Upcoming Events

Spring Student Hafla Date TBA
Down East Bellydance & Drum Fest 2014

2014 Down East Bellydance & Drum Fest

See 2013's trailer on Facebook

Kaitlyn Bellydance and the Apsara Dancers proudly present the Down East Bellydance and Drum Fest 2014!

Save the Date: July 18th-20th 2014
Workshop Descriptions, Event Details and Registration COMING SOON!

If you are interested in performing or vending at DEB&DF please contact Kaitlyn@ kaitlynbellydance@gmail.com



Hampton Inn of New Bern is the Official Hotel for the Down East Festival.

2014 Down East Bellydance & Drum Fest Schedule

FRIDAY
Hafla Location: Mickey Milligans (same address as last year)
Get Ready for your Closeup (Jaki) 5-7PM
Drum Jam 7-8pm
Hafla 8-10pm

Saturday & Sunday Workshop location: Stanly Hall Ballroom

SATURDAY
Registration & Shopping Open: 8:30am
Spanish Fusion Bellydance (Maria): 9:30-11:30am
Maximizing Your Drum Solo (Kalaa): 11:45-1:45pm
Advanced Techniques (Dave): 11:45-1:45pm
Lunch and Shopping: 1:45-2:45pm
Fan Addict (Onca): 3:00-5:00pm
ITS Exposure (Sami Te): 3:00-5:00pm

Gala Show Location: Grover C. Fields Auditorium
Doors Open: 7:30pm | Gala Show: 8-10pm

SUNDAY
Registration & Shopping Open: 8:30am
Fundamentals of Folk Bhangra (Lavesh): 10:00am-12:00pm
Lunch and Shopping: 12:00-1:00pm
Fancy Foot Work & Traveling Combinations for the Modern Bellydancer (Yasmine): 1:00-3:00pm
Ensemble Drumming and Percussion (Dave): 3:15-5:15pm
Shopping Ends: 6pm

2014 Down East Bellydance & Drum Fest Pricing

*March Madness Special Pricing* $175.00 for the entire weekend of workshops only (March 1 through March 31)
Friday Hafla tickets: $5 online and $10 at the door
Saturday Gala Show tickets: $10 online and $15 at the door

SATURDAY
1 workshop: $45
2 workshops: $80
3 workshops: $105
All Day Saturday: $125

SUNDAY
1 workshop: $45
2 workshops: $80
All Day Sunday: $105.00

Saturday and Sunday Workshop Package Price: $225 w/ free t shirt
Entire Weekend Package Price: $245 includes free t shirt, free bag, 1 ticket to Gala Show

Pay with PayPal for DEB&DF

2014 Down East Bellydance & Drum Fest Instructors

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  Onca's Bio »

  Madame Onça, aka Onça O’Leary, is a career entertainer based on the East Coast. She travels internationally, teaching and performing dance, torch-songs, and stagecraft. Madame Onça produced the seminal TribOriginal: Tribal Dance, Music & Culture Camp for seven years. She continues the work of raising the bar and creating community with her long-standing ABSfest: the Americana Burlesque & Sideshow Festival in Asheville, NC, and the Virginia Burlesque & Sideshow Festival now in its second year in Richmond, VA. She owned a dance studio and folk-art center in Asheville, for seven years, directed an award-nominated dance company, and has traveled broadly as a solo artist, with the Mezmer Society and with the Accidental Circus. She is also an internationally published artist and author, with work translated into Spanish.It is her stalwart belief that “The greatest form of rebellion is joy.” Onca's Website

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  Kalaa's Bio »

  With over 20 years of dance experience, Kalaa brings grace and style to each of her performances. Specializing in classical Egyptian and cabaret styles, she enthralls audiences with her emotive interpretation of the music. Her award winning choreography and instruction have made her and favorite and well sought after dancer across the U.S.  Kalaa is a Certified Belly Dance Trainer and currently teaches workshops and intensives in Virginia Beach, VA. She is also the creative director of Saleema Habiba, a belly dance collective. Kalaa and Saleema Habiba perform professionally throughout Southeastern Virginia. Kalaa's Website

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  Sami Te's Bio »

  With Tribal Fusion Bellydance as the seat of her passion,  SamiTe’ delights audiences with her graceful yet dynamic abilities.  Whether on the ground, on fire, or dangling in the air, SamiTe’s performances are one of a kind! In 2008, SamiTe’ placed first runner up at the Bellydancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach, CA in the Tribal Fusion Soloist category.   Her style is rooted in traditional form fused with modern Tribal aesthetic. She began her training in the Jamila Salimpour format under the instruction of Conchi of Cincinnati, OH in the late 90′s.  She then moved to Santa Barbara, California and became immersed within music and dance culture with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble where she studied violin and folkloric dances of the Middle East under the musical direction of Dr. Scott Marcus and artistic direction of the infamous Alexandra King.  SamiTe’ then moved again to Sacramento and studied with Amy Sigil who she continues to seek training with.  SamiTe’ is a Sigil certified ITS Level 1 and 2 instructor. SamiTe’ now lives in Asheville, NC.  She teaches Tribal Fusion choreography classes as well as ITS and performs with her long time student, Stacey as half of Envidium Bellydance.  SamiTe’ is in high demand for instruction at festivals throughout the SouthEast. Sami Te's Website

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  Darbuka Dave's Bio »

  Darbuka Dave is considered an excellent instructor and performer by his contemporaries, known for technical precision and emotional expression on percussive instruments. He performs and teaches at shows and workshops throughout North America. Dave can also be found performing with his hometown music and dance ensemble, Lumani of Huntsville, AL, with the Day Late and Dollar Shortkestra, and with the Mezmer Society to name a few. His latest projects have been working with Carmine Guida to produce a great bellydance drum album, and performing and recording with the Medieval bagpipe band Brizeus, where you can see him rocking out on the Davul. Dave’s talents extend far beyond his skills as a percussionist. In addition to being a hilarious guy to stand next to at a party, he displays a wide range of other “talents”. 

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  Yasmine's Bio »

  Yasmine started at a young age with ballet, tap and jazz & then as an adult found Middle Eastern dance. Yasmine spent much of 2004 touring with the Bellydance Superstars performing in major cities around the United States as well as Barcelona, Spain and after touring teamed up with Master Tabla Player Issam Houshan, Karim Nagi (Turbo Tabla) and Carmine Guida in offering Drum & Dance workshops. Yasmine is primarily an American Cabaret Dance artist but enjoys performing all styles of Belly Dance as well as popular fusion dance styles and continues to focus on Egyptian Style with inspiration from master percussionist Souhail Kaspar as well as Modern Egyptian Styles with master dance artists from around the world.Yasmine is simply a dancer at heart and is well recognized for her dynamic movements, which she carefully extends to her students grooming them for their own spectacular performances. As well as being a sought after instructor due to her personable and fun teaching approach, Yasmine's distinct and energetic performance style captures the heart of her audiences with her own magic flair. Because of Yasmine's love of empowering women through movement and interest in women's health and fitness,  Yasmine became a certified Bellyfit® instructor and the first to bring this innovative fitness system designed for women to Charlotte NC. Yasmine is also AFAA certified as a Group Fitness Instructor. Some of Yasmine's accomplishments include being nominated in Zaghareet’s 2003 Golden Belly Awards as Best Kept Secret and as Instructor of the year in 2005. Yasmine was featured on the cover of the May/June 2007 issue of Zaghareet and has appeared as a guest artist for Dr. Samy Farag's 2008 & 2012 CD Release in Texas. In 2010, Yasmine was awarded runner up for Best Teacher in NAFOURA Magazine's Best Artists Awards. Yasmine's Website

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  Maria's Bio »

  Maria Palacio starting dancing at a young age with ballet and jazz.  Over time her passion for dance grew into other styles includin flamenco, traditional latin dances and more, performing at local latin festivals in South Carolina.   One day she saw a flyer offering bellydance classes at a local gym.  She started taking classes and was soon hooked.  She studied traditional oriental dance ”raq sharqi”, American Tribal Style® (ATS®) and tribal fusion.   She became a member of Delirium Tribal, a tribal bellydance troupe in Columbia, SC.  A few years afterwards, Maria pursued here solo career.  She is known for combining her spanish heritage and flamenco flare into her bellydance style.   She continues her dance education through workshops / intensives and private lessons with various instructors. Maria's Website

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  Lavesh's's Bio »

  Lavesh has been teaching Bhangra at Natya Academy since it opened in August of 2006. In the past 6 years, he has taught Bhangra to over 200 students of all ages in North Carolina. Lavesh learned India style competitive Bhangra from Master Gurinderbir Singh Chahal in 2010 - 2011. Master Ji was a captain and coach of PAU Agricultural University Bhangra team from the late 1990’s to mid 2000’s. He also created, captained, coached, and choreographed for 3 competitive Bhangra teams. Lavesh originally started Gabroo Alliance in 2007 and won first place at Gotham City Bhangra in NYC, NY in 2008. Among his other accomplishments, Lavesh then created a new all-live (dhol) team called Gajjde Gabroo, in 2008. Gajjde Gabroo competed at 4 competitions between 2008 – 2010: Apna Virsa Apna Punjab in Richmond, VA in 2009 (live), Texas Showdown in Dallas, TX in 2009 (live – first place), Pioneer Bhangra in Bay Area, California in 2010 (music), and Bhangra Masti in Toronto, Canada in 2010 (live). Lavesh decided to focus solely on teaching/coaching students and Natya Academy’s junior Bhangra team, Gajjdi Jawani. Gajjdi Jawani started in 2008 and consisted of high-school aged dancers from North Carolina. The team is primarily music, and has competed at 5 competitions between 2008 – 2012: Bhangra Allstars in Albany, NY in 2009, Dhol Di Awaaz in Bay Area, California in 2010, Big Apple Bhangra in NYC, NY in 2011, Virsa Punjab Da, in Durham, NC in 2012, and Big Apple Bhangra in NYC in 2012. He continues to coach Gajjdi Jawani today, and has also trained 6 associate teachers. Lavesh's Website

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  Jaki's Bio »

  Jaki is an award-winning photographer in the Atlanta area specialized in portrait, event, and dance photography.  She has been behind the lens for nearly 10 years and holds a degree in Commercial Photography.  As a life-long dancer, Jaki is passionate about capturing the beauty and artistry of dance movement and emotion.  Her dance training and knowledge of how to move allows her to instantly reveal her creative vision and creates a comforting and joyful environment that puts most dancers as ease within minutes.  Her photography style is upbeat and casual, with a touch of dramatic flair. In 2012, Jaki re-launched her photography business under the name Studio Jaki to incorporate her love of photography, art, dance, and music.  The studio is also home to the Jahara Phoenix Dance Company and Sherar, Jaki’s professional and student dance troupes, and to Tarabiya, a world music ensemble for women.

  
  
  

Vendors

Photography

Photo Shoots
Photo shoots will be available with Studio Jaki Photography during the 2014 festival: