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Zari began dancing
professionally soon after discovering belly dance in high
school. After several years of study in Boston, she moved to
California to broaden her dance training by studying with Angelika
Nemeth.
Zari was educated at the
University of California, Berkeley, degreeing in
"Middle Eastern Studies" (with an emphasis on Egyptian cultural arts)
and "Theater, Dance and Performance Studies."
She has taught, studied and
performed nationally & abroad. In her career, she has performed
with:
- Adam Basma Dance Company
- Ya 'Amar Dance Company (dir. Sahra Saeeda/ Sahra C.
Kent)
- Gawahare Dance Ensemble "Veils of Inanna" (dir.
Zahra Zuhair)
- Angelika Nemeth Ensemble
- Gypsy Folk Ensemble (dir. Julie Nelson)
- Banaat Sahar (dir.Sahar Saida)
- Dance Network (dir. Mary Ann Rogiers)
- Ethiopia Dance Co.
- Satrang
Zari
has appeared at nightclubs, theaters, art galleries, rock shows, and
cultural festivals. Venues included Boston's World Trade Center, where
she
was chosen to represent Turkey in the International Fair for 2
consecutive years.
In 2002,
Zari
was one of five belly dancers invited to Cirque du Soleil's exclusive
invitational-only auditions in Hollywood. She also
performed extensively as a Polynesian dancer (with Dance Exchange and
the Gypsy Ensemble) and took ongoing workshops in postmodern dance with
Michael Adam Richter.
The same year, she won prizes in both
the Hobi Dance Competition and Ark 21/Mondo Melodia's "Bellydance
Breakbeats" competition. Zari was honored to win first prize at
Hobi as it was judged by Nabila Metualli, a well-known dancer in
Lebanon.
In 2003,
she was featured on popular television show "Blind
Date," teaching belly dance to contestants on national TV. She
can also be seen on Iranian TV, dancing in Persian music videos. In
2004, she joined the UC Berkeley Satrang Bhangra group.
In 2005, she was an invited workshop instructor in
Europe. Subsequently she became a member of a fusion group which blends
traditional Ethiopian dance with jazz, modern and hip-hop.
Currently based in Berkeley, CA; Zari performs frequently at Persian
nightclubs throughout the Bay Area. She is available for booking
performances, workshops, lectures, and events, locally/nationally and
overseas.
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Client List (partial)
Alternative Clubs
|| Ethnic Clubs || Corporate || Festivals and Academic
Corporate Clients
- Bank of America
- Cisco
- ClearChannel Radio
- Coldwell Banker
- Comcast
- Crunch Fitness
- Fox Networks
- Glaxo SmithKline Pharmaceutical
- Happy Hollow Park & Zoo of San Jose
- India-West Newspaper
- India Life & Style Magazine
- Jackson Casino & Resort
- Lighting Systems, Inc.
- New England Aquarium
- Ravenswood Winery
- The Regency Center
- San Francisco Opera
- Self Magazine
- Tanqueray
Professional Event Planners
- Always RSVP
- Hartmann Studios
- TMW
Alternative
Venues/Club Appearances
(*asterisk
denotes live band):
EAST COAST
- Joy Boston *
- Green Street Grill
- Harper's Ferry
- House of Blues *
- Mama Kin *
- M-80 *
- Mercury Bar
- Middle East *
- Oni Gallery *
- Sophia's
- West End Grill
- Multiple appearances with fusion rock band
Osuna in concert *
West Coast
- Cafe Beledy *
- Cafe Bellie Berkeley
- Casa Hookah
- Citadel
- Club Milano
- Temple Bar
- Utopia
- Whiskey a Go Go *
(brief mention in review)
- Hollywood Canteen
(Angel City Social Club)
- Knitting Factory
- Acoustik Playhouse - Next Stage Theater
- StudioZ
- Hillcrest Country Club
- Wente Vineyards
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Arabic,
Greek, Turkish, Serbian, Armenian, Afghan, Persian, Latin, Mexican, and
Indian Pakistani restaurants and nightclubs
(partial listing, *asterisk denotes live band):
| EAST
COAST ENGAGEMENTS |
- Averof *
- Athenian Corner *
- Club Enzo *
- Copa Grande *
- Karoun *
- Marrakech *
- Meditarraneo *
|
- Middle East *
- Olympia *
- the Phoenician
- Sahara Nightclub*
- Sinbad *
- Stella *
- Town Chef *
- Turkish Kitchen
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| WEST
COAST ENGAGEMENTS |
- Aegean Cafe *
- Afghan Lounge
- Arthurs'
- Athens West
- Babouch Long Beach
- Bombay Garden Newark
- Casbah
- Cafe Tutu Tango
- Caravans San Mateo
- Casablanca Ristorante
- Chandni Newark
- Chatanoga
- Cliff House, San Francisco
- Dar Maghreb Hollywood
- El Mansour SF
- Faz San Francisco
- Faz Sunnyvale
- Flamingo's Nightclub
- Gaylord Sausalito
- Greek Bistro Encino *
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- Illusions Supper Club
- Khana Peena
- Koutoubia Beverly Hills
- Luxor of Orange County
- Luxor San Francisco
- Mayuri Indian Restaurant
- Mehran of Pittsburgh
- Mehran Fremont
- Mirage Ballroom
- Moun of Tunis
- Mediterranean
- Negeen *
- Oasis Grill Afghan
- Orchid Orange County
- Pars Restaurant
- Palomares Cafe
- Sahand Pars
- Sahara Cafe Inland Empire
- Sahara Napa Valley
- Servino of Tiburon
- Taverna Gyros
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Belly
Dance Wedding Performances (including Engagement Parties, Henna Nights,
and Anniversaries)
a partial list of events.
- Canyon
View, San Ramon
- Casa de la Vista,
Treasure Island, CA
- Cliff House, San
Francisco
- Flamingo Banquet
Hall, Fremont, CA
- Golden Peacock,
Fremont CA
- Hyatt Burlingame
- Mills College,
Oakland CA
- Mirage Ballroom,
Fremont CA
- Radisson
Ballroom, Dublin CA
- Regency Center,
San Francisco
- San
Jose Athletic Club
Festival,
Theatrical & Educational Appearances
- Alternative
Music Awards
House of Blues
Cambridge, MA
Guest artist
- "AlterEgos"
the Del Mar Theater
Los Angeles, CA
Featured soloist
- Austin
Belly Dance Convention 2007
Round Rock, TX
Featured soloist
- Beverly
Hills Public Library
"Middle Eastern Dance"
Lecture and Demonstration
- Guest Speaker
- Principal Dancer
- Borderland
Project
Played "Stormy," a dancing stewardess
- Boston
Conservatory
("Coffee: or, Arabian Dance", from "The
Nutcracker" by Tchaikovsky )
- Soloist
- City of
Cambridge
4th of July Parade
- "Dance
for Democracy"
John Kerry funsraiser
Berkeley, CA
Featured soloist
- "East
Meets West"
(Snakedance Productions)
- Soloist, "Sassy Milaya"
- Featured dancer, "Delight of the Harem"
running at University of Massachusetts, Boston (McCormack Theater)
- Greenfield
College
"Intro to Middle Eastern Dance"
Workshop instructor, soloist
- "Heal
The Bay Foundation" benefit
Venice, CA
Polynesian dance with Dance Network
- "Inanna"
Gawahare Dance Company
Po Na Na Dance Theater
- Ensemble dancer
- Played "Priestess" and "Underworld Spirit"
- International
Festival
World Trade Center
Boston, MA
Selected to represent Turkey, 2 years running
- Levantine
Cultural Center
Brentwood, CA
Soloist, "Holiday Groove Party"
- LATC -
Los Angeles Theater Center
Los Angeles, CA
"Inanna," played priestess
- Live Oak
Theater
Berkeley , CA
"By Dancers For Dancers 2007" featured soloist
"By Dancers For Dancers 2008" featured soloist
"By Dancers For Dancers 2009" featured soloist
- National
Dance Week
San Diego, CA
Soloist, "Colossus"
- New
England Aquarium
Ensemble dancer, Egyptian folkloirc
(Firqat Kawmiyya-style)
- Massachusetts
College of Art
face="Verdana" Soloist on several
occasions
- Oasis
Dance Magic
Persian Bandari dance with Angelika Nemeth Ensemble
- Oni
Gallery
- Soloist, gallery opening.
- Appeared with klezmer band "Shoeshine Boy"
- Pars
Arts Center
Cafe Beledy
Soloist, music by Nazemi
- Robert
B. Moore Theater
Orange County
Persian Bandari dance with Angelika Nemeth Ensemble
- Rowley
Park
4th Annual "Afternoon in the Park"
sponsored by City of Gardena
celebrating history of the African diaspora
- Soloist, Egyptian dance
- Royce
Hall
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
"The Blue Flame" concert
featuring:
Simon Shaheen
Qantara
Ali Jihad Racy
Adam Basma Dance Company
Ensemble dancer, folkloric Lebanese Dabke
- Roseville
Art & Wine Festival 2006l
Ensemble Director - produced a 1-hour program with
4 dancers
- San Francisco
Gala Opening for "The Girl From Algiers" opera
San Francisco, CA
Featured Dancer
- Sawdust
Festival
Laguna Beach, CA
Soloist
- Shriners
Convention
Ensemble dancer with Sardis, and Nana el-Omar
-
Tapestry of America (WTC fundraiser) Temple Bar, Santa Monica
Ensemble dancer, folkloric Lebanese Dabke
- Tustin
Tiller Days
County Fair
Soloist in programme featuring Alexandra of Riverside
- Up Close
and Personal
with Shah Rukh Khan
San Jose
Soloist in exlcusive gala event in honor of Indian
film actor Shahrukh Khan (SRK)
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