Shoshanna's Resume
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DANCE TRAINING

• Ballet since early childhood (15 years), Jazz 6 years, Modern 5 years, and Tap 3 years. Studied at numerous dance studios, at Humboldt State University, as well as in many workshops in Flamenco, Mexican Folklorico, Latin Dance, Swing, and a variety of Folk Dance styles including Debke, Turkish, Hungarian, Romanian, Armenian, and Greek.
  
• Since 1992, my principle area of dance study has been Middle Eastern Dance. I have studied with over 100 workshop instructors in a wide variety of topics. Two major influences and inspirations are Dalia Carella and Elena Lentini. I continue to study and explore Middle Eastern Dance at every opportunity, traveling whenever possible to study with the finest teachers.
  
• Completed two weeek intensive summer programs in Martha Graham based Techique Modern Dance in 2002 and 2003.

PERFORMANCE

I am very interested in the thoughtful fusion of diverse styles of dance, and the power of dance as a vehicle of expression and personal interpretation of music for an audience. My interests lie in a strong foundation in Arabic dance (focusing on the “classical” styles of the earlier part of this century) with a fusion of Spanish and Modern dance inspired by my dance training. My specialties include four-yard veils, fans and skirts, although I have also studied and perform with zils, swords, and canes. I am a dedicated improvisational dancer who values any opportunity to perform to live music.

• Performed in Acapulco, Mexico in July of 2004, a performance deemed newsworthy by two newspapers, Azteca channel 13 news and a live radio show!
• Shoshanna and her troupe invited to be featured performers in the Morris Graves Museum of Art Performing Arts Series in Eureka, California, in January 2003 and April 2004.
• Invited guest performer at Fahtiem's Dance Oasis Magic performance in June of 2001 in Los Angeles, California.
• Invited guest performer at the Fourth Annual IAMED Awards Show in Los Angeles, CA. Available on VHS & DVD(www.bellydance.org).
• Have performed numerous times at Rakkasah Festival (Richmond, CA), Mediterranean Dance Festival (Seattle, WA), Fatima’s Birthday Bash (Sacramento, CA), Cairo Carnivale (Los Angeles, CA), Middle Eastern Music & Dance Camp (Mendocino, CA), Shimmy By The Sea (Corpus Christi, TX), Wiggles of the West Competition (Reno, NV), Festival Fantasia (Sebastopol, CA), Festival on the Nile (Orlando, FL) Oasis Dance Magic (Los Angeles, CA), Little Egypt's seminar with Aida Noor & Magdy El Leisey (Dallas, TX 2004) and Dina in L.A. event (Los Angeles, CA 2004) and at many other events.
• Artistic Director of the Ya Habibi Dance Company (formerly called the Lailaa Chandani Dance Ensemble) since 1998. This dance troupe began at Humboldt State University, and explores many styles of Middle Eastern Dance. An emphasis for my troupe is to have a wonderful group of technically superior dancers willing to learn from many teachers and about many styles who can dance as a cohesive whole as well as develop their own skills as a soloist and pursue their own interests. I work to cultivate an atmosphere of openness, flexibility, and enthusiasm that comes across in class and on the stage.

COMPETITION

• 1st Place, Northern Valley Bellydance Competition, 1996
• Entertainer of the Year, 1st annual Wiggles of the West, 1997
• 2nd Runner Up, Bellydancer of the Universe Competition, 1997
• 2004 Belly Dancer of the Year, Belly Dancer of the Year Pageant, 2004
• Desert Roses Troupe Competition 2nd Place (Ya Habibi Dance Co), 2007

INSTRUCTION

As a performer, I dance to express the joy of dancing and the emotional quality of the music. As an instructor, I work to balance my students’ artistic and personal interpretation of the music with excellent technical skills, a cultural understanding of the dance form, and to plant the seeds of what I hope will become a passion for this dance form. This philosophy holds true for any class I teach -- a small group of new beginners or a workshop of experienced intermediate to advanced level dancers.

• 1993-1998: Instructor at Dance Expressions, McKinleyville, CA
  Taught Middle Eastern Dance (began program in 1996), Jazz, Ballet, Modern, and Creative Movement for 3-4 year olds. Also began a popular class for children that explored age-appropriate moves, such as skirt, veil, and zil work. Reason for leaving: studio closed.
  
• 1996-2005 Instructor at Studio of Dance Arts, Eureka, CA
  Instruct Middle Eastern Dance at beginning-intemediate level for teenage dancers. (Instructed class from 1996-1997 and April 2001 to present)
  
• 1998-Present: Lecturer, Department of Theatre, Film, & Dance, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
  Instructor of a 2 unit Middle Eastern Dance course since 1998. Class size is usually about 40-50 dancers, mostly at a beginning level, with some repeating the course several times (because they like it). Class meets once a week and for four Saturday workshops to explore Taksim, Veil & Improvisation, Rhythms & Zil Work, Gypsy (Rom) Discussion & Dance Technique, and Discussion on Dance & Culture.
  
• 1996-Present: Founder, President, and now Advisor of the HSU Middle Eastern Dance Club
  Our mission is to assist students in the study and performance of Middle Eastern Dance. For the club, I hold free, drop-in weekly classes and produce usually one workshop event per semester, featuring an invited workshop instructor from out of the area.

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTION

Shoshanna has instructed workshops in California, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, Washington, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Hawaii and Indiana on topics including:

• Skirt Technique and Combinations
• Spicy Skirt Work and Dynamic Combinations
• Original Choreography
• Veil and Taksim Combinations
• Four-Yard Veil Technique & Combinations
• Raqs Sharqi Technique
• Skirt and Fan Techniques
• Drum Solo Choreography
• Improvisation
• Dynamic Combinations (with or without zils)