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Shubha Dhananjay is one of India's premiere teachers
of Indian Classical Dance, with over 25 years of experience.
She has had the distinction of becoming a Guru of the
dance at a very young age, forming
the popular school
in Bangalore, Natyantharanga.
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Cousin and village sister to the Rajasthani
folk dancer featured in the acclaimed "Latcho Drom," Santosh and her sisters taught me the art of spinning,
balancing, and helped me to refine my attunement to the
rhythms and subtle melodies of pure tribal music.
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is pure perfection in dance, matched with heart of gold
and unconditional love reflected in her family life, with
her students, and in her performances. One can literally
feel the presence of the Divine Deities, that come alive
in her dance expressions and gestures. She showed me the
true power of the Guru, through devotion to life, to dance,
and to Nataraja Shiva - the Lord of the Dance.
Shubha taught me the fundamentals of all dance - emphasizing
perfect form - from the physical elements, to the "bhava,"
or emotional sentiments essential in portraying the depth
of spirituality that exists within the dance form.
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Santosh's specialties include mastery of the "Goomer,"
the famous pot dance which she has mastered, dancing
with nine clay pots on her head, while on top of metal
cups, all the while spinning with her feet covered in
108 bells each, and keeping the beat with the Tabla
drums.
I was able to train
and perform with Santosh and her sisters, and musicians
professionally, as well as in the traditional setting,
around the village
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Eva Cernik has researched
Oriental dance, its music and context with 19 trips to Egypt
and 5 to Turkey as well as lengthy study and work
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Artemis Mourat is a leading
practitioner and scholar of Oriental Dance, with over 25
years experience
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in Iran, Syria,
Spain, Morocco and thirteen other countries. Her research spans
both the night-clubs of Cairo and Istanbul, and the villages
of Romani Gypsies dancing to traditional acoustic music at festivals,
weddings and in their homes.
She is a scholar and performer of various ancient dances,
such as Sumerian Snake Goddess, and ancient Greek dance. She
is also a student and teacher of the Sufi path. With this
depth of experience, research, and spiritual passion, Eva
carries the ancient art of the dance with every step - and
every breath she takes.
I studied Veil, finger cymbal percussion, Gypsy Rom, and
Turkish Belly Dance with her over the years. Her style of
Belly Dance is the leading inspiration for my Gypsy style,
and we share a passion for reviving and preserving the spirit
of sacred dance that is lacking in most modern dance forms.
When she performs, her audience feels as if taken upon the wings of a bird,
flying upwards past the clouds, straight to the heart of space.
Visit her website.
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dancing, teaching and researching dance
history, traveling to 33 countries. Her research is used by
Egyptian universities, the Middle East Institute in Washington,
D.C. and the Library for the Performing Arts in New York.
I
believe Artemis to be the leading authority on Romani
dance, knowing more moves than any one of the village
dancers in Turkey - having lived, studied, and performed
there for many years. She is a true goddess of the dance,
and she incorporates the history, philosophies and attitudes
of the Romani and ancient Greek cultures into her teaching
work and performances.
I am truly fortunate to have been able to study with her
over the past five years. Her compassion extends to all living
beings - and she is willing to pass on as much sacred knowledge
as her students can absorb. Visit her website. |
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Rajashree Behera
One of
the brilliant exponents of Odissi dance, Rajashree's dance
is marked by gaiety, lyricism, and beauty. Rajashree has performed
and lectured internationally, and is a regular artiste in
Indian television.
Sangeeta Dash
With
a performing career of more than a decade, Sangeeta Dash has
established herself as an outstanding representative of the
Deba Prasad 'Bani' of Odissi. A leading dancer in Orissa,
she is also a noted actress in Oriya films, and was recently
honored with the Mahari Award by Guru Pankaj Charan. Visit
her website.
Rajashree and Sangeeta are kind, humble,
and sweet gurus -
and hearing them speak - one would not imagine they are such
accomplished masters of this ancient dance form. Odissi dance
is the most graceful in the world, and is my personal favorite.
Seeing it touches me so deeply, tears flow from the depth
of my soul.
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Mimi Janislawski
Mimi Janislawski, PhD, master of classical eastern dance
traditions. Mimi graduated from the Royal Ballet of London
and is an exemplary exponent of the Tanjore style of Bharat
Natyam, in the lineage of Balasundari of Klakshetra and the
late T. Balasarasvati.
Mimi is a wonderful spirit, and captures the essence of ancient
dance. I admire her courage - following her heart and soul
to learn Asian dance after leaving her position of Prima Ballerina
for the Royal Ballet. She studied Indian, Indonesian, and
ancient Egyptian dance, and formed her company, Natayana ("the
Way of the Dance").
To me, Mimi is the Isadora Duncan of our time - unrecognized
for her true talent. She is the only woman in modern times
who has performed an ancient Egyptian dance ceremony in the
temple pyramid at Giza.
Laurel Gray
Laurel Victoria Gray has taught and performed throughout
Europe, Central Asia, Australia, the United States and Canada.
She is a recipient of the Kennedy Center's 2003 Local Dance
Commissioning Project Award and the International Academy
of Middle Eastern Dance Awards for Best Choregrapher (2003)
and Best Ethnic Dancer (1999). Ms. Gray also teaches "Dances
of the Islamic World" and "Dances of Egypt"
as Adjunct Faculty at George Washington University and George
Mason University.
Being an expert in both Persian Classical and Russian Gypsy
styles, Laurel also preserves these ancient traditions as
a living art. As choreographer, dancer, and teacher. Visit her website.
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