Deshret Dance Company - Biography
Ariellah~
Ariellah studied classical ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance of London for twelve years, beginning at age three. After a four-year break from dance that included two years in the Peace Corps on Africa's Ivory Coast, she returned to the United States eager to learn the dance of her Moroccan ancestry.
Ariellah is an international performer and instructor of fusion belly dance. She has studied and performed belly dance for the past eight years, both with Janine Ryle of Danse Mahgreb and as a founding member of The Indigo with Rachel Brice. Her style infuses many genres of belly dance, all with a modern dark flavour that is uniquely her own. She is featured on many DVDs, including the first of its kind "Gothic BellyDance" DVD and her first instructional DVD, "Contemporary BellyDance and Yoga Conditioning" and she also won first place in Siren's Insanity belly dance competition in 2004. She is considered a leader in the innovative new genre of Dark Fusion Belly Dance and is known for her strong technique, precision of movements and her artistry. www.ariellah.com
Molly~
Molly is a lifelong dancer who spent her early years training in tap, ballet, jazz and modern dance. She began belly dancing in 2001, studying a mix of cabaret and American Tribal Style throughout her college years in Bloomington, IN. During that time she performed with a number of local dance troupes before collaborating with two of her peers to form Dark Side Tribal, which continues to offer classes locally in Tribal belly dance and to perform around the Midwest. In 2006 Molly moved to the Bay Area for graduate school and began taking Ariellah’s tribal fusion classes soon after. She joined Deshret in 2007 and continues to hone her abilities as a soloist in addition to performing with the company. When not dancing, Molly can be found behind a sewing machine, and her costume creations have been known to find their way onto her troupe mates from time to time.
Molly@deshretdance.com
Erebus La Voie~
Early in her dance career Erebus La Voie studied traditional Egyptian Cabaret in Solano County. It was at the renowned Northern California belly dance festival “Tribal Fest” that she saw the Indigo perform for the first time in 2005. Completely infatuated with the technique displayed by these dancers and awestruck by their exquisite costumes, a new quest for dance inspiration began. Living in the Mecca of the tribal belly dance scene she sought out inspiration and teaching from such tribal fusion dance instructors Rachel Brice and Jill Parker. In 2006 she found her true kindred spirit in dance, Ariellah.
A life long obsession with all things dark, she embraces the opportunity to entertain fusing her gothic sensibility with belly dance.
Jennifer@deshretdance.com
Lisa~
Lisa began her bellydance training under the watchful eye of the incomparable Mesmera in Los Angeles where she gained a solid foundation in the classic resturant/cabaret style of dancing. A few years later she traded her coin belt for a tassel belt and joined the dark side of fusion after moving to the Bay Area. She has covered the the California coast dancing in festivals and street faires occupying the coveted, " we have no idea who you are and if you can dance " 11:00am spots. Lisa also enjoys studying ATS style dance, yoga, and collecting just about anything that existed before 1950.
Lisa@deshretdance.com
Nayun~
Natalie Rutiezer fell in love with belly dance in 2003 after she first saw it performed at a restaurant in Santa Fe, New Mexico and has been dancing ever since. Natalie studied intensively with Myra Krien for two years before moving to the Bay Area to continue her study of belly dance with some of todays top dancers including Ariellah Aflalo, Mira Betz, Zoe Jakes, Nanna Candelaria, and many more. She is a founding member of Deshret Dance Company and has performed in some of the top venues in the bay area and beyond. Having relocating back to Santa Fe in 2008, Natalie is currently the Managing Director of Pomegranate studios and teaches the youth mentorship program Pomegranate SEEDs. As an artist and performer, she fills the dance with beauty, splendor, and grace.
Natalie@deshretdance.com
Alumni
Predslava~
Predslava came to belly dance in 2004 with no prior dance background. Her introduction and subsequent addiction to the dance form occurred under Mina of Dalloua Dance Company. Two years later, an attraction to tribal fusion and a natural inclination towards the dark side of belly dance brought her to Ariellah. She liked it there. She stayed.
Predslava has been performing with Deshret Dance Company (DDC) since its inception in 2007, and is an instructor at DDC workshops. Her martial arts background has been an inspiration in exploring internal practices and body awareness topics. When not dancing, she can be found painting in her art studio or hiking in the hills.
Predslava@deshretdance.com
Grace~
Grace began belly dancing in 2001. She began performing with Frederique of Belly Groove and Rachel Brice of the The Indigo. Grace and Ariellah met while dancing with The Indigo in 2003, and since then have performed as a duet and in troupes. Grace also performs as a soloist, and in collaboration with other artists and companies.
Besides belly dance, Grace also has performed hip hop and salsa. She’s been featured as a dancer in music videos, TV, and film. She’s been honored to choreograph and collaborate with world-renowned choreographers Gabriel Romero of Mambo Romero Latin Dance Theater and Carla Service of Dance-A-Vision Entertainment (hip hop).
Forever a student of the arts, Grace regularly takes classes, in ballet, salsa, martial arts, yoga, tango, modern, and jazz. She especially enjoys ethnic dances, including Flamenco, Balinese, Indian, Cuban, Brazilian, Polynesian, and African dances.
Known for her alien-like belly rolls and sharp hits and locks, Grace is sought after as a choreographer, performer, and instructor. To contact Grace, email SSerpentsKiss.