Fabulous Fall Festival 2023

BABDAMA: Bay Area Belly Dance And Music Association Presents: Fabulous Fall Festival 2023

Event Schedule

Fabulous Fall Festival 2023 – Schedule
Noon – Open to Public
12:00 – Festival Dancing Begins
4:00 – Raffle Draw for Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
4:30 – Live music with Al’Azifoon and Tim Bolling
5:30 – Drum Circle with Mike Fair
6:00 – Gala Show

Dancer Bios and Links
to More Information

Noon – 1:00

Troupe Qamar is the official dance company of Belly Dance! Studio in Walnut Creek. Tabitha is the owner of the studio, and Rabiyah is the choreographer of the troupe. This year’s performance consists of a lively oriental troupe routine and a solo by Tabitha.

Mariela Sawi Professional belly dancer based in the Bay Area, CA connected with the Arab Culture through her ancestors, seeking to recover and honor part of it through Oriental Dance: Study, Teaching, and Interpretation.

Aviana is a belly dancer from the Sacramento area. She performs at venues and events across Northern California. She is also a member of the award-winning troupe, The Crown Jewels. She is happy to be here today to share her love of this beautiful dance with you.

The Raks Z’s are a duo that enjoys experimenting while creating fun and awesome performances. We draw on our history of 23 years of dancing together. We’re located in Boulder Creek and Sunnyvale. We’ve included a number of our signature choreography sequences today. After we’ve amazed you, come by our Cabinet of Dance Curiosities table to sign up for info on an upcoming sword techniques class.

Madeline is a raqs sharqi performer from Benicia, California. Her journey in this dance began over seven years ago and today she often can be found performing in local festivals and venues in the Bay Area.

1:00 – 2:00

House of Inanna has been delighting audiences all over California for years with their eclectic and creative take on FatChanceBellyDance, Bohemian Belly Dance, and other stylings, noted especially for their bespoke costuming, humor, technique, and powerful sword wielding. Director Petra’s individual style combines golden age belly dance and powerful ancient and modern feminism. Collectively, we revere what has come before us, with an eye to what’s still to present itself, artistically.

After several years of studying with Sacramento belly dance teachers, Ellen and Talina formed their own duet, “Eyes on Fire” in 2019. Their goal is to explore their own ideas and vision through Fusion dance and create unique costuming.

Troupe Daima was started in Sunnyvale, California over 20 years ago by belly dance performer and teacher Alcina, who continues to teach and inspire her students. The troupe brings together various dancers from around San Francisco South Bay of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities who share a love of sisterhood and belly dance.

Mara is a dancer from Redwood City, Ca. She has been a local Bay Area dancer for over 15 years and is excited to share her love of dance.

Hip Logic is directed by Niusha from Alameda CA. Niusha considers her style to be a fusion of the multiple genres she has studied including Middle Eastern folk dance, fusion belly dance ballet, jazz, tap, and theatrical belly dance from Northern California Bay Area Dance teachers including Jill Parker, Tatseena, and Marnell Xavier. Through the blending of these different dance styles and music, she hopes to give her audiences a different way of hearing and seeing the world through music and movement from her heart.

Tatseena directs and choreographs the Serpent Sirens, a diverse tribe of dancers, and is an awarded master teacher/performer, teaching ongoing classes in San Ramon & San Leandro. Tatseena traveled the world, loves art & dance, and is a poet, singer, costume designer, producer, and long-time healing artist for people and pets.

2:00 – 3:00

Jillian is a dynamic dancer based in the SF Bay Area. In addition to dancing solo, she is a principal member of the Almaz Dance Company. When not dancing, she puts her creative energy into her fine art and historical and cosplay costume recreations.

Luna Dance Collective is a group improvisational dance troupe that specializes in Fat Chance Belly Dance style, directed by Cecy Cano. The group often invites guests and friends to perform in events all over the greater Bay Area and Central Coast. Today we present a unique performance utilizing tambourine as codified by Shedriel of Argentina.

Originally from Berkeley Ca., Julie started belly dancing in the SF Bay Area, drawing from many different teachers and dancing styles. Now living in far Northern California, she continues to study dance in the SF Bay Area and beyond with a focus on Egyptian Dance, music, and culture.

As a full-time working dance artist, Adriana’s program is one of the premier studios to learn all things “raqs Sharqi.”She also offers cross-training classes for barre Pilates, strength training, mobility work, and dancer coaching. Adriana is also co-hosting a dancer retreat in Crete Greece July 2024. Please see her at her vending table if you are interested in learning more.

Professional, award-winning belly dancer Mirit performs at various parties, birthdays, anniversaries, wedding celebrations, etc., and teaches at her Mountain View-based studio.

Terry and the All Stars – Fueled by their shared passion for dance, these talented dancers with contest titles, and years of teaching and performing experience, sequestered themselves in a Zoom room throughout CoVID and continued to meet going forward. These are some of the dances they made together. Terry is proud to present and dance with the All Stars! – Jordan and Alisa!

3:00 – 4:00

Aruba instructs, dances, and produces the Gold Country World Dance Showcase in Nevada City! Her love of dance includes not only Raqs Sharqi but Theatrical presentations as well.

Janelle is based in Santa Cruz, CA where she teaches weekly classes and hosts international artists in workshops and events at her studio, Desert Dream Dance Studio. Janelle directs the Desert Dream Dance Company and leads the Santa Cruz Salimpour Collective. For more information about Janelle and her classes and events, visit http://www.JanelleDance.com.

UNA’s veil, zills, floor and props have mesmerized audiences and influenced dancers worldwide! Since 1974 Una has been the most awarded performer in the bellydance world. Her West Coast cabaret/Una style is second to none.

Sacramento-based Hoi Polloi Fusion Dance is an all-inclusive, multi-level group that comes together to celebrate and embrace the connection to their bodies and our community. Hoi Polloi enjoys entertaining audiences and showing people of all ages that we all have the joy of movement within us! www.hoipolloifusiondance.com

Helwa moved to San Francisco on October 17, 1989, and immediately decided to rock the town! A noted Bay Area performer, teacher, and member of the editorial staff of Habibi Magazine, formerly the Bellydance flagship publication, Helwa is one of six Bay Area dancers who performed onstage with Nagwa Fouad in LA in 2001.

Sabiba is a long-time performer and teacher in the South Bay with many years of dance to live Greek Bouzouki and Middle Eastern artists…and happy to see the art of our dance continue to expand into so many multifaceted directions.

4:00 – 6:00 – Live Music & More

RAFFLE – Prizes donated by Vendors – Money raised to go to Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence our chosen non-profit. For more information about Next Door visit their website: https://www.nextdoorsolutions.org/

Live Music with Al’Azifoon

Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan (translates sweetheart of treasure) – is an internationally recognized entertainer, belly dance school, studio owner, and dance coach for award-winning performers. Famous for spectacular Isis Wings performance, elegant choreographies, energetic shows, and musicality in performance with finger cymbals and her “Elegance of Style”.

GHANIMA GADITANA has performed and taught Oriental Dance professionally since the 1970s. She studied with Jamila Salimpour, Aida Al-Adawi, and Dahlena, and was a member of the original Bal-Anat.

Azura hails from San Jose and has been dancing since just after she learned to walk. Her dance stylings are primarily American Cabaret and Raqs Sharki. Throw in a sprinkle of energy and charm and you have a performance she hopes you love.

Lifetime dancer Dhyanis has been directing troupes since 1976, travelled the world dancing her way to Portugal, Greece, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, and more. She teaches in Marin and is also a costumer, artist, and author. Check out her booth and pick up her book “Dancing With Life”

With an extensive learning and performance history, Jordan Dancer is an acknowledged and awarded Raqs Sharqi performer and instructor, performing and teaching extensively throughout the Bay Area and western United States, as well as other parts of the world. She was the director and choreographer of the award-winning dance company, Troupe Nafisa, owner of Al Oda Dance Studio in San Jose, and co-founder/producer of the annual dance event, Desert Dance Festival. Although retired from working professionally, she has sustained an unquenchable thirst for learning and continued growth as a dancer, and states that ‘You can leave the dance, but it never leaves you.’

Malia is a long-time teacher and performer in the Bay Area. Malia currently teaches in Pacifica, San Mateo and Redwood City. You can find her teaching and performing schedule at www.bellydancer.net

DRUM CIRCLE with Mike Fair

This year, BABDAMA welcomes drummer extraordinaire and music maestro Mike Fair to work with us as DJ and leader of a fun drumming circle. This group participation event will begin when the band ends right in front of the stage. Join us in filling our space with music.

6:00pm GALA SHOW

Almaz is an award-winning dance company training in Santa Clara under the direction of Maria Sokolova. We are honored to be invited back to perform at the fall festival gala show, our favorite local event, and grateful to the organizers for their tremendous effort in helping the Bay Area ME dance community stay alive and united. Today we present a dynamic mejance and a classic drum solo. We love dancing together and entertain our audience! http://www.orientdancer .com/

Jennifer Cooper is a mostly retired professional dancer based in Richmond. She studied with Leea Aziz in Walnut Creek and performed throughout the Bay Area for 25 years. Jennifer also produced Belly Dancer of the Year from 2013 to 2023. Jennifer’s presentation reflects her modern style while honoring her improvisational American Cabaret roots.

Tessera performs a group improvisational format that is rooted in belly dance and influenced by the folkloric dances of Spain, North Africa, and India. Using a shared vocabulary of movements, formations, and cues, dancers are able to create spontaneous choreographies in the moment. This piece showcases the playful and dynamic energy of the duet and highlights movement variations that are unique to Tessera’s repertoire. Learn more: www.tesseradance .com

Originally from the UK and the Bay Area but now based in Arizona, Sara Shrapnell is a belly dance mentor, teacher, writer, and performer. Through her belly dance books, groups, and personal mentoring, both in person and online, she supports belly dancers on their journey from student, to professional and/or teacher. Her song tonight is Dahakteni (You make me laugh). “You think that I’ll ask for your embrace? And you tell me that you love me… Don’t make me laugh!” Visit her website for more information: https://letsbellydanceusa .weebly.com/

Shabnam is a multi-award-winning belly dancer based in the SF Bay Area and is dedicated to presenting beautiful interpretations of Middle Eastern Dance while still honoring its traditional roots. She is the artistic director of Shabnam Dance Co. and teaches students Basic level to professional in her dance school located in San Francisco and Oakland. For more info on Shabnam please visit Oaklandbellydance.com

Jill Parker is a master and genuine pioneer in our form. Her career spans over 3 decades and her love of the form still holds strong. Tonight she presents her students performing two stylized choreographies created in collaboration with Maite Gasco. Enjoy! Check out https://www.jillparkerdance .com/

Shoshanna lives, dances, and teaches in Arcata, up the 101 on the redwood north coast and loves being a part of the “extended” Bay Area dance scene. She has taught and performed across the country and has a passion for improvisational dance, live music, and wielding big veils. The pandemic disrupted much of her event production and dance studio owning, but she still keeps dance in her life as she works toward a master’s degree in Library Sciences and finds ways to inspire creativity and community connections in library-land.

The Crown Jewels are a multi-award-winning troupe from Sacramento CA, under the direction of Mychelle Crown. Based out of Thrive Movement Arts studio, this collaborative dance troupe specializes in traditional Egyptian Raqs Sharqi. Learn more at thrivemovementarts.com.