Members

(Click on a member for more photos)


AYSE CERAMI

Ayse Cerami grew up in a Turkish American family that loved to dance. In high school Ayse was a member of the color guard. Little did she know that playing with props and marching around in formations would prove to be such a useful education years later. Ayse was introduced to American Tribal Style when she moved to the forest in the deserts of Arizona in 1995. Her first teacher and director was Andrea McShane-Radoccio.
Moving back to Southern California in 2000 Ayse started her own classes in Thousand Oaks after realizing there were no troupes in the area. By 2001 Sundara Varna was formed and student troupe Kamala Varna followed. Ayse was the creative and inspiring director of She'enedra. She was also co-director of the Sisterhood Dance Collective of Ventura County, which is an open membership group. She is presently working with her student group "Wild Routes" and solo performance.
Ayse continues her dance education with ballet, jazz, hip hop, African, Dunham technique, classical Indian, and various folk and belly dances. She has many muses and teachers to be thankful for. Ayse is a massage therapist as well as a belly dance instructor. She is has been certified as a Permaculture Consultant and hopes to help spread the concept of sustainable design and development in the world.


DEANNA DANZES

~dance is all that is
all that is is dance~


ELIZABETH MAHINA

"Elizabeth "Mahina" Souza has been dancing for as long as she could walk. She studied hula, tahitian, ballet, jazz, as well as bellydance. She was a principle dancer at "The Tikis!" in Monterey Park, and with Les Polynesia Dance Company under the directorship of Ilima Montgomery. Elizabeth has appeared in print ads, commercials, on stage, and television.
During her college years Elizabeth was introduced to belly dance and studied under several teachers, Cella Miller, Janea Drummond, Caroleena Epstein, and Allegra who were all students of MaShuqa. Elizabeth and her sister Yasmine Mankowski formed a dance troupe that used both Polynesian and Bellydance influence called Raks Ohana. They performed at many events including Cairo Carnivale and Bedouin Bazaar. She now teaches belly dance at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center, Body Satva Yoga studio in Thousand Oaks, and from her home studio both group and private lessons. She continues to expand her knowledge of belly dance by taking workshops as often and from as many teachers as possible, including Carolena Nericcio, Rachel Brice, Ansuya, Jill Parker, Sabrina Fox, Judeen, Amy Sigil & Alexandra King.
In 2003 she discovered American Tribal Style Bellydance which carries a strong element of the divine feminine so important in her life.
She also has recieved Basic Skills Certification in ATS by Carolena Nericcio. Under the guidance of Ayse Cerami, Elizabeth has been able to fine tune her varied dance and artistic background into one fusion style. She has danced with Ayse in the troupes Kamala Varna, Sundara Varna, the Sisterhood Dance collective and now She'enedra. She is also a painter, costumer, handspinner, & weaver.


HEIDI LYN


Savour your food, make each of your days a delight, bathe and anoint yourself, wear beautiful clothes that are sparkling clean, let music and dancing fill your house, love the child who holds you by the hand and give your love pleasure in your embrace; that is the best way to live.


JENN 0


JESSICA AZAR

Jessica Azar is 29 years old, born on August 5, 1977 in Glendale Ca. She moved to Simi Valley Ca when she was 7 years old. Jessica has always had a passion for art. She played the clarinet, tenor saxophone, and percussion for12 years. In the late 90's she dedicated herself to 6 years of Martial Arts along with fellow She'enedra member, and best friend of 22 years Megan Murphy
She has been Tribal Bellydancing since 2001. Ayse Cerami is her primary tribal bellydance instructor. She enjoys performing and helping younger dancers learn the style. She co-teaches a combination class with fellow She'enedra member Elizabeth.
Jessica is a senior at Cal State University Northridge. She studies Psychology, and hopes to earn her B.A. by May 2006. For 7 years she has been working as a Behavioral Interventionist, working especially with children with autism. She helps maintain behaviors, teaches academics, self help skills, and social skills.
Jessica has also involved herself in ballet, tap, and Jazz dance at Cal State Northridge and Moorpark College.


MEGAN MURPHY

Megan expresses her admiration for art, music and culture with variations of rhythmic activities. Megan's interests vary from organic gardening, hiking, music, health, family, food, photography, sewing and dance. Having an enormous history of dance, she made her way to tribal fusion belly dance through the inspired artistry of her teacher Ayse Cerami. Currently, Megan dances with the beautiful ladies of She'enedra. Megan's love for music inspires her to create and dream on a daily basis. In connection with her appreciation for art, Megan also has earned a second degree black belt in martial arts. She is devoted to a regular workout schedule and meditation. Beyond kinesthetics, Megan holds a career as a behavior therapist and supervisor, working with autistic children. Education has always been a priority for Megan. She has earned her Master's degree in Counseling Psychology for Marriage and Family Therapy at California Lutheran University. She hopes to one day establish a clinic of her own for children similar to those in her therapeutic environment. For Megan, learning new information is extremely valuable. Family remains top priority and Megan strives to be near those she loves as much as possible. Despite Megan's devotion to health, education, family and career, her spirit belongs to music and dance. Megan forsees a long future with making music and belly dancing.


NILES


TONANTZIN


Tonantzin has been performing all her life and though dance has always been her first love, she spent most of her school years acting and singing with national award-winning groups. This disciplined environment laid the ground work for her future artistic exploration and expression. Tonantzin took her first dance classes, ballet and jazz, at Moorpark College. It was here that she was recruited by Jan Straka to join a campus club that focused on bellydance. While with NEMA she learned from various prestigious teachers who exposed her to many styles of bellydance including Egyptian cabaret, American cabaret, Greek gypsy, Tunisian, Persian and Turkish folk, veil, swordand cane. While in San Diego volunteering with AmeriCorps she began taking classes with Heather Stanz of Urban Tribal Dance Company. This was her first exposure to American Tribal Style. Later, after returning to the Los Angeles area she joined IAMED's Dangerous Curves in several stage performances including “This is Bellydance!” at the Ford Amphitheater with other talented dancers Rahana, Kali and Celeste. She currently dances with her close friends in the collaborative and eclectic troupe Dunya Sol. Tonantzin is still awed and grateful that the
sisters of She'Enedra have welcomed her with open arms!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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