4
Nizana's M.E. Dance Site
email
me here!
Upcoming
Performances: either solo, or with troupe, or band:
See
News Below!! And links to events!
July 18 Medfest. (12:36
Outdoor Stage)
Seattle.
Sept 20 Spokane
Interstate Fair. Spokane.
Oct 17 Halloween Hafla. Wenatchee.
Oct 31 Fall Folk
Festival. Spokane.
Many
pending engagements, watch here for updates!
Nizana
will be teaching a three class "Belly Dance
Basics & Beyond"
session in Moses Lake
this fall/winter quarter, running from 12-1:30 on Sat's
(Dates TBD.)
Register
through mlrec.com or 509-766-9240. (Bring water.) Nizana
teaches an Intro to Belly Dance
Workshop each year at the annual Spokane Fall Folk Festival at
the Spokane Community College. She will teach the workshop this year on
Oct 31. Nizana
teaches quarterly workshop sessions in Moses Lake, and occasional four
week sessions in Spokane.
************Nizana
was the featured instructor at the '09 Annual Powers of
Belly
Dance Conference on May 16th in Yakima!************
Nizana is
available
for private and semi-private
lessons,
consultation, and workshops. She can travel to you, or set this up in
Spokane. Contact Nizana for details. Nizana and Desert
Silk Dance Company are available for
local
and regional performances.
7/09 Nizana is dancing a solo at Medfest on July 18th at 12:36 on
the outdoor stage. She is looking forward to taking the Friday night
workshop w/Aziza. She will also take a turn as a volunteer for MEAI in
their Medfest booth. Nizana has pending articles in upcoming issues for
The Belly Dancer Magazine and Zaghareet! DSDC is
polishing their new tribal fusion cane dance and their library of
routines for upcoming fall shows, where we plan to debut our newest
member. DSDC is accepting
applications for troupe members and associates. Contact Nizana for info
at nizana@att.net.
6/09 Nizana and Zahra just returned from Italy (Milan and the
Italian Riviera) and had a fabulous time! They took a belly dance class
with Santina, and had a blast! Nizana will be writing an article
referencing this wonderful experience in a future "Belly Dancer
Magazine" (ishimmy.com) issue. Nizana and Zahra will be performing
a duet at the Benefit for an Afghanistan Children's Hospital in Spokane
at Chapala's on 29th around the dinner hour. Nizana is scheduled to
teach a June belly dance class session in Moses Lake starting June 6th
(mlrec.com or 509-766-9240 to register.) Nizana is drumming with Band
du Soleil at Ye Merry Greenwood Festival the last weekend of June in
Richland. DSDC's new
choreography is well under way!
5/09 Nizana is the featured instructor at the 23rd Annual Powers
of Belly Dance Conference in Yakima on May 15-17. Nizana has been on
the Powers staff for several years, and has attended at least 3/4's of
the conferences. She will perform live to Scabland Band at the Fri
night showcase, and will also perform at the Sat night showcase. Nizana
has four articles in the current issue of the Belly Dancer Magazine,
online at ishimmy.com. Check out the newest link on the links
page! Work of Art Creations sells lovely silk veils and skirts.
4/09 Nizana's production last month in Moses Lake was a rousing
success! What a bunch of great performances in a really cool venue and
a great crowd! Magnifico! Nizana finished a
fun belly dance session last month in Moses Lake and is scheduled to
teach there again in June. Watch for up to four new articles from
Nizana in the Belly Dancer Magazine!! (ishimmy.com) DSDC
is starting work on a new choreography by Nizana this month!
3/09 Nizana is proud to sponsor a formal theater presentation on
March 28th at 7 pm in Moses Lake. This will be a two act show that she
specifically designed to showcase regional dancers and some of their
specialties to provide a wide variety of dance styles inspired by the
Middle East and beyond to present to the Moses Lake community for their
first formal belly dance event! The 700 seat Wallenstien Theater is the
venue, complete with light and sound tech and will be a great
show!! Nizana is teaching belly danec classes in Moses Lake March
7th, 21st, and 28th via Moses Lake Parks and Rec (mlrec.com and
509-766-9240.)
2/09 Happy
Valentine's and Veteran's Day! Nizana enjoyed studying with Kajira
Djoumahna last month, but due to shoulder injury, had to cancel other
Jan dance plans. This month finds Nizana dancing at Azar's Cafe in Mead
on the Newport Hwy on 2/6 at 6 & 7 pm. When this restaurant was
Shish
Kabob, Nizana was one of 2 house dancers there. Nizana will be
presenting a show in Moses Lake on March 28th where she and Zahra will
perform a duet and we have lots of wonderful guests joining us! Nizana
is also teaching bellydance classes in Moses Lk next month as well as
June.
1/09 Happy New
Year! Nizana in a solo and a duet with Zahra is scheduled to perform in
Spokane Bellyfest on Jan 17 before Nizana heads off to Maui. While
there, she plans to study with Kajira Djoumahna and Mirayah Delamar. If
you haven't already, go to ishimmy.com to read Nizana's articles in the
Belly Dancer Magazine. Nizana is teaching belly dance classes in Moses
Lake in March and
June.
12/08 Nizana has
four articles in the December issue of The Belly Dancer
Magazine/ishimmy.com including reviews of two eastern Washington shows
she
performed in, and two DVD reviews. She also has a different show review
(Medfest where she also performed earlier this year) in this month's
issue of Zaghareet! DSDC is practicing routines for an upcoming Spokane
performance in Jan and otherwise enjoying the holidays and lining up
2009 ventures.
11/08 Nizana will
teach her annual Introduction to Belly Dance workshop at the Spokane
Fall Folk Festival at 2pm in the cafeteria stage area at Spokane
Community College on Nov 8th. This will be preceded at 1:30 by Nizana
and Zahra of Desert Silk Dance Company performing a 30 minute set.
Nizana has a thing or 2 up her sleeve coming up, so stay tuned. Registration
is open at mlrec.com for
the March classes in Moses Lake. DSDC
is accepting
applications for troupe members and associates. Contact Nizana for info
at nizana@att.net
10/08 Nizana and
Zahra's picture (from Saqra's show in March) is in this month's
Zaghareet on the "Friends of Zaghareet" page and Nizana's article is
scheduled to be published in the next edition. Nizana and Zahra perform
a duet on Oct 4 at the Let's Raq Dinner Theater in Spokane in another
new costume. They perform a brand new routine in partially new costumes
for the Halloween Hafla in Wenatchee on Oct 25th and will be very
"Glamorous" in a brand new choreography by Nizana.
9/08 September
finds Nizana and Zahra of DSDC and Djimmah Karena of Troupe du Soleil
performing at the Spokane Co International Fair at 10:45 am on Sunday
the 14th, last day of the fair. Nizana has articles in the fall edition
of the Belly Dancer Magazine (ishimmy.com) and pending for Zaghareet;
watch for them! Nizana's Moses Lake classes for the
combined fall/winter quarter will be March 7, 21st and 28th. Register
at mlrec.com or 509-766-9240.
8/08 Nizana not
only performed at Medfest last month, but she also helped set up and
run the MEAI booth there as she volunteers for their Board. She wrote a
mini-review of the Mediterrnean Fantasy Festival on the Events page
Bonus section. Nizana is
busy writing new articles for The Belly Dancer Magazine's fall issue at
ishimmy.com where you can read her other articles. Nizana has
tentative fall dates for Moses Lake classes; watch here for the info.
7/08 Nizana will be
dancing in the "2:52" spot on Saturday the 19th on the outdoor stage at
the Mediterranean Fantasy Festival this month. She
completed Moses Lake summer session dance classes and will conduct a
fall session, with dates TBD. Watch here for updates! See the events
page for a mini-review of last month's Ye Merrie Greenwood fairre.
Nizana has also added a new link to the links page. Check it out! DSDC
is rehearsing for upcoming fall shows, including a new routine for
Sabah's Halloween Hafla.
6/08 Nizana is
teaching a 3 class belly dance Basics and Beyond session in
Moses Lake the first three weeks of June. Register through mlrec.com or
509-766-9240. Nizana will also drum with Band du Soleil at Ye Merrie
Greenwood Festival in Richland the last weekend of this month, to
support Troupe du Soleil. This is a great Ren Fairre that typically has
three local belly dance troupes performing, and Magic City Costumes
vends, so if you're in the area, check it out! Nizana's articles have
been posted in the June edition of Belly Dancer Magazine at
ishimmy.com.
5/08 Nizana and
Zahra of Desert Silk Dance Co will be performing at the Powers
Conference in Yakima on May 16th. Nizana is a staff member of that
event, and will also be performing a solo live with the Scabland Band.
Kerrie, the senior HS student Nizana has been mentoring in dance,
is scheduled for her final presentation of her project this month.
Nizana is so proud of her, and will be attending the presentation.
Watch for new articles by Nizana soon in the Belly
Dancer
Magazine at ishimmy.com. Nizana has scheduled classes in
Moses Lake in June. Register at
509-766-9240 or mlrec.com
4/08 Nizana is
teaching the last of a 3 class dance session in Moses Lake this Sat-
you can still register at mlrec.com as this class is good for new and
review, and the first 2 classes are not pre-reqs for this class. We
have all ages, colors and sizes in this group! Nizana will set up
summer classes there later this spring. Nizana will be soloing at
Parizadah's Fundraiser hafla on April 12th at Leonardo's in Spokane.
Nizana and Kerrie are working on polishing up
Kerrie's solo- almost time for her project completion and graduation
from HS! Happy Spring everyone! NEW ADDITION: MEAI is fundraising
with an April Shimmython! As a MEAI volunteer, I would like to share
this link with everyone as MEAI sponsors some top notch events!!!
http://www.middleeastarts.org/shimmython_information.html
3/08 The Desert
Silk Dance Co is honored to be performing in Saqra's prestigious show
featuring Naheda of Germany on March 8th in Renton. The show begins at
6 at the IKEA Performing Arts Center. Nizana is scheduled to teach a
workshop session in Moses Lake beginning March 22nd. (See top of page
for details.) Nizana's articles are posted on ishimmy.com, & she is
still working with Kerrie. She has also signed up to perform a solo in
April at the Benefit Hafla in Spokane. One of Hasnah Hadiyya's dancers,
Parizadah,
is battling cancer, and this hopes to help with some medical
bills.
2/08 Nizana and the
DSDC have sadly had to turn down February performances due to one
reason or another, but their new costumes are mostly done! New skirts,
tops, pants and beledi tops to add to their troupe wardrobe! Nizana has
scheduled spring Belly Dance Basics classes in Moses Lake on 3/22, 3/29
and 4/5. Nizana will keep mentoring Kerrie with her project through
May, and DSDC is prepping for their performance in Renton next month.
Happy
Valentine's Day, and Happy President's Day to all!
1/2008 Nizana and
the Desert Silk Dance Co wish everyone a happy, safe and healthy
dance-filled new year! The DSDC is scheduled to perform a set at the
3rd
Annual Belly Fest in Spokane on Jan 19th, featuring Sonia of the BDSS
in a workshop and local performers at the 5 pm evening hafla.
Nizana is helping Nadiyah with the event. Nizana's mentoree, Kerrie,
has got her senior project in order and will continue to work on it
through May, when she is expected to perform. Nizana
submitted two articles this month to Belly Dancer Magazine, (at
ishimmy.com) of which
she is a staff member, so take a look for them and read her archived
articles while you're there, too!
12/07 Nizana and
the Desert Silk Dance Company wish everyone a Happy
Holidays! Nizana performs a solo at Troupe du Soleil's Annual December
Hafla on Dec 8th in Kennewick, and then plans to take the rest of the
month off to just practice with the troupe for early '08 performances.
The troupe plans their annual holiday gathering to close out the year.
11/07 November starts off with the Desert Silk Dance Company performing
again at the annual Spokane Fall Folk Festival at 1 pm at the Cafeteria
Stage at Spokane Community College on Nov 3rd. Following that at 2 pm
is Nizana's Intro to Belly Dance workshop in the same location. Nizana
has taught that workshop at the festival for several years. Nizana has
had four more articles published in the fall issue of ishimmy.com of
which she is a staff writer. DSDC is making plans for 2008, and has
already purchased material for a new costume, and has plans for a new
choreography after the holidays. Happy Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving
to all!
10/07 October is a busy month for Nizana and the Desert Silk Dance Co!
The first weekend of Oct finds DSDC performing two sets at the Tempest
show at 7pm, Oct 6, at Taste of India Restaurant on N. Division in
Spokane. Nizana plans to take both of Tempest's workshops to
expand her dance horizons. On Oct 13th & 20th, Nizana is scheduled
to
teach dance workshops in Moses Lake. Also on the 20th, DSDC travels to
Wenatchee to perform a set at Sabah's Annual Halloween Hafla. DSDC
and Nizana are prepping for the annual Spokane Fall Folk Festival right
around the corner! Catch us before we take a holiday break!
9/07 This month, Desert Silk Dance Co and sister troupe, Troupe du
Soleil, perform at the Spokane County Fair on the Community Stage at 1
pm for a one hour performance! Admission is included in the fair
admission ticket. Nizana is off on a short vacation, and then she and
the troupe are back to work for a number of autumn performances (see
list above.) Nizana has upcoming workshops in Spokane and Moses Lake
this fall as well, and is continuing to mentor Kerrie, who is really
coming along! Check out Nizana's events listings page for local and
regional workshops, shows and other dance events.
8/07 Hopes this finds everyone enjoying summer! Nizana is
teaching belly dance this month in Spokane and Moses Lake, and has set
dates for the fall quarter for workshops in Moses Lake. Nizana is
continuing to mentor Kerrie, her senior high school mentoree, and
Desert Silk Dance Company is practicing up for a busy fall schedule. Nizana
and Anyah's
performance at Shish Kabob House on the 18th has been cancelled, but
they are still scheduled for 10/27.
Mark
your calendars to see Desert Silk at 1 pm on the Community Stage at the
Spokane County Fair on 9/16. They will be joined by their sister
troupe, Troupe du Soleil. Nizana has two more published articles in
the July issue of ishimmy.com! Check
out Nizana's event listing page, which is
freqeuntly updated with new events being added all the time!
7/07 Happy Independence Day! Nizana is fresh back from Richland
where
she drummed in Band du Soliel for Troupe du Soleil at the Greenwood
Festival. Nizana performs at 6:30 at Great Cuisine of India in Olympia,
along with Kashani, on Sunday, the 8th. Join us, the food is really
good! Nizana and Anyah perform again at Shish Kabob House on July 14th
north of Spokane from 7-9 pm, and their food is good, too! On July
21st, Nizana solos at Medfest in Seattle at 11:12 am on the outdoor
stage, and duets with Anyah at 4 pm Sat on the indoor stage. Then, on
July 27th, Nizana and Anyah again team up for a scaled down local
version of RenFairre at Fairchild AFB. Nizana is mentoring a new
student, a high school senior who has taken belly dance on for her
senior project! Nizana has
scheduled a summer session
in Spokane of four one hour classes starting in July, and
running all Saturdays in August except Aug 11, when she teaches a
workshop in Moses Lake.
6/07 Nizana and Anyah are dancing at the Shish Kabob House in
Colbert/Mead on June 2 where each of them will dance a set during each
dinner hour. Reservations are required and last word was the first hour
is sold out, but call and see, and join us! They will perform
there again on Father's Day. Desert Silk Dance
Company and Nizana perform at the 2nd Annual Spokane Belly Dance
Festival on June 9th. Nizana has also worked on the Steering/Planning
Committee for this fun and event-packed festival, and also is co-emcee
for the evening. DSDC is scheduled to model in the ethnic fashion show
for that event as well. Nizana teaches a
workshop on June 16th in Moses Lake through the Moses Lake Park and Rec
Dept. This is the only belly dance instruction in the immediate area.
On June 30th-July 1st, Nizana will play in Band du Soleil in Richland,
Wa at the annual Ye Merry Greenwood Renaissance Fairre. Watch for
another article or two from Nizana when ishimmy.com gets updated soon!
5/07 The Desert Silk Dance Company performs a set at 10:45 on May
12th at the Parrot Rescue Festival north of Spokane in Clayton, Wa.
(Just past Deer Park.) They will open the entertainment at the
festival, which is for a good cause. On May 5th from 1-2 pm, Nizana has
added another dance class following the completion of another four week
session. At this time, due to other obligations, Nizana isn't able to
start another session in May. However, watch here or stay in touch to
see what happens for June/July.... Nizana is teaching a workshop in
Moses Lake on June 16th, and registration is via mlrec.com. On the
weekend of May 18th, Nizana will be performing and stage managing at
the 21st Annual Powers of Belly Dance Conference as she has for the
last several years. Nizana is on the Steering Committee for the Spokane
Belly Dance Festival. Contact Nadiyah@nadiyahs.com for June 9
performance, vending and volunteer
opportunities. Lots going on! Check out Nizana's events page!
4/07 Nizana is teaching another four-class session of belly dance
lessons that are good for beginners, as well as a review for other
levels. These will be held in Spokane each Sat in April from
12:30-1:30. (She has added a
class on May 5th!!) Nizana just completed the Moses Lk spring
session, but
watch for the summer brochure for a workshop or two! Nizana is busy
working on the Steering Committee for the Spokane Belly Dance Festival
on June 9th, which is shaping up to be a great event. Nizana continues
to be a staff writer for ishimmy.com/ Bellydancer Magazine. One of
her three current articles is temporarily off the site while Zaina
works out
computer crashing issues, so check back, and hopefully she will also be
able to
include a couple of pictures that go with the articles!! DSDC performs
next month at the Parrot
Rescue Festival (spokaneparrotfestival.org) Come join the audience for
a good cause!
3/07 Spring is almost here!
Nizana is teaching dance classes in Spokane and Moses Lake (mlrec.com)
this month; check above or events listing for dates and locations. DSDC
is practicing and lining up some performances; and we welcome Adara,
who joined us last month, to our troupe! Adara has danced off and on
for years, and we are happy to see her getting back in to the dance
community! Nizana is on the Planning Committee for the Spokane Belly
Dance Festival this June, which should be a lot of fun! Look for
three articles Nizana has written in the debut of the on line
ishimmy.com
Belly Dancer Magazine!! Nizana has been a long time staff writer for
the
in-print mag, which on 3/11, turns in to an e-zine!
2/07 Happy Valentine's Day! Nizana is teaching a four week intro
to bellydance class session starting this month. This is a chance
for beginners or those who would like to refresh basic skills.
There will be two sessions in Feb (10th and 24th) and March (3rd and
24th) from 12:30-1:30. Contact Nizana for more info-drop ins at any
point in the sessions are ok.
Nizana is also scheduled to teach two mixed level workshops in Moses
Lake on March 10th & 31st. Contact mlrec.com for more info. Nizana
& Anya are attending the Kami Liddle workshop this month;
unfortunately, DSDC has to pass up two performance opportunities this
month due to scheduling conflicts, but are looking forward to
opportunities coming up.
1/07 Happy New Year! Nizana is back from Maui, where she
studied with Kajira Djoumana (Black Sheep Belly Dance) to learn first
hand from one of the best in "true" tribal. Nizana had a fabulous time
and really enjoyed and got a lot out of the lessons. Desert Silk Dance
Co is back to practicing after a holiday break and are working on
updating costumes for the new year. Nizana has scheduled two workshops
through Moses Lake Parks and Rec on 3/10 & 3/31. Register at
mlrec.com You will find two articles by
Nizana in this quarter's issue of Belly Dancer Magazine! Nizana
has also just scheduled Spokane classes for Feb/March, registration has
begun.
12/06 Happy Holidays! Desert Silk Dance Co celebrates the
season with their annual holiday get together and to do some planning
for the next year. Nizana will be heading off to Maui this month, and
has been lucky enough to set up some dancing fun and lessons while she
is there! Check out the events page, which is updated many times a
month. Merry Christmas to all!
11/06 Nizana, Anya and Tehfat Malak perform at the Spokane Fall
Folk Festival at SCC on Nov 4, followed by a workshop by Nizana with
assistance by Anya. This is an annual event for Nizana and Desert
Silk Dance Co. Nizana has submitted 2 more reviews to the Belly Dancer
Magazine for an upcoming issue, so keep an eye out! Happy Veteran's Day
and Thanksgiving to all!
10/06 Nizana teaches workshops in Moses Lake, both through
Parks and Rec, and following those, private workshops this month on the
7th, 14th, and 21st. Nizana has been published in this month's issue of
the Zaghareet (Belly Dance) Magazine! In addition, you will find two
articles she wrote for this quarter's issue of Belly Dancer
Magazine, of
which she is a regular staff writer. Nizana is teaching an Intro to
Belly Dance workshop at
the
Spokane Fall Folk Festival on Nov 4th at 2:30 in the Dance Room, 109E,
at Spokane Community College. Nizana and Anya, of Desert Silk Dance
Company, along
with Tehfat Malak, will also perform that day before the workshop (in
the same room) at 2
pm.
9/06 Nizana and the Desert Silk Dance Co are performing at 3:55
at the Spokane Co Fair on Sun, the 17th, on the Community Stage. This
is the last day of the fair, and Tehfat Malak will join them again for
one
dance. On the 22nd, Nizana heads to Vancouver, Wa for the Double Crown
competition as she will be a Judge. The
following weekend finds Nizana and Anya at the Hollywood Hafla in
Wenatchee, performing a brand new dance Nizana choreographed
just for the event. Contact Moses Lake Parks and Rec (509-766-9240, or
mlrec.com) to register for the Oct workshops Nizana is scheduled to
teach on the 7th, 14th and 21st. Registration is taking place now.
Nizana will be teaching a
workshop on Nov 4th at the Fall Folk Festival and Anya and Nizana will
perform.
(Times TBA.)
8/06 Nizana and Desert Silk (Duet) (Nizana and Anya) will be
performing at Center Stage in downtown Spokane with the Brothers of the
Baladi! Show time starts at 8 pm on Friday, Aug 18th, and this is a
good opportunity to experience live Middle Eastern music and dancing.
(spokanecenterstage.com) Nizana has scheduled 3 different Intro
workshops in Moses Lake in Oct
through Moses
Lake Parks and Rec; contact Nizana, or watch mlrec.com for details-
their brochure usually comes out the end of Sept. Check out the new
bonus
section at the end of the events listings, which is updated many times
a month.
7/06 This month finds Nizana and Desert Silk Dance Co at the
annual Seattle Medfest. DSDC performs a set, including a new
choreography they haven't performed yet on Sat, July 15th at 5:40.
Nizana performs a solo that same day on the second stage at 2:48 pm.
Nizana will be presenting a semi-private workshop in Moses Lake on July
8th, and plans to teach a fall workshop series there. Nizana's articles
are published each quarter in the Belly Dancer Magazine; this quarter
she focuses on event reviews. Next issue, watch for a special article
she wrote.....
6/06 Nizana started out the month with what has become an
annual event- a participatory presentation for Imagination Celebration
at Audubon School, accompanied by Tehfat Malak and Megan. The kids
loved the dumbek and zils, and especially the zaghareet! Later this
month, Nizana joins Troupe and Band du Soleil at the Tri-Cities
Renassaince Fair to play in the band. Catch event reviews by Nizana in
the new issue of Belly Dancer Magazine coming out soon!
5/06 Desert Silk has back to back performances in May. First,
they perform at the Powers Conference in Yakima on 5/12, where they
will perform one set, and then at the Spokane Eva Cernik event on May
20th, where they will perform a completely different set, in different
costumes. Nizana is also soloing live to the Scabland Band at the
Powers Conference on the 12th. Nizana is Evening Program Manager and
Back Up Emcee for the Spokane event. She is also the Stage Manager for
Powers,
and has been Stage Manager at Powers for going on three years now.
Nizana will be reviewing the Eva show and workshops (Eva is a fantastic
dancer and instructor; we are lucky to have her in Spokane) for the
Belly Dancer Magazine, for
which she is a staff writer. Nizana has announced a summer workshop
series for Moses Lake; contact Parks and Rec to register.
4/06 Nizana was featured in the Columbia Basin Herald
this month in an article and pictures regarding her interest in Belly
Dance and her instruction in Moses Lake. It turned out very nice!
Nizana will be doing an Intro to Belly Dance Presentation for a large
mother-daughter group in Moses Lake this month. Spring quarter is in
full swing with 16 students. Stay tuned for summer quarter instruction
information. Nizana and DSDC have been preparing for two upcoming May
events, after a busy March. Congrats to Magic City Costumes for their
grand opening in Wenatchee! See below for other relevant info about
Nizana and the Desert Silk Dance Company.
3/06 March finds Nizana and the Desert Silk Dance Co performing
and sponsoring a mini-hafla on 3/4 for Nizana's Moses Lake class to end
the quarter! The students have worked really hard, and have two
choreographies to perform for their families and friends. Then, DSDC
heads over to Seattle to see "Beyond the Orient," which they are really
looking forward to. Two weeks after that, they get even more
inspiration from Belly Dance Superstars in Spokane, and taking
Bozenka's workshop. Nizana starts
spring quarter classes in Moses Lake on March 18; registration is
taking place now-fall and winter sold out, so contact Parks and
Rec asap! Volunteers (free
show admission!) are needed for set up and take down at the Eva Cernik
event in Spokane on May 20th. Please contact Nizana if you are
interested. Look for another article
or two by Nizana in the new issue of Belly Dancer Magazine; Nizana is a
regular staff writer. (zainahart.com)
2/06 February finds DSDC rehearsing their five part Turkish
routine that Nizana choreographed for their upcoming performance in the
"Turkish Delight" event in May in Spokane. DSDC will join Nizana's
class in Moses Lake for a mini-hafla at the end of winter quarter. They
are planning on attending a show together in Seattle in March, and also
seeing Belly Dance Superstars in Spokane. They are also making plans
for the rest of the year as there are so many wonderful events to
attend! Don't forget the events page is updated multiple
times monthly; the home page monthly! the links page is updated
when I find time.... but it does have some great
links!!!!
1/06 Happy New Year! Nizana's winter quarter
classes begin Jan 7th in Moses Lake and has sold out again! Nizana will
also be teaching classes in Yakima; see above for details. Nizana
continues to present articles in Zaina's Belly Dancer Magazine (note:
Zaina is making some big changes and this quarter's issue will coincide
with Rakassah); is
assisting Nadiyah with the May Spokane Eva Cernik event as Evening
Program Manager, and is rehearsing with her Spokane troupe Desert Silk
Dance Co. They are scheduled to learn two new short routines Nizana has
just choreographed.
12/05 Well, it's almost the end of 2005,and Desert
Silk Dance Co is working on their routines for the upcoming year. This
month will find them doing a photo shoot. Nizana will perform at
Tri-Cities First Night on 12/31 with Djimmah Karena, and Band du
Soleil. She is also busy at work as Evening Program Manager for the May
Spokane Eva Cernik event that Nadiyah and Bellydancers Unlimited are
sponsoring. Watch for another article from Nizana in the new issue of
Belly Dancer Magazine, coming out soon. Nizana is wrapping up teaching
fall quarter,and is preparing for classes winter and spring in Moses
Lake and Yakima. Don't forget to check the events, links, and home
pages regularly for updates!
11/05 Catch Desert Silk Dancers at the Spokane Folk
Festival
as they open the festival at SCC on Nov 5th at 11 am in the Dance Room
(109E, the room on the far side of the cafeteria.) Nizana's Intro to
Belly
Dance Workshop (all festival workshops and performances are free! (Donations
accepted) follows at noon in the same
room.
Then, they rush off to Wenatchee to Sabah's event to perform that
evening
(see Oct entry) in Act 2 of the Hollywood Hafla. They will perform a
variety
of styles of Middle Eastern Dance at these events. On Nov 15th, Nizana
presents an Intro to Belly Dance Solo and Workshop for Beta Sigma Phi's
monthly event.
10/05 Nizana's Belly Dance
classes
start Oct 6, and registration is now closed for fall quarter, as the
class
is at full capacity!! Be sure to register for winter quarter as soon as
possible. Nizana will be performing a solo at the Kalia Restaurant on
Oct
9 in Lynnwood. She is also performing a solo at Taste of India in
Spokane on Oct 15th following the Aisha Ali lecture at Gonzaga. Nizana
and Desert Silk troupe members are finishing their new costumes and
polishing
their new routine for Sabah's upcoming Hollywood Hafla on Nov 5th. The
new routine is a beautiful number chorrographed by Nizana! The show
starts
at 7 at the Riverside Theater in Wenatchee, and Nizana will also
perform
as part of the duet "Fifi and Fatima Gamal," with the "Kairo
Kats."
9/05 Nizana just returned
from
a well deserved trip to Hawaii, where she had a fabulous time! She and
Desert Silk Dance Co perform at the Spokane Fair Sun the 18th at 1:45
on
the Community Stage. Nizana's fall Belly Dance class registration
is under way, with the first class starting the first Th of Oct.
(Chk for specific class dates for fall quarter with Moses Lake Parks
and
Rec, the web info and catalog are now out!)
8/05 Nizana is performing
and
teaching a workshop Aug 6 at the Spokane Belly Dance Festival, and is
joining
Troupe and Band du Soleil in Tri-Cities on the 27th for their
mini-hafla.
DSDC is working on finishing up their new costumes, and getting ready
for
upcoming fall performances.
7/05 Some of the DSDC
members
performed a set on Sat 7/15 at Medfest in Seattle at 8 pm. They got
great
reviews, including one audience member who said we were the best
dancers
she'd seen all day! Next month, Nizana teaches an Intro to Kashlama
workshop
in Spokane; registration is taking place now. Join Nizana for a fun
hour
of dance! Hope everyone is having a great summer! Nizana announces fall
classes in Moses Lake!!
6/05 Tehfat Malak joined
Nizana
in two class presentations at Audubon School in Spokane. Tehfat Malak
is
now an official DSDC troupe member. DSDC says aloha to Amasa who
is
moving to Hawaii. Nizana was part of Band du Soleil at Ren Fairre
in Richland, playing dumbek, claves, and tambourine for Troupe du
Soleil
on 6/25-26.
5/05 Nizana had a great
time
performing a solo to live music by members of the Scabland Band and
Tri-Cities
Drum Circle at the Powers BD Conference, and handling Stage Manager
duties.
DSDC has started working on a new costume and routine, and will be
performing
two routines at Zaina- Ameera's wedding reception on the 28th, and will
be joined by Zaina-Ameera and Perizad for this set. DSDC would like to
welcome Khalisah to the troupe!!
4/05 This month finds
Nizana,
Anya and Amirah headed to Saqra's Showcase in the Portland area to take
workshops, support the dancers, and shop the vendors. DSDC wishes the
best
to Perizad, who is taking a performing sabbatical, and Zaina-Ameera who
has moved her wedding date up from Sept to May, as her fiance accepted
a job on the coast and they will be moving there shortly after the
wedding.
Catch DSDC opening the EWU World Party at 2pm on April 30th!
3/05 Here's to Spring!
Catch
the troupe at the Spokane St. Patty's Day parade in the Belly Dance
Mobile
at noon on 3/12! Troupe members have been busy taking classes and
attending
shows. Nizana just got back from San Diego where she attended (and
reviewed,
check upcoming Belly Dance Magazine issue) a show in San Marcos with
Dondi
and John Bilezikjian!
2/05 Happy Valentine's Day!
DSDC
has added a new tambourine dance to their reportoir that Nizana
recently
choreographed. The troupe loved their night out to see the Belly Dance
Superstars tour in Spokane. Very inspiring!
1/05 Happy New Year! DSDC
looks
forward to another busy year, after a well earned rest in December! We
logged a lot of performances in 2004! Wishing everyone the best in 2005!
12/04 Nizana & Desert
Silk
Dance Company wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy
Holidays!!!!!!
11/04 Check out the DSDC at
the
Folk Festival in Spokane, where Nizana will perform a solo, (11:30 am);
as well as teach a workshop at 1:30 pm in the same room. DSDC will also
perform at Gonzaga Univ as part of Amirah's Doctorate's Level
Leadership
through Arts class on Veteran's Day.
10/04 See below to get a
PNW
Belly Dance Calendar that Desert Silk Dance Co is in! Some of the DSDC
members will perform at Halloween Hafla in Wenatchee, which will
include
another new routine choreographed by Nizana! Nizana will perform a solo
there, as well as at the Spokane show w/Dahlena 10/16. DSDC welcomes
new
troupe member, Heather!
9/04 Congratulations
are in
order
for Nizana and her troupe, the
DESERT SILK DANCE COMPANY,
as they were selected as the "Dancer(s)" of the month of August
in the first Emerald Rain Pacific Northwest Belly Dance Calendar, with
proceeds benefitting their Competition in March, 2005. On sale now,
through
Emerald Rain!
8/04 Nizana is headed off
to
Seattle and Salt Lake City to dance this month! Check back regularly on
the home page or events listing for updates!
7/04 Desert Silk Dance
Company
is super busy in July, and wishes to welcome new troupe member, Anya!
Joining
them on stage for the Neighbor Days Performance for the finale number
is
Special Guest, Tehfat Malak (Precious Angel.) Nizana has been busy
choreographing
and teaching the troupe new routines, and they're doing a great job!
Check
us out at local or regional events, with more dates to be listed soon!
6/04 Nizana's
spring classes did exceptionally well this quarter and will celebrate
with
a class party! Nizana will be teaching an Intro to Veil Workshop June
12th.
Nizana is a contributing writer to Belly Dancer Magazine, and she is
now
listed in the Staff Bios page on the website! check out zainahart.com
5/04 Nizana
just "graduated" from "Teaching Intermediate Belly
Dance" "School with Alwiyah", and is now a Certified Intermediate,
as well as Certified Beginning Belly Dance Instructor!!
! Nizana, Desert
Silk
Dance Company and Troupe du Soleil performed at the EWU Annual
World
Party, did a great job, and had a wonderful time! Nizana, Desert Silk
Dance
Company, Ravisha & Djimmah Karena performed with the Brothers of
the
Baladi!! Desert Silk Dance Company members Nizana, Perizad, Zahra,
Zaiina,
& Amirah welcome new troupe member, Amasa!
4/04 Nizana,
Desert Silk Dance Company, Djimmah Karena and Ravisha join Brothers of
the Baladi from Portland for a Middle Eastern/World Music Party at the
Big Easy on May 6 at 8pm! Tickets available at all Ticketwest Outlets
and
are only $10! / www.Ticketswest.com / or call 509-325-SEAT. Both of
Nizana's
spring Belly Dance classes sold out!
3/04 Nizana's spring belly
dance
classes through Spokane Community Colleges IEL are scheduled for next
month.
The first class is full, and the second one only has a few spots left,
so sign up quick before this one fills, too!
2/04 Nizana & Djimmah
Karena
took second place in the Troupe/Duet Category at the Emerald Rain Belly
Dance Competetion on 2/7 in Everett!!! Desert Silk Dance Company
debuted
in Spokane on 2/25, and were well received! Great job!
1/04 Nizana is proud to
announce
the formation of her new troupe, Desert Silk Dance Company!! Nizana
is the Director of this new Spokane area dance troupe, and is looking
forward
to dancing with this group of dancers at local and regional
events! Nizana
has also been published in this quarter's edition of Belly Dancer
Magazine
with a DVD review!! NEW LINK! Nizana has added Zaina's
website
to her links page.
Congratulations to Djimmah
Karena
and her new troupe, Troupe du Soleil, for a successful dinner show in
Kennewick
on 12/11! The troupe debuted with a variety of dances, and featured
special
guests, Nizana, and Shenteela.
Happy New Year!! In
Iran, the Persian New Year (No Ruz) is celebrated on March 21.
ABOUT NIZANA:
Nizana
has been studying Middle Eastern dance, and dancing for several years.
She started studying with Azura of Spokane, took a workshop from Tahia
Ali Beck,
and
then started studying with A'isha Azar. Since then, she has taken
workshops or classes from a huge number of regional, national, and
international
instructors who have inspired her. Those instructors include
Nagwa Fouad, Mona El Said,
Morocco, Dahlena, Dalia Carella, Nakish, Maleeha, Titanya, Dondi,
Kajira
Djoumahna, Aziza of Ca,
Nabeela, Alwiyah, Shoshanna, Fatima al Wahid, Jamila al Wahid,
Amaya, Aneena, Elizabeth Dennis, Yasmin of WA/ID, Delilah,
Aziza of Portland/Montreal, Saqra, Tina
Sargent, Ne-Kejira Janaan, Nerine Avital, Margo Abdo O'Dell, Bozenka,
Kathryn
Ferguson,
Sabura, Sian and Saroya of the Babs, Zaina Hart, Roy Petit, Eva
Cernik, Jim Boz, Paulette Rees-Denis, Sidonia om Dunia, Hala, Tempest,
Sonia, Naheda, Sharon Moore and
many
more wonderful
instructors. Ongoing instruction is important to her, and she takes
workshops as often as she can. Nizana has attended Rakkasah once (so
far) and both International Conferences of Middle Eastern Dance in
Costa Mesa, Ca.
Nizana was previously a member of Raks El Beledi
under the
direction
of Azura, and was also previously a co-founder of Nah'Joom Dancers,
where she conducted
much of the troupe business and choreography for several years.
In
both troupes, as well as her current troupe, she has performed at many
various venues, often multiple
times,
including the Chewelah Chataqua, Spokane Co Interstate Fair, Spokane
July
4 Neighbor Days, WAMPUM, Family Affair, the Spokane Folk Festival,
Powers Conference in Yakima, Medfest, Sabah's Annual Alternative
Hafla,
and the annual Celebration of Colors event in Spokane (which she
co-produced
and directed), among other venues. Nizana was a co-founder of NADI (NW
Asso of ME Dancers Int'l,) conducting much of the business, including
co-producing events, and writing the newsletter and website for several
years.
Nizana has been Stage/Music Manager for the Powers of Belly Dance
Conference
since 2004, and was the Evening Program Manager and an emcee for the
May '06 Spokane
Eva Cernik event. She is also a member of the (now former) BellyDancers
Unlimited Board of Directors, MEAI's Volunteer Committee, and on the
Steering
Committee for the Annual Spokane Belly
Dance Festivals. Since Jan '04, Nizana is the founder and proud Director of
the
Desert Silk Dance Company, based
in
Spokane, and they perform locally and regionally.
She choreographs most of their routines. Nizana is also a regular Staff Writer for "Belly Dancer
Magazine" (now at ishimmy.com) out of Vancouver, Wa,
and has been published in "Zaghareet!"
Nizana served as a Judge in
the 2006 Double Crown Belly Dance Competition.
Nizana has logged many solo performances in
festivals,
restaurants, and other events. Nizana teaches private and semi-private
lessons, and has taught Desert Silk Dance Company and others her many
choreographies. She previously taught Belly
Dance
classes through the Spokane Community Colleges Institute for Extended
Learning
(IEL), and she is a Certified Belly Dance Instructor (Beginning and
Intermediate via Sabah Performing Arts.)
Nizana currently teaches through the Moses Lake Parks and Rec
Dept and runs occasional four week sessions in Spokane. She also
teaches advanced and specialty workshops, collaborates with regional
dancers
on various projects, and is a satellite member of Band du Soleil in the
Tri-Cities.
Nizana performs cabaret, fusion, and some folkloric styles.
Nizana plays dumbek, claves, and zils/sagat, and
typically
improvises
her solos. Nizana sometimes performs with a variety of props, including
veil, cane, baskets and skirts. She is known for her stage
presence,
expressiveness,
and her beautiful smile when she dances. Contact her at above email, nizana@att.net
or mail Nizana POB 756, Spokane, Wa 99210
June 13 Benefit at
Chapala's on 29th. Spokane.
June 27-28 Ye Merry
Greenwood Festival. Richland.
May
15-16 Powers of Belly
Dance Conference.
Yakima. (Featured
Instructor, Solos, Staff)
March 28. "Night in
the Desert" Moses Lake.
(Produced, Directed, Performed)
Nov 8
Spokane Fall Folk Festival. Duet, Solo, Workshop.
Oct 25
Halloween Hafla. Wenatchee. Duet.
Sept 14 Spokane Co
Fair. 10:45 am. Troupe.
July 19
Medfest.
Seattle. Solo.
June 28-29
Ye Merry Greenwood.
Tri-Cities. Band.
May 16, 08 Powers
of Belly Dance. Yakima. Solo/Staff/Duet.
April 12 Benefit
Hafla. Spokane. Solo.
Mar 8, 08 Saqra's
Naheda Show. Renton. Troupe.
Jan 19, '08
3rd Annual Belly
Fest. Spokane. Duet w/Zahra. Staff.
Nov 3, 07
Fall Folk
Festival. Spokane. Troupe. Cafeteria Stage. 1 pm
Nov 3, 07 Fall Folk
Festival. Workshop. Cafeteria
Stage. 2 pm.
Oct 6, 07 Dinner
Theater. Spokane. Troupe (2 performances.)
Oct 20, 07
Halloween Hafla. Wenatchee. Troupe.
Sept
16 '07 Spokane
County Fair. 1 pm. Troupe.
July 27 Ren-Fairre,
FAFB. Duet w/Anyah.
July 21
Mediterranean Fantasy Festival. Seattle. Solo/Duet w/Anyah.
July 14 Shish Kabob
House Restaurant. Solo.
July 8 Great
Cuisine of India. Olympia. Solo.
June 2,
'07
Shish Kabob House Restaurant. Colbert/Mead. Solo.
June 9, '07
Spokane Belly Dance Festival. Troupe/Solo/Emcee.
June 17 Shish Kabob
House Restaurant. Colbert/Mead. Solo.
June 23 Private
Function. Spokane. Solo.
June 30-July 1 Ren
Fairre. Richland. Band du Soleil.
May 12,
'07 Parrot Rescue Festival. Clayton.
Troupe.
May 18, '07 Powers of Belly
Dance. Yakima. Solo.
11/4/06 Spokane Fall Folk
Festival. Solo, Duet w/Anya.
11/4 Spokane
Fall Folk
Festival. Workshop.
Oct 7, 14,
21 '06 Intro Workshops. (Parks & Rec)
Moses Lake. Instructor.
Oct 7, 14, 21 Private workshops. Moses Lake,
Instructor.
Sept 17
Spokane County Fair. Troupe/Solo
Sept 23-24 Double Crown
Competition, Portland. Judge/Solo
Sept 30 Hollywood Hafla,
Wenatchee. Solo.
Aug 18
Center Stage, Spokane. Solo/Duet w/Anya
July 8
Intro to Belly Dance Workshop. Moses Lake
July 15 Medfest, Seattle. Troupe 5:40 pm Main Stage;
Solo 2:48 pm Stage
2
June 2
Imagination Celebration, Spokane. Solo/Presentation
May 20 Belly
Dancers Unlimited presents Eva Cernik. Spokane. Troupe/Evening Program
Mgr
May 13, 06
Powers
of Belly Dance. Yakima. Solo/Troupe/Stage Manager
April 22
Moses Lake Team Presentation/Solo.
March 4, 06 Moses Lake Student Recital/Hafla.
Troupe/Solo/With Students
March 16, 06
SFCC
Class Presentation/Solo
Nov 5, 05 Spokane Fall Folk
Festival
Workshop Noon
Nov 5, 05 Spokane Fall Folk
Festival
Performance Troupe/Solo 11 am
Nov 5, 05 Sabah's Wenatchee
Hollywood
Hafla. Troupe/Solo-Duet
Nov 15, 05
Presentation for Beta Sigma Phi. Moses Lake. Solo/workshop.
Desert
Silk Dance Company
July
2004
Desert
Silk Dance Company
Nizana 2007