A FatChanceBellyDance ® Sister Studio

Damiana Dance Company was co-founded in 2014 by Jen Cerdena and Cara Cressell in beautiful Washington State. Jen and Cara have been dancing and performing American Tribal Style® (ATS®) bellydance together since 2009 when they joined their dance sisters to form Davina Tribal Collective, in Northern Utah. Their love affair with ATS started in 2001 when Jen and Cara first experienced this innovative tribal art form. After their individual moves from Utah to Washington State in late 2012, Jen and Cara continued to dance together, remaining committed to learning and performing FatChance BellyDance (FCBD®) ATS®. They travel together, sharing and performing their love of ATS with audiences across the United States. ATS® is a modern style of improvisational belly dance created by Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman of San Francisco, CA. It is based on traditional, folkloric, and Indian movements. However, the name "American Tribal Style®" distinguishes this form of dance as a distinctly American invention, not a traditional style of belly dance. "Tribal Style" describes the dancers working together as a group with a "tribal" look. For more info about FatChanceBellyDance®, Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman, and American Tribal Style® belly dance, please visit: www.fcbd.com As co-directors of DamianaDanceCompany, Jen and Cara are both FCBD® Teacher Trained/Certified and hold Sister Studio status. Individually, they have different styles of dance experience that they bring to the troupe. They love ATS® and thoroughly enjoy sharing their love of it with the community. Jen anc Cara teach ATS® in Bellingham, WA as well as across the Seattle/Tacoma area. For more information, visit them on the web at http://DamianaDanceCompany.com.

Biography:

Extended Bio:

Brief Bio:

Damiana Dance Company was co-founded by Jen Cerdena and Cara Cressell in Washington State in 2014. Jen and Cara have been dancing and performing American Tribal Style® (ATS®) bellydance together since 2009 when they joined their dance sisters to form Davina Tribal Collective, in Northern Utah. Their love affair with ATS started in 2001 when Jen and Cara first experienced this innovative tribal art form. Jen and Cara remain committed to learning and performing FatChance BellyDance (FCBD®) ATS®. They travel together, sharing and performing their love of ATS with audiences across the United States. As co-directors of DamianaDanceCompany, Jen and Cara are both FCBD® Teacher Trained/Certified and hold Sister Studio status. Individually, they have different styles of dance experience that they bring to the troupe. They love ATS® and thoroughly enjoy sharing their love of it with the community. Jen anc Cara teach ATS® in Bellingham, WA as well as across the Seattle/Tacoma area. For more information, visit them on the web at http://DamianaDanceCompany.com.

Workshops:

American Tribal Style Sword Workshops:

American Tribal Style Workshops: (Dancers should know basic slow FCBD ATS vocabulary for all ATS workshops, including Taxeem, Bodywave, Hand Floreo, Arm Undulations, Reverse Turn, Egyptian, Arabic, Shimmy Step, Pivot Bumps, and Choo-Choos. Advanced classes may include Volume 7 and 9 FCBD vocabulary. Dancers should be comfortable working in formations for advanced classes.) Recommended level: ALL LEVELS WELCOME DRAMATIC CLASSIC ATS - Dramatic slow, elegant arms, and fantastic floreos (2 hours): Learn the keys to making your slow ATS set dramatic and captivating on stage. This class will focus on bringing dynamic drama to your slow ATS® performance. Recommended level: INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED POWER OF THE TWO (2 hours): Power Duet is one of the highlights in any ATS performance set. Utilize all of your knowledge and skills to make this part of the set spectacularly fun! In this class you will get some secrets and tips to making your Duet performance more dynamic and exciting. ATS FLOORWORK -DUET STYLE (2 hours): Uncover the dynamics of ATS® floorwork with duets to add the punch to your power duet! This class will focus on floorwork and modifications in duets. Dancers should be comfortable with basic slow FCBD ATS® vocabulary. Some volume 7 vocabulary recommended, but not necessary. FORMATIONS, FADES, DUELING DUETS, AND TRICKY TRANSITIONS (2 hours): Design and illusion is a big part of the art of ATS®! Let’s explore variations – easy and challenging – of movement and flow between basic formations and the depth in design created with Fades. We will cover some basic concepts of fading and transitions, break down a couple fast combinations that include fades and ultimately transition into the exciting and creative Dueling Duets then drill, drill, drill! Must have proficiency of Vol. 1 & 4. Level 3/Vol. 7 knowledge is helpful, but not required. This is for advanced level dancers.

(Dancers should know basic slow FCBD ATS vocabulary for all ATS sword workshops, including Taxeem, Bodywave, Hand Floreo, Arm Undulations, and Reverse Turn. Advanced classes may include Volume 7 and 9 FCBD slow vocabulary. Dancers should be comfortable balancing a sword on their head for advanced classes. DULLED SWORDS ONLY IN ALL WORKSHOPS!) Recommended level: BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE BASIC ATS SWORD-WORK: LOOKIN’ SHARP (2 hours): This belly dance workshop explores the fundamentals and techniques of showcasing sword work in your dance performance! We will introduce basic concepts in sword handling and care, talk about body conditioning, and explore variations of slow ATS® vocabulary with a sword! The movements and combinations presented in this workshop can be used in solo or group improvisation as well as choreography. All styles and levels welcome! Join us as we explore the fierce and elegant nature of the dramatic sword dance! You will need to know and be able to execute the basic ATS slow vocabulary: Taxeem, Bodywave, Hand Floreo, Arm Undulations, and Reverse Turn. Recommended level: ADVANCED FANCY FLOORWORK - HOW’D YOU GET DOWN THERE? (2 hours): Learn how to bring the “wow factor” to your ATS® sword set with floorwork! This class will focus on floorwork with ATS sword modifications including transitions to and from the ground. You will need to know and be comfortable with balancing a sword on your head. Knee pads recommended for this class. SWORD DUETS - POWER DUET WITH AN EDGE (2 hours): A look inside making strong and solid sword duets to dazzle your audience. This class will uncover some of the secrets of making a dynamic sword duet to keep your audience on the edge of their seats! You will need to know and be able to execute basic and advanced ATS slow vocabulary.

Photos:

PHOTO: Chris Yetter WWW.CJYPHOTO.COM NW Folklife Performance (2014)

PHOTO: Drumroll Studios Skinny Dip Performance, Seattle, WA (2014)

PHOTO (left and below): Donna Reed Serpents Muse Performance, Cues & Tattoos 2014

Performance Introduction: Damiana Dance Company is a collaboration of FatChance BellyDance Sister Studios based in Washington State. Co-founded by Jen Cerdena and Cara Cressell in 2014, Damiana Dance Company is dedicated to learning and performing American Tribal Style belly dance as created by Carolena Nericcio of San Francisco, CA as well as their own ATS sword vocabulary. Jen Cerdena is a Sister Studio in based in Tacoma, WA and Cara Cressell is based in Bellingham, WA. Together, they aim to warm your heart with their love of ATS, bringing their own edge to the vocabulary! Please welcome Damiana Dance Company!

Video Links:

Cues & Tattoos (2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2udMFSJMU9c&feature=youtu.be JamBallah NW (2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q16_LuMZoI Skinny Dip “Speakeasy” Show (2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3P8LQ-groc&feature=youtu.be Skinny Dip “Dressed to Kill” Show (2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqFo4G5ZSqE Tacoma Bellydance Revue (2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCjN2RD2GQ0