Facilitator bios

Carolena Nericcio

Carolena is the originator of American Tribal Style Belly Dance (ATS) from which all Tribal Fusion is born. ATS is method of improvisational choreography, using a vocabulary of natural movements and cues allowing the dancers to communicate via gesture when dancing together. The effect is a vibrant thread drawing the audience into the tapestry.

Her troupe, FatChanceBellyDance, is a Bay Area phenomenon that has become known around the world. Audiences delight at the exuberance, vitality, beauty and power expressed by the strong and agile dancers. The majestic costuming, including full headdresses and layers of ethnic jewelry, celebrate the folkart of the old world. The music, a carefully chosen collection of both traditional sounds and modern fusion adds to the effect...Tribal Style looks "old" but it is actually "new."

Cera Byer

Cera (with a "C") has been studying dance, music, and theater since the age of 4. Her dance experience includes Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Afro-Haitian, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Kathak of India, Dunham Technique, Salsa, Samba, Tribal Bellydance, classical and contemporary Persian dance, Flamenco, and most recently, Capoeira.

In addition to being the founder and Artistic Director of Damage Control Dance Theater, Cera has performed professionally with Shahrzad Dance Company (Classical and Contemporary Persian dance), PULSE Modern Dance Ensemble (Modern), Ultra Gypsy Dance Theater Company (Innovative Tribal Fusion Bellydance), Rara Tou Limen (San Francisco's only Carnaval contingent representing Haiti), as well as presenting her solo choreography in festivals, concert stages, lecture demonstrations, and private events across the United States.

Cera holds a BA in Dance (Performance and Choreography), with an emphasis in World Music and Dance from San Francisco State University, and certifications in Group Fitness Instruction (YMCA) and Pilates Mat (Sanchez St. Studios). Cera owns and operates ShoeBox Studio in San Francisco, where she teaches daily classes in Pilates, Yoga, and Dance. www.shoeboxsf.com.

Deb Rubin

A dancer trained in many styles, since a very young age, Deb Rubin's journey into Tribal Fusion Belly Dance began 8 years ago when she wandered in to Jill Parker's class in San Francisco, and was hooked. The ancient rhythms, serpentine movements, contemporary fusion elements, and the tribal comraderie of class all resonated deeply in her soul, and she never looked back. Deb's solid foundation of Tribal Fusion was cultivated through 5 years as a performer and co-choreographer with the legendary, trend-setting Ultra-Gypsy Belly Dance Theater, and as a regular sub for Jill Parker's classes, who is known by many as the "mamma of modern tribal fusion". Deb's style and approach to the dance are also heavily influenced and inspired by her extensive studies with her other main teacher--Rachel Brice-- over many years, as well as Mardi Love, Zoe Jakes, Suhaila Salimpour, Heather Stants, Cera Byer, Kami Liddle, FCBD, and others. She had the honor of assisting Rachel Brice at her week long Tribal Massive Intensive, 2008.

Currently, Deb teaches and performs internationally, sharing her yogic approach and signature stylization of this art form. She is honored to have performed and collaborated with the live musical talents of Balkan Beat Box, Beats Antique, EOTO, Brass Menagerie, Vibesquad, Lynx & Janover, Fishtank Ensemble, Govinda, Hamsa Lila, Goddess Alchemy Project and others, as well as dancing as a guest artist with Urban Tribal Dance Co.

The founder of SattyaBody, and the producer of SF Mecca Immersion, Deb is also a yoga teacher, massage therapist, and holistic health educator, specializing in injury rehab for dancers, and women's health. She is greatly influenced by her studies of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage in the hill tribes of northern Thailand, her Yoga trainings with Integrative Yoga Therapy, Acro-Yoga, Shiva Rae, and Gary Kraftsow, as well as her Master's Degree in Holistic Health Education and mind-body-medicine from JFK. Deb has spent the past 15 years in the field of mind-boyd medicine, exploring healing arts and somatics from both Western & Eastern perspectives. She is currently working on an upcoming DVD on her Dance Therapeutics material for belly dancers. Through SattyaBody, Deb facilitates retreats, workshops, and classes fusing women's health, yoga, and tribal fusion belly dance. Recently, she has co-taught retreat intensives with Sharon Kihara in both Hawaii & Australia, and offers Dance Therapeutics workshops and bodywork sessions in conjunction with Suhaila Salimpour's training intensives. Her writings are published in Yoga Journal Magazine. Deb continues her Yoga studies with Gary Kraftsow, Shiva Rae, and Rachel Brice; and continues her studies in belly dance, modern, contact improv, tango, and folkloric dance styles within the vibrant Bay Area community, in which she lives. For more info on Deb, please visit www.sattyabody.com.

Dena Martinez

Faisel Zedan

Master percussionist, Faisal Zedan, showcases the elements of an Arabic virtuoso drummer - impeccable technique, combined with an inherent understanding of the complexities of Middle Eastern musical structures.

From the classical Muwashahat style, to folkloric or fusion genres, Faisal's unique and graceful approach blends thousands of years of tradition with a contemporary touch.

Under the direction of Faisal, Ajyal features prominent local musicians, Nazir Latouf, Husain Resan, Laurie Eisler, TerriAnne and Susu Pampanin. The group preserves and performs diverse genres of traditional music and dance from the Arab world.

Jamila Salimpour

Jamila Salimpour began her performing career at the age of sixteen, in Ringling Brothers Circus as an acrobatic dancer. She studied Middle eastern music and dance, and in 1947 began appearing at cultural events and ethnic clubs in Los Angeles, and later in San Francisco, where she owned the Baghdad Cabaret. She began teaching in 1952, developing a unique method of verbal breakdown and terminology for her movements. She has trained innumerable teachers and performers from all over the world, and produced week-long seminars and festivals, often co-teaching with her daughter, Suhaila Salimpour. In 1969, she created the tribal Bal Anat, performing and touring with the forty member troupe. Jamila Salimpour’s complex finger cymbal patterns were published in a Finger Symbol Manual. She also published a history of middle eastern dance, From Cave to Cabaret, as well as a photographic collection of Middle Eastern dancers at the Chicago World Faire, and the Dance Format Manual. From 1974 to 1990, Ms. Salimpour was the Contributing Editor for HABIBI, a major Middle eastern dance periodical.

Jill Parker

Jill Parker, Mamma of the modern tribal fusion bellydance movement is an award winning teacher/choreographer, founder of Ultra Gypsy Dance Theater, and director of the Foxglove Sweethearts. She's an original member of Fat Chance Belly Dance, and with over two decades of experience, has trained the top bellydancers in the genre. Jill's big heart and deep love for this intoxicating form shine through in her classes and performances. She's an exceptional teacher with a knack for demystifying this sensuous dance, making it accessible to new dancers while offering insight for refinement and subtlety to the most advanced dancers.

Kami Liddle

Kami has studied various dance styles throughout her life, but found her true passion, Belly Dance, when she was 18 years old. She began to study cabaret style belly dance until she found Fat Chance Belly Dance and began to study their videos religiously. Today Kami refers to her style as a modern fusion of an ancient dance. As she began to perform as a soloist she began to incorporate other styles into her ATS repertoire such as modern, hip hop jazz and bhangra dance. Kami has earned a degree in Art with a Minor in Dance from the University of Nevada, Reno and has been nominated for 'Best Interpretive Artist" for 2005 and 2007 by Zaghareet Magazine. She joined Bellydance Superstars in 2005 and is a contributing choreographer as well as the director of the Tribal Superstars. Kami has taught and performed in over a dozen countries.

Lee Kobus

When Lee Kobus was in kindergarden, her dad conducted a mock interview in which he posed the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” she promptly replied, “An artist!” Lee began honing her craft by working in diverse fields like glass, metal, mold-making, and stone, but found herself drawn toward her passion for collage and assemblage. Combining a performance history of theatre and dance compelled her interest in the construction of costuming, adornment, and props for stage and fire. (Think Ultra Gypsy circa 1999-2006) The desire to repurpose materials led to the creation of FoolProof, her design studio and current culmination of artistry. "I like to think of our brains as “idea engines.” When I keep my hands busy -being engaged by the mind, the result navigates a picture of my creativity...I constantly pose the question: "What about this?"...I am inspired by the things I dream, specific experiences, the context of one thing in relation to another, and most especially~ the somewhat unnoticeable." Lee humorously thinks of herself as a Polish problem solver from the rustbelt of Ohio. The way she resource materials and the inspiration for constructing them, lends itself to the creation of unique, handmade wearable art. Pieces from the ONEOFFSKI collection have been dancing across stages in the U.S. on the likes of Ariellah, Rose Harden, Zoe Jakes, Sharon Kihara, Kami Liddle, The Nekyia, and Deb Rubin, while URCHINDISE has been known to be found internationally in the hands of Heather Stants, Jill Parker and other deluxe performers. FoolProof is blessed to be sought out by such talented women who insist on preserving and supporting the art of craft.

Medina Maitreya

Medina Maitreya is a professional Makeup Artist, hairstylist, and costume designer with over ten years experience in the Beauty and Fashion industry. Armed with an education from the prestigious Make-up Designory of Los Angeles, training from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, a Cosmetology license, and a passion for all things theatrical, Medina applies her makeup techniques with a truly artistic eye. Her striking, luminous, and smoldering looks reflect the unmistakable San Francisco style showcased exclusively by Mecca Immersion.

Zoe Jakes

Zoe Jakes is a proud member of The Indigo. A long-time resident of the SF Bay area, she has been touring with Bellydance Superstars since the fall of 2005 and can be seen performing on their new Tribal Fusions DVD.

Combining talents with David Satori and Tommy Cappel to create Tribal Derivations last spring, Zoe discovered she enjoyed creating music, and plans to make more. When not with the Indigo, she tours with The Yard Dogs Road Show, a cartoon circus sideshow of wacky dimension, and has been seen tearing it up with the Extra Action Marching Band.

An innovative dancer, Zoe has been said to have her own unique take on Tribal Bellydance. She takes her influence from Art Nouveau, Tango, Breakdance, and Indian classical dance. Zoe was recently nominated for Zaghareet! Magazine's Best Interpretive Artist 2007. She loves unicorns and has never once doubted their existence.