 Amara
is one of the most versatile Middle Eastern dancers. She
is well known for her entertaining and dynamic American
belly dance style that is interspersed with sword, veil,
double veil, and zil work. She is equally skilled in many
folk dances including raqs al-assaya, debke, and khaleegy.
Amara's experimental Middle Eastern dance is on the cutting
edge and is perhaps the most varied out there with each
work looking and feeling dramatically different.
Amara
has performed as a soloist and in Middle Eastern Dance
companies all over the United States. She has held long-term
dance engagements at several Middle Eastern restaurants
and nightclubs including Pars (LA), Elbasha (LA), and
Mamounia (LV). She has also been highlighted in numerous
IAMED's videos, BDTV, and the EEMED series.
Amara
is also known for her innovative teaching methods. In
her studio classes, she stresses strong foundational technique
while she also helps students explore the workings of
Middle Eastern dance and their own personal needs. She
has taught accredited courses on dance appreciation and
Middle Eastern dance at UCLA and UCR and workshops at
a number of universities and colleges. She is currently
a professor at Cal Poly, Pomona.
In
addition to teaching, Amara is the Director and Choreographer
of Ya Helewa!, a Middle Eastern dance company which performs
a diverse repertory of traditional and experimental improvisations
and choreographies. Ya Helewa! has held a long-term dance
engagements at Moun of Tunis (LA) and Pars (LA). They
have also been invited to perform at numerous functions
for UCLA, IAMED, The Knitting Factory, and Desert Sin.
Amara
also produces numerous events. Her main focus is "An
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance" concerts
and videos. She has also hosted a monthly showcase and
has co-founded "Dance Under Construction," a
UC system wide dance conference. Her newest project with
other experimental Middle Eastern dancers, X-MED, is a
workshop series presenting tools and methods for creating
experimental Middle Eastern dances.
In
addition to teaching and performing, Amara is also deeply
involved with studying and researching Middle Eastern
dance. Her interest began while getting her degree in
Music History and Literature and a certificate in Ethnomusicology
from The Florida State University. Amara's pursuit deepened
when at UCLA she worked towards an M.A. in Dance Ethnology
and an MFA. Currently, Amara is a doctoral candidate at
UC Riverside's PhD program in Dance History and Theory.
She is finishing her dissertation: "Dancing on the
Fringe. Connections Forming An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance."
| Education |
| Present |
PhD,
Dance History and Theory
|
University
of California Riverside
|
| 1995 |
BA,
Music History and Literature
Certificate
in World Music, Cum Laude
Thesis: Nalini Vinayak: Sitarist, Teacher, and Woman
Connecting Three Cultures
|
The
Florida State University
|
| 1997-2001 |
Masters'
Coursework, Dance Ethnology
|
University
of California Los Angeles
|
| 9/91-5/92 |
Undergraduate
Courses, Music Education
|
Ithaca College, pursued a B.A.
|
| Teaching |
| 2006
- 2007 |
Instructor,
Institute of Dance - California Polytechnic, Pomona |
| Belly
Dance. Taught an introduction to Middle Eastern dance
for both dance and non-dance minors. Studio coursework
stress strong foundational technique through combinations
of choreography, improvisation, solo, and group work.
World
Dance. Taught an Introduction to World Dance. General
instructional responsibilities including lecture,
assessment, grading, and maintaining office hours
to discuss student progress. Course required students
to actively engage not only with watching dance
but also developing tools for observing, describing,
analyzing, and discussing dance movement and its
social contexts. The course covers a variety of
dance styles, choreographers, and dancers from around
the world. Students explore examples of how notions
of gender, race, and class in different times and
locations are played out through and in dance. Written
and discussion assignments based on the required
readings, videos, live performances, lecture materials,
in-class discussions, and movement experiences.
|
| 2004
- 2005 |
Golden
Oak Adult School - Valencia |
Designed
and taught an introduction to Middle Eastern dance
for non-dancers in a non-credit, community education
setting. Dealt with non-traditional students from
diverse community.
|
| 2002
- 2003 |
Graduate
Teaching Assistant, Department of Dance - University
of California Riverside |
| Designed
and taught class in Introduction to Dance. General
instructional responsibilities including lecture,
assessment, grading, and maintaining office hours
to discuss student progress. Course required students
to actively engage not only with watching dance but
also developing tools for observing, describing, analyzing,
and discussing dance movement and its social contexts.
The course covers a variety of dance styles, choreographers,
and dancers from around the world. Students explore
examples of how notions of gender, race, and class
in different times and locations are played out through
and in dance. Written and discussion assignments based
on the required readings, videos, live performances,
lecture materials, and in-class discussions.
Also
responsible for studio classes: Dance of a Selected
Culture: Middle East. Designed and taught an introduction
to Middle Eastern dance for both dance and non-dance
majors. Studio coursework stress strong foundational
technique through combinations of choreography,
improvisation, solo, and group work. Students are
encouraged to create their own style and are taught
to embellish their performances with props such
as veil, zils (finger cymbals), cane, and saber.
Lecture and discussion of the history of Middle
Eastern dance, the differences between genres, and
the issues facing dancers today.
|
| 1999
- 2000 |
Graduate
Teaching Assistant, Department of World Arts and Cultures
- University of California Los Angeles |
| Similar
to courses taught at UCR: Dance of a Selected Culture:
Middle East. Designed and taught an introduction to
Middle Eastern dance for both dance and non-dance
majors. Studio coursework stress strong foundational
technique through combinations of choreography, improvisation,
solo, and group work. |
| 2000 |
Instructor,
Learning Tree University - Thousand Oaks, CA |
| Designed
and taught an introduction to Middle Eastern dance
for non-dancers in a non-credit, community education
setting. Dealt with non-traditional students from
diverse community. |
| Dance
Studio Teaching |
|
Provided private dance instruction in a wide range
of cultural, ethnic and modern dance styles. Own,
operate and manage studio in Los Angeles, teaching
beginning, intermediate, and master dance classes. |
| 1998
- present |
Amara's
Dance Studio, Los Angeles, CA |
| 2003 |
Lorentz
Dance Studio, Lake View Terrace, Ca |
| 1999
- 2003 |
Judy
Gantz Siegel's Dance Studio, Los Angeles, CA |
| 1998 |
Mason
Artists Institute, Los Angeles, CA |
| 1997-1998 |
UCLA Recreational Middle Eastern dance class. |
| Performance
History |
| 1993
- present: Regularly perform as solo artist or dance
troupe member. Performances have included work with
community-based cultural groups, professional groups,
and artists, as well as benefit performances for civic
groups and schools. Both solo and group work have
been performed for commercial instructional videos.
Have had private instruction with master dance practitioners
from Florida State University, UCLA, Berkeley, Tallahassee,
New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. |
| 2007 |
Los
Angeles, CA: IAMED's This is Belly Dance; Joi
de Musique; TaXim; Dance in the Desert, Café Beledy;
Mythos Greek Restaurant; X-MED; Cairo Carnivale;
Private Events
Las
Vegas, NV: Hafla, Belly Dance Intensive
|
| 2006 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Café Beledy; Mythos Greek
Restaurant; Desert Sin's Sita's Fire; Moun
of Tunis Restaurant; X-MED; An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance; IAMED's Belly Dance-O-Rama
(with Desert Sin); Perfumes of Araby's Middle Eastern
Dance Swap Meet; Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade;
Private Events
San
Diego, CA: Hafla San Diego
San
Francisco, CA: Rakkasah Middle Eastern
Dance Festival - Performed with Mirage, Music Group
Chicago,
IL: Performed Mermaids with Desert Sin
|
| 2005 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Elbasha Greek Restaurant (Performed
2 nights a week); IAMED's Let's Dance, Shandeez
Restaurant; Cafe Beledy; An Evening of
Experimental Middle Eastern Dance; Mantra Girl's
CD release party; Marrakesh Restaurant; Perfumes
of Araby's Middle Eastern Dance Swap Meet; Private
Events
San
Francisco, CA: Rakkasah Middle Eastern
Dance Festival - performed to live music by
Mirage
|
| 2004 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Elbasha Greek Restaurant (Performed
2 nights a week); Cafe Beledy; Shandeez Restaurant;
Perfumes of Araby's Middle Eastern Dance Swap Meet;
Private Events
San
Francisco, CA: Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance
Festival - Performed with Solace, Music Group
|
| 2003 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Elbasha Greek Restaurant (Performed
2 nights a week); An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance; IAMED's This is Belly
Dance; Shandeez Restaurant; Cafe Beledy;
Central Coast Mediterranean Dance Festival; Moun
of Tunis All Star Belly Dance Fun-Raiser; Perfumes
of Araby's Middle Eastern Dance Swap Meet; Private
Events
San
Francisco, CA: Rakkasah Middle Eastern
Dance Festival - Performed with Mirage, Music Group
|
| 2002 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Elbasha Greek Restaurant (Performed
2 nights a week); Shandeez; Sea Side Palace; Our Place
Restaurant; Al Karraz Restaurant; Cafe Beledy;
Cairo Carnival; Central Coast MECDA's 12th
Night Belly Dance Festival; An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance; Perfumes of Araby's Middle
Eastern Dance Swap Meet; Private Events
|
| 2001 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Elbasha Greek Restaurant (Performed
2 nights a week); Pars Nightclub (Performed 2 nights
a week as a soloist and with Ya Helewa!) Cafe Beledy;
An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance;
Equinox Celebration; Perfumes of Araby's Middle Eastern
Dance Swap Meet; Private Events
|
| 2000 |
Los
Angeles, CA: An Evening of Experimental Middle
Eastern Dance; Sea Side Palace Restaurant; Belly
Dance Buffet; Regardless, an M.A. dance concert,
UCLA; Cafe Beledy; Moun of Tunis Restaurant;
Private Events
San
Francisco, CA: Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance
Festival
|
| 1999 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Athena's; It's Greek To Me;
Cairo Carnival; Serendipity on the Sidewalk;
Women's International Symposium, UCLA; Cafe
Beledy; Best of Friday Nights Live, UCLA;
Private Events
|
| 1998 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Cafe Beledy; Music and Dance on
the Grass, UCLA; Dance Motion and Madness,
UCLA; Private Events
|
| 1997 |
Los Angeles, CA: Marrakesh Restaurant; Luna
Park; Private Events
Las
Vegas, NV: Mamounia Moroccan Restaurant Performed
1-4 shows, 6-7 nights a week; Luxor Hotel and Casino
- Portrayed an Amon Temple Dancer for the Nile Tour;
Caesar Hotel and Casino; Clubs; Private Events
Atlanta,
GA: Private Events
|
| 1995
- 1996 |
Las
Vegas: Mamounia Moroccan Restaurant; Tom and Jerry's;
Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant; clubs and parties
|
| 1994
- 1995 |
Tallahassee
, FL: Haflas and Galas |
|
Dance Companies |
| 2000
- present |
Ya
Helewa!, Los Angeles (Director/Choreographer) |
| 2004
- present |
Desert
Sin, Los Angeles |
| 1998
- present |
Perfumes
of Araby, Los Angeles |
| 2000
- 2001 |
Jillina
and the Sahlala Dancers, Los Angeles |
| 1997
- 1998 |
Viviane's
Dance Theater, Los Angeles |
| 1995
- 1996 |
The Magic Carpet Dancers, Las Vegas |
| 1993
- 1995 |
Troupe
Arabesque, Tallahassee, FL |
| 1992
- 1993 |
Sally
Rubenstein's Dance Company, Tallahassee, FL |
| Commercial
Videos |
| 2007 |
IAMED's
Belly Dance-O-Rama (with Desert Sin) |
| 2006 |
IAMED's
"Ultimate Belly Dance Combinations" Vol.
1 and 2 |
| 2005 |
IAMED's
"The Art of Belly Dance - Enchanted Nile" |
| 2004 |
"Belly
Dance Television" Vol. 1; IAMED's "Belly
Dance Revolution" |
| 2003 |
IAMED's
"Belly Dance!" (performed at the Ford Amphitheater) |
| 2001
- 2006 |
"An
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance"
(EEMED) |
| Choreography |
| 1994
- present: Choreographed
wide range of ethno-cultural dance works performed
by professional and academic troupes. Venues have
included UCLA, UCR, The International Academy of Middle
Eastern Dance (IAMED), and other professional settings.
|
| 2007 |
Finding
Echo performed at Dance in the Desert and X-MED
|
| 2006 |
Thirsty
performed at An Evening of Experimental Middle
Eastern Dance, Instant Review performed
at An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern
Dance; Vampira performed at Halloween
Hex; Untitled 2 performed at Moun of
Tunis and Perfumes of Araby Swapmeet, On the
Wrong Side of Nowhere performed at X-MED and
An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance,
Veil 2 and Sita performed at Desert
Sin's Sita's Fire; Class work performed at
Cal Poly, Pomona
|
| 2005 |
Plan
9 Take 2 performed at Dance Macabre, Folk
Dance and Raks al-Assaya # 4 performed at IAMED's
Let's Dance; Unknown, Becoming,
Eden, Loie Fuller performed at An
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance;
Full Dance Routine performed at Café Beledy
|
| 2004 |
Snake,
performed at Desert Sin's Musée des
Femmes - Tales of the Grotesque & Arabesque; Part
1 and Sword 2, performed at IAMED's Belly Dance
Rocks!; Part 1 and 2, Transference performed at
An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance
|
| 2003 |
Raks
al-Assaya, Quadruple Veils performed at IAMED's This
is Belly Dance; The Story of Laurel, Plan
Nine performed at An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance
|
| 2002 |
Even performed at An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance; Reverse, performed
at Cairo Carnivale and An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance; Hole and the Willow
performed at Cafe Beledy, An Evening of
Experimental Middle Eastern Dance, and One
Enchanted Evening; The Ecstasy of Dance
performed at Cafe Beledy
|
| 2001 |
Ditma, The Harem, performed at An
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance
|
| 2000 |
The
Lighthouse of Alexandria; The Jelly; Volatile Bodies;
Instant Review; Untitled #1, performed at An
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance
|
| 1999 |
Instant Review performed at Cafe Beledy;
Class work performed at Pau Hana, UCLA
|
| 1994
- present |
Choreograph
or improvise all solo and troupe performances (See
Middle Eastern Dance - Solo and Director)
|
|
Director of Ya Helewa! Dance Company |
| 2000
- present: Serves as troupe director of Ya Helewa!,
a Middle Eastern dance company which performs a diverse
repertory of traditional and experimental improvisations
and choreographies. Also served as company director
for troupes performing in various professional and
academic venues, including UCLA, IAMED, Saw Dust Arts
Festival, the Knitting Factory, Central Coast Mediterranean
Dance Festival, and Moun of Tunis |
|
Los Angeles, California |
| 2007 |
Los
Angeles, CA: TaXim, Café Beledy
San
Francisco, CA: Rakkasah
|
| 2006 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Desert Sin’s Sita’s Fire;
X-MED, Moun of Tunis Restaurant; Cairo Carnivale;
An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance;
Private Events
San
Francisco, CA: Rakkasah
|
| 2005 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Mantra
Girl’s CD release party; Desert Sin’s Musée des
Femmes – Tales of the Grotesque & Arabesque; An Evening
of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance; Cafe Beledy;
Dance Macabre; Private Events |
| 2004 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Desert
Sin’s Musée des Femmes – Tales of the Grotesque
& Arabesque; IAMED’s Belly Dance Rocks!; Cafe Beledy;
An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance;
Private Events
San
Diego, CA:
An Evening of Music & Dance
|
| 2003 |
Los
Angeles, CA: An
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance; Labyrinth
of Jareth Masquerade; Cafe Beledy; Cairo Carnival;
Saw
Dust Festival |
| 2002 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Cafe
Beledy; Market at the Kasbah; An Evening of Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance
San
Diego, CA: One
Enchanted Evening
|
| 2001 |
Los
Angeles, CA: Pars Restaurant; Cafe Beledy;
Tapestry of America; Central Coast Middle Eastern
Dance Festival; An Evening of Experimental Middle
Eastern Dance
San
Diego, CA: One
Enchanted Evening
|
| 2000 |
Los
Angeles, CA: An
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance;
Saw Dust Festival; Knitting Factory; Cairo Carnival;
Market at the Kasbah; Moun of Tunis Marrakesh Restaurant;
Cafe Beledy; Belly Dance Buffet; Perfumes
of Araby’s Middle Eastern Dance Swap Meet
San
Diego, CA: Bedouin
Bazaar
|
| Video
Productions |
| 2001
- 2006 |
Evening
of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance |
| Live
Productions |
| 2000
- Present |
Evening
of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance - This performance
is a venue where dancers can present pieces which
they are unable to do elsewhere due to their controversial
nature. Creator, Producer, Artistic Director, Performer. |
| 2006
- 2007 |
X-Med
- An intensive three day workshop on Experimental
Middle Eastern Dance. The first of its kind, this
workshop is creating a pedagogy and a training ground
for an emerging dance form. Co-Creator, Co-Producer,
Coordinator, Teacher, Performer |
|
Belly
Dance Buffet - This day of performances and workshops
was created to give the Middle Eastern dance community
alternative ways to approach the dance form. Co-creator;
Co-producer, Performer, Teacher. |
| 2001 |
Amara's
Showcase - A monthly performance at Pars Restaurant
which allowed dancers of all levels to perform in
a nightclub venue. Creator, Producer, Performer |
| 2000
- 2005 |
Production
work for various workshops and experimental performances.
Dance works such as An Evening of Experimental Middle
Eastern Dance and X-MED are typically avant-garde
presentations of new styles or approaches to Middle
Eastern Dance. Traditional works produced included
Amara's Showcase, which provides a venue for student
from private studio. |
| Guest
Lectures and Presentations |
Introductory master classes presented in several academic
and community settings. Lectures focus on the position
of dance within the broader culture, particularly
with multicultural communities. Studio presentations
have three primary purposes: Helping students to experience
basic technique and styling; facilitating insight
into the culture and challenging preconceived ideas
of the dance form; Creation of a community feeling
through dancing for and watching others.
|
| 2007 |
Belly
Dance Intensive: Creating and Destroying the Rules,
Workshop Teacher and Performers - Las Vegas
X-MED: Workshop Teacher, Performer, and Co-Producer
- Los Angeles
Dance in the Desert: Fusion Techniques, Workshop Teacher
and Performer - Palmdale; |
| 2006 |
Hips
of Fury Belly Dance Competition, Judge - Palmdale
X-MED, Workshop Teacher, Performer, and Co-Producer
- Los Angeles;
How to Teach Middle Eastern Dance, Teacher - Los Angeles
|
| 2004 |
UCR:
Introduction to Middle Eastern Dance, Guest Teacher;
Scripps College: Introduction to Middle Eastern Dance,
Guest Lecturer; World Dance Festival, Workshop Teacher
- San Diego |
| 2003 |
Antelope
City College, Guest Teacher |
| 2000 |
Belly
Dance Buffet, Van Nuys, Workshop Teacher |
| 1999
- 2000 |
UCLA
WAC: Dancing of Selected Cultures, Guest Teacher
|
| 1999
- 2000 |
Scripps
College, Guest Teacher |
| 1999 |
University
of California, Long Beach, Guest Teacher |
| 1998 |
"Trade
Like Any other" and "The Positions of Middle
Eastern Dance in the United States," UCLA WAC:
Dance Ethnography, Guest Lecturer |
| 1998 |
Mason
Artists Institute, Middle Eastern Dance, Guest Teacher
|
| 1996 |
Halimdia's
Studio, Tallahassee, FL, Guest Teacher |
|
|
Please
note: this is a partial resume. If you would like a full
resume, please contact
Amara by e-mail or call (818) 906-1947.
|
