My calendar reflects upcoming shows & events for Melissa and haflas and workshop opportunities for the larger Anchorage Belly Dance Community.  More complete information about the activity and offerings of other local instructors and artists can be found on the Alaska Belly Dance Events Tribe.  http://tribes.tribe.net/alaskabellydanceevents

2012 Calendar of Events

JANUARY 2012

January 1 - Happy New Year!  Melissa and the WIld Sweet Orange Dance Theatre Gang will be performing a New Years Eve Fire Show on December 31 from 6-8 at Town Square for the Anchorage Fire and Ice Festival.

January 2-March 3 - Melissa is the Choreographer for Alaska Theatre of Youth's production of Aladdin, Jr.  Performances are in the Sydney Laurence Theatre at the Performing Arts Center opening February 24 and ending March 3.  Tix available through Centertix.

January 13  -Catch "Shakti Dances" performing "Skin Deep?" at Carrie Moore's "Co-Efficient Show" starring Elizabeth Strong at the Alaska Dance Theatre at 7:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 2012
February 3  - "Wild Sweet Orange Dance Theatre" perform an improv show as Carnival Queens to help the American Diabetes Association with their Carnival-themed bachelor auction.

February 7  -Melissa is a guest instructor in UAA's DNCE 370 presenting the basics of Orientale Dance for Occidental Dancers.

MARCH 2012
March 17 - tba

March 30-April 1 - Bethan Carter (BethanCarter@yahoo.com) will be hosting Cultural Anthropologist/Archeologist/ Ballet Afsenah Principal Dancer Farima Berenji (FarimaDance.com) for a look at the Sacred, Traditional and Folkloric Persian Dance Traditions at the Children's Dance Theatre.  Early bird special ends Feb 28.  Email Bethan for details.

APRIL 2012
April 1 - Show or informal gathering featuring cultural anthropologist and Persian dance workshop instructor Farima Berenji from California and local dancers.  Location and time TBA.

JULY 2012
JULY-  Lara Lotze will be hosting a workshop/show in Fairbanks on Turkish Orientale and Turkish Romani dance with the amazing Elizabeth "Artemis" Mourat.  Artemis is the arguably the finest resource onTurkish Orientale and Turkish Romani Dance in America.  Study with one of our true Masters.

SEPTEMBER 2012
September  - Grace Ann Pearce will be hosting a workshop/show in Anchorage with the infamous and marvelous "Aunt Rocky"  Morocco of New York.  Don't miss this opportunity to study with one of the legends.



2011 Calendar of Events

JANUARY 2011
January 17 - Melissa will be hosting two evening workshops on functional anatomy and the Alexander Technique for Movers and Teachers of Movers with the astounding Robyn Avalon of Sante Fe.  The first is "Sacred Geometry of Anatomy" and the second is "Alexander Technique for Movers and Teachers of Movers".  They will happen Monday night from 6:30-8:30 and 8:30-10:30 p.m. at the Children's Dance Theatre.  Cost is $50 for one or $85 for both with early bird special of $70/both if payment postmarked by January 10.  Contact me for details UrbanAmericanGypsy@hotmail.com.

January 19  - Winter session of "Belly Dance 101"  begins.  $150/12 weeks or $15/drop in.

FEBRUARY 2011

February 3 - "Technique for the Curious Dancer" class begins again.

February 11-12 -  Michael Beach and the Brothers of the Baladi will be returning to Alaska for concerts and workshops in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Valdez.  The Anchorage concert will be at Koots on Friday, Feb 11 from 7-10ish.  Tix $15 at Chilkoot Charlie's or Koots.com.  The Anchorage Drumming and Music workshop will be Saturday morning from 9-11 a.m. at a Grass Roots Fair Trade Store in the REI Mall (they generously donted their space so all proceeds could go directly to the artists, btw).  Pay at the door for workshop $25.  I am the contact on this one.

MARCH 2011
March 11-13 - My friends Siobhan O'Hara and Shawna Trumblee will be hosting a workshop and show with the infamous Sadie Marquadt (who just might be the most beautiful and technical belly dancer performing today) in March.  The show "Drumbeats and Heartbeats presents  Rhythms of the Soul, A Dance Concert"  will be on the evening of March 11 at Wild Berry Theatre.  Tix available soon through CenterTix.  The workshop will be March 12-13.  Topics are
Drum Solos
Pops, Locks, and Shimmies
Sadie's Signature Combos
Slow, Sultry Moves
Cost at door is $200.  Early bird special by February 18 to save you $30.  Contact siobhan@siobhanohara.com for details.




2010 Calendar of Events


JANUARY 2010

January  16 - Winter session of Belly Dance 101 begins.


February 2010

February 7 - The Passion, The Drama, The Art of Belly Dance show hosted by Jody Walters at the UAA Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.  Featuring Mira Betz with debut performances by Wild Sweet Orange Dance Theatre and Raks Pangaea.


February 8-9 will bring the return of the beautiful Mira Betz. Topics include: In Praise of Improvisation (excercises to gain proficiency at Improv), Moroccan Shikhat (one of my favorite workshops ever!), Shimmies and Layering, Technique for the Versatile Dancer (crossing boundaries of specific style ideal for events with both cabaret and tribal students).  Contact Jody at waltersfamily@acsalaska.net.


February 13 - TOUCH  private dance party featuring performances by Wild Sweet Orange Dance Theatre.

 

April 2010

April 14 -  Spring session of Belly Dance 101 begins.


May 2010

May 24-27 - The beautiful yogini and Indian Temple Dancer Revital Carrol  of Odissi dance and Shakti Yoga fame will be returning to Anchorage in May for another round of workshops, this time with her husband yogi Cain Carrol.  I loved the Odissi last time around and have used the universal wisdom in my teaching  ( for example, on dance posture "a dancer should be a pillar between Heaven and Earth).  Details through Oriental Healing Arts Center or Susan at 562-2863.


May 21 & 28 - Melissa is the opening act of the Total Body Fusion shows at the Inner Dance Yoga Studio featuring Revital Carroll.  Begins 8 p.m.  Tix $20.


May 28-30 - The uber famous, world-renowned Urban Tribal Belly dancer Sharon Kihara (of the Indigo and Belly Dance Superstars fame) will be teaching workshops in Fairbanks in May 2010.  Performance May 28 and 8 hours of instruction May 29 and 30.  She will be available for private instruction as well.  More details will posted as they become available at www.coldfusiondance.com.


June 2010

June 5 - Melissa and Wild Sweet Orange Dance Theatre will join several local dancers for a show with Grammy-nominated band "Brothers of the Baladi" for a dance set in their concert on the South-side of Chilkoot Charlie's.  Tix are $15 and available at Koots.com and at the door.  Wear dance-y street clothes and come and enjoy a great groove and vibe!


June 12 - Melissa will participate in a Contact Improv Jam with both dancers and musicians at the Inner Dance Yoga Studio celebrating Spenard Jazz Festival.


June 26 - Melissa will teach "Poi is NOT food."  subtitled "Poi Spinning Basics for Belly Dancers" in Fairbanks at Space for Movement Studio from 2:30-4:30 p.m.  Space is limited to 15 students.  Call Terri Massa (907) 699-9383 at Zara Noor Middle Eastern Dance to sign up, $30 before June 20 and $35 at the door.  SOLD OUT.


July 2010

July 4 - Melissa and Wild Sweet Orange Dance Theatre will be guests artists with Gypsy Underground at the Girdwood Forest Fair.


July 9-11 will bring a  General Skills certification course from FatChance Belly Dance's Carolena Nericcio, mother of ATS.  Contact Carrie at Carrie@GypsyHorizon.com.


July 9-11 Barefoot Muse Productions is joining the Northwest Alexander Alliance and Children's Dance Theatre to bring back Robyn Avalon of Alexander Technique fame for a "functional anatomy" workshop titled "Living in A Body" (www.livinginabody.com). This course offers 20 CEUs in continuing education credit and comes with a manual.  Graduates can use the title "Living Body Instructor".  Let me know if you are interested...I can't tell you in words how this training has rocked my world.  If you live, breath and move, are or teach performing artists, have chronic pain or tension....this weekend will be life changing!  Private lessons and intro courses will likely also be offered.  Call me for details 529-5332.  


August 2010

August 14-15 - Mark and Ling Shien Bell of Helm will be coming North for a drum and finger cymbal workshop hosted by Gypsy Horizon's Carrie Moore.  Carrie can be reached at  Carrie@GypsyHorizon.com or check out www.helmmusic.com. 


August 29th - Wild Sweet Orange, Shakti Dances and Melissa will all represent Barefoot Muse Productions at Grace's big end of the year Weekend Market show and fundraiser to benefit a Kitty Shelter.  Show will be from 2:30-5 p.m. and represent a variety of troupes and soloists from across Southcentral Alaska.


September 2010

September 11 - Wild Sweet Orange Dance Theatre (and friends!) will be featured street performers at the "Taste of Mardi Gras" street festival fundraiser for the American Red Cross.  The Jack River Kings and H3 will be playing and delicious food from a dozen Cajun chefs will be featured...all for a great cause.  Tix $25.  Hope to see you there!


September 15 & 16 - Belly Dance 101 (15th), Versatile Technique for the Curious Belly Dancer and Belly Dance Unlimited (both 16th) will resume.

 

October 2010

October 7-8 - Tundra Caravan will feature their annual workshop and show "A Night of Middle Eastern Dance" featuring amazing American Belly Dance Master Susannah Del Vecchio.  Tickets and workshop registration available at www.tundracaravan.iwarp.com, tundracaravan@yahoo.com or (907)388-1452.

 

October 23  - Don't forget about Haflaween Belly Dancer Potluck Hafla at Al Aska Shrine from 6:30-11:30 p.m.  Music deadline October 11.  This event is generally a wacky, hilarious blast!  Tix available through Grace Ann Pierce at (907) 243-2252 or graceann.ak@gmail.com. 

 

November 2010

Local belly dancer Aksana will be hosting the versatile Myra Krien from New Mexico in a belly dance workshop and workshop show titled "Undulation" on the weekend of November 6-7.  Details at www.DancewithAksana.com.

 

December 2010

December 31 - Save the date for the Anchorage Fire and Ice New Year's Celebration.  Wild Sweet Orange Dance Theatre will once again be featured at this excellent New Year's Eve Celebration.  Details tba.


***Photo credit: Most photos on this page taken by Robert Kasuboski, Keith Darkchilde, David Martin and friends.