loomingTalent
Entertainment
Bloomington's Entertainment Resource
(812)340-7773
DANCE
Nothing spices up an event like a dance performance! All of our dancers have a wide variety of offerings and experiences and all are ready to dance for you and your guests!
Explore the art of Middle Eastern Dance! Katya Faris is from Bloomington, Indiana, and has been dancing in the traditions of the Middle East since 1991. She is a dancer adept in many regional Middle Eastern styles, as well as an aspiring scholar in the field of Folklore/Ethnomusicology. Her vast knowledge of authentic dance techniques and musical forms is matched by her subtlety, grace, and personal charm. A typical performance with Katya features her dancing in the traditions of Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, Turkish Orientale, and American cabaret style “belly dance”, all complete with superb finger cymbal playing and veils. She also does more folkloric styles such as Ghawazee, and Dunyavi style gypsy dances, as well as Arabic cane and sword dancing.
Katya's dance experience includes teaching and performing throughout the US. Her performances include appearances at The Indianapolis Museum of Art; The Cincinnati and Indianapolis Children’s Museums; The Murat Shrine Temple in the Egyptian Room; The Athenaeum in Indianapolis, Indiana; The Verizon Wireless Music Center (formerly Deer Creek) in Noblesville, Indiana; and The Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, Bloomington, Indiana.
Katya’s performances always generate a great deal of energy and excitement. Audiences have responded to her dances with overwhelming enthusiasm. Her talent and loyalty to an authentic traditional style have proved to be both educational and entrancing.
Bette Lucas is a professional performer and teacher of Middle Eastern Dance who has been popular in this area for quite some time. She performs regularly in Indianapolis and Bloomington. Bette also directs the Caravanserai Dancers. They are a belly dance troupe made up of women from 18 to ?? who love performing and sharing their love of dance with audiences. Bette and Caravanserai have appeared at many venues around the state, including the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis, Casablanca Cafe in Bloomington, and at City of Bloomington events such as Lunafest.
Baila! Baila! is a Bloomington based flamenco dance troupe directed by Bette Lucas. They have performed at various venues including the Mathers Museum, the Monroe Co. Public Library, the Franklin IN Arts Center, The Buskirk- Chumley Theatre and the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
Fiddle 'n' Feet
Fiddle 'n' Feet (Tamara Loewenthal and Jamie Gans) perform percussive dances to traditional music from North America and the Celtic countries. They dance, they sing, they play fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, and more! Their music and dance, sometimes described as that of America's pioneers, range from Irish to Old Time to French Canadian. In performance, they showcase a variety of step dance styles, from American clogging to English wooden shoe clogging to French Canadian reels and waltzes. They also teach percussive and traditional styles of dance, including calling and playing for square and contra dances. Rhythm is an important component of their work, whether drumming with feet or with their hands against their bodies. Most of all, they find joy in musical expression and strive to give relevance to these traditions in today's world. A Fiddle 'n' Feet show will bring a smile to your face and joy to your heart- guaranteed!
Arthur Murray Dance Studio, Barbara Leininger - Owner
How about dance lessons to entertain your guests? Bloomington's very own Arthur Murray Dance Studio is the place to turn to! Owner Barbara Leininger has been teaching ballroom dance to the Bloomington Community since 1994 after she moved here from Miami, FL, having lost everything in Hurricane Andrew. Barbara has danced all her life in one form or another and fell in love with ballroom dancing because of the variety of dances. She is a certified professional teacher and Member of the World Professional Dance Teachers Association. More recently Barbara produced our 3rd annual local version of Dancing With the Stars which she calls "Dancing With The Celebrities". She picks 6 prominent people in the community, teaches them how to do 3 dances and puts on a show for charity. This year "Dancing With The Celebrities" raised $90,000 for a variety of Bloomington based charities chosen by the dancing celebreties.
For a fun twist on an event that all your guests will be talking about, call us and ask about Barbara and Arthur Murray!