Let Zafira (Olivia Kissel and Maria Hamer) take you to a place where Circus Side-Shows and Gypsy Caravans still dot the landscape; an exotic world that is both modern and vintage; folk and urbane. Zafira Dance Company’s performances are opulent vignettes that combine Belly dance with contemporary and ethnic dance forms. Guided by the mood of the music, Zafira draws the viewer into each piece by shaping rhythm and melody into gesture and form. Liquid movements, staccato accents and textured choreography capture a timeless beauty that expresses both the sensuality and strength of the female form.

Zafira teaches and performs regularly in Pittsburgh and at dance festivals around the country in venues that range from intimate café settings to full-scale theater productions. They recently completed their first European tour in the spring of 2008, and they hope to teach and travel abroad more in the future.

Zafira Dance Company members work together as a collective. Each member is a contributing artist and brings something unique to the company. This collective approach allows Zafira to offer a unique and powerful dance experience like no other. Christine Andrews, Maria Hamer, and Olivia Kissel have been teaching and performing together since 1996. Their friendship and love of dance shines through in each performance.

For information on upcoming performances, workshops and classes, visit www.zafiradance.com

Who is Olivia Kissel?
Olivia has traveled tirelessly to study, teach and perform her art all over the world, from intimate settings to theater performances, from elegant hotels to sticky bars, from beaches to raves. One of her favorite trips took her to Morocco, where she danced in the markets in Marrakech, Fez and Essouira with street musicians and Hennah girls, and drank Quilmes until dawn.
Olivia continues to astound audiences with Zafira Dance Company and in solo performances. Known for a fiery passion and her smooth technique, Olivia milks every note of the music. Her mesmerizing style brings emotion and elegance to every turn. Olivia’s saucy and sultry style will make you laugh… it will make you cry… it will make you pee your pants with glee.

Who is Maria Hamer?
Not just a dynamic soloist, Maria is able to combine her unique style with dancers of similar backgrounds to form energetic and colorful troupes. Their performances are recognized for highly disciplined movement and impeccable synchronicity. This results in leaving their audiences spellbound and wanting more.Maria teaches and performs throughout the United States. She has performed in a wide variety of events, from private parties to theater productions.

Workshops with UNMATA

11.00am-1.00pm : TURBOTRIBALTRICKS with UNMATA
440 Studios, 440 Lafayette, 3rd Floor, Studio 3G, NYC
(1.5 hr break at 1pm. Please bring snacks and water).

Strap-on your jet-packs. In this workshop you’ll get the skinny on what happens when you let off a lot of steam while dancing really good, really fast. You’ll learn and drill two original combos snatched directly from the Hot Pot Studio tribal vocabulary, both equipped for improv and ready for show. You will have fun. You will sweat. You will be inspired. And after class when you’re sore and on the floor, remember, “Horsepower” is defined as work done over time. We just teach you the tricks.

2.30pm-4.30pm: OVERLAYING ISOLATIONS with UNMATA
(440 Studios, 440 Lafayette, 4th Floor, Studio 4F, NYC)
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Amy’s Art of Overlay is at the heart of this intermediate to advanced belly dance workshop designed to add expressive layers and distinction to your dance style. Although controlled simultaneous movement is a complex idea, this class provides a simple approach certain to bring impressive results. Beginning with a thorough breakdown of basic isolation technique, Amy will expand such elements as core strength and relaxed tension, and then demonstrate helpful exercises that are necessary to develop the awareness needed to isolate key muscle groups. Then she will teach and drill an isolation combo that incorporates the artistic flare unique to Amy Sigil and UNMATA.
Prerequisites: Because this class is designed for the intermediate to advanced dancer, a sufficient understanding of balance and timing is required.

Teaching and Performing at major festivals and events across the country and around the globe, tribal-fusion powerhouse UNMATA’s high-energy brand of dance has packed the house and electrified audiences at venues of all sizes. Whether using fire, swords, or just the sweat off their own bodies, UNMATA always satisfies! www.unmata.com    

Who is Amy Sigil?
Amy Sigil is owner and director of Hot Pot Studio in Sacramento , CA , home of UNMATA. For the past decade, Amy has been developing, teaching, and performing modern bellydance fusion and her distinct vocabulary of Improvisational Tribal Style. She danced as half of Haruspicy Dancecraft for several years, and then formed the professional fusion troupe UNMATA in 2003. UNMATA has brought home awards such as Bellydance Troupe of the Year 2004, Bellydance Troupe USA 2004, Ensemble of the Year 2005, and Tribal Fusion Group of the Universe 2007. Amy and UNMATA teach workshops and perform nationally and internationally at events such as The Spirit of the Tribes, Northern Migration, Tribal Fest, Tribal Quest Northwest, TribalCon, and Tribal Cafe. Amy has judged for various pageant competitions such as Belly Dancer of the Year and Enchanted Camelot. Each October Amy Sigil, UNMATA, and Hot Pot Studio host The Blood Moon Regale, a themed weekend of workshops, dance fellowship, and a fully produced showcase of student and professional dancers. www.hotpotstudios.com