| Moria Moria's enigmatic stage presence is born from a history of training in San Francisco bellydance technique that combines the Salimpour method, stylization from The Indigo, and Fat Chance posturing. Remembering her mother's early practice of bellydance, her father's study of yoga, and from what later became a background of classical dance and theatre in her youth, Moria was moved to exclusively study bellydance after graduating Magne Cum Laude from the University of California, Irvine. Inspired by the spirit of bellydance as it allows for the organic and gypsy nature of life to move serpentine through space, her personal fusion of circus art, theatre make-up, and rich costuming brings a grace and elegance to tribal bellydance that evokes the majestic. She has performed music and dance in collaboration with Suhaila and Jamilla Salimpour via Bal Anat and The Suhaila Dance Company; with Ziah Ali via Awalim; and currently with Rachel Brice and Sharon Kihara via The Bellydance Superstars. Moria performs and teaches internationally and is well loved within the bellydance community and beyond. Workshop Topic: TRIBAL BELLYDANCE BOOTCAMP: LAYERING and FLOORWORK Intended to build from Moria’s Fundamentals Workshop, this workshop puts together the various drills and traveling patterns previously learned to build control and stamina in layering. Drills teach how to maintain deliciously crisp isolations while layering 2,3, or 4 different components of fundamental moves. Prior isolation training is helpful but all levels are welcome. Some of the more advanced components of this workshop include using turns, traveling, and layering movements to culminate in new advanced combinations that we will work together into an tribal fusion choreography. Hour 1: Lower Body Emphasis--sharp and staccato articulation emphasizing movement and rhythm. We will drill twists and pelvic locks working to develop the muscles in the lower abs and pelvic area to create crisp, strong hip articulation. Movement across the floor and around the room and drills to increase flexibility and range of motion in the hip while maintaining strong posture and arms. Hour 2: Upper Body Emphasis--round and smooth articulation emphasizing shapes and fluidity with upper body extension and articulation. Drills to sharpen and intensify chest ticks and locks while maintaining perfect arm and shoulder placement. Arms, undulations and laybacks will also be drilled as well as creating unusual shapes with the body. Hour 3: Floorwork and flexibility will be taught and woven into the previous components of hip articulation and upper body strength. Hour 4: Exquisitely slow and intense combinations culminate in a serpentine slow choreography incorporating level changes, floor patterns, and deep movement. Comfortable, stretchy clothes, water, a yoga mat, and a notebook are suggested but not required. Knee pads are highly suggested. |
| Sonia |
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sonia is a bellydancer of Mexican descent who began
dancing at the age of 20. She started her training with classical ballet, jazz, and modern
dance. Through the world of dance, she has made many friends who have helped inspire
and develop her skills along the way, which include Mexican, Latin, Flamenco, and
Polynesian dances. For 3 years Sonia has performed with Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico
under the direction of Adriana Astorga-Gainey and Jose Vences, former dancer of the
world famous Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Performing dances from several regions of
Mexico, BFDP holds yearly productions in some of the most beautiful theaters in
California. Sonia has also taught and performed Latin dances since 1997, thanks to friend
Alex DaSilva, internationally known salsa instructor, choreographer and performer based
in Los Angeles. Sonia will also be featured in upcoming instructional videos with Maryam
Askaar fusing bellydance movements with salsa, and alongside Jorge Geronimo, the
famous ballroom dancer from Orange County, helping teach and perform popular salsa
routines. She is currently taking intensive Flamenco classes with some of the best
instructors in California and hopes to be performing in the coming new year. She has been
dancing with Polynesian Paradise since 1994, with director/founder Akemi Welsh, who
happened to give Sonia her first glimpse at the world of Middle Eastern dances. Fusing all
styles and levels of dance, Sonia now spends her time teaching private and group lessons
in the Los Angeles area and performs worldwide. Sonia dances because it brings her much
happiness, and through her efforts hopes that one day the rest of the world will look at this
beautiful art form with an open mind and an open heart
dancing at the age of 20. She started her training with classical ballet, jazz, and modern
dance. Through the world of dance, she has made many friends who have helped inspire
and develop her skills along the way, which include Mexican, Latin, Flamenco, and
Polynesian dances. For 3 years Sonia has performed with Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico
under the direction of Adriana Astorga-Gainey and Jose Vences, former dancer of the
world famous Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Performing dances from several regions of
Mexico, BFDP holds yearly productions in some of the most beautiful theaters in
California. Sonia has also taught and performed Latin dances since 1997, thanks to friend
Alex DaSilva, internationally known salsa instructor, choreographer and performer based
in Los Angeles. Sonia will also be featured in upcoming instructional videos with Maryam
Askaar fusing bellydance movements with salsa, and alongside Jorge Geronimo, the
famous ballroom dancer from Orange County, helping teach and perform popular salsa
routines. She is currently taking intensive Flamenco classes with some of the best
instructors in California and hopes to be performing in the coming new year. She has been
dancing with Polynesian Paradise since 1994, with director/founder Akemi Welsh, who
happened to give Sonia her first glimpse at the world of Middle Eastern dances. Fusing all
styles and levels of dance, Sonia now spends her time teaching private and group lessons
in the Los Angeles area and performs worldwide. Sonia dances because it brings her much
happiness, and through her efforts hopes that one day the rest of the world will look at this
beautiful art form with an open mind and an open heart
