Meet Yasmina   

Yasmina is a performer, instructor and hosted  “The Joy of Belly Dancing” TV show on Public Access TV in Arizona.  

She has been teaching for the City of Mesa since 1989 and has just started teaching classes at the Mesa Art Center. Yasmina performs many styles of Middle Eastern Dance and incorporates the use of many props, such as: sword, jug, canes, tray of candles, basket and snakes.  Her classes run all year round and consist of beginning and intermediate cabaret, beginning and intermediate tribal style classes.  Check out the current Mesa Art Center brochure for class information and schedule of on-going and special performances of Yasmina.

Her teaching style is of the same philosophy as her dance. She does not want her students to be carbon copies of her, but to learn all aspects of the dance. She teaches both the old and new styles of dance and is continually updating her skills to pass along to her students. She attends dance workshops, seminars and dance contests both in State and out of State to keep abreast of what is happening in the dance world. Yasmina also teaches workshops, in and out of state, with her double cane class being the most requested.  She has sponsored out of State artists in workshops that were both in dance and Middle Eastern Music.  She was on the editorial staff of Wiggle Hips a belly dance magazine published by Janie and Chris the Two Old Bags.  Wiggle Hips has been published for 10 years and will be ceasing publication at the end of the year 2004.  Yasmina was featured on the cover of Wiggles Hips in the June/July issue of 1999.  In July of 2004 Yasmina took 2nd place and in 2006 she took 3rd place in the Headliner category at the Wiggle of the West competition.

Yasmina started her TV show along with her husband and family back in January 1990.  After 13 years of producing the show the City of Mesa decided to no longer support Public Access TV and our show has come to an end in Oct. 2003.   The show was well received by the dance community and general public. The reason for producing the TV show was to show the public what belly dancing is all about and to dismiss the misconceptions of the dance. The Joy of Belly Dancing show was one of the longest Public Access TV shows in the Valley of the Sun.  From the production of the TV show, Seven Veils Productions has branched out and produced five professional dance videos for the market. The first video, “Yasmina, an  American Belly Dance” is a 30 minute performance  tape of seven different dance routines.  The next series of  videos are, “A Night in the Desert I, II & III”.  These videos are also  performance videos.  These videos were live performance shows highlighting dancers from  Arizona. Night in the Desert I & II include eight different dancers performing with a live Greek Band.  Night in the Desert III include seven different dancers performing with a live Arabic Band.  The  fifth video, "Yasmina Live!", is a collection of highlights from the TV show, The Joy of Belly Dancing. All performances include live music from artists such as: Doug Adams, David Korup, Sirocco, Billy Woods and many more.

Yasmina founded Troupe Baladi, a three member dance troupe in January 1994. The performance styles of the troupe were Tribal Fusion, Ethnic and flashy Cabaret. In 1996, Troupe Baladi took 3rd Place in the Wiggles of the West dance competition.  Ambera and Yasmina represented Troupe Baladi at the Wiggles of the West dance competition July 2001.  The troupe took 2nd place in the Mini Ensemble category.  The troupe members have gone their separate ways with new interests in their lives.  

Yasmina left the corp. world and went into belly dancing full time.  Along with Malikah they started Shimmy Bliss Costuming Co. in Feb. 2004 and started creating and importing exquisite belly dance costumes.  Malikah went to pursue her graphics design and photography business in May 2004 and Yasmina took the business on full time.  With the change in ownership Yasmina has taken Shimmy Bliss in a new direction concentrating on the needs of the American Tribal Dancer. 

Schedule of performances and events (on-going and special)

Sat., July 4, 2009 - Yasmina will be teaching an arms mini workshop from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in her home studio - more info

Thurs. - Sun., July 23 - 26, 2009 - Yasmina will be teaching a dance workshop and Shimmy Bliss will be one of the many vendors at Wiggles of the West. - (Sam's Town, Las Vegas, NV) - for more info 

Sat., August 1, 2009 - Yasmina will be teaching an upper body mini workshop from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in her home studio - more info

Sat., August 22, 2009 - Yasmina and some of her students will be guest dancers at Maui Wowi hosted by Egyptian Cartouche - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - (3722 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018, (602) 840-3444) - for more info 

Tues., August 25, 2009 - Yasmina's Mesa Art Center classes recital - 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. - (outside on the patio on the 2nd floor of the Art Studios at the Mesa Art Center 1 East Main Street, south east corner of Main and Center) - for more info

Sat., Sept. 5, 2009 - Yasmina will be teaching a slow moves mini workshop from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in her home studio  - more info

Sat., Sept. 12, 2009 - Yasmina and some of her students will be performing with other students and instructors at Teacher Feature Night hosted by Mahin - more info

Sat., Sept. 26, 2009 - Yasmina and some of her students will be guest dancers at Maui Wowi hosted by Egyptian Cartouche - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - (3722 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018, (602) 840-3444) - for more info 

Sat., Oct. 3, 2009 - Yasmina will be teaching a double veil mini workshop from 10 - 11:30 a.m. in her home studio - more info

Sat., October 10, 2009 - Yasmina's Annual fall swap meet the Mesa Women's Club, 4 workshops with Gina (Ginici), Holly, Habib & Yasmina and an evening show - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. & show 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Women's Club of Mesa, 200 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201) - more info

Sat., Oct. 24, 2009 - Yasmina and some of her students will be guest dancers at Maui Wowi hosted by Egyptian Cartouche - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - (3722 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85018, (602) 840-3444) - for more info 

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[all photos by Gina Cinardo]

powered by FreeFind       More about Yasmina Teaching & Performances Classes & Workshops Performance Schedule Students Page YouTube Videos Bio, Photos & More Photo Gallery Yasmina Bio Yasmina's Blog Costume Business Shimmy Bliss Shimmy Bliss eBay Store Spotlight Dancer/Troupe of the Month Myryka Spotlight Link Global Belly Dance Videos What's New Annual Fall Swap Meet - Mark your calendars for Saturday October 10th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the swap meet and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. for the show!!! Enjoy a day of shopping, workshops, networking with other dancers and having fun.  Photo Gallery - finally I've created a page with some photos of myself, friends and troupes I've been in.  I still have a lot more to add but it's a start :-) Updates: Articles Who will win in 2009? July 23-26, 2009  at Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall  Wiggles of the West Belly Dance Contest  in Las Vegas, NV!!! Come join us for the first Wiggles of the West held in Las Vegas.  We have 8 fabulous categories,  26 workshops taught by 23 fabulous Instructors from all over the west,  a "Meet & Greet" Hafla Dinner Buffet and Show and 2 Luncheon Buffet Shows.  4 fabulous days of Belly dance!!! www.wigglesofthewest.com A New Belly Dance Magazine coming this summer! Subscribe here: shimmy@esedona.net     ARC Music   Amira  International Emissary of Dance Highest Quality Merchandise! Check out Amira’s 5-Star Rated “Bellydance 101” Instructional DVD, and read over 60 reviews! Amira travels extensively, teaching and performing both nationally and internationally. Her students are filled with her love for dance and her mission to make a difference in women’s lives through bellydance. For bookings and info: www.amirasbelly.com  Learn to  Belly Dance for fun!!     with Halyma's Belly Dance Lessons on DVD Great gift idea! Available online and in Ottawa Stores now! Clean and clear instructions for the basics of belly dance for any fitness level - no previous experience needed! www.bellydancingforfun.com Halyma@bellydancingforfun.com phone: 613.241.3397  Belly Dance A Raqs Sharqi Magazine 3408 W. Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505  818-567-3105 http://www.bellydancemag.com/  Amira's "Bellydance and Yoga for Pregnancy" DVD EMPOWERING EXERCISES FOR EXPECTING MOMS Amira brings the ancient arts of Yoga and Belly Dance together in a modern world, with a program that teaches gentle and effective techniques to help every woman on the path to one of life's most profound experiences - motherhood. For more info please visit us at: www.pregnantbellydance.com   See-fit Body Stockings Your second skin   Designed to be worn under your costume,    in flesh, black or fishnet crystal Lycra. For more info please visit www.see-fit.com Dare to be Bare!   Shimmy Bliss Costuming Co. Tribal Belly Dance Supplies We receive in new items weekly so please  Check out our websites    www.shimmybliss.com or visit us on  eBay We will be vending at Wiggles of the West in Las Vegas July 23rd - 26th Yasmina's Annual Fall Swap Meet October 10, 2009 Would you like to see your ad here??  Check out the Ad Page for more info.