 |
||||
|
|
||||
| Return to Pangaea Home | ||||
|
Ishara Gamal |
a
Favorite Past Performances
|
|||
|
Beginning in 1998, I studied with Habeeba's Dance of the Arts in Cincinnati, OH once a week in Azha's class. Within a few months, I added private classes with Conchi to my weekly schedule. These classes combined highly technical instruction with encouragement to learn to piece the movements together in my own way without choreography. I was in heaven! For the first time I found a dance form that was structured the way I love to dance. I am fortunate to have had two expert teachers with such complementary styles and strengths. Their combined influence lead me to develop a unique blend of Egyptian/ Lebanese precision and Turkish fire. In 2000, I began performing with Alhambra, Conchi's professional dance troupe. In addition I had the opportunity to lead supplementary classes, and give a seminar for the Crazy Ladies bookstore titled Mending the veil: healing women's body image through the ancient art of Belly Dance. This workshop remains one of my favorite teaching experiences. Women of all shapes and sizes attended, and together we learned to value our bodies for their strengths instead of being ashamed of what we had learned to see as their weaknesses. I moved to Bloomington, IN in 2001, to begin college again at Indiana University, and exposed my children to the area's open and culturally diverse atmosphere after my divorce. At that time I became a part of the Blue Nile dance troupe, and also joined Salaam on additional local and out of town performances. I learned so much about the dance from working with this improvisational Middle Eastern band, and I am very grateful to have had such a rare opportunity. Dena, who is an Iraqi-American and the band's violinist, generously shared my name with several local Middle Eastern families as well. Because of Dena's kindness and Salaam's welcoming spirit, I got the opportunity to perform belly dance in both theater and traditional settings, for joyous audiences who understood it's meaning. Note: Salaam just released their fourth CD, and is currently traveling for shows through out the Mid-west. In 2002, I joined with Angela Ditman and Kristen Orlousky to form Pangaea Tribe. We offered a multi-cultural show with live music to the educational and art communities of Bloomington, IN. Our group repertoire was primarily American Tribal, but our solos ranged from Raks Sharki, and Folkloric Gypsy, to Flamenco fan dance. At it's height this group had four dancers, three drummers, and an outstanding woodwinds musician. Although it was short lived, we enjoyed incredible artistic opportunities including an afternoon performance in association with the Lotus World Music Festival. Though out this time I continued teaching private lessons with both beginners and advanced students.
In 2003, I remarried and
moved to Champaign, IL. I transferred to the University of Illinois at
Champaign in the department of Psychology. Last semester I gained a position
in the Adult Relationships Lab working toward my honors thesis. I am so happy in my
new family
and with my academic situation here
in IL.
Although visiting with my brilliant
son and caring for my two beautiful
girls and my amazing new step-daughter, takes up
much of my off-school time, my gentle
husband has worked to make space in
our lives for my dance. I am slowly building community and new
opportunities for myself and others here in Champaign, but I still enjoy doing guest
performances with old friends, and teaching privately in my
home. For upcoming classes and performances please check out
Pangaea's Networking & Events page.
For this Dance and all the gifts I receive I give thanks.... My Very Favorite PerformanceThe St. JosephFall FestivalSt. Joseph, IL 2003 I did this event for my step-daughter, Meli, who dared me to walk my talk, be myself, and educate our tiny Midwestern town about world culture. Check out the clip above or Read more here...
|
For the videos, just click the pictures or right click and choose save target. Then Hit alt and 2 for the correct size....
Ishara & Joe's fiery Sax at Salaam's 3rd Gala
Clark Hall Mini Seminar Performance
This performance was for a small town event.
See More Video and Pictures on the Iseum Gallery Page or the Pangaea Video Page.... |
Ishara Spring, 2004
Summer, 2001
Pangaea Tribe A Night of Peace Bloomington Unitarian Universalist Church Winter, 2001
Dancing with Salaam To hear a short clip of their music click here. For more clips or to order a CD, visit their web page here.
|
||
|
Mediterranean Echoes w/ Alhambra Montgomery, OH 2000 Heartnut FestivalHeartnut, IN July 2000 Border Booksw/ Salaam Bloomington and Indianapolis, IN several times in 2000 '01 Graduation Party~Indiana Universitythrown by Arabic Family Bloomington, IN 2001 World Culture Night at De PaulDe Paul University performance and teaching w/ Salaam, 2001 Indianapolis Children's MuseumRegular Monthly Performance w/ Salaam Indianapolis, IN 2001 Starwood 2001as a guest dancer for Turku, World Beat, and Owain Phyfe. This event is held annually in up state NY. El Diablos Cafe w/ Pangaea Tribe Dayton, OH 2001 Lotus World Music Festivalw/ Pangaea Tribe Bloomington, IN 2002 York St Cafew/ Salaam, opening for Mohen Jodaro Newport, KY 2002 Camel's 7 Pleasures of the Casabaw/ Katia Newport, KY 2002 |
||||
I began my
study of dance when I was three years old. For thirteen years I attended
class in ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics, but ethnic and interpretive dance
forms were always my first love. I spent countless hours trying to figure
out Hawaiian hula, Indian kathak, and Irish step dance from a few bits of
public television footage, and dancing improvisation in my yard at home. In high
school, along with yearly recitals, I found opportunities to perform the
Italian tarantella, Medieval "Courtion De Magdalena", and lyrical
interpretation to poetry. I took my first Middle Eastern
Dance with
