Dear Dance Community, Friends & Family,
As most of you know, I have been working toward a Level 4 certification with the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance for many years. If you are not familiar with Suhaila Salimpour’s certification program, it is a program that provides students with formal recognition of their dedication to and hard-earned proficiency in Suhaila’s challenging style, which is recognized worldwide.
Based in Berkeley, CA, Suhaila was deeply inspired by many artists around her, including her famous mother Jamila Salimpour and martial artist Bruce Lee, to develop a certification program that encompasses five levels of training. Each level builds on the previous level, providing specialized training within a logical, cumulative sequence. Over the full course of study, students are trained in dance technique, finger cymbals, rhythm identification, history, music, culture, improvisation, performance, choreography, teaching skills, etc. I have been working my way up the levels since 2005.
Level 4 represents the most advanced technical training in belly dance. We continue to increase technical abilities while working on advanced skills in performance, emotional intent, creativity, history, culture, choreography, and more. The recital I will be presenting features 9 of her most advanced choreographies. It will be recorded and sent to Suhaila as part of a year-long testing process. The recital is NOT performed in a costume. I will be wearing training pants and a simple top so that my technique and sequencing can be clearly seen. It must be filmed in a theatre with a live audience. That is YOU! And…there are no stops! I will dance for 46 minutes straight.
I am very excited to offer this example of high level belly dance performance to my community. Suhaila Salimpour has been one of the most significant teachers and mentors of my life. This recital is more than a presentation of skill, it is also a rite of passage for me. I feel that I am entering a new phase of my artistic development and life journey. It is an honor to share and I am grateful to all who will be my witnesses.
It means so much to me to have your support.
Love-love,
Kandi
Date: August 26, 2018 3pm
Location: Talking Horse Theatre, 210 Saint James, Columbia MO
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3577912
As most of you know, I have been working toward a Level 4 certification with the Suhaila Salimpour School of Dance for many years. If you are not familiar with Suhaila Salimpour’s certification program, it is a program that provides students with formal recognition of their dedication to and hard-earned proficiency in Suhaila’s challenging style, which is recognized worldwide.
Based in Berkeley, CA, Suhaila was deeply inspired by many artists around her, including her famous mother Jamila Salimpour and martial artist Bruce Lee, to develop a certification program that encompasses five levels of training. Each level builds on the previous level, providing specialized training within a logical, cumulative sequence. Over the full course of study, students are trained in dance technique, finger cymbals, rhythm identification, history, music, culture, improvisation, performance, choreography, teaching skills, etc. I have been working my way up the levels since 2005.
Level 4 represents the most advanced technical training in belly dance. We continue to increase technical abilities while working on advanced skills in performance, emotional intent, creativity, history, culture, choreography, and more. The recital I will be presenting features 9 of her most advanced choreographies. It will be recorded and sent to Suhaila as part of a year-long testing process. The recital is NOT performed in a costume. I will be wearing training pants and a simple top so that my technique and sequencing can be clearly seen. It must be filmed in a theatre with a live audience. That is YOU! And…there are no stops! I will dance for 46 minutes straight.
I am very excited to offer this example of high level belly dance performance to my community. Suhaila Salimpour has been one of the most significant teachers and mentors of my life. This recital is more than a presentation of skill, it is also a rite of passage for me. I feel that I am entering a new phase of my artistic development and life journey. It is an honor to share and I am grateful to all who will be my witnesses.
It means so much to me to have your support.
Love-love,
Kandi
Date: August 26, 2018 3pm
Location: Talking Horse Theatre, 210 Saint James, Columbia MO
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3577912
Zodiac (2018)
MOON Dance Company presents "Zodiac" a belly dance interpretive performance of the water and air astrological signs: Gemini, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius and Pisces.
MOON is a contemporary belly dance company based in Columbia, MO, artistic director Kandice Grossman. This performance includes a range of unique dance interpretations that feature both original fusion choreography and classical choreography by Suhaila Salimpour. All pieces explore the blurry edges of earthly experience, mystical phenomena and feminista consciousness.
The show opens with live music from Final Veil (St. Louis). Using dance, multimedia, and live instruments, Final Veil delivers experimental electronic music with a prominent Middle Eastern influence. This group is ghostly ethereal and earth-mama-grounding at the same time, and in all the right ways. http://finalveil.com
MOON Dance Company presents "Zodiac" a belly dance interpretive performance of the water and air astrological signs: Gemini, Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Aquarius and Pisces.
MOON is a contemporary belly dance company based in Columbia, MO, artistic director Kandice Grossman. This performance includes a range of unique dance interpretations that feature both original fusion choreography and classical choreography by Suhaila Salimpour. All pieces explore the blurry edges of earthly experience, mystical phenomena and feminista consciousness.
The show opens with live music from Final Veil (St. Louis). Using dance, multimedia, and live instruments, Final Veil delivers experimental electronic music with a prominent Middle Eastern influence. This group is ghostly ethereal and earth-mama-grounding at the same time, and in all the right ways. http://finalveil.com
Water is Life (2017)
Moon Belly Dance Studio presents "Water is Life." This experimental belly dance installation is an exploration into the element of water as a symbol and source of life. Water represents cleansing and renewal. It is essential for all health. It is also a symbol of nourishment that is most basic, and yet such a gift. Women are water bearers and not only give nourishment, but are in need of soul nourishment too. We transform these sentiments through belly dance movement.
This piece is also created in support of all the water protectors who stood peacefully at Standing Rock and who continue to stand in protection of water. It is a dance of gratitude toward the Native American activists who started this movement and, most especially, the women leaders who remain some of the most powerful and organized amongst all water protectors. Blessed be the water.
Special dedication to Nichelle Lawrence and Chloe Lee Farris, RIP water dreamers.
Moon Belly Dance Studio presents "Water is Life." This experimental belly dance installation is an exploration into the element of water as a symbol and source of life. Water represents cleansing and renewal. It is essential for all health. It is also a symbol of nourishment that is most basic, and yet such a gift. Women are water bearers and not only give nourishment, but are in need of soul nourishment too. We transform these sentiments through belly dance movement.
This piece is also created in support of all the water protectors who stood peacefully at Standing Rock and who continue to stand in protection of water. It is a dance of gratitude toward the Native American activists who started this movement and, most especially, the women leaders who remain some of the most powerful and organized amongst all water protectors. Blessed be the water.
Special dedication to Nichelle Lawrence and Chloe Lee Farris, RIP water dreamers.
Mother Nature (2016)
MOON Dance Company is proud to present, Mother Nature, on October 3rd and 4th at Talking Horse Theatre. MOON is a contemporary belly dance company based in Columbia, MO.
Mother Nature, a one-hour dance and movement performance, is an ecofeminist exploration into the symbolic relationship between women's bodies and the planet. In two opposing sets, we delve into the parallels of the life cycles of woman and planet, with the first half exploring fertility, sensuality and regeneration and the second half mechanistic objectification and commodification.
Directed by Kandice Grossman, Mother Nature is the result of a year-long collaboration of dancers, choreographers and visual artists from several disciplines including belly dance, lyrical dance, ballet, aerial arts, and theatre, as well as a team of set, make-up and costume designers. Together, these artists have created polarizing scenes of powerful, ancient archetypes in enchanting forest floors to disturbing, personal demons in the eye of the storm.
Photo in flier: Suhaila Salimpour
MOON Dance Company is proud to present, Mother Nature, on October 3rd and 4th at Talking Horse Theatre. MOON is a contemporary belly dance company based in Columbia, MO.
Mother Nature, a one-hour dance and movement performance, is an ecofeminist exploration into the symbolic relationship between women's bodies and the planet. In two opposing sets, we delve into the parallels of the life cycles of woman and planet, with the first half exploring fertility, sensuality and regeneration and the second half mechanistic objectification and commodification.
Directed by Kandice Grossman, Mother Nature is the result of a year-long collaboration of dancers, choreographers and visual artists from several disciplines including belly dance, lyrical dance, ballet, aerial arts, and theatre, as well as a team of set, make-up and costume designers. Together, these artists have created polarizing scenes of powerful, ancient archetypes in enchanting forest floors to disturbing, personal demons in the eye of the storm.
Photo in flier: Suhaila Salimpour