instructor biographies
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mIRA BETZMira Betz has been teaching and performing Traditional and Contemporary forms of Middle Eastern dance for over 20 years. Her work has been instrumental in the emergence of a new style known all around the world as Tribal Fusion, a dance rooted in tradition while forging new bonds between world dance and individuality. Mira, known as "a teacher’s teacher", empowers students to cultivate curiosity, find their own unique voice, and brings the notions of artistry and integrity to every class. She travels internationally continuing to spread her experience, knowledge and love for dance through her captivating performance and engaging teaching style.
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The multi-faceted career of Mira is a testament to her passionate artistry and desire to for continual growth. Mira began her training in Middle Eastern dance as a young teen studying primarily with Katarina Burda for over 10 years, where she developed a solid foundation of contemporary, traditional, as well as ritualistic dance forms. In 1996 she studied with Jamila Salimpour and Suhaila Salimpour. In 1998 Mira went abroad to live and study in Morocco. Active in theater, dance and the performing arts for over 20 years, Mira Betz has become a sought after dancer, choreographer, costumer, and teacher. Mira Betz received her B.F.A. from the California College of Arts and Crafts. Her dance background includes training in Salsa, Modern, Jazz, and Flamenco.
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Ashley lopez
In addition to her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, Ashley López is a performer, instructor, and ever-evolving student of tribal fusion bellydance. Ashley holds Level I & II certifications from Rachel Brice’s 8 Elements as well as the Tribal Massive Advanced/Professional Certification Program for 2011 & 2012. She is a certified Group Fitness Instructor through the American Council on Exercise, a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance, holds Pilates certifications Balanced Body University, the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, is currently working toward a certification with Stott Pilates and is a certified Spin, Kickboxing and Zumba instructor. She teaches weekly classes at Datura and her online instructional videos may be found at Datura Online. An active soloist and group performer, her most recent dance collaborations include performances with Beats Antique, Zoe Jakes and her Bhoomi Project as well as Rachel Brice’s performance group for Tribal Fest.
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Ashley’s dance and fitness career began in college,
where she accepted a part-time job as a fitness instructor as a far
more entertaining and less messy alternative to restaurant work.
During her senior year, Ashley wandered into a bellydance class taught
by Ishara Gamal. Low and behold, although she had in the past
routinely failed the dance portion of every audition for any musical
or opera she ever encountered, she found this new form of movement not
only aesthetically pleasing but physically possible.After graduation, she found herself in Ishara’s troupe rehearsals where
she expanded her knowledge of basic Egyptian/Cabaret technique, ATS,
and zills.Her time with Ishara’s troupe was truncated due to a job offer to sing with Opera San José. During a year of performing as an opera singer in San José and San Francisco, Ashley continued to study bellydance intensely. While in the Bay Area, she explored more bellydance in weekly classes, workshops and intensives. This dance obsession also led her to enroll in Jazz, Hip-hop, and Flamenco classes. In 2006, she started a troupe in Champaign, Illinois called Trikhala. After relocating back to California in 2007, Ashley began collaborating as a soloist with the Mona Khan Bollywood dance company and was accepted as a lead dancer for a professional Polynesian troupe, SF Hula. Both her observation of and participation in large Bollywood dance concerts and her in-depth Hula and Tahitian dance training have greatly influenced her technical and theatrical approach to dance. In 2008, she created her own professional Bellydance troupe, Orchid Bellydance, who was honored to win First Place Fusion Troupe at the Wiggles of the West competition in 2009 and First Place Troupe in the Breakthrough Fusion Competition in 2010. Most recently and since relocating to Portland, Oregon, she has had the extreme pleasure of participating in performances with her teachers Zoe Jakes (Beats Antique, The Bhoomi Project) and Rachel Brice (Datura).
Currently, Ashley is a weekly instructor at Studio Datura in Portland, Oregon. She also travels to teach and perform for various events. |
EDENIA
The Original West Coast Fusion Belly dancer/popper, Known for her unique style of mixing fusion belly dance and popping. Edenia has been popping since Junior High, which is her first passion. In 2006 She seen her first Rachel Brice video and was hooked. She began studying Tribal Fusion Bellydance with her teacher Zahreen which she is always grateful to for getting her out to perform.
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She continues to learn and evolve in both Fusion bellydance and popping. She travels all over the world, teaching workshops and performing. She has also been on music videos and recently Television. Edenia continues to study with many teachers in both these styles. Edenia toured with BDSS to Japan in 2011. Edenia loves all styles of dance and says that every dancer out there is an inspiration to her as she continues to grow with her passion in life!Edenia loves all styles of dance and says that every dancer out there is an inspiration to her as she continues to grow with her passion in life
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