Gypsy Caravan Stage

The Gypsy Caravan Stage
July 10th, 11th, 12th
Venita, Oregon

The Oregon Country Fair is truly a unique experience and nestled within is the Gypsy Caravan stage. Celebrating its 31st year, fair-goers will be treated to 3 days of non-stop dance and music, inspired by, and from, the Near and Middle East. Tickets to the Oregon Country Fair can be purchased through TicketWest. Or visit the Oregon Country Fair website.

FRIDAY
12:00 - 12:30: Belly Dance Lessons with Aziza!

12:30 - 3:00: Gypsy Caravan Stage house show, featuring live music and dance by; Aziza, Claudia, Elena Villa, Salome, Yemaya, Zoe Jakes, Kameal, Bene Sherez, & Sage.

3:00 - 4:00: Belly Dance workshop with Yemaya!

4:00 - 5:00: Guest Musicians and dancers: Amira Patricia, Magidah, Ruby, Sedona and Chyanne.

5:00 - 7:00: Gypsy Caravan Stage house show, featuring live music and dance by; Aziza, Claudia, Elena Villa, Salome, Yemaya, Zoe Jakes, Kameal, Bene Sherez, & Sage.

SATURDAY
12:00 - 12:30: Belly Dance Lessons with Aziza!

12:30 - 3:00: Gypsy Caravan Stage house show, featuring live music and dance by; Aziza, Claudia, Elena Villa, Salome, Yemaya, Zoe Jakes, Kameal, Bene Sherez, & Sage.

3:00 - 4:00: The Al-Arwah band and friends perform.

4:00 - 5:00: African drum and dance ensemble.

5:00 - 7:00: Gypsy Caravan Stage house show, featuring live music and dance by; Aziza, Claudia, Elena Villa, Salome, Yemaya, Zoe Jakes, Kameal, Bene Sherez, & Sage.

SUNDAY
12:00 - 12:30: Belly Dance Lessons with Aziza!

12:30 - 3:00: Gypsy Caravan Stage house show, featuring live music and dance by; Aziza, Claudia, Elena Villa, Salome, Yemaya, Zoe Jakes, Kameal, Bene Sherez, & Sage.

3:00 - 4:00: Negara band and Origin.

4:00 - 5:00: Americanistan band and Tribalation dance troupe.

5:00 - 7:00: Gypsy Caravan Stage house show, featuring live music and dance by; Aziza, Claudia, Elena Villa, Salome, Yemaya, Zoe Jakes, Kameal, Bene Sherez, & Sage.

PRINCIPLE DANCERS

Aziza, Gypsy Caravan Stage 2009

Dancing since the age of three, Aziza has a strong background in classical ballet. In 1988 she was introduced to Middle Eastern dance and found it to be the ideal medium. Since that time she has devoted her life to learning, performing and sharing this ancient art form.

Aziza won Belly Dancer of the Year, Ms Belly Dance USA, Entertainer of the Year, and the Double Crown Belly Dance Competition and Cabaret Dancer of the Year from IAMED. The fluidity and grace of Aziza's movements teamed with seemingly impossible hip locks, endless shimmies, creative veil work and a captivating smile have earned her accolades worldwide.

Widely regarded as one of the most expressive and naturally gifted dancers in the Pacific Northwest, Claudia has devoted over ten years in the pursuit of the passionate, musical and technical living art-form that is Middle Eastern Belly Dance.

As a member of Raks Awalim, Claudia has been integral in the creation and instruction of choreography which awarded them 1st Place in the 2007 Belly Dance USA and 2008 Belly Dancer of the Year Troupe Competition. Additionally, as a member of Belly Dance Soulfire, her duo placed as the Belly Dancer of the Universe 2009 group champion.

Elena Villa is an award winning dancer who began performing as a young girl in the late 1970s. She has shared the stage with many nationally and internationally recognized musicians and dancers and continues to pursue artistic collaborations with fellow artists.

Elena is the Performance Coordinator for the acclaimed Gypsy Caravan Stage at the Oregon Country Fair and teaches regular classes and workshops. In addition to being a performer and instructor of belly dance, Arabic-Spanish fusion and flamenco, Elena also teaches literary, cultural, and performance studies at the university level.

Salome is a second generation belly dancer specializing in the American Oriental style, also known as "cabaret belly dance". She calls Oregon's lush Willamette Valley home but has performed in the East, from Tunis to Tokyo, for nearly a decade - featured in luxury venues such as the Leela Palace, the Taj Bengal, The Kamagowa Grand hotel, Casino Everest, The Oberoi and more.

Salome has been interviewed by the United Arab Emirates magazine "STARS", appeared as cover and feature in "Jareeda" magazine, in "SAHDA" from Vancouver, Canada, and has been featured in newspapers around the globe.

Yemaya has been studying belly dance since the age of 4. She has more than 20 years performance experience - 15 years professional - and has been established for 12 years as a belly dance instructor/choreographer. She is a member of a professional troupe and assists with artistic direction and choreography for belly dance show productions.

Yemaya's mesmerizing style of dance is coveted all over the pacific northwestern United States and she is now exhibiting her talent internationally. Her journey has led her to Central America where she resides in Costa Rica.

Zoe is a proud member of The Indigo, recently on the road touring their new show Le Serpent Rouge. She has been touring with Bellydance Superstars since the fall of 2005 and can be seen performing on their new Tribal Fusions DVD. She recently finished filming her debut instructional DVD, to be released in the fall.

Recently nominated for Zaghareets "Best Interpretive Artist 2007", Zoe is an inarguably innovative dancer, whose unique take on Tribal bellydance takes influence from Art Nouveau, tango, Breakdance, and Indian classical dance. She loves unicorns and has never once doubted their existence.

PRINCIPLE MUSICIANS

The Gypsy Caravan stage musicians are a cherished part of our production, inspiring the audience to ecstasy and each dancer to greater heights. Hailing from near and far, the house band will feature: Ganapati (Oud), David McGrath (Nye, Zurna), Sallah Ali (Violin), Eric Stern (accordion), Belinda Underwood (upright bass), Kevin Hylton (Dahola), George Sadak (Tabla) and John Villa (percussion).