Maharasha the Male Bellydancer of Las Vegas: Lord of the Shimmy

Maharasha Class Descriptions:

The Beginner’s Bellydance Workshops™ (BBWs) are open to dancers of every level but is mostly intended for dancers with less than 1 year of experience and especially first-timers. No experience is needed and BBWs are suitable for men and women of every age, shape and size. This workshop is meant to motivate and inspire new dancers to regularly experience one of the most exciting paths towards better health and self-confidence. BBWs

Zhake It Like Shakira Bellydance Classes™ (ZILS) are geared more toward the intermediate to advanced dancer and are generally more technical, move at a much faster pace and include the use of choreography to build one’s stage presence and comfort level on stage. ”SILS” Classes are perfect for any seasoned dancer to reinforce their basic technique, or especially useful for any dancer wanting to become a bellydance choreographer.

Maharasha Teaches Beginners' Bellydance Workshops (BBWs) on Thursday nights at 6pm at A to Z Dance Studio and Zhake It Like Shakira (ZILS) classes on Friday nights at 7:30pm (excluding the FIRST FRIDAY night of each month) at the First Church of Religious Science.

(Times subject to change... Always call the 24/7/365 Infoline before attending any class to ensure details have not changed: 702-440-7580)

What's the difference between the two classes?
BBWs are for Beginners; ZILS are for Intermediate to Advanced students!

Experience Tribal Fusion at the lowest rate in town... only $10 per class for the ZILS class!!! BBWs are $15! Why more for Beginners?
For 2 reasons: 1) BBWs are fortunate enough to be held in a dance studio with mirrors wall-to-wall, hardwood floors and air conditioning... the extra money helps to cover the cost of renting the space 2) Beginner students tend to need more personal attention to advance in their dance, which I will be happy to supply!

Please join me for classes and grow in leaps and bounds through Bal-Anat (originated by Jamila Salimpour) and hip-hop inspired Tribal fusion bellydance...

BBWs are held Thursday nights from 6-7pm at A to Z Dance Studio located at 900 E. Karen Ave Ste A-116, Las Vegas 89109, 702-369-2160 (please use this number only if you are lost and need further directions, not for information on the class). $15 per class drop-in rate.


ZILS Classes are held Friday nights at the First Church of Religious Science located at: 1420 East Harmon (east of Maryland Pkwy. 2 blocks from UNLV), Las Vegas, NV 89119. $10 per class drop-in rate.

ALWAYS CALL the 24/7 Infoline prior to leaving your home to attend ANY class at 702-440-7580! It is updated regularly and will inform you of any unforeseen emergencies or changes to the schedule. See you there!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***What should I wear?***

Wear comfortable clothes, gym clothes are just fine. Wear tighter pants so that the instructor can see your knees and posture. Baggy pants will cover too much. Same deal with a skirt. Once you advance and are confident about proper posture you can wear anything you want. No shoes or sneakers please. We work barefoot or just in socks if your feet tend to be cold.

***What do I need to bring?***

First and foremost bring your good spirit, self-patience and bottled water.

If you have one, please bring a fringe/tassel belt or hip scarf, preferably with coins, to add weight to the hips. Yes, EVEN IF YOUR HIPS ARE BIG TO BEGIN WITH. The rest below is optional:

1. Some extra cash for possible purchases 2. Pen and notepad for notes 3. A sweat towel 4. A friend or two…

***Am I in good enough shape for the class/workshop?***

Yes, as long as you have consulted with physician prior to starting classes and he or she concurs, you are fine to start in the BBWs no matter what level you are at or no matter your shape. The class is non-competitive and there will be no judgments passed in the class by the instructor or other students. Anyone disregarding this rule will be asked to leave. If you have any limitations or injuries or if you are pregnant, please let the instructor know. Everybody is welcome, including men.

***How long does it last?***

Both the BBWs and ZILS classes last 1 hour and 15 minutes. We take short water breaks.

***Will I sweat?***

It depends… You will sweat if you put enough intensity into the movements. You may not sweat but it doesn’t mean that you don’t work. Bellydance works magically like yoga; at first it seems like you are doing nothing but you’ll feel it the day after and in the long term, the benefits are rewarding.

***How many people are in the class/workshop?***

The average class size is 5-10 people, so I’m able to give personalized attention to my students. Of course, if you want to hide in the back so I won’t single you out, that’s OK too.

***Anything else I should know?***

Do not eat a big meal before the workshop, but don’t come with an empty stomach, either. You’ll need fuel to Shake It Like Shakira™ with intensity. Drink plenty of water.[Special thanks to International Emissary of Dance Amira of Las Vegas {www.amirasbelly.com} for providing the outline and basis for this supplemental workshop information! Thanks Amira for the inspiration!!!

2:52 PM - A Tribute to Maharasha's Teachers

YaShara began taking lesson in 1973 with Marliza Pons in Las Vegas. Her first performance was for the Jerry Lewis Telethon doing a veil routine.

After working with Marliza for a couple of years, YaShara continued her training with Leona of the Middle Eastern Dance Studio and Jasmine Gamal of the A-Z Dance Studio. With these teachers, YaShara had numerous performances at various venues including: Caesar's Palace, Aladdin, Tropicana, Union Plaza, Grecian Gardens, Omar Khayyam Night Club, the International Food Festival for the Egyptian-American Club, Wayne Newton's Birthday Party, and many conventions and community events.

Currently YaShara is no longer associated with any dance studios. She teaches a free class twice a month at the Clark County Library on Flamingo and performs with a small troupe called Al-Ateeka which performs at the Las Vegas Renaissance Festival annually. She is also the President of Shifting Sands Bellydance which is a non-profit group of performers which represents those with an interest in the dance & it's history. This group is open to anyone.

YaShara considers her style to be "interpretive-fusion tribal" although she teaches a variety of styles, zills, and basic doumbec. She loves to help others learn and to pass her knowledge on to her students while acknowledging the great teachers that YaShara learned from. She feels proud and excited for her students when she sees them catching on to steps, combinations, & choreography. She also loves seeing students perform and become excited about this dance form themselves.

 

Ashtaleas love for dance began at the age of four. She has studied ballet (both Russian and French methods), jazz, tap flamenco, Mexican folkloric, modern dance and Middle Eastern dance for a brief time during her preteens.

Middle Eastern dance found its way back into her life in 1992. Thanks to pervious dance training, belly dance came very naturally to her. She has studied with many notable teachers such as, Raqia Hassan, Suzanna Del Vecchio, Elena Latini, Eva Cernick, Dalia Carella, Morocco, and the list goes on however, the majority of Her training came from Kathryn Ferguson (Miss Ferguson still remains her favorite performer and teacher).

Not only did Kathryn train Ashtalea to be a performer but trained her to be a teacher too. Ashtalea was a member of Miss Fergusons Xanadu Middle Eastern Dance company from 1996-2003. During her years as a Xanadu dancer she had the honor of dancing with famed musicians, Georges & Elias Lammam, Souhail Kaspar and Naser Musa. She has performed in restaurants, night clubs and shows in AZ, CA, NM and NV. She has taught workshops all over the southwest including "Julianna's Winter Frolic" in Albuquerque.

Presently she teaches weekly and private classes here in Las Vegas. Also you can catch her fitness class at Las Vegas Athletic Club (Eastern & 215 location).

Ashtaleas performances are crisp, sensual, intelligent and Humorous. Her Choreographies show both traditional and modern influences in Mideastern dance. --Kathryn Ferguson

 


Amiras performance experience includes venues ranging from formal stage productions, to large and small commercial and private events along with modeling. She has performed as part of troupes, dancing ensemble as well as in duo and solo pieces.

She started training in Flamenco while in her homeland of Estonia, and then after arriving in the US trained for years with the well known and respected teacher Margo Torea. In addition, she has trained with several other well known teachers, including names like Vanessa Alvarado, Coral Citron, Clara Ramona, Roberto Amaral, Manuel Gutierrez, Elias Vargas, La Tania and Belén Maya.

One of the highlights of Amiras performance career was to cover Vanessa Alvarados solo Flamenco dance part in the show Beats Of Passion performed on the big stage at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas in 2001. Since 1999 Amira has also performed in every Christmas Dance Festival at the Whitney and Flamingo libraries, sponsored by The Sociedad Cultural Hispana.

After her arrival in this country, Amira began studying belly dance with Marliza and Nadia in Las Vegas. Amira has also trained with many other well known teachers of Middle Eastern art such as Zahra Zuhair, Eva Cernik, Aziza, Jillina, Faten Salama, Fathiem, Sahra Saeeda, to name just a few. She now studies regularly in the US and Middle East, and teaches belly dance independently, both privately and as an instructor at the Las Vegas Athletic Club.

Currently Amira is enjoying growing success, gaining notoriety and respect within the Middle Eastern and Arabic communities of Las Vegas. She is among the most requested belly dancers in town, appearing regularly at everything from private parties to Arabic nightclubs, restaurants, and the Arab American Heritage Club.

Ever expanding her repertoire, she has studied fire eating and incorporating fire into performances under the tutelage of the Cirque du Soleil O show performer Ray Wold. Amiras musical skills include guitar, piano and saxophone, being a graduate of 9 years of musical study. Also a graduate of medical school, she is now studying at UNLV. She is multilingual, 510, skydives, drives fast, and has 40 chickens in her Las Vegas backyard.




A Recent E-Mail I Sent To Amira "One last thing... I gave my Mom your bellydance dvd a month before her birthday, so she can perform a routine for the family on her birthday. Her confidence and commitment to bellydance has skyrocketed already, and it has barely been a week. So I just wanted to thank you for being one of those teachers who proper posture and technique is important to while also teaching at a pace that is truly welcoming to all! You have given my mom the courage to step into the spotlight and be beautiful. THANK YOU! Sincerely Your Student, Maharasha

Jamila Salimpour began her performing career at the age of sixteen in Ringling Brothers Circus as an acrobatic dancer. She studied Middle Eastern music and dance, and in 1974 began appearing at cultural events and ethnic clubs in Los Angeles, and later in San Francisco where she owned the Bagdad Cabaret.

She began teaching in 1952, developing a unique method of verbal breakdown and terminology for her movements. She has trained innumerable teachers and performers from all over the world, and produced week-long seminars and festivals, often co-teaching with her

daughter Suhaila Salimpour.

In 1969 she created the first tribal troupe on the west coast, Bal Anat, performing and touring with the forty member troupe. Jamila Salimpour's complex finger cymbal patterns were published in her own Finger Cymbal Manual with an accompanying instructions audio tape. Both contue to be invaluable resources to dancers today. She also published a history of Middle Eastern dance, 'From Cave to Cult to Cabaret, as well as a photographic collection of Middle Eastern Dancers at the CHicago WOrld's Faire, and her Dance Format Manual. From 1974 to 1990, Ms. Salimpour was the Contributing Editor for HABIBI, a major Middle Eastern Dance periodical.