Spotlight Dancer/Troupe
Myryka

Myryka has a unique flair and there is a certain passion that seems to emanate from her soul. This could be a result of the numerous styles of dance that she specializes in. The first born child and grandchild, she was always entertaining the adults and thrived on the happiness that movement and music produced. A culturally diverse family encouraged her dancing and wild hip movements, but her mom put her in ballet and tap classes at age 5 at the recommendation of a dancer friend "to give her some technique." At 7 she added jazz and gymnastics to her list. Growing up in Las Vegas was a perfect location for her to use her talents and she was performing professionally as a magician's assistant at the age of 14. From 14-17 she became involved with break-dance and hip hop and actually performed with dance groups opening for DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN, Black Sheep, Dax EFX, Souls of Mischief and more. 

Wanting to be taken more seriously as a dancer, she set her sights on the most prestigious show on the Las Vegas Strip - Bally's Jubilee. Myryka attended her first big audition for Bally's at 16 years old. Because she was under 18, they could not hire her but the entertainment director, Fluff LeCoque, saw something special in her and encouraged her to come back and audition again and again and that when she was 18 she'd find a spot for her. She auditioned every 6 months for 2 years and just 2 months before her 18 birthday, Jubilee offered to hire her to understudy for the part of a "Blue Bell" so she could start the day she turned 18. 

From there Myryka worked in "American Superstars," an impersonator show at the Flamingo Hilton and for several events at Caesar's Palace. Later she toured with a large industrial show in Japan and cruise ships dancing for Carnival Cruise Lines. While touring the Caribbean, she wanted to have a reason to stay so she auditioned on her day off for the casino show in St. Maarten and secured a 6 month contract for that show and returned to live and work there and fell in love with the Caribbean and the people of the islands. Even Arizona's impersonator show "Showstoppers" held Myryka as a dancer when it was at the Red Mountain Theater in Mesa. 

Her introduction to belly dance was working as one of the notorious "Hand Maidens" that walked around Caesar's Palace and was invited to perform at the beautiful Bacchanal in Caesar's Palace. The dance studio Myryka danced at as a child and young teenager was owned by a renowned Egyptian belly dancer named Marliza Ponz, a belly dance legend and the shimmy queen of her time. She began training with Marliza at 17 and quickly fell in love with belly dance and the freedom and emotional connectivity that it provides. This provided her with a well-rounded pastiche of dance disciplines that boosted her career in dance. She has worked all over the world non-stop since. As far as belly dance is concerned, other instructors have included Suhaila, Mesmera, Athena (of Greece), Raqia Hassan, Dina, Randa Kamel, Soraya of Cairo, Doaa Salaam, and Momo Kadous as well as many others. Gathering ideas and techniques from years of study in other dance arts such as Latin ballroom, samba, hip hop, break dance, Afro-Brazilian, Flamenco with Margo Torea, Tribal Bellydance, Old-Time Burlesque, Reggae Dancehall, Capoeria, Japanese Fan Dance, and many others is what makes Myryka's performances and style so unique and unduplicatable. Her photos have been used on belly dance music CDs and she was featured in Amir Sofi's video "Es Mi Amir."

In 2006, Myryka won the BELLY DANCER OF THE UNIVERSE PEOPLE'S CHOICE & CONGENIALITY AWARDS in the Fusion Category. She has been encouraged to do more competitions but chooses to focus on working and traveling as competitions tend to take up too much time and, according to her, are "overrated." She tends to be outspoken and think outside the box to push the rules for dance to come up with innovative ideas and fresh, modern concepts and this sometimes comes with criticism that she claims is okay "as long as they spell my name right."

In between dance contracts, she worked as a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer since age 19 and spent many years putting together and managing group fitness programs for a large health club. Myryka also partners with an alternative dance fitness studio in Scottsdale and she offers several types of dance and fitness classes as well as personal training services. In addition to a busy teaching schedule, she performs 2-3 times per week around the valley at Middle Eastern night clubs and restaurants as well as weddings, birthdays, and corporate events and has her own magic, illusion and belly dance show that she tours with every December and books regularly for high end corporate gigs. Taking professional belly dance to a corporate level, Myryka has been hired as the "Resident Belly dancer" for the luxurious new resort and spa in Paradise Valley "Montelucia" and teaches and entertains for them regularly performing Oriental Dance for their upscale clientele. Circus arts have become a big passion for Myryka. She is currently training with a Russian gymnast and aerialist and performing "Spanish Web" and just turned down a contract from Cirque du Soleil as an aerial circus performer because she cannot travel for an extensive period of time right now. This is something she hopes to be able to fit in next year.

What else? Myryka is the President of Ebony Butterfly Productions, Inc. an entertainment booking agency that she started in 2005 to manage herself and her entertainment endeavors and has expanded to booking other dancers, musicians, and artists. In her spare time she likes to sew, read and research alternative forms of therapy and nutrition, watch cartoons like Boondocks and Family Guy. Several of her costumes are designed and made by her and she loves the challenges and creativity of costume making. 

With all this going on when does she relax and breathe? Whenever possible she likes to go to a spa and indulge in facials, massages, steam rooms, and pedicures - her favorite "off duty" activity. Myryka's long term goals are spending a day at a spa in every country someday. 

Contact Myryka:
website: http://www.myryka.com/
email: myryka@myryka.com

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