Kamala |
Kamala began her dance training in ballet and jazz. She fell
in love with Middle Eastern dance as a teenager in the late
1970s, and trained briefly with Marta Schill. Before she
knew it she was whisked out of class by musician Guy
Chookoorian to join his troupe on the road, performing in
hotels and casinos in Lake Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas.
Kamala performed in several Armenian nightclubs with
live music, usually Turkish and Armenian. She was a
featured dancer in the film "The Man with Bogart's Face".
The early 1980's was a rich moment in the history of LA
Arabic nightclubs. There was a plethora of large clubs,
mostly in the Hollywood area hosting sometimes two
different orchestras, at least 3 raks sharki soloists, and
often a folkloric group. With the abundance of work, and
the sophisticated and glorious music played by top of the
line musicians from the middle east, Kamala took full
advantage, working 6 nights a week and learning the art of
improv to a live orchestra. There was also, amongst the
dancers and musicians, a lot of back and forth between LA
and London, which was also experiencing a boom in Arabic
entertainment. Kamala worked in some of London's top
nightclubs as well.
In the late 1980's the scene started to dissipate. Kamala
performed on several TV shows and began performing with
the artist John Belezekjian in nightclubs. She continued to
work 6 nights a week in different venues, and performed in
other countries. Kamala also joined the troupe
"Arabesque" founded by Latifa, with fellow dancer Sahra
Saeeda and other soloists. A turning point came with her
meeting of Farida Fahmey of the Reda Troupe, who
choreographed several pieces for Arabesque while living
in the LA area.
In the 1990's Kamala was introduced to Laura Crawford who
was starting a company to perform at Egyptian Al Andalus
nightclub. Taking top soloists, Laura put together the
"Flowers of the Desert", one of the seminal troupes in LA
dance history, and Kamala became assistant director. They
immediately became the darlings of not only the Arabic
audiences, but also the Hollywood rock and roll scene,
performing with groups such as "Talking Heads", "Alabina",
"Hakim", and the "Rock the Vote" gala in front of Hillary
Clinton. They produced many theatrical performances, and
literally jump-started the "Middle Eastern-Fusion"
movement. Kamala honed her choreographic skills with the
Flowers, and started a junior offshoot "Flower Buds of the
Desert".
Currently, Kamala is teaching in the Pasadena area. Her
passion is choreography, and her students have won
numerous awards at dance competitions, including two
Adult Group Champions, Fusion Champion 2006, Junior
Group Champions 2006, to mention a few in the "Belly
Dancer of the Universe" competition. She is proud that a
large number of her students have gone on to
professional dance careers, including a "Belly Dance
Superstar". Her student company is "Orchids Al Sahara",
composed of her advanced students and professional
dancers who enjoy performing her choreographies. Her
teaching is her own style, inspired by the Reda Troupe,
Egyptian Raks Sharki, and all the other dance forms of the
world.
in love with Middle Eastern dance as a teenager in the late
1970s, and trained briefly with Marta Schill. Before she
knew it she was whisked out of class by musician Guy
Chookoorian to join his troupe on the road, performing in
hotels and casinos in Lake Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas.
Kamala performed in several Armenian nightclubs with
live music, usually Turkish and Armenian. She was a
featured dancer in the film "The Man with Bogart's Face".
The early 1980's was a rich moment in the history of LA
Arabic nightclubs. There was a plethora of large clubs,
mostly in the Hollywood area hosting sometimes two
different orchestras, at least 3 raks sharki soloists, and
often a folkloric group. With the abundance of work, and
the sophisticated and glorious music played by top of the
line musicians from the middle east, Kamala took full
advantage, working 6 nights a week and learning the art of
improv to a live orchestra. There was also, amongst the
dancers and musicians, a lot of back and forth between LA
and London, which was also experiencing a boom in Arabic
entertainment. Kamala worked in some of London's top
nightclubs as well.
In the late 1980's the scene started to dissipate. Kamala
performed on several TV shows and began performing with
the artist John Belezekjian in nightclubs. She continued to
work 6 nights a week in different venues, and performed in
other countries. Kamala also joined the troupe
"Arabesque" founded by Latifa, with fellow dancer Sahra
Saeeda and other soloists. A turning point came with her
meeting of Farida Fahmey of the Reda Troupe, who
choreographed several pieces for Arabesque while living
in the LA area.
In the 1990's Kamala was introduced to Laura Crawford who
was starting a company to perform at Egyptian Al Andalus
nightclub. Taking top soloists, Laura put together the
"Flowers of the Desert", one of the seminal troupes in LA
dance history, and Kamala became assistant director. They
immediately became the darlings of not only the Arabic
audiences, but also the Hollywood rock and roll scene,
performing with groups such as "Talking Heads", "Alabina",
"Hakim", and the "Rock the Vote" gala in front of Hillary
Clinton. They produced many theatrical performances, and
literally jump-started the "Middle Eastern-Fusion"
movement. Kamala honed her choreographic skills with the
Flowers, and started a junior offshoot "Flower Buds of the
Desert".
Currently, Kamala is teaching in the Pasadena area. Her
passion is choreography, and her students have won
numerous awards at dance competitions, including two
Adult Group Champions, Fusion Champion 2006, Junior
Group Champions 2006, to mention a few in the "Belly
Dancer of the Universe" competition. She is proud that a
large number of her students have gone on to
professional dance careers, including a "Belly Dance
Superstar". Her student company is "Orchids Al Sahara",
composed of her advanced students and professional
dancers who enjoy performing her choreographies. Her
teaching is her own style, inspired by the Reda Troupe,
Egyptian Raks Sharki, and all the other dance forms of the
world.
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Kamala's Tips
To the pros:
You can make it in this business and
still be a nice, balanced person. Keep it
all in perspective and have a life
outside of Belly Dance. Take advantage
of being young and beautiful, but
remember things will change as you get
older, and you want a solid plan for
when that time comes. Don't be afraid to
have kids, your body will only be more
voluptuous!
To the pros:
You can make it in this business and
still be a nice, balanced person. Keep it
all in perspective and have a life
outside of Belly Dance. Take advantage
of being young and beautiful, but
remember things will change as you get
older, and you want a solid plan for
when that time comes. Don't be afraid to
have kids, your body will only be more
voluptuous!
CLIP: Award-Winning Flower Buds perform Kamala's choreography
To students:
Find someone who has
had a lot of professional
dance experience to
teach you. Find your
niche (Tribal, Egyptian,
etc) but keep an open
mind and try different
forms and teachers from
time to time. Take
advantage of
workshops, go to Egypt,
support competitions
and performances, and
have fun!
Find someone who has
had a lot of professional
dance experience to
teach you. Find your
niche (Tribal, Egyptian,
etc) but keep an open
mind and try different
forms and teachers from
time to time. Take
advantage of
workshops, go to Egypt,
support competitions
and performances, and
have fun!
WORKSHOP! Egyptian Stylings with a Modern Twist May 31 Click here |