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The 2008 Arabesque Belly Dancing Competition in San Diego took place
on Saturday, December 13th.
A message from the Founder:
This was our second annual event, and it was such a great success. We were so lucky to have Tonya and Atlantis at our event and look forward to having them here again.
During this event, contestants and performers from many places, including countries as close as Mexico and as far away as Germany, Brazil, and Argentina, entertained us not only with beautiful belly dancing performances, but also with Tango, Flamenco, and Samba, among others. These performances made our event a great artistic success, and the efforts of our judges and volunteers made it a smooth one.
We then had the Showcase, featuring Atlantis, Ana, Sabrina, and Sabrina Fox, followed by the Awards Ceremony. The awards were presented to the winners by our guest judge Tonya, and the 1st place winner of our 2007 Cabaret Soloist Category, Sabrina.
Thank you and we hope to see you all again in 2009.
M Reza Mashayeki, Founder
Arabesque Belly Dancing Competition
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The following judges and instructors, listed alphabetically, helped make our event a great success:
Judges:
Ana, Atlantis, Melanie Dellas, Patrisha Gutierrez, Heather Stants, and Tonya.
Instructors:
Sabrina Fox, Frank Lazzaro, Kirti Srivastava, and Heather Stants.
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The winners of "The 2008 Arabesque Belly Dancing Competition" in San Diego
As far as we're concerned, all contestants are always winners and we wish them success. The list of the top three in each category is shown below, followed by more detailed introductions.
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| Up-and-Coming |
| 1st Place |
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Cassia
Originally from San Diego, Cassia is a new dancer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the newest member of the Near Eastern Dance Company of Berkeley, Ca, practicing under Pepper Alexandria, since August of 2007. She loves the beauty and mystery that surrounds this dance form.
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| 2nd Place |
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Jessica Steed
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| 3rd Place |
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Lorelei
Lorelei is a student of Yasmina's dancing out of Tempe, Arizona. She has studied ballet, jazz, modern, and cabaret styles of dance. Dance has always been an important part of her life and although she just started studying Tribal Fusion a few months ago, it has quickly become a new passion.
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| Top |
| Tribal |
| 1st Place |
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Carolina
Carolina has been studying tribal fusion belly dancing for almost a year, and performs at various social events in Ensenada, Baja California. Dancing has been her passion since she was a child.
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| 2nd Place |
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Alejandra
Alejandra began taking dance classes at her hometown of Mexicali when she was 6. She studied ballet, modern hip hop, and jazz, and later took Latin Rhythm dance lessons with the Cuban teacher Vladimir López, until she discovered belly dancing at 18. Tribal Fusion style of dancing is what she loves most.
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| 3rd Place |
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Marissa
Marissa has been belly dancing for over 5 years and has performed throughout Southern California. In 2007, she placed 3rd in the veil category at the Arabesque Belly Dancing Competition. She’s been concentrating on the Egyptian style over the last two years, and is currently dancing with “Sands of Arabia” in San Diego.
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| Top |
| Cabaret |
| 1st Place |
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Sumaia
Sumaia has performed in Argentina, Mexico, and United States. Her mentor was Master and Dancer Amir Thaleb, who helped her develop a solid artistic knowledge of dancing. She's currently residing and performing in San Francisco, California.
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| 2nd Place |
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Marissa
Marissa has been belly dancing for over 5 years and has performed throughout Southern California. In 2007, she placed 3rd in the veil category at the Arabesque Belly Dancing Competition. She’s been concentrating on the Egyptian style over the last two years, and is currently dancing with “Sands of Arabia” in San Diego.
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| 3rd Place |
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Regine
Regine is a teacher and performer of Middle Eastern Dance based in the Los Angeles area where she also directs and choreographs for her dance company, Babylon Mood. She is a three-time Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition Trophy winner and the recipient of a California Excellence in Arts Award. Regine also teaches and performs Mexican Folklorico, Aztec Dance, Polynesian Dance and Flamenco.
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The following Guest Performers helped make our event a great success.
| Aziza Sa’id | The Cleopatra Club, Riverside, CA
(909) 518-5224
www.ZillTech.com |
| Badeah | Badeah Shirazi, PerformerBShirazi@Cox.net |
| Cantara | Cantara, Performer
858-414-2447 |
| Christine | Christine Beuk, Performer
Germany |
| Claudia Lyra | NØS DE CHITA (Knaws * g * she * tah)Brazilian Cultural Performances, Dances and Rhythms
619-519-9042
claudia.lyra@gmail.com |
| Estrella | Estrella Ellison, Instructor
760-715-5737
www.estrellabellydancer.com |
| Farhana | Farhana Masri
DancEgypt productions
714-351-7318
http://farhanamasri.multiply.com |
| Frank Lazzaro | Frank Lazzaro, Musician, Drumming instructor
760-703-1487
www.frankdrums.com |
| Jayna | Jayna Kouzouyan, Performer and Instructor
Jayna_bo_baina@yahoo.com
| | Juanita Franco | Director, Academia de Baile Español
619 275-4618
Juanita Franco's Academia de Baile Español |
| Marula | Belly Dancing Performer, Producer, and Judge
http://www.gobellyfit.com |
| Marzue | Folklore Dancing Musician and Performer
760-458-3521
marzue@gmail.com |
| Natasha Ridley | The Natasha Ridley Collection
619-206-3750
nridley00@gmail.com |
| Nour al Shams | Hapzibhe Studio-Tijuana, Mexico
Maryam, Director |
| Pakita | Belly dancing instructor and director of Enchantresses of the Desert
Telephone: (951)235-4553
paqpet@yahoo.com |
| TANGOCENTRIC | Kirk Parker and Erica Mendelson
888-796-9670
www.myspace.com/tangocentric
info@susanlakeproductions.com |
| Tarciana | Tarciana, Dancing Instructor, Brazilian Style
858-361-5200
tarcianaq@hotmail.com |
| Tjarda Vanstrattan | Uzume Dance Company
Amsterdam, Holland |
| Valentina | Valentina Martin, Instructor, Hoop and Belly Dancing
Unitydances@gmail.com |
| Yuliana | Yuliana, Performer |
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