Raks Awalim

Bios

Sedona has been a performing artist all of her life. From her first ballet performance at The California State Fair at age four until now she has been gracing audience's with her dramatic presence. She attended the Diedre Hawkins School of Dance for five years and is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the first acting school in the United States. At both schools she studied various forms of classical and social dance including Ballet, Jazz, Jitterbug, Charleston, Soft Shoe, Minuet and the Waltz. In 2002, she completed a year long apprenticeship with The Koa Blue Dance Company in Maui, Hawaii performing mostly Modern Dance. Her monumental discovery of Belly Dance rejuvenated and inspired her dancing spirit. The Sacred Art of Belly Dance has given her the perfect channel to express her innermost self and creative vision. She is the founding member and driving force behind Raks Awalim and performs for audiences all over the Northwest. She is the 2008 Miss Belly Dance USA and is also the 1st place winner of the 2007 Emerald Rain, 2006 Gorgeous Bellies and the 2006 Middle Eastern Dance and Cultural Associations Belly Dance Competitions. Through Dance she hopes to inspire others to express their truths and leave audiences thoroughly entertained.

CLAUDIA www.claudiabellydance.com

Claudia is a dynamic dancer that has entertained audiences for more than nine years. Her intense passion for Middle Eastern Dance has inspired her to train with with top instructors as she continues to elevate and form her own stlye. She has traveled to Lebanon to study with master dancers and keep up on current Eastern dance trends. Claudia performs regularly in the Portland area, she is known for her amazing smile and unique musical interpretation. She has been delighted to teach other enthusiasts this beautiful and sensual art and is honored to be one of the dancers working hard to elevate the art to new heights and help it in its growth and evolution.

EVA

Eva is an award winning Belly Dancer from the Portland area. Some of her recent achievments include 1st place Medca Belly Dance Contest 2005 and 1st place Gorgeous Bellies Belly Dance Contest 2004. Her dance stlye is classical and she is very educated about tradtional music and styles of dance from the Middle East. She has studied this art form intensely for the past eight years, her graceful and elegant performances are a pleasure to watch. Eva performs in restaurants and nightclubs in Portland. She loves performing with her fellow dancers in troupe Raks Awalim and is happy to be one of the dancers sharing this beautiful art form with the Northwestern community.

JESSICA

Jessica began Belly Dancing twelve years ago when a friend of hers invited her to attend a Belly Dance class on a whim. Since that day she has been enamored by the grace, beauty and exotic appeal of this ancient dance form. She has a dance background in jazz, modern, trapeze arts and Latin dance but has chosen Belly Dance as her first love. Jessica has danced and taught in Sydney, Austraila and while there, had the opportunity to teach a community supported class for Aboriginal mothers to help build self-esteem and develop a creative outlet. She currently performs for private functions and occasionaly teaches for small women's groups in Portland. She is grateful to be a part of the extremely talented and beautiful group of women of troupe Raks Awalim.