Kajira teaches and performs dance full-time.  Her art is her passion and anchor in today's tumultuous world, and sharing the art is her priority.  Through dance and music, Kajira finds that people around the world can transcend their differences and overcome perceived boundaries to achieve oneness and joy.  Besides teaching ATS Bellydance, Kajira is also a Reiki Master Teacher and incorporates that skill into all that she does. 

She is the Director of BlackSheep BellyDance (formerly United We Dance), a professional performance company, and Owner of BlackSheep BellyDance, a production company.  Through BlackSheep BellyDance, Kajira co-produces the acclaimed themed festival, Tribal Fest, held annually in May.  In only its third year, Tribal Fest attracted attendees from around the North American continent as well as far off places including Australia.  That year, Tribal Fest also won "Best Event," and Ellen Cruz and Kajira won "Best Promoters" in Zaghareet! Magazine's annual Golden Belly Awards.

Kajira has taught several ongoing group classes each week for over eight years in Rohnert Park, CA.  She has also taught seminars throughout the U.S. for over six years and has regularly instructed aboard a cruise ship for four years.  The Spring of 2004 will be her last teaching session in CA.  The Rohnert Park classes will continue in her format; however, they will be taught by professional troupe members.  Kajira will offer new classes on the island of Maui after relocating to Hawaii in July/August 2004.

Performing highlights include all of the events above as well as for Rakkasah West in Richmond, CA (touted as the world's largest Middle Eastern dance festival) for several years; Tribal Fest since its inception; University of California at Davis, CA; Sonoma State University, CA; and the Golden Disk Awards (produced by the Northern California Disk Jockey Association).

Kajira has been recognized with the coveted "Best Instructor Award" from the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (IAMED) and with a Magic Lantern Award from the Bellydancer of the Universe Pageant (as a judge, Kajira was given this award for "outstanding achievement in Middle Eastern dance and arts.)”  Finally, she has been nominated for "Best Instructor" in Zaghareet! Magazine's annual poll for 2001, 2002 and 2003. 
 
 
 
 

1.  What particular styles of Middle Eastern dance (ME) have you studied?

I've tried everything: traditional Arabic, Turkish, Egyptian nightclub styles, a bit of Lebanese, as well as a special interest in the folkloric and Romani-related forms from the aforementioned countries.  I've delved deeper into the Ghawzee, Saiidi and Fellahin styles of the Egyptian countryside.  I've studied American Classical extensively as well as American Tribal Style.  The latter is my specialty.  I also study and perform two other specialties: Turkish Oriental- Romani and Moroccan Guedra. 

2.  Who were your teachers for the ME styles?

My first influencial teacher is TerriAnne, who currently is the house dancer at the prestigious Pasha's Restaurant in San Francisco. Other very influential teachers I've had are Elizabeth Artemis Mourat, Delilah, Carolena Nericcio, Morocco, Suhaila Salimpour and Dalia Carella.  Other teachers I've studied with but consider somewhat lesser influences are Laurel Victoria Gray, Eva Cernik, Jamila Salimpour, Paulette Rees-Denis, Amel Tafsout, Amina Goodyear, Alnisa, Mesmera and others. 

3.  What ME dancers were most inspiring for you? 

Artemis Mourat, Carolena Nericcio and Delilah

4.  If your specialty is something other than ME, such as tribal or American Cabaret, what differences do you see between the different ME styles and your preferred dance style?

With ATS, you are not bound by another culture's "rules" for propriety.  Thus, there is much more freedom to create without artificial boundaries (real or not) and simply the freedom makes it more fun to perform.  Also with ATS, the group improvisation is something that cannot be described and give it justice.  This is the only dance form that uses synchronized group improv.  This one factor changes everything - the dynamics between the dancers and the audience are completely different.  Another reason I enjoy my American style more than traditional forms is that I feel much more empowered and less "cutesy" or vulnerable.  The more secure feeling is partly due to the power in the movements, the higher center of gravity and the less revealing, overtly sexy costuming.

5.  Do you teach classes?  If so, where? 

I teach 4 classes a week in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, CA.  All group classes are ATS.  I offer 2 Level Ones, 1 Level Two, and 1 Level Three each week.

Yes, we [BlackSheep BellyDance] perform ATS with a traditional Greek band at Papa's Taverna Greek Restaurant in Petaluma, CA, monthly. We also perform every year at Tribal Fest and at numerous other festivals in Northern California. We perform regularly at private events as well.

7.  Do you have any special events and/or workshops coming up in 2004? 

Absolutely!  The four "biggest" things are a workshop in Riverside, CA in January;

[January 18, 2004 - Kajira Djoumahna, Rachel Brice, Heidi (Jazille) and Mahalia in workshops.  Contact Mahalia at 909-685-4435 or qismah@hotmail.com for more information.]

[May 14-16, 2004 - TRIBAL FEST 4
For more information, visit http://www.blacksheepbellydance.com/events.html]

[May 28-31, 2004 - Kajira Djoumahna is one of the instructors at the Middle East Folk Tours Camp in PA. For information, contact Artemis at 301-565-8891, extension 3 or artemisdances@yahoo.com; or visit http://www.folktours.com.]

[July 9-12, 2004 - Kajira Djoumahna teaching ATS Workshops at the Castle of Rothenfels in Munich, Germany.  For more information, contact Amira at amiramona@gmx.de.]