sensual movements with the salsa flavor create a perfect combination. Get ready for an overflow of rhythm and sensuality.....

Out of the San Francisco Bay Area, NOW International..... Ultra Gypsy is an innovative belly dance theater company founded in 1996 by visionary dancer and choreographer JILL PARKER ...." We are Gypsies for today's world, wandering in a maze of modernity. We are a myriad of cultures, old and new, picking up what we need and defying the taboos that bind us. We are modern and primitive, urban and tribal, medusa and machine.. We are living, evolving, timeless....We are Ultra Gypsies.""

For the 3rd time at the SPIRIT.......JILL PARKER and ULTRA GYPSY rocks!!!!!!......   booking@ultragypsy.com

 

THE CLASS -

In this class JILL & her fabulous assistant ROSE will offer insight into Ultra GYpsy's trend setting approach to belly dance. They will share stylish movement combinations for you to take home and use in your own dance. This will be a fast paced, technique heavy, cardio intensive class.

Come ready to sweat and bring a water bottle, she’s gonna work you! You are sure to find Jill's workshop environment challenging, focused, encouraging and most of all FUN!