Spotlight Dancer/Troupe
Artemis Tribal Dancers

Artemis Tribal Troupe is a fairly new group.  In just one year we've danced at various events and shows.  We've danced at Old World Deli in Corvallis, Albany Art and Air festival, World Beat Festival on the main stage with Americanistan, and Jeff Rees of Gypsy Caravan.  Artemis has also danced at First Wednesday in Salem for various businesses, including Dragon Fly Coffee Shop and Cafe Noir, just to name a few.

The dances we perform are a combined effort of creativity, where everyone has an opportunity to bring their own personal expression into the dance.  Sometimes the routine we start with isn't what we end up with. The dance we perform is ever evolving. We combine choreography and improvisational moves throughout. 

We take our performances seriously but that does not necessarily mean that we do not like to have a little fun every now and then. For example, our first official performance was for a Halloween party to the tune of "I Put A Spell On You."

Cira

I started taking belly dance classes in 1989. Prior to that I had absorbed my self in the world of ballet, spending time taking summer classes at the Danish School of Ballet in Seattle, and studying with Ivan Novikoff, who founded the Novikoff School of Russian-American Ballet. I would also sneak off and take classes with other teachers in the Salem area. I was completely obsessed and driven. I soon realized I had started ballet too late, and wasn’t the right body-type to go as far as I wanted to, and so, a new obsession was born—belly dancing.

I realized quickly that belly dance had a freedom to it that ballet didn’t. There weren’t so many rules, and waiting endlessly to get a solo performance. You were the premiere dancer in every show, as well as everyone else. So I went to the Salem YWCA and began taking classes from a dancer named Kisa, and we danced at local shows. I soon found out that there were other teachers in the area, and took from them as well.

After some years I started teaching my own classes. We did a New Years show at a local historic theater called the Elsinore, where they put on a family-style variety show. We also danced at many of the coffee shops and summer festivals throughout the Willamette Valley.

I then started taking classes from an instructor named Ruby Sowder in Vancouver, Washington. Ruby has been a great inspiration to me, and was good at putting all of the pieces together and teaching me how to be an entertainer. I joined her troupe, and we danced at many nightclubs in the Portland area, and flew to Nevada and California to compete. I also learned how to dance to live music, as she is great at bringing in musicians to play for her classes, and having us dance at restaurants to local live bands. In addition, I had the great fortune to dance for a prince of the Saudi royal family.

In the last twelve years, I have formed various troupes, the oldest of which is Sisters of the Desert Moon. From there I created an offshoot group named Jewels of the Desert Moon. Jewels are a group of ladies who enjoy dancing more cultural style dances, 9/8 skirt dance, tambourine, Greek line dance, cane, and other dances. The Jewels to me are one of my favorite troupes to work with. Another dance troupe is Artemis Tribal Dancers. I’ve had some experience in this style, but feel I am learning every day. It’s a challenge and a joy to work with these ladies, because they are creative and strong-minded. We have accomplished quite a bit in the short time we have been together. Both Jewels and Artemis dance annually at Worldbeat Festival, a local multicultural fair. This year we had the pleasure of dancing with Americanistan and a special guest appearance by Jeff Rees with Gypsy Caravan. Dancing on that stage with a live band is a very powerful experience. We have also danced at various restaurants and coffee shops in the area.

Through my experience teaching, I have had four of my student dancers take 1st place in Beginning category at the Bellydance USA competition, and Sisters of the Desert has come in 2nd for troupe category. I also have a student that is currently teaching at the local community college.

My goal for the future is to travel throughout the United States with my troupes, and have opportunities to perform and experience the local belly dance communities.

I also have a great husband who has helped me in many ways throughout this whole belly dance experience, and three children, two of which I had continued to dance and teach through their pregnancies. This has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next!

Izdihar

Until living in Cairo, Egypt in 2000, Izdihar didn’t know that belly dance even existed. She and an American friend learned of lessons to be conducted nearby, and so they went, not knowing what was in store. But the music, costuming, and just plain joy of this dance (not to mention the fact that they were in EGYPT!) were hard to resist. Her teacher was an American living in Cairo, who had been taught by a former member of Fat Chance Belly Dance. That was fun, but upon relocating to Salem, Oregon, Izdihar’s next teacher was Cira, who taught cabaret style, and that was fun, too. Three and a half years in Mesa, Arizona in classes conducted by Yasmina covered both styles.

Over the years Izdihar has attended workshops conducted by Carolena Nerricio, members of Gypsy Caravan, and others, and has learned much in style and philosophy. Izdihar has performed in various student shows, parades, some restaurant shows, and at other local venues both in Oregon and Arizona.

Currently back in Salem, Izdihar is again in classes taught by Cira, who last year started the tribal style troupe named Artemis. Artemis has danced at several local venues, but participating in the World Beat festival this summer for both the Saturday evening and Sunday morning (dancing to live music by Americanistan on Sunday) shows was particularly enjoyable.

Izdihar hopes to return to Cairo and meet with her teacher (Diana) to thank her in person for introducing her to the wonderful world of belly dance and all the enjoyment that participating in it has provided over the years.

Kathleen

When Kathleen decided to take a belly dance class two years ago it was mostly to have a fun way to get some exercise. Little did she know that within a year she would be the member of two troupes, performing at every chance, and that her house would be completely overtaken by beads, fabric, trims and the like.

Kathleen is an original member of both the tribal style Artemis and Jewels of the Desert Moon, a troupe that specializes in more culture-based dances, such as Turkish gypsy and Armenian folk dancing. Between these two troupes and the occasional solo, she has the opportunity to perform several times a month and at a variety of venues, including Salem's World Beat Festival held the last weekend in June.

Although she loves the bright costumes and lively dances that she and her fellow Jewels perform, it is the precision of movements, the exotic look, and the attitude of pride and tribe in Artemis that is her true 
calling. It is without a doubt a style that commands the attention, captivates the audience and the dancers alike. She looks forward to growing as a dancer and a troupe. And possibly getting all the costumes 
and supplies confined to one room.

Cassandra

I am typically a Cabaret dancer but joined the tribal group to have a sense of sisterhood. I enjoy going between the two styles of belly dancing very much. I would have to say that they each bring out a different side of me. Tribal the more serious me and cabaret the fun and hyper me. I have been taking cabaret classes for two year, performing for about a year and a half. I have been taking tribal classes for about a year and performing it since last October. I recently won my first competition in Canyonville, OR for Belly Dancer USA Beginner Category. The whole experience was uplifting and very positive. So all in all I am a belly dance addict and I am never stopping this amazing addiction of dance.

Sayyidah

6 years experience including Ede Schenkel in Corvallis and Cira.

Sayyidah means 'woman'.

Son named Cody.

Has danced at many venues:

Old World Deli
Marrakesh restaurant in Portland
Dragonfly Cafe
Cafe Noir

To contact Artemis:
Email:  cira10@comcast.net
Website: http://www.ciradance.com

To see Artemis in performance they are at Cafe Noir in Salem, OR the 3rd Saturday of the month.

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