Enchanted Darkness: The Masquerade is proud to include an afternoon show displaying the talents of dancers from all over the U.S. Performances will start after the workshops and before dinner. Please keep posted for the performer line up.

Time/Date:
August 2, 2008
Doors: 3:30
Performances: 4-6 p.m.
Cost: $5 (at door only)
*please bring a donation for the Child Crisis Center of El Paso*

This years gala show will feature the talents of

Ariellah,

Bio:
Ariellah studied classical ballet extensively with the Royal Academy of Dance of London for twelve years, beginning at age three. After a break from dance that included graduating from UC Davis and two years in the Peace Corps on Africa's Ivory Coast, she returned to the United States eager to learn the dance of her Moroccan ancestry.

Trying her hand at belly dance had been a lifelong goal, and was a natural extension of Ariellah's dance career and life experience. Her pursuit of belly dance began with the Folkloric style of Janine Ryle, who studied with San Francisco belly dance institution Hahbi'Ru. Ariellah eventually became a part of Janine's troupe, Danse Maghreb in which she performed mostly Algerian Berber dances. With Ariellah's roots grounded firmly in the culture and tradition of North Africa, belly dance was a natural fit for her. Janine encouraged her desire to learn from as many sources as possible, and suggested that she take classes with Rachel Brice, who is currently one of the most sought after belly dancers in the world and is currently touring internationally with The Bellydance Superstars and The Indigo. Ariellah began studying Tribal Fusion belly dance with Rachel Brice in early 2002 and became a founding member of Rachel's Indigo Belly Dance Company in 2003.

Sashi (of Ascend Tribal),

Bio:
Sashi is a talented performer, instructor and choreographer based in Orange County, California. Sashi has been a student of dance for sixteen years. She began studying African Haitian and West African dance while a student at San Francisco State University. She went on to further her experience of African dance by studying Congolese and West African drumming. In the years following, Sashi found Middle Eastern dance to be the style she was most drawn to as it spoke to her Semitic roots and aesthetic interests. She has studied many forms of Middle Eastern dance including American Tribal Style Bellydance, Tribal Fusion Bellydance, Gothic Bellydance, Egyptian and Lebanese Cabaret Bellydance, Israeli and Turkish Debke, Saidi, and Nubian Folkloric dances. She is most recognized for her alluring and dynamic performances of Gothic Tribal Fusion Bellydance and Improvisational Tribal Fusion Bellydance. Her provocative and ritualistic performances convey her talent for expressing herself through her dance. Inspired by the “Spirit of the Dance”, Sashi views bellydance as the honoring of the divine feminine by creating spiritual and physical unions through movement. This is evident as her ability to cultivate the energy that the dance evokes is translated to each audience member with a look, a gesture, a presence that is unmistakably unique to Sashi and the dance. You can see her perform solo or in collaboration with internationally acclaimed performance troupes in many venues, settings and shows. Information on her upcoming performances, workshops, tour dates and collaborations can be found at www.ascendtribaldance.com

Marjhani,

Bio:
Marjhani has been bellydancing for 7 years and teaches weekly out of Fontana and Upland, Ca. She has taken the knowledge and skill she learned in this style of dance and has married it with her love of the Death Rock/Gothic/Industrial movement. Having been in the “scene” since she was 14 years old, Marjhani brings us the “real deal” in Gothic Bellydance. Having learned much of her dance style over the years in various clubs such as: Helter Skelter, Stigmata, Club Metro, Release the Bats, Club Skandal and most recently Night Shift. Marjhani engages her audience with a new look at an all too familiar dance style. Let Marjhani “Deliver” you from the “norm” and take you into a world of dark beauty and charm.

Marjhani is available for classes and performances.

You can contact her at:

marjhani@yahoo.com

or (909)327-8069.

Saz'hrah,

Bio:
Saz'hrah has been performing and instructing professionally for over 13 years. She has become one of the most in deman performers and choreographers in the El Paso, TX and Juarez, Mexico area. Saz'hrah is choreographer, costume designer, actor, dancer and P.R. Rep for Shakespeare on the Rocks, a nationally recognized professional Shakespeare company founded and directed by Hector Serrano. She has proven that bellydance can be taken seriously among the performing arts community and beyond.

Saz'hrah's style is characterized by her passion for her Romani roots and the goth aesthetic. She loves to bring theatrics and a little bit of the unexpected to every performance. Saz'hrah can be found at many of the local bellydance events as well as concerts, private parties, art galleries, fire shows, hookah lounges and much more.

and many more extraordinary dark and dramatic belly dance artists from Mexico and the US at the historic El Paso Scottish Rite Temple Theater. A full dinner will be provided with each ticket purchase. All proceeds (after expenses) will be donated to the Child Crisis Center of El Paso. This years theme is a Masquerade and we highly encourage our audience to dress up to fit the theme. This is a semi-formal event.

Time/Date:
August 2, 2008
Doors: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7 p.m.
Show: 8 p.m.

Cost:
$15 in advance
$20 at the door
*please bring donation for the Child Crisis Center*

Pre-Purchase:
Dance Designs
929 Raynolds
El Paso,TX 79936
915-564-5626
*$2 service charge per ticket*

All major CC/Debit cards accepted

Location:
El Paso Scottish Rite Temple Theater
301 W. Missouri
El Paso, TX 79901

This year we are proud to host 2 of the most progressive and dynamic gothic/industrial performers today; Ariellah (www.ariellah.com) and Sashi (www.ascendtribaldance.com). Both will be instructing 4 hour workshops that will drill, challenge, enlighten and inspire everyone. Directions and map provided below.

Workshops will be held at Academy of Dance Designs at
929 Raynolds
El Paso, TX 79903
915-564-5626
www.academyofdancedesigns.us
M-F 10 am – 6pm (mst)
Sat. 10 am – 5:30 pm (mst)

Cost:
$75 in advance (includes both workshops)
$100 at the door (includes both workshops)
(there is NO alternative price for ½ of the workshops)
*NO REFUNDS*
All major credit cards accepted (4% charge added to each cc/debit card transaction)
Check and Money orders accepted. Please make payable to Academy of Dance Designs

There is also a 2 hour yoga warm-up workshop on Saturday morning with Tony Gutierrez before Ariellah’s workshop.

Cost:
$10 (at door only)
*NO REFUNDS*

Friday August 1, 2008
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Sashi of Ascend Tribal
Gothic Tribal Fusion Belly dance:
The Dark Art of Tribal
Description:
In this workshop you will learn a (NEW) full choreography , which will showcase the marriage of Tribal Fusion Belly Dance with the elements of the Goth/Industrial subculture. We will discuss and learn the fundamentals of Tribal Fusion Belly Dance including proper posture and technique, specific moves and transitions, leading and following, group improvisation, dance expression and costuming. We will also explore and learn ways to infuse the look, personality, music and essence of the Goth/Industrial subculture into this dynamic dance style. At the end of this workshop, you will take with you the experience of an alluring transcendental journey into the world of Gothic Tribal Fusion Belly Dance. Dress prepared to dance. Knowledge of basic Tribal Fusion and Gothic Bellydance is helpful. All levels are welcome. Bring a yoga mat and water.

Saturday August 2, 2008
8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Tony Gutierrez
Intro to Yoga and warm-up
Description:
TBA

Saturday August 2, 2008
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (1 hr lunch break)
Ariellah
The Darker Side of Drilling
Description:
In Ariellah's workshop, students will drill and discuss chest and hip isolations, pops, locks and snake-like dark fusion belly dance arm movements, incorporating a dramatic darker side to their dance. Students will learn a short choreography, which will incorporate these techniques. Reinforcing fundamentals will bring strength and fluidity to the student's movements and elevate their dance.

Directions:
I-10 west
Exit Raynolds, Turn Right (north), White building on left hand side across from Carpet Warehouse

I-10 east
Exit Raynolds, Turn Left (north), White Building on left hand side across from Carpet Warehouse

EconoLodge
Turn Right on Montana (west), Follow to Raynolds, Turn left (south), White building on Right side across from Carpet Warehouse.

Please carpool if possible. Parking is very limited.