JENNA
is a professional bellydance artist & instructor, and the proud co-director
of DanceGarden LA. Trained in ballet & modern dance from childhood through
university, Jenna continues her lifelong passion for dance by soaking up
multiple movement disciplines & styles at every opportunity, and passing
her knowledge & understanding freely on to her students here in LA and
in special workshops nationally & internationally. She is also the star
of two highly successful instructional bellydance
DVD's. You can read more about Jenna's extensive teaching and performing
experience, in NYC, LA and abroad at www.beyondbellydance.com.
ZAHRA
Zuhair
is co-director of Dance Garden LA, as well as a master teacher, performer,
and choreographer who is world renowned for her knowledge, authenticity,
and dedication to the art of Middle Eastern dance. Raised in oriental
dance from a young age, Zahra is known for her musicality, flawless technique,
and elegant style. She has trained and influenced many of today’s
international, bellydance stars, and has performed and taught workshops
on 5 continents, including the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival in Cairo Egypt.
For more information about Zahra, visit her website: www.zahrazuhair.com
YESENIA
,
an LA native, began 6years of competitive gymnastics at the age of 9;
and then majored in dance at the L.A. County High School for the Arts,
where she learned Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern, & Salsa, which quickly
became her favorite! Immediately after graduating Yesenia moved to Tokyo
to perform as an actress/aerialist. When she returned from Japan she joined
a professional Salsa dance team, Salsa Brava, and began competing professionally
with her partner. They have won numerous 1st place titles and placed 2nd
in the ESPN World Salsa Championships! Yesenia has appeared several times
as a special guest performer on Dancing with the Stars, and many
other TV shows and commercials. She is the leading Lady in “ Mano”,
a film based on Salsa Dancing. In 2008 she becomes the hostess of "Wild
on E"!
Yesenia teaches
Salsa!
Princess
FARHANA has performed,
taught & written about Oriental Dance since 1990, having appeared
across the nation, around the world, & at concerts with major Arabic
recording stars. Named “Favorite Oriental Dancer 2006” by
Zaghareet Magazine, famous for her balancing skills and outrageous belly
maneuvers, she is featured on-screen and starring in bellydance DVDs.
Trained in classic Egyptian style by the greats (including her first influential
teacher, Zahra Zuhair) Farhana is also well-known as a theatrical fusion
performer. Her warmth, enthusiasm and adventurous spirit on and off stage
captivate audiences and students alike.
Princess
Farhana teaches
bellydance!
Photo
Don Spiro
BADARO
is
the critically-acclaimed co-artistic director and co-founder of Viver
Brasil Dance Company. Born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, he is a master
dancer, choreographer & percussionist who has been choreographing
& performing for over 30 years in Brazil, Europe, Africa & the
US. Badaró began his arts career under the direction of Mestre
King at SESC-Bahia & was among the first generation of dancers to
perform at the SESC/SENAC Arena in the late '70s. He has performed with
the Paris-based Circus Archaos throughout Europe & with many of Brazil’s
premier ensembles including Viva Bahia and Olodumarê. Now residing
in Los Angeles, Badaró received the Creation to Performance
Grant and is a faculty member at Dance Arts Academy in Los Angeles, a
staff musician at Santa Monica College, & now a teacher at DanceGarden!
Badaró teaches Afro-Brazilian Dance starting May 16th 2008
IRANI,
born in Bahia, Brazil, began her lifelong study of dance with ballet at
the age of 5. Her many years of experience make her one of the most sought
after dancers in LA. Well-known in the Brazilian community for her Samba
& Axe dancing, Irani is often asked to perform in various restaurants,
clubs and private events. She has danced Samba in music videos & commercials
as well as many television programs, including The Tonight Show and Good
Morning America. Irani also choreographs regular theater shows for children,
live shows at House of Blues, Brazilian shows at Universal Studios and
regular shows for her samba company," THe Sambarinas". As a
dance teacher, Irani has the gift of not just feeling her native movement,
but being able to break down the steps so that beginners can start dancing
from their first class!
Irani teaches
Brazilian Samba!
DIANA
has been a practitioner of American Tribal Style (commonly known as ATS)
belly dance since she took her first classes from FatChanceBellyDance
in San Francisco, California in 1999. Diana was trained in ballet, tap
and jazz as a child, and continued to dance through high school. One of
the original members of Subee Djinn, she is now the founder and director
of Alamkara tribal belly dance troupe, known for their classic ATS technique
as well as their creative music choices and costuming. Her favorite thing
about American Tribal Style belly dance is the interaction between dancers
and the excitement of improvisation. Her beginner class is paced so those
dancers who are new to American Tribal Style Bellydance can really understand
each of the signature tribal movements and put them together at the end
of the class using the cueing techniques specific to ATS.
Diana teaches
Tribal Style Bellydance!
J.
LEE is an articulate & thought-provoking
teacher who majored
Martial Arts in Yong In University of Korea. Master Lee holds a 5th degree
black belt in Tae Kwon Do, 4th Degree black belt in Hap Ki Do which is
well-known as a self-defense art, and a 1st degree black belt in Ju Do.
In Korea, he was the trainer for Korean Tigers Tae Kwon Do Team and the
captain of Yong In University Hap Ki Do Team. Now residing in Los Angeles,
he owns J.Lee Tae Kwon Do training center in the mid-Wilshire area, and
shares his knowledge of martial arts with the students of DanceGarden
in a way that takes the best from tradition and adapts it into practical
uses for modern times.
Master Lee will be teaching classes in self-defense and martial arts-based workouts!
SHERRI
has been a student of dance since the age of five. Her diverse experience
includes ballet, gymnastics, jazz & modern. Her passion for Middle Eastern
dance began in 1999 when she began studying with the internationally-celebrated
Heather Stants, director of Urban Tribal Dance Co. She soon became a full
member performing with the company regularly at private events and festivals
across the US. Sherri has also been a frequent guest artist of the San Diego-based Atash Maya Dance Collective, where she focused on developing a distinguishable repertoire as a tribal fusion soloist as well as continuing to challenge herself in the realm of fire performance.
Currently in Los Angeles, Sherri’s dedication, professionalism, and superb artistry has earned her a principal role with experimental bellydance theatre company, Desert Sin. She continues to study tribal, folkloric and cabaret bellydance, Traditional Indian dance, Ballet, Hip-hop, and burlesque. Sherri can be seen in several DVDs including ‘Bellydance Reloaded’ and ‘Bellydance-o-Rama’ ; and performing with Lucha Va Voom and The Living Garden.
Sherri teaches Tribal Fusion Bellydance
HEATHER
is a performer and teacher of Tribal & Tribal Fusion BellyDance, and
winner of Champion and People's Choice Awards for Tribal Fusion Soloist
at the 2007 Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach.
Dancing from a very young age, Heather's repertoire includes modern, hip
hop, jazz, Classical Indian and middle-eastern dance. She fell in love
with American Tribal Style belly dance in 2004 after seeing local tribal
troupe SubeeDjinn perform. She began to study American Tribal Style (ATS)
passionately, and naturally fell into tribal fusion after being inspired
by Rachel Brice. A fun and giving teacher, she in turn inspires her students
to echo strong technique while feeling confident to express themselves.
Heather is gifted with the ability to explain movements so everyone can
understand, and have fun doing it!
Heather teaches
American Tribal Style, Tribal Fusion and Chakra
Dance!
GöRKEM,
a native of Istanbul, Turkey, has performed a wide range of music from Eastern
Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa. As a teenager, his focus was
on percussion, and after studying with Souhail Kaspar, doumbek (the Arabic
hand drum or goblet drum) became his passion! He is currently a member of
the SK Ensemble, an accomplished Arabic music group in the L.A. area; and
plays regularly for bellydancers at taXim,
L.A.'s live music & bellydance showcase in Eagle Rock, as well as at
weddings & concerts. A patient & understanding teacher, Gorkem is
able to help everyone on the path to becoming a drummer!
Gorkem teaches drum classes every other Saturday!
