Teachers

Casey Bond

"Bringing the doum to the room!"

Casey Bond really knows how to have fun with a drum!  As a long-time member of some of the best belly dance bands in NYC, Casey has become a favorite percussionist of novice belly dancers and seasoned professionals alike! Currently performing on bass doumbek, doumbek, riqq and frame drum with: Scott Wilson & Efendi, Carmine & Friends, (lead by Carmine T. Guida), Daniel Elias Ladino Ensemble and The Scheherazade Project. Proud to 'sit in" with wonderful bands like Pangia, The Fez Tones and Dragon Song. Featured on Scott Wilson & Efendi's latest CD "Live from JeBon" -listen to samples at www.cdbaby.com/scottwilson3

Stage/festival credits include: Rakkasah East, Spring Caravan. Brooklyn Academy of Music BAM Cafe, Golden Fest, NEATS (North East American Tribal Style) Camp;Baltimore Rhythm Festival, Cirque Arabesesque, Festival of the East at Adelphi University, BellyRhythm (NJ), Maryland Fairy Festival, Tribal Bonfire, Beltane in the Park, Night of 1,000 Goddesses,The Cloisters Medieval Fair, Le Poisson Rouge, Lafayette Grill, Cafe Figaro, New Deal Cafe (VA), Sahara's and JeBon. 

Casey's unique teaching method, "no frills percussion" is ideal for beginning drummers and drum-curious dancers.  Workshops for dancers like "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Drum Solo?" and "Secrets of a Bass Doumbek Player" have helped many dancers transition from CDs to dancing to live music. Her Tuesday night "Rhythms for Dancers and Drummers" class at the Harem Belly Dance Studio in Baldwin LI is solidly into it's seventh year. Contact Aviva Khadara at 516-623-2196 for more info about classes and Casey's student drum group "Raq Steady." 

 

Email:         Web: nofrillspercussion.shutterfly.com


Belladonna
Belladonna is known as the Baroness of Blades, master sword performer and fusion belly dance technician and entertainer.

Belladonna is an ever-evolving artist & teacher. She is a tribal fusion belly dance performer and instructor from Washington DC.   She has been a guest performer with international superstars such as Amanda Palmer, Beats Antique, Corvus Corax, the Bellydance Super Stars and the Indigo. She has also had the honor of being a featured instructor at national and international festivals such as Tribal Fest, Art of the Belly, Rakkasah Spring Caravan, Tribal Alchemy, Elevation,  Awakening Persephone, Gothla UK, FesTribal de Quebec.

She is the creative director and producer of  the annual Raven’s Night Soiree’, the Vixen Variety Show and co producer of the Monthly DCTribal cafe.  She also is the director of three student troupes, BellaTrix,  DashKhaleen  and Khalasar as well as one half of the dynamic duo Skella!

 

Web: www.BellaFuse.com  


Kaeshi

Kaeshi is an internationally recognized performer and instructor.  She is the director of the professional company Bellyqueen Dance Theater, the healing community PURE (Public Ritual Experiment) as well as her student troupe, the Rising Sirens.  In 2003-2004, she was part of the Bellydance Superstars, and held the position of dance captain for the 2004 US & Canadian Spring Tour.  She is also a principal dancer with Jillina's Bellydance Evolution as well as Ahmet Luleci's Collage dance company.  She has performed at Centeral Park/s Summerstage, BAM, Lincoln Center of of doors, Folie's Begere in Paris, Bloomsbury Theater in London, Teatro Smeraldo in Milan and had made television appearances on Conan O'Brien as well as BBC's Blue Peter.
     Web: www.BellyQueen.com  www.kaeshi.com    Phone: 310-597-3261


Maia Alexandra

Maia Alexandra is a professional Bellydancer and Fire Entertainer based in Buffalo, New York. With highlights including teaching and performing as a featured guest for Rakkasah Spring Caravan, the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive, Art of the Belly Festival, Waking Persephone, and Unmata's Blood Moon Regale, her enchanting and unusual style is beloved by audiences everywhere she entertains. Maia understands that to every skill there is no one "key" to learning. Just as every student is individual, she understands that every student learns differently! Using many different instruction techniques, including visualization, mnemonics, biomechanical breakdown, simple repetition and beyond, she strives in every class to teach you as completely as possible. 

Her dance training spans over twenty five years and is extremely diverse, including Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Hula Hoop as well as her love for Oriental Dance. Along with her dance partner Kadri, she is Co-creator of Darkly Sparkly, a stunning duet driven by mutual respect, chocolate chip cookies, darkwave, and the Muppets. 

Maia is a big believer in the power of breath and love in the creation of outstanding soulful dancing.

Web: www.maiaalexandra.com  

 


Vikki Gale
Vikki Gale has been a professional tribal style belly dancer since 2000. She is drawn to tribal style because she enjoys the spontaneity of the dance along with the camaraderie that is shared between dancers. She is currently co-director of Hipnosis, director of two student troupes, owner of Tribal Bellies Dance Studio where she teaches improv tribal and tribal fusion classes, and can be seen dancing regularly at Samarkand Restaurant in Feasterville, PA. She has played a major role in the growth of tribal style belly dance in the area, and is pleased to be able to share her passion for this dance with others.

   Web: http://www.tribalbelliesstudio.com
 


Tempest

Tempest pulls from her visual arts background, literary tendencies, and global inspirations to create dance that crosses the boundaries of time and culture. Known to be one of the major pioneers of Fusion Bellydance (Gothic/Dark, Steampunk, & Ritual), she strives to create and teach dance that maintains the essence of bellydance; balancing tradition, inspiration, and innovation. Her compellingly artful performances exemplify her distinctively theatrical, unique, and expressive style, and are rooted in oriental dance technique with a transcendent approach. Her costume designs have revolutionized the look of modern bellydance, and continue to inspire new and old generations of dancers alike. She also produces two major events: Waking Persephone and Tapestry Dance Retreat.

Nouveau Noir Dance http://www.darklydramatic.com Tempest's Teapot - A Bellydance Blog http://darklydramatic.blogspot.com/ OwlKeyMe Arts http://www.owlkeyme.com  Waking Persephone: Dancing Through the Dark & Unusual http://www.wakingpersephone.com

     Web: www.darklydramatic.com