Sharon Moore has studied many forms of dance and movement throughout her life including jazz, modern, ballet, and gymnastics. Her heart and soul, however, is in tribal style belly dance. At the onset into belly dance, she was skeptical about the entire art form. Still, she thought it would be fun to try; she never dreamed it would be her calling.
Sharon began taking classes with a Seattle dancer and instructor, Habib (now in Arizona), at a friend's encouragement. She found herself quickly enthralled by the dance. Since that day, she has studied with many local and international instructors including Aleili, Zaphara, Elizabeth Dennis, Cassandra Shore, and Paulette Rees-Denis. She eagerly pursues every opportunity to attend workshops and has had the joy of studying with seasoned performers such as Suhaila Salimpour, Dalia Carella, and Amel Tafsout.
Each teacher along the way provided Sharon a new style to explore, from Egyptian to American Cabaret, from Folkloric to American Tribal Style (ATS) and other fusion styles. Having had the opportunity to study these diverse styles of dance, Sharon has developed a deep respect for all interpretations of ancient dance. This respect inspired her to incorporate the many influences into her eclectic style of performance and instruction. She has gone on to become a certified instructor of the Gypsy Caravan tribal style, requiring a rigorous mentorship with director Paulette Rees-Denis; and as such, is the first certified tribal belly dance instructor in Washington State. She proudly admits that while her personal style is based largely on tribal improvisational styles, she continues to seek inspiration in all forms of Middle Eastern and related dances.
Sharon is highly active in the Seattle belly dance community, producing and performing at local events, organizing workshops and other educational opportunities in the Seattle area, and maintaining several informational web sites. She and a friend began the highly popular Hafla Shaqiq in 2001, which draws together dancers of all styles in a night celebrating the diversity of the dance. She hopes to foster education and understanding among dancers of different styles, helping to unite and strengthen the belly dance community in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Sharon loves teaching tribal belly dance and confesses it is one of her greatest joys. She holds several regular weekly classes in the Seattle area. Her instruction emphasizes the importance of technique as well as fun in dancing. In the last year, she has also branched outside the Seattle area to teach workshops in other cities.
Sharon also directs a student troupe, Shaia Tribe - Wild Tribal Belly Dance, who performs at student-friendly venues around the city. Participation in the group is open to all enthusiastic students that regularly attend classes. The Shaia Tribe's past performances have included Trollaween and the Q13 Morning News.
During the day, Sharon operates Mandala Tribal -- home of Kamikaze Costumes, offering hand-made tribal costumes and accessories. She was the official costumer to Gypsy Caravan from 2000-2003 and has spent her energies developing her business to provide a wide range of costumes and fusion accessories. She is also the author of the column Of The Tribe and has written several articles for the widely distributed tribal belly dance journal, Caravan Trails, from 2001-2003. Additionally, she has written articles for other publications such as The Gilded Serpent and The Tribal Bible by Kajira Djoumahna.
Sharon finds that the sense of community created with tribal belly dance is a uniquely beautiful and empowering force in her life, and is honored and thrilled to share this positive and transformative experience in any way she can. In addition to dance, Sharon tackles various home improvement and craft projects, goes out club dancing with her friends, designs web sites and graphics, and last but not least, makes time for her loving and supportive husband, Chris, and their two dogs, Gretchen and Loki.
1. What particular styles of Middle Eastern (ME) dance have you studied and who were your teachers for these different ME styles?
Most of my teachers have been fusion artists. I started with Habib, who dances mostly Egyptian, but with her own earthy twist. I also studied with Aleili, an original member of Northern California's Yaleil, who is a folkloric fusion artist that emphasizes Classical American Nightclub elements. I have had the pleasure to work regularly with some of our best local fusion talent, Elizabeth Dennis and Melissa Ruby, each with a their own fluid and passionate personal interpretation of belly dance. From there, I turned my focus largely to improvisational tribal style belly dance, studying the Gypsy Caravan technique under Paulette Rees-Denis.
I study Egyptian Raqs Sharqi each year at Oasis Dance Camp with the wonderful Cassandra Shore. This annual training, along with other valuable intensives and workshops I have attended, enables me to continue to develop my solo technique. The other workshops are with such talented dancers as Suhaila Salimpour, Dalia Carella, Heather Stants, Rachel Brice, Carolena Nericcio, and many others.
2. What ME dancers were most inspiring for you?
Every time I have my personal style pinned down, I find someone else who utterly blo presentation is the main difference, and specifically how that presentation is achieved. Tribal improvisation focuses and *relies* on the connection of the group. The group dance forces the dancers on stage to really see one another -- to be fully present in the moment and interacting with one another in the moment. If your focus on the group wanes or your energy becomes too internalized, then the group dance doesn't work. You can't go on autopilot. You are making art as the audience watches!
Although the unique effect of Tribal Improvisation is to unite the dancers and turn their attention inward, the focus and intent of the dance MUST shift when performing Tribal belly dance for the public. As a performer, one has a responsibility to their audience; so while the spirit of connectedness and energy projected inward to your "tribe" is vital to maintaining the unique energy and presentation of Tribal, one must learn to divide one's attention and energy to share with the audience. Much effort must be made to project outward to those who have come to watch, honoring their presence while still maintaining the synergy of the group on stage. This skill is one that only develops over much time and concentrated study of the art of group improvisation. I have found this to be a unique challenge in studying and teaching Tribal Improv.
I also find I have much more freedom to create within Tribal and
Tribal Fusion dance than in any other style I have studied. As a
contemporary dance form -- drawing from, yet unbound to, specific traditions
-- Tribal Fusion allows me to develop my own distinctive aesthetic with
a blend of diverse costume, music, and movement, forming a true mixture
of dance styles. I also enjoy the challenge of combining group improvisational
technique with the artistic possibilities of choreography. Through
this dance, I have the opportunity to fuse the old with the new, exploring
and adapting folkloric and modern influences, creating an eclectic and
constantly evolving art form that is personal to me and my "tribe."
In
Tribal, I have found the freedom to honor the history I love while
appealing to my own and my audiences' modern sensibilities.
I teach several classes a week in the North Seattle area, from Beginner to Intermediate leves. I also teach workshops around the US and Canada.
5. Do you regularly perform at particular places? If so, where?
My professional troupe, inFusion Tribal Belly Dance, performs monthly at The Capitol Club on Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA and semi-regularly at clubs in Pioneer Square. We also perform every year at Tribal Fest in Sebastopol, CA and Tribal Quest NW in Portland, OR.
6. Do you have any special events and/or workshops coming up in 2004?
April 23 -- Workshop in Bainbridge Island, WA
Contact Claudine for more information at thedancewithin@msn.com.
Contact Susan Jones for more information at sjones@co.yellowstone.mt.us.
May 15, 4:45 p.m. -- inFusion Tribal Performance at
Tribal Fest 2004 in Sebastopol, CA
For more information, visit
http://www.gildedserpent.com/ellencruz/tribalfest4info.htm.
May 29 - 30 -- Workshop in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Contact Carrie at info@icecubeimports.com
or visit
http://www.icecubeimports.com/pageworkshop.htm.
July 17 - 18 -- inFusion Tribal Performance at the Mediterranean
Fantasy Festival in West Seattle, WA.
For more information, visit http://babylonianensemble.com.
August 1 -- inFusion Tribal Performance at Tribal Quest Northwest
in Portland, OR.
For more information, contact Paulette Reis at 503-287-1794.