WEDNESDAY -MAY 16, 2007
Everyone, please note that there are five classes going on simultaneously in five different classrooms. Check the Quick-Peek buttons to find them easily or just be very, very careful as this page is HUGE.

MAIN AUDITORIUM - 86 person limit in this classroom. Teacher is onstage with a headset mic so all can hear and see. The floor is rubber sectional dance flooring and there are no mirrors. Dance shoes can help with turns on these floors, as well as a pinch of cornstarch or baby powder applied to the ball of the foot.

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Class Title: UNMATA, The Fast & The Furious *with* Hot Pot Tribal Fusion
Instructor: Amy Sigil
Type of Class: Tribal or Other Fusion with elements of ATS/Group Improv
Skill Level: Open to All
Description: This intense workshop will focus on TWO of Amy's special offerings by Kajira's special request! First, you will learn an original tribal style combination developed by Amy Sigil of UNMATA. You will receive a complete movement and timing breakdown, guidance to nuance development and ample drilling to engage muscle memory. Geared for improvisational dancers and troupes who depend upon a cueing system when performing live, this course will include "transition-training" and lead-change practice. The combo will begin and end in a tribal-friendly position so that it may be added to your preexisting vocabulary. The second part of this workshop will focus on the Fast & The Furious! Amy will lay down the stylistic foundation and technical breakdown for UNMATA's awe-inspiring omis, ferocious shimmies, and bad-ass body pops. Each movement will include "transition-training" so it can be used alone or linked with other movements to create a short choreography. UNMATA is known for beat-your-butt drilling and technical obsession, so bring lots of water and come prepared to sweat!

Bio: Amy Sigil is owner and director of Hot 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, and formed the professional fusion troupe UNMATA in 2003. Amy's bellydance 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), Bellydance Troupe of the year 2004 (CA), and Bellydance Troupe USA 2004 (OR). For more info about Amy and UNMATA, visit: www.unmata.com

Time: 12:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Class Title: Core Focus in Belly Dance
Instructor: Heather Stants
Type of Class: Tribal or Other Fusion
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:Learn the relationship between core muscles and many of the movements in the Urban Tribal Dance Company repertoire. Core strength and awareness are the keys to proper body alignment and powerful presentation. Heather will present these concepts, which are the basis ofUrban Tribal technique, through strengthening exercises, movement drills and choreography. Students will leave with tools to create their own combinations as well as some examples of Urban Tribal's modern interpretive style to blend with their own movement vocabulary.Students may bring a yoga or pilates mat if they like, or a towel, as some work on the floor may occur.

Bio: Heather Stants is a lifelong artist and dance enthusiast with a degree in photography and fine arts. Her explorations in American Tribal Style (ATS) BellyDance began over ten years ago when she became the assistant director of Read My Hips* (www.readmyhips.com) in Chicago, Illinois. In 1999 Heather moved to San Diego, California and formed Urban Tribal Dance Company. (*Stephanie Barto of Read My Hips became the first teacher ever certified by Carolena Nericcio of FCBD to teach ATS.) Heather's diverse movement and arts background feeds her creativity and her innovative approach to choreography. Urban Tribal Dance Company is known for it's "urban" and modern influenced dance style, a pared down costume emphasizing body movements over ornamentation,athleticism and the use of the dance form as a means of personal expression and interpretation. Their creativity has twice earned them the title of "Troupe of the Year" in Zaghareet! Magazine's Golden Belly Awards. In addition to teaching several weekly classes in San Diego since 1999, Heather Stants and Urban Tribal Dance Company have been touring extensively since 2004 sharing their love of modern tribal bellydance with dancers in the U.S. and abroad. Read more about Heather and Urban Tribal on their site: www.urbantribaldance.com and on their tribe: http://urbantribaldance.tribe.net

Time: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Class Title: Arabic Indian Fusion: Belly Dance with Indian Styling!
Instructor: Colleena
Type of Class: Tribal or Other Fusion with elements of Traditional Ethnic Dance
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:It is finally here! The class so many of you have been waiting for! From Colleena's extensive dance experience in India, she layers some of the most beautiful postures of Indian dance to fluid classical Arabic Belly Dance movements to create a new repertoire of "Indian Arabic Fusion". Her style not only extracts the movements, but also the moods often played upon in Indian dances. Subtleties of Indian dance such as movements of the eyes and delicate hand positions bring an element of emotion to the dancer, creating a more powerful connection for the audience. We will explore how to make a fusion of dynamics between Arabic dance (being more inward directed energy) and Indian dance (being more outward or "storytelling"). In this workshop we will talk for a moment of the Indian classical and folk dances used, paying close attention to the traditional techniques of dance used in India. We will learn a choreographed dance as well as isolated movements. Some dance experience is helpful, but certainly not necessary, as we will jump right into layering movements together.

Bio: Colleena's dance is adored in both India and the West as an "...authentic and enchanting experience!". She has performed with some of the most sought after artists in Rajasthan. Newspapers and television broadcasts in India have praised her mastery of 'Indian style'. Recently her dances were showcased in the Jaipur Heritage International Festival; over a week of performances with Rajasthan's greatest artists. Colleena has dedicated herself completely to dance since she moved to India in 2002. She has been training extensively under the care of her Odissi classical dance Guru, Padma Cheran Dehuri, learning the power of surrender and devotion through sacred temple dance. In 2005 she opened her dance center (SHAKTI SCHOOL OF DANCE) in an ancient Vishnu temple in the holy city of Pushkar (Rajasthan, India) with great love and support of local people. It is here she conducts month-long intensive courses and ongoing classes. Colleena has done extensive research into the history and living changes of Rajasthani folk dance. Much of her insight to the true spirit of Rajasthan comes from the years spent living with a tribe of Khalbelia 'Gypsies' in the desert. She now tours Rajasthan with her Khalbelia music and dance party, performing Rajasthani dance (Khalbelia) and her very original style of 'Belly Dance', Indian/Arabic fusion. She lives in Rajasthan most of the year and tours the USA for a few months in the summer. Colleena captures a feeling of India many might think is expired. It is a feeling of time spent in the desert carrying water pots, time spent kneeling before a Devi temple and time spent staring into a fire listening to the breaths between songs.... "Through experiencing the routines of everyday life, the magic behind traditional dance movements are revealed." It is a great joy for Colleena to share her passion for dance and Devi Ma with students from all over the world. To learn more about her work please visit: www.colleenashakti.com

RUSSIAN ROOM - 24 person limit in this classroom. The floor is dance marley (rubber dance flooring) and there are mirrors. Dance shoes can help with turns on these floors, or a bit of cornstarch or baby powder applied to the ball of the foot.

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Class Title: The Art of Zafira Choreography
Instructor: Zafira Dance Company
Type of Class: Tribal or Other Fusion with elements Traditional Ethnic Dance
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:Let Zafira share some of their secrets of choreography creation. The focus of this workshop will be centered around a section in one of Zafira's choreographies, Turku's Fidayda. We will work on stage presence, making use of your stage, posture, working with other dancers, and how to make even a simple choreography dynamic.

Bio: Zafira Dance Company performances are opulent vignettes that combine Bellydance with contemporary and ethnic dance forms. The result is an ornate performance that blurs the boundary between old and new; performer and audience, earthy and elegant. Guided by the mood of the music, Zafira draws the viewer into each piece by shaping rhythm and melody into gesture and form. Liquid movements, staccato accents and textured choreographies capture a timeless beauty that expresses both the sensuality and strength of the female form. Zafira Dance Company members work together as a collective. Christine Andrews, Maria Hamer, Jennifer Imashev and Olivia Kissel have been teaching and performing together since 1996. Their friendship and love of dance shines through in each performance. Each member is a contributing artist and brings something unique to the company. This collective approach allows Zafira to offer a unique and powerful dance experience like no other.

Zafira teaches and performs regularly in venues that range from intimate café settings to full-scale theater productions in Pittsburgh and at dance festivals around the country. Visit www.zafiradance.com for class, workshop and performance information.

Time: 12:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Class Title: Fabulous Floor and Funk
Instructor: Tenley Wallace
Type of Class: Tribal or Other Fusion with elements of Traditional Ethnic Dance
Skill Level: For dancers familiar with the basics of belly dance
Description:This class celebrates tribal belly dance, focusing on sensuous floor work and accents. In addition, we will bring in hints of funk to complete and diversify our choreography. We begin with yoga for stretching and a toning drill, then move into choreography which bridges some of the rich root traditions of dance including flamenco, Arabic, and Persian with hits and locks of modern accents. A full, fabulous tribal treat! *Bring knee pads as well as your yoga mat or a towel if you like, and appropriate dance/yoga wear.

Bio: Tenley Wallace fuses a selection of dance forms from across the globe. Based on tribal belly dance, she adds elements of flamenco, Persian, north African, modern dance, Balinese and improvisational response to what the moment calls for. She is currently based in San Francisco, but travels extensively, studying the rich diversity of the planet's dance, costumes, and rituals. Most recently she returned from teaching and performing in Japan. When she is not dancing, she is busy with her costume and clothing label, thinley wangmo. website is being updated, but tribe.net hosts some new pieces. You may email her at: tenley_fly@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

BOLSHOI ROOM - 24 person limit in this classroom. The floor is dance marley (rubber dance flooring) and there are mirrors. Dance shoes can help with turns on these floors, or a bit of cornstarch or baby powder applied to the ball of the foot.

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Class Title: Embodied Dance: Anatomy for Dancers
Instructor: Sarah Johansson Locke
Type of Class: Anatomy and Dance
Skill Level: Open
Description:Learn how to dance with more strength, flexibility, isolation, and integration. Develop a fuller and stronger presence on stage. Discover new ideas for moves and combinations by using the form and function of the body itself as inspiration. Knowledge of anatomy can give you access to better technique, as well as the freedom to explore new movement vocabularies with ease. Whether you're a student, a teacher or both - it can help you to dance more fully and expressively, and also with more awareness of how to balance strength and flexibility, alignment and flow. In this workshop we'll study aspects of the muscular-skeletal system that are key for bellydancers, as well as other systems that support core isolations and integration. Using exercises that incorporate principles from yoga, Body-Mind Centering, and the Alexander Technique, we'll explore the form and function of the body through movement. This combination of clear and precise information (diagrams and notes) with somatic exercises (feeling the body through movement) will give you a great range of tools to be a better student, teacher, and performer. Please bring a notebook, a yoga mat, and any props (blanket, blocks) you may like.

Bio: Sarah Johansson Locke is a performer, choreographer and teacher based in New York City who has taught and performed across the US and in Europe. She began studying tribal bellydance in 1994 and was a member of Gypsy Caravan of OR from 1996-2000 before returning to NYC (where she grew up) to develop her own style of tribal fusion as an alchemy of her wide ranging theater, dance, and movement experience. Sarah has extensive training in several forms of ethnic and contemporary dance and theater, as well Iyengar and Anusara yoga and the Alexander Technique. A registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance, she holds certifications in Kinesthetic Anatomy from Irene Dowd and Embodied Anatomy and Yoga from the School for Body-Mind Centering. Sarah is the Artistic Director of Alchemy Performance, a company whose current projects include Alchemy Dance Theater, the Alchemy Tribal Collective, and collaborations with artists in all media. A resident artist at Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn, she produces a performance series called HYBRID that showcases artists exploring new forms. She is also a facilitator of PURE (Public Urban Ritual Experiment). Sarah currently teaches dance and yoga and performs regularly throughout NYC. www.alchemyperformance.com - sarah@alchemyperformance.com and 646.234.9576

 

Time: 12:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Title: Moroccan Guedra Blessing Ritual
Instructor: Kajira Djoumahna
Type of Class: Traditional
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:This ritual comes from the branch of Tuareg Berbers known as The Guedra, who are also one of the several Tuareg branches known as "The Blue People". Guedra tribes inhabit parts of Mauritania, Morocco and Upper Atlas Mountains. This group of people are unique in that they are matrilineal and councils are egalitarian. In this unique Berber branch, the men veil but the women do not (the reason will be revealed in class). The word "Guedra" has many meanings as well and handouts will be provided, as well as supporting material passed around. Your handouts will include the chants and translations, which are sung in a language called Hassanic Berber. In only 2 hours you will listen to actual field recordings, learn call-and-response chants as well as claps and counter-claps. You will learn the meanings behind the gestures and the movements that go with T'bal (the optional standing portion) as well as Guedra (done kneeling). A CDR of these field recordings will be available for purchase before and after class for a low fee. It is important to know that Guedra is not at all like Hadra or Zar and is not an "exorcism" or a "dance" but an actual ritual used only for blessing purposes. If time allows, we may have a Guedra circle in which at least some of the participants will be able to come out for a few minutes and try it while being supported by your tribe of classmates who will be clapping and chanting for you, creating the possibility of a light trance state. You will have the tools to go deeper with your friends outside of the busy festival setting by the time you leave!
Please bring:
* A non-slippery dark opaque piece of cloth or textured veil (not silk). Any shade of blue or black are preferred. This cloth need be only large enough to cover your head, as proper dress for this ritual will be discussed, passed around and demonstrated in class.
* Kneepads. People with knee, back or neck problems will be asked to take it easy and know your personal limitations.
* If you are uncomfortable sitting on the floor cross-legged, please bring a pillow for your booty (not a camp chair or anything with a back or legs, though) so you will be able to focus and not experience pain. We will be sitting for a large portion of the class, so make sure your back is up for this so everyone feels great.
* An open heart and inquisitive mind!
Questions? Call me 24 hours and be sure to leave a thorough message regarding your question or concern, so when I call you back, should I get your machine, all will be answered. 808.891.8891. Thanks!

Bio: Kajira has studied, taught and performed this Blessing Ritual since she was a "baby dancer" about 16 years ago. Her mentor and main teacher in this field is Morocco (the person) of NYC, who lived, filmed and studied with Guedras for 2 years in the 70s. Her principal teacher was B'Shara, King Hassan's "personal Guedra" and her family group. B'Shara was once the most highly acclaimed Guedra in all of Morocco. Kajira has devoted her career to the proliferation of American Tribal Style (ATS) BellyDance. Though skilled in many other traditional dance forms, this specialty chose her due to its "no borders" sense of creativity, its modern approach to ancient ways and its capacity to bring dancers together nearly psychically through its unique structured group improvisational dancing. After 8 years under the tutelage of Carolena Nericcio (creatrix of the form and director of FatChanceBellyDance), Kajira went on to develop her own particular format for the ATS Style that sets it apart from that of her teacher's and others in the genre.

Kajira has enjoyed teaching in Germany and England and looks forward to more confirmed dates in Austria, Germany and Taiwan for 2007. She has taught for many years across the U.S. and in HI where her ongoing classes are held. She is author of The Tribal Bible, writes an ongoing tribal Q-&-A column in the int'l. bellydance magazine "Zaghareet!" and has 2 instructional DVDs. Besides ATS, Kajira performs Tribal Fusion Belly Dance, Moroccan Guedra, Turkish Romani and Romani-Oriental Dance, American Classical Belly Dance, Gothic Belly Dance and theatrical dance. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including 2 for Instruction and 2 for Event Production.

Kajira is the producer of the first and largest Tribal BellyDance festival in the world, Tribal Fest (held in the Northern SF Bay Area of CA each May), as well as the Maui Intensives (held on Maui, HI each July). Kajira oversees BlackSheep BellyDance - CA and HI. Currently she studies with fervor a classical East Indian dance form, Odissi, with Sarala Dandekar. Her goal in life is to HAVE FUN and to spread JOY and INSPIRATION through Dance! You can reach Kajira by calling: 808.891.8891 - 24 hours! Leave your number and a thorough message and I'll call ya back with the answers.

YOUTH ANNEX BUILDING, LARGE ROOM - This room holds 36 dancers maximum and is equipped with sprung bamboo floors and mirrors. Bare feet ONLY allowed in this room.

Time: 10:00 a.m. - Noon
Title: Intensive Intro to Fire Dancing
Instructor: Riz and Johanna 'Xenobia'
Type of Class: Fire, fire, FIRE!
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:An intensive introduction to all basic elements of fire performance! Introductory lectures
will cover fire tools and props, fuel types and containment, secure costuming and stage set-up, introductory fire choreography and dancing, performance permits, basic fire fighting and overall safety. Subsequent workshop segments will incorporate live instruction with Dance Experts to explore integration and enhancement of belly dancing through fire performance. Covering a full range of fire tools and techniques; each will be discussed and demonstrated to discover their greatest impact and maximum effect upon your belly dance performance routines.
With the guidance of an experienced performer, equipment manufacturer and safety expert, this workshop is beneficial for all levels of experience in both belly dancing and fire performance. From the first-time novice to a seasoned professional, the information, insight and instruction provided will enhance your understanding of fire performance and expand your creative possibilities for including dramatic and exciting fire elements in your exhibitions.
Belly Dancers experienced in fire performance are encouraged to bring their own fire
performance tools for personal instruction and guidance. Due to venue regulations, no fire will be allowed during the workshop and all metal props must be covered with a protective padding to avoid damage to the venue's hardwood floors and mirrors. (PLEASE! NO JOKE! Wrap your toys in towels or plastic bubble wrap and tape them securely. Thank you from The Producer!)

Bio: With over 15 years of cutting-edge dance interpretation and extreme fire performance, RIZ revolutionized this art form as a premiere international pyro-performance act. Considered among the world's top freestyle fire dancers, industry journalists proclaimed, "He didn't just dance with the flame, he was the flame." Randy "Riz" Holmes was a pioneer in the exploding artistic discipline for fire-performance. His performance credits span 4 continents and include work with legendary artistic groups such as the Ringling Bros. Circus, Cirque du Soliel and Disney World. Beyond his solo performance work he founded the fire dance troupe Tribal Fire Fusion Dance Company. Further diversification of his talents led him to establish fire performance tool manufacturing companies including Fire by Riz and FireWhip.com.
Possessing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience, Riz became a highly sought after fire safety consultant and performance organizer, working with the Miami Performing Arts Center, Burning Man and many regional Burning Man events including Transformus, Flipside, Sunburn and Afterburn. More recently, Riz has become an accomplished metal sculptor and fire artist, bringing together ability and vision to create large scale fire sculptures that combine detailed metal fabrication with sophisticated fire delivery systems to create unique and awe-inspiring experiences. Concurrent to his many endeavors, Riz has always encouraged these many art forms through providing educational experiences, training, workshops and demonstrations across the country to students, enthusiasts and professional in many disciplines. Check out his site for more info and to ask any questions before The Fest: www.firewhip.com

Johanna 'Xenobia' Krynytzky adds the 'belly dance' element to Tribal Fire Fusion Dance Company, through choreography and performance. Trained for over ten years as an Egyptian Cabaret performer and a Tribal dancer, she combines her belly dance experience with fire play in a way unique to the world of fire dance. There is no mistaking her distinct style that blends the powerful stage presence of an actress, dramatic power of a fire performer, technical precision of a Tribal Fusion belly dancer, and the sensibilities, timing, and depth of feeling of a Classical Egyptian dancer. Working together, Johanna and Riz blend their styles for a fusion of fire and belly dance that has never before been seen. Johanna, a full-time belly dance artist , lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida, directs Hip Expressions Belly Dance Studio, and Loud Zoo, Improvisational Live Music and Tribal Belly Dance Troupe. www.johannaland.com.

Time: 12:15 - 2:15 p.m.
Title: Choreography for Partners
Instructor: Kassar
Type of Class: Tribal Fusion Choreography
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:Partnering Class (this is always our most requested class): This workshop will focus on dancing with a partner. We will present combinations that focus on traveling and moving around your partner, and interacting with your partner in unique ways. In this fast paced class, every movement will be outlined and drilled, then combined to form the final choreography. No need to feel you have to come with a partner, there are always plenty to go around! (From The Producer: no worries if you've taken a similarly-titled class from this dynamite duo before, as they're cookin' up some new stuff for The Fest!)

Bio: Melanie and Karin began their history together as a collaboration for a New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom performance. From there, the duo Kassar was born. They have been dancing together as Kassar for the past eight years, all the while studying with numerous instructors of the tribal persuasion. Between them, they also bring a background rich in formal ballet training, West African dance, tango fusion and Indian dance technique. This has culminated in the development of their own unique, highly-acclaimed style of tribal bellydance. Kassar has since grown to both teach workshops and perform nationwide. They are extremely pleased and excited to be teaching their first workshop in the San Francisco Bay area! To find out more about Kassar, email: thetribalsource@aol.com or visit www.kassartribal.com

 

Time: 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Class Title: 9/8 Rhythms and Fancy Footwork of the Turkish Rom
Instructor: Elizabeth Strong
Type of Class: Traditional
Skill Level: All levels welcome
Description:Come prepared to dance your heart out! Please wear yoga pants, a simple hip sash and a comfortable top. In this class, we will cover the fundamentals of the fiery 9/8 Rom rhythm, and learn basic footwork, hip work and some of the very expressive arm movements that are integral to this dance. Cultural background will be discussed as well.

Bio: Elizabeth Strong grew up in a tradition of dance and music. As a young girl she was inspired by the music and dancing of the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Her amazingly emotional and personal style has captivated audiences in the Bay Area and abroad. Her love for Middle Eastern dance has compelled her to seek the source in North Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey. Elizabeth has lived in Istanbul for months at a time and studied dance intensively there with Roman ("Gypsy") men and women. She credits Reyhan and MeltemTuzsuz as her primary teachers of Turkish Roman dance. Elizabeth joined Le Cancan Bijou dance Troupe in 2003 and became part of the Mad Sal's Music Hall Revue at the Charles Dickens Christmas Fair in 2004. Elizabeth currently makes her living performing and teaching dance throughout the United States. As a teacher, she utilizes both Old World and Western techniques, allowing the feel of the form to become familiar to her students, while guiding with explanations about important details, from rhythmic nuances and muscle control to cultural background. Most of all, Elizabeth strives to create a learning environment that is joyful, nurturing, and fun as well as educational. Please email her for more info if you like: strongdancer@yahoo.com

YOUTH ANNEX BUILDING, SMALL ROOM - This room holds 22 people max for lectures and 19 max for dancing. It has rubber floor tiles and a some mirrors. Dance slippers or sandals for dance classes in this room are recommended for spins, or a bit of baby powder or cornstarch for the ball of the foot.

Time: 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Class Title: The History of Belly Dance, with Emphasis on Tribal Styles
Instructor: Kajira Djoumahna
Type of Class: Lecture
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:Many people have requested a class about the history of The Dance. All your questions will be answered and lots of solid, researched information given (along with a handout for more places to dig deeper on your own). I will discuss briefly the paleolithic origins of the world's oldest dance and then how we got from there (60,000 years ago) to here. I will spend more time on the last 40 years or so, on the development of American Tribal Style, Tribaret, Tribal Fusion and other forms that interest attendees of Tribal Fest. Comparison and contrast to traditional "root" forms will be included along with plenty of time for Q-and-A, so come with those burning questions! You know I will tell it straight. Please wear comfortable clothing (you will be sitting in chairs for this class) and bring your notepads! Sorry, no audio recorders allowed in this class.

Bio: Kajira Djoumahna has been an avid researcher, student and teacher of many styles of dance for 16 years. Her research is based on facts gleaned from sources too numerous to list here (but wait for your hand-out!) once time was recorded and educated, scientific conclusions from before time was recorded, up until present day. Kajira is especially well-versed about anything Tribal as it is her life's work. Kajira has devoted her career to the proliferation of American Tribal Style (ATS) BellyDance. Though skilled in many other traditional dance forms, this specialty chose her due to its "no borders" sense of creativity, its modern approach to ancient ways and its capacity to bring dancers together nearly psychically through its unique structured group improvisational dancing. After 8 years under the tutelage of Carolena Nericcio (creatrix of the form and director of FatChanceBellyDance), Kajira went on to develop her own particular format for the ATS Style that sets it apart from that of her teacher's and others in the genre. Kajira has enjoyed teaching in Germany and England and looks forward to more confirmed dates in Austria, Germany and Taiwan for 2007. She has taught for many years across the U.S. and in HI where her ongoing classes are held. She is author of The Tribal Bible, writes an ongoing tribal Q-&-A column in the int'l. bellydance magazine "Zaghareet!" and has 2 instructional DVDs. Besides ATS, Kajira performs Tribal Fusion Belly Dance, Moroccan Guedra, Turkish Romani and Romani-Oriental Dance, American Classical Belly Dance, Gothic Belly Dance and theatrical dance. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including 2 for Instruction and 2 for Event Production.

Kajira is the producer of the first and largest Tribal BellyDance festival in the world, Tribal Fest (held in the Northern SF Bay Area of CA each May), as well as the Maui Intensives (held on Maui, HI each July). Kajira oversees BlackSheep BellyDance - CA and HI. Currently she studies with fervor a classical East Indian dance form, Odissi, with Sarala Dandekar. Her goal in life is to HAVE FUN and to spread JOY and INSPIRATION through Dance!

Please feel free to telephone Kajira for questions, 24 hours. Please leave a thorough message so I can answer you when I get your machine. Thanks! 808.891.8891.

Time: 12:15 - 2:15 p.m.
Class Title: Publicity and Tribal: How to Get Your Event in the Press
Instructor: Dawn Pillsbury
Type of Class: Lecture
Skill Level: Open to All
Description:Have you ever wondered how other groups' dance performances end up in the newspaper or online listings? Have you thought about taking out an ad but didn't know where to start? This class will get you on your way to getting your performance, festival or other event in the media outlets that will reach the audience you want. Have an event coming up you want specific ideas for? Bring the information you have on your events and media outlets you'd like to target for specific help. We will go over paid versus editorial content, how to get editors and reporters interested in your story and how to submit press releases and calendar items. Wear comfy clothes as you will be sitting in this class. A notepad and writing implements may be handy tools!

Bio: Dawn Pillsbury, a veteran of BlackSheep BellyDance, is publicist for Tribal Fest and a
Certified BSBD teacher. A trained journalist, she currently lives in El Cerrito (San Francisco's East Bay) where she is a media consultant and is planning classes in BSBD-Style ATS. You can email Dawn if you like for more info about her class: dawn@lorax.org

Time: 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELED!
Class Title: Safe and Sane Critique
Instructor: Anaar
Type of Class: Lecture and Dance
Skill Level: Open to All
Description: Have you ever been crushed by a scathing, heartless critique? Have you tried to give a well-meaning thoughtful one, but realized it just sounded cruel? In this workshop we will explore some fundamental but simple rules of critique to thoroughly analyze our individual dance in a safe and sane environment. This workshop is perfect for the newly emerging troupe, as well as for established teachers and directors. Please bring a three minute set on CD and be prepared to exhibit your best work.

Bio:Anaar has studied with many of the masters of Tribal, including FatChanceBellyDance and Ultra Gypsy. She has a Masters degree in Arts and Consciousness and has spent nearly two decades studying the relationship between The Sacred and Its expression through the Arts. She is known for her intense and passionate improvisational themes and for storytelling through dance. Her unique handcrafted costumes and dance accessories pushes the boundaries and have won awards. For more information or questions, visit either: http://www.anaar.info or http://www.whitewand.com or email: anaar@whitewand.com