|
|
 |
Djahari, founder of Desert Sin, has been studying all aspects of theatre for
over 20 years. Her tutelage includes Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum,
London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and UCLA where she received her BA
in the School of Theatre, Film and Television. During that time she studied
Modern, Jazz, and Ballet and only during college became seriously involved
with more ethnic styles such as West African, Belly Dance, and
Persian-Ballet. While co-directing Desert Sin with Sa’Elayssa remains her
primary focus, Djahari has also been developing the touring experimental
workshop series, “X-MED”, with Amara and Anaheed. Djahari continues her now seven-year reign with A. Nazemi’s “Pars National Ballet Company”, as well as
performing solo and as a guest artist within other companies. She is living
her dreams every day.
For more information on Djahari please visit www.djahari.com.
|
|
 |
Elayssa, Co-Director of Desert Sin, has worked closely with her creative partner, Djahari, to realize their common vision of a dance company where creativity flourishes and dreams are realized. A third-generation Middle-Eastern dancer of Russian-Gypsy descent, she is also professionally trained in numerous other styles of dance, such as Jazz, Modern Dance, and Persian Ballet. Elayssa's diverse dance background, coupled with her affinity for character, narrative, and costume design, allow her to create a style that is both rooted in tradition and wholly modern. An award winning and world-renowned performer and choreographer, she is featured internationally on television, in films, and in several performance DVDs, as well as in live performances in exciting locales such as Madras, India. She offers private dance lessons to students of any level by appointment only.
To learn more about Elayssa please visit www.elayssa.com
|
|
 |
Tatianna has been dancing with
Desert Sin since it’s inception and is proud to perform
a starring role in “Musée des Femmes” as
MataHari. She has studied under a variety of dance instructors
in belly dancing, jazz, ballet, tap, and Persian. Having completed
her MBA at Pepperdine Tatianna can now be seen more frequently
in the performance circuit, often accompanied by her beautiful
snake, Sugar. Tatianna not only has the frame for this dance,
but the brains as well..
|
|
 |
Cassandra began performing at the age of five, studying both ballet and competitive ice dancing. As a World Arts and Cultures dance major at UCLA, she was introduced to Middle Eastern dance and has been pursuing it for the past five years. Her dance background also includes modern, jazz, tango, improvisation and folk dance. She has danced at the Southern California Renaissance Faire, and at various restaurants such as El Basha, Moun of Tunis, Pars and The Spot. For four years she danced with Ya Helewa! at festivals and shows throughout Southern California, and has participated in Amara's production of An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance (EEMED) since its inception in 2000. Currently she performs with Desert Sin and also works as a soloist. In addition, she performs as a glass walker and works as an art model in the Los Angeles area.
|
|
 |
Sayaka started training in performing
arts including dance, martial arts,
and music, since the age of 5 in several different countries.
Some of her
concentrations are: Modern, Acrobatic, Bellydance, Jazz, musical
voice, Muey
Thai, Wushu, Gong Fu, Jiujitsu, Yoga, and various weapons. Also,
her Latin
ancestry lured her into Flamenco and Samba as well. Sayaka used
to do stunt
work for TV and motion pictures, modeling for print and has appeared
in
numerous commercials, music videos, nightclubs, and TV shows in
the U.S.,
Britain, and Asia. In addition, she possesses a B.S. in Accountancy,
speaks
several different languages, and plays piano and harp taught to
her by her
mother, who was a professional harpist. She is currently working
on
incorporating fire into her performances.
|
|
 |
Sherri Wheatley has been a student of dance since the age of 5. Her passion for Middle Eastern dance began in 1999 when she began studying
with the internationally celebrated Heather Stants, director of Urban
Tribal Dance Co. She soon became a full member performing with the
company regularly. Sherri has also been a frequent guest artist of the
San Diego based Atash Maya Dance Collective, where she focused on
developing a distinguishable repertoire as a soloist as well as
continuing to challenge herself in the realm of fire performance.
Having moved to Los Angeles in 2005, Sherri continues to study
Traditional Indian, Ballet, Hip-hop, Pop Locking and Burlesque.
Sherri performs nationally and has been featured in several
internationally distributed DVDs.
She plans on teaching basic Tribal Belly dance classes and workshops.
Her dedication, professionalism, and superb artistry has earned her a
principal role with Desert Sin. When Sherri is not working on the
latest Desert Sin project, she can be found performing as "Slither" with
The Living Garden, or as the ring girl for the mini luchador wrestlers
at Lucha Va Voom.
To contact Sherri for future bookings and class information please email her at HotHipsBellydance@hotmail.com
|
|
Desert
Sin's Newest Members: |
 |
|
Akasha has trained and performed in
modern, jazz, ballet and hip-hop. By incorporating Polynesian,
Polish folkloric, Afro-Peruvian as well as several other Latin
and South American styles, and performing in the theater arts,
Akasha has been able to expand her cultural understanding and
awareness. However, it is with Middle Eastern dance that Akasha
has found her home. By joining forces with the innovative fusion
styles of Desert Sin, and the improvisational tribal belly dance
troupe Subee Djinn, Akasha continues to fuel her passion. Such
recent performances include Desert Sin's "Musée des Femmes", EEMED
04', SparkTour 04'-LA, and Cafe Beledy, in addition to dancing
at several Los Angeles restaurants. Akasha continues her training
with professionals in Middle Eastern dance forms. You can contact
her at bellygoddess5@yahoo.com |
 |
Brad is best known for his portrayal
of the flamboyant Tinky Winky on the popular children’s
show, the Teletubbies. Sadly, this career came to an ugly end
when he was outed by Jerry Fallwell’s Christian Coalition.
Brad now realizes that a purse was perhaps not the best choice
of accessories. This misfortune was soon turned around when he
landed a coveted role in the touring production of The Vagina
Monologues, On Ice. Once again however, Brad’s success was
cut short when it was discovered that, though a brilliant skater,
he had no vagina. He is now thrilled and grateful to be performing
with Desert Sin, where he is no longer persecuted for his lack
of vagina nor his tendency to over accessorize. You can see more
of his work, including the kick-ass photo of the Kali girls you
see all over town at his website www.munkyhaus.com |
 |
Ida Clare has been performing and studying
Middle eastern dance with Amara’s YaHelewa! for over four
years. Her performances include EEMED, Desert Sin's “Musée
de Femmes” and “Fairytale”, IAMED's Bellydance
Rocks!, Café Beledy, Cairo Carnivale, and The MECDA Central
Coast Festival. You can see her at the upcoming Le Chat Noir cabaret
at the Edgemar Theater. She is also a graduate of Bella Beretta’s
Girl School and her burlesque performances include multiple Best
of Girl School and Lift’s Solid Gold New Years. Ida Clare
holds a BS in advertising and propaganda from Emerson College
and during the day fights crime using the :30 TV spot as her weapon
of choice. |
 |
Katherine was spotted kicking ass on
the dance floor at Bar Sinister, and was swept away by the enchantresses
of Desert Sin and asked to be a guest performer in the run of
“Musée” and other creative projects. Dancing
her way from Detroit to Chicago, Katherine began her belly dance
venture in which she was a member of the tribal style troupe Read
My Hips. She has since become co-founder and co-director of the
LA tribal style troupe Subee Djinn (www.subeedjinn.net) with which
she has also been fortunate enough to experiment and push boundaries
of belly dance in Amara's EEMED. Katherine teaches Subee Djinn
inspired classes at the beginner and intermediate levels. She
is honored to join the wonderful world of “Musée”
once again. For more information on Katherine please visit www.subeedjinn.com |
 |
Sina began her love affair with dance
sometime in the year 2000 and since then, has studied it in its
various incarnations: flamenco; Bharata Natyam; Kuchipudi; Persian
court dances; Tango; Lebanese Debke; Raqs Sharqi; Nubian, Algerian,
Turkish, Saaidi, Khaleegi, Kurdish, Moroccan, and Tunisian folkloric
dances; Sufi whirling; hip hop; and most recently, ballet. She
believes that dance is an unending, interdisciplinary subject,
and feeds photography, sculpture, yoga, poetry and her fascination
with world cultures into her dance. Her philosophy on dance is
perhaps best summed up the by Persian poet, Jelaluddin Rumi, who
said, "Dancing is not rising to your feet painlessly like
a speck of dust blown around in the wind…Dancing is when
you rise above worlds tearing your heart into pieces and giving
up your soul."
|
 |
Unique began her training at the age
of nine with the South Bay Gymnasts, where she went on to perform
and later compete. She also studied Modern, Jazz and specifically
ballet where she studied and performed with Paz Soriano (R.A.D.
Syllabus, French and Cuban technique) at the Ballet Conservatory.
In Los Angeles she continued her study of ballet with the Ballet
Dance & Arts under the direction of Yuri Smaltzoff (Russian
Bolshoi method). She was also introduced to the art of Middle
Eastern Dance where she studied with many reputable and dynamic
teachers. She has had the pleasure of performing and working with
Temple of the Dragon, Desert Sin, Ya Helewa!, and Subee Djinn.
She is also a member of the Pars National Ballet, under the direction
of A. Nazemi and is one of the newest members of the Vasquez Flamenco
group, under the direction of the legendary Maria Elena Vasquez. |
|
|
