DSO Welcomes Bellydance Superstars to the Stage

posted on: Mar 9, 2009

Prepare to celebrate the ancient art form of bellydancing as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) welcomes the Bellydance Superstars, an American dance troupe, to the stage for one performance on Sun., Mar. 29 at 3 p.m.

In addition, international performer and instructor Lana Mini of Detroit Bellydance will lead a free bellydance workshop and demonstration in the Music Box at 1:30 p.m. prior to the afternoon show.

Hailed by London Newspapers the Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and Daily Express as the next dance show phenomenon to follow Riverdance this bellydance troupe, created and directed by Miles Copeland, will take you on a journey to the ancient lands of the Middle East. The term “bellydance” is a Western descriptive for a traditional Arab dance form also known as raqs sharqi in Arabic which translates to “oriental dance.”

Troupe dancers include Sonïa, Adoré, Petite Jamilla, Sabah, Moria, Kami Liddle, Nathalie, Colleen, Cecilia, Zoe Jakes, Lauren, Samantha, Jayna and Issam. This performance is part of Delta Airlines World Music Series.

The troupe’s longtime chief choreographer is Jillina who contributes four pieces to the show, including the grand opening and closing numbers. Jillina is a master of using traditional as well as modern bellydance and pushing the art form to new heights. For the first time, the troupe has also drawn from outside choreographers, as well including pieces by Yasmina (an Oriental style piece with the music of Issa Ghandour); Stephanie Sullivan (an imaginative Dubkie folkloric tour de force with the music of Samara); and Teria Morada (a Reggaeton/Arab fusion with the music of Tres Mundos).

Tickets for The Art of Bellydancing range from $19 to $50 with a limited number of box seats available for $65. Tickets may be purchased at the Max M. Fisher Music Center box office (3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit); by phone at (313) 576-5111; or online at www.detroitsymphony.com. For group ticket information (groups of 10 or more), please contact Chuck Dyer at (313) 576-5130 or cdyer@dso.org.