The ShimmyCon workshops are taught by fantastic instructors from the Colorado Springs area.
All Instructors
Click on an instructor below to learn more, or select a tab above.
Alicia
Alicia
Workshop: The Physics of Veilwork: Developing a Relationship with Your Veil
Time: Sunday, 2:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Alicia has studied Egyptian and Turkish Cabaret Belly Dance. Incorporating many props into her routine (i.e. veil, fire, sword, zills, cane, wings, fans and the occasional sense of
humor), she enchants the audience with a variety of talents. Alicia not only brings enthusiasm and energy to her performances but also to her classes at The Colorado
Academy of Music and Dance. She can also be found performing at the Caspian Cafe and Tajine Alami.
Workshop: Flirting Shadows (Or How a Western Girl Dances in Istanbul, not Constantinople)
Time: Sunday, 11:00 am - 12:45 pm
Amia Algier has been dancing since 1998, learning the art of Oriental Dance from many teachers such as Mahisha Alail, Suzanna Del Vecchio, Eva Cernik, and Zafia. Amia's style can best be described as "eclectic," including bits from everything such as cabaret, fusion, Turkish Romany, and good-old vaudeville and comedy.
Badia has studied middle eastern dance since 2001, and danced professionally since 2003. In addition to studying in the US, she has traveled to Egypt and Turkey to increase her knowledge of this art form and perform. She has taught in Malaysia and Singapore and is currently teaching belly dance classes at Hookah Shiraz in Colorado Springs. Badia is a featured performer at Tajine Alami in Manitou Springs as well as Hookah Shiraz and dances with the troupe Gidda Hoop.
Workshop: A Taste of Tribal
Time: Sunday, 9:00 am - 10:45 am
Debbie and Kristina met through a mutual interest in Tribal Style Belly Dance. They began taking classes from Barb Ferrill Van Hoy. In 2004, they were among the founding members of the troupe Mizmar Madness, and are currently active members of the troupe. Debbie and Kristina have also studied under Kari Espelien, as well as taken workshops from FatChanceBellyDance, Gypsy Caravan, TribalTique, and inFusion.
In October of 2008, Debbie and Kristina began teaching Tribal Style Belly Dance. They primarily follow the FatChanceBellyDance format of American Tribal Style, but also incorporate other moves in their dance vocabulary. Their goal is to share this fun, group improvisational dance with others.
Frank Farinaro is Colorado's premiere male belly dancer. Being a life-long dancer, he has & currently studies & trains in numerous ethnic & contemporary dance styles for over the past decade & a half. Currently he performs & teaches classes & workshops across the US. Frank recently won Yaa Halla Y'all's 2009 People's Choice Award Tribal/Alternative Star in Dallas, TX. Since 2005 Frank has performed & taught in events over 20 cities across 6 states. Frank hopes to continue dancing well into his later years as he continues to develop his signature Hammerhead Sharqi Dance Technique, a style of dance & dance instruction that focuses on artistic dance fusion, athletic body conditioning, & new-age meditative practices.
Workshop: Taste of Bellydance Bootcamp
Time: Saturday, 9:00 am - 10:45 am
Isidora has been a dancer all her life and fell in love with belly dance in 1992. She has studied various traditions of movement including stage and folk dances of the Middle East and North Africa, flamenco, Mexican folklorico and martial arts. Rather than devote herself to one specific tradition, she blends these diverse forms into her unique style, Tejedora, meaning “weaver” in Spanish.
Isidora has been a premier dancer in Greek and Moroccan restaurants, has danced for the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance, and has starred in several cutting edge DVDs. She teaches and performs regularly in Colorado as well as around the country and internationally, and is currently producing a belly dance drill series for DVD, which she will showcase in this event.
Jaiya has been dancing since she was 4 years old. Her background includes tap, jazz, ballet, and ballroom dancing. Jaiya received "traditional" training in belly dance, but due to her varied experience she occasionally includes some fusion in her dance style and instruction. She has been a professional Middle Eastern dancer and entertainer and local Moroccan restaurants up and down the Colorado Front Range, including the Caspian Cafe, Mataam Fez, and Tajine Alami in Colorado Springs.
Workshop: Hands, Arms, and Passion
Time: Saturday, 11:00 am - 12:45 pm
Neisa Salima first discovered belly dancing in kindergarten, when a dancer came to her class for a presentation. From that point, she knew that she wanted to be a belly dancer and finally got her opportunity when she moved to Colorado Springs after college. Neisa is the coordinator of Zalzali Belly Dance Troupe, which produces the monthly Night at the Oasis dance shows at the Cedars Jazz Club. In addition to performing with Zalzali, Neisa Salima can be seen as a soloist performing regularly at the Caspian Cafe in Colorado Springs, Tajine Alami in Manitou Springs, and India's Castle in Denver.
