SPECIAL JUNE RATE PACKAGES:

Regular Price: $45/hour Sale Price: 3 lessons/$100, 6 lessons/$215

photos: (l-r) Pixie Vision, Jaki Hawthorne, Pixie Vision

REGISTRATION

Spend a day with the teachers of Studio Zahiya exploring the art, mystery and excitement of bellydance!  For novice and experts alike!  Treat yourself to a dance immersion.

10:00a-11:15a So You Wanna Be A Bellydancer: Introductory Dance Class with Lisa

Get your bellydance on! We get you started with the signature moves and essential info on this dance form.

11:15-12:30 Middle Eastern Rhythms & Percussion with Teejei

Bring your drums, finger cymbals, or your self to this class on basic Middle Eastern rhythms.

12:30p-1:30p Lunch & History Discussion with Mahsati (Lecture FREE to participants)

Learn the back story of Bellydance, from it’s ancient roots, through the influence of globalization and Hollywood, to the modern American styles and beyond!

1:30-2:45p Folkloric Bellydance with Mahsati

Modern Bellydance is partially based on regional folk dances from the Middle East and North Africa, the “dances of the people”. We’ll survey some fun folky moves and their cultural significance.

2:45p-4:15p From ATS to Fusion: Tribal Bellydance with Teejei & Lisa Zahiya

Tribal bellydance is an American art form that celebrates folkloric dances of the East and adds a dash of theater. We’ll start with the Spanish and Indian-spiced bellydance that is American Tribal Style, then take a look at the urban American influences of Tribal Fusion.

7-9p Special Evening Dance & Music Event :: Details TBA!

$15 per class/$25 1/2 Day/$45 Whole Day! :: Registration

Weekly Classes with Teejei at Studio Zahiya in downtown Asheville NC

beginning Monday April 23:

Mondays 7-8pm: American Tribal Style I (6-week course)

Check my Classes page and the Studio Zahiya website for more info, coming soon!

Courtesy of the lovely Brandy Miracle. Live music, tea, friends, magic.

TribalCon VIII. Photo by PixieVision.

TribalCon VIII in Atlanta Georgia was a phenomenal experience! Ziah Ali and my former troupe Awalim sure do show the bellydance world some Southern hospitality. I was very busy between catching up with my local friends, learning in the dance & drumming classes, connecting with new friends, and selling JaiaMara Designs wares at our vending table, shared with the lovely Sparrow and her handmade upcycled leather goods.

I was able to learn a great deal from Faisal Zedan, a fantastic drummer from California. His style is very technical, but more in the way of strong technique and really pushing the use of composition that is great at any speed. I also learned a lot from the class he co-taught with Zoe Jakes on crafting a live drum solo.

Some great images from the event can be found on the Photos page.

At Dobra Tea House, Asheville. Liam Niblack on percussion.

Asheville NC will soon be my new home!  Omera is a dream that could not come to fruition this year, but I am not heartbroken. Where one door closes, a big beautiful window of opportunity opens. Lisa Zahiya and I are excited about working together, and I’ll be starting up some ATS and Awalim-style dance classes at Studio Zahiya. I look forward to deepening my study of percussion as well, and being closer to Brizeus. Asheville was a big part of my childhood, and has always been part of my dance history.

I am very grateful for my time in Knoxville with my soul sister Jaia and look forward to the awesome link that will be strengthened between the ‘villes. Knoxville will continue to be a rapidly growing hub of circus and bellydance thanks to Claire Metz Fenner, Ananda Dance Co., and SIZEMOLOGY. JaiaMara Designs will continue to rock you with jewelry and couture dancewear. Thanks and love to everyone who is part of my life right now.

Heart Chakra. Fine Semi-precious stones. by Jaia.

Earthy earrings by Teejei.

Part of Teejei's Wandering Dancer collection.

Designers Jaia McClure (Biz’Cirque, Ananda Dance Company) and Teejei Brigham (Omera, BizCirque, formerly of Atlanta’s Awalim Dance Company) blend sacred ornament, Eastern street style, and 19th century fantasy into powerful pieces.

JaiaMara is also a couture costume studio, offering finely crafted costumes for dance and sideshow. Contact us for details.

Check our FB page for our vending schedule, and visit our Etsy store for currently available pieces.

Teejei, Natalie Brown, and Brandy White at Festical of DOOM, Columbia Jan 2012

Teejei, Darbuka Dave Machek, Denys Proteau, & Natalie Brown.

Teejei performs a drum solo at Festival of DOOM Jan. 2012.

Omera Progressive World Dance & Boutique is coming to Knoxville this spring! Omera is Arabic for “A positive attitude and joyous nature”. My dream for this studio is that through dance and music, it brings women together to celebrate, improve their health, and bring them all the benefits that the greater bellydance community has brought me over the years.

I have compiled a short page on dance styles aimed at those unfamiliar with the myriad elements that make up “belly dance” as we know it today. Check back often for much more as the studio is born.

–Teejei

www.omerastudio.com