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Mas Uda Middle Eastern Dancers |
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Passage to India Just for Fun |
Meet The Mas Uda Dancers... ~See the Rent a Dancer and Bellydance Party info at the bottom of the this page~ Kashani, Troupe Director
Kashani
began dancing with Mas Uda Middle Eastern Dancers in 1989 and began
directing Mas-Uda in early 1992. Prior to that, she took
belly
dance classes from a variety of instructors and danced with other local
groups. She has taught beginning, intermediate and
performance
classes since 1992 in a variety of settings: wellness
programs at
workplaces, the YMCA, city parks departments, ballet schools, work
sites and at her private studio. She is a staff writer
(teaching
tips column) for the Belly Dancer magazine now online as ishimmy.com
and staff writer (troupe
talk) for Jareeda (www.jareeda.com). She was
Jareeda’s featured
dancer for
September 2005. She is also a member of the Middle Eastern
Dance
Association of Canada.
Kashani is known for her interest in the culture and music of the Middle East and for including this in her teaching. She offers workshops in zills, in troupe management and many other topics and feels that knowledge of the rhythms is essential to learning the dance itself. She also hosts monthly rhythm circles and is the scheduler for dancers at The Great Cuisine of India restaurant in Olympia. Kashani LOVES to dance and really enjoys the camaraderie that develops among the dancers. For more info, contact Kashani at (360)459-3694 or berubej@comcast.net  Amahra 
Ayla Kalyna
 Ayla Kalyna has always enjoyed dance, but spent most of her life enjoying it secretly, like dancing while cooking (if she thought no one was watching). Then she finally gave in to her strong desire to take bellydance classes. And she's very glad that she did! Ayla doesn't actually remember where her original interest in bellydance stems from, but she recalls a class in elementary school where she learned folk dances. In the Greek dance she learned, she was overjoyed at being allowed to wear a coin belt. From then on, she has liked to dance with "jinglies" which of course are plentyful in bellydance. The women of Mas Uda are a great group of ladies who have encouraged and nurtured her creativity and individuality. Dancing with Mas Uda has helped to instill a new confidence in her, and has helped her to grow as a person (working on stage fright, for one thing). She has even taken the lead on a special "alternative" dance project for the group. Cindy  Originally from New York, Cindy has lived in nine states in the past twenty-five years. She started taking Jazz as an adult and fell in love with all kinds of dance. She has taken various styles including Ballroom and Latin as well as Middle Eastern Dance. Having moved to Washington in 2006, Cindy began dancing with Mas Uda in January 2007. She would like to thank Mas Uda for welcoming her and making her part of their family. She looks forward to many exciting adventures with her new found dance sisters. Cindy is currently the web mistress for Mas Uda.
Jumhira  Jumhira is originally from Vancouver, WA. After getting married, having two boys and following her husband on many adventures including college and job opportunities, she and her family have finally settled down in Olympia. While living for a little over a year in Bothell, WA, Jumhira walked into a turkish treasure shop and saw flyers for belly dancing classes. After her first class, she knew she had found a wonderful treasure in the dance itself. She was able to take classes there for a little over four months when life struck again and she and her family moved to Olympia. The first thing she did was look for another dance class and as fate would have it, the only class available to work with her and her husbands schedule was Kashani's beginner class. She started those lessons in June of 2008 and has never looked back! She has absolutely fallen in love with the dance, the costumes, the culture and especially the fantastic group of women she has come to know as, "Mas Uda". Khalida  Khalida has been dancing with Mas Uda since her first round of classes with Kashani. She is part Gypsy, which is what originally led her to belly dancing, as well as her love of dance in general - she has had three years of experience with ballet and one year with Celtic Sword Dancing and East Coast Swing. Khalida is not just a dancer for Mas Uda, she is also a musician and photographer for the troupe, because of her experience as a percussionist for seven years and a photographer for five. She feels very grateful to be part of such an amazing group of dancers, and thanks them dearly for accepting her into their lives.
Magda
Michelle, or Magda the Mischievous as she has been deemed, has danced with Mas Uda for almost a year. She began dancing two years ago when she was urged by a good friend to try belly dancing and decided to take classes through Lacey Parks and Rec. Soon, wanting more instruction she decided to enroll with Kashani in her beginner class. The excitement of going to class blossomed into a passion that has become part of her life. Magda also has four kittens and is a tatoo consultant in her spare time.
Marhaba
Marhaba has studied dance for quite some time and currently takes class from various teachers in a variety of styles, including tribal. Marhaba enjoys taking as many workshops as she can and is also an avid quilter. She can be counted on to find whatever fabric or trim the troupe needs to complete a specific costume piece. She is a wonderful addition to our troupe, and we all want to raid her costume closet!!!
Samira  I started taking classes from Kashani in September 2007 and started performing with Mas Uda in April of 2008. I dance with a wonderful group of ladies and I get to satisfy my creative side by making some of my costumes. I'm looking forward to many fun times with the troupe. Samira is currently our costume consultant. Shamballa 
Former Troupe Members Aleedra
Aleedra danced with Mas Uda until 1996. See her website for more info on this former troupe member. http://www.aleedra.com Amira
Amira is off at grad school and doesn't get home to dance with us much. Ginger
Ginger danced with Mas Uda for two years and has moved on to other dancing experiences. Janaan Janaan danced with us for more than 7 fabulous years and has now moved on to the adventures of college. Ketzia
Kimana  Mas Uda thanks Kimana for her excellent work as our costume consultant and for hosting many sewing projects and workshops. We wish her well in all future endeavors.
Mirabai danced with Mas Uda until 1991. See her website for more info on this former troupe member. http://www.raks_mirabai.fastmail.fm/ Rayya
Rayya is busy with work and grandchildren now but still helps out behind the scenes at our April Benefit. We hope she'll perform with us again sometime! Razilee Razilee has recently become a mom and we hope some day she'll be able to rejoin us. Ruby
Sanura
After 6 years with Mas Uda Sanura is excited to explore new dance styles. We thank her for a great job as Mas Uda's web mistress. Shoshanna
Shoshanna
recently moved on to other avenues of dance. We
thank her
for her work as a Mas Uda Costume Consultant.
Tajah Tajah
and her friend Zara are the co-directors of Raks Saar-Rah, in the
Centralia area. We miss them both! Triskell Triskell danced with Mas Uda for a couple of years and has moved on to try other styles of dance. Yeliz
Yeliz has moved on to other dancing adventures. We thank her for her work as a Mas Uda Costume Consultant. Zara-Neva Zara-Neva teaches at Centralia College and The Flying Tiger Exercise Arts Center in Centralia. She is co-director of Raks Saar-Rah. Zemira Zemira became injured and had to make some difficult choices. She is no longer dancing with us, but is enjoying weaving once again. We miss her dearly!
For more info, contact Kashani (360)459-3694 |
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Copyright
1999-Present Questions or comments about the website? Email Cindy |
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