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. 

On July 9, 2005 a new tribal group was born, Hipnotic Hips.  The group consists of Amber, Esther Alice, Heather, Rachel, Shoshana & Yasmina.  Our goals are to have fun, perform and travel.  Be watching for our performances around the Valley of the Sun.

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

Sat., May 10th, 2008 - Hipnotic Hips performing along with other performers at Layalena Restaurant.  Fundraising event for Sojourner Center  - Show 6 - 8 p.m.  - (1290 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 107 , Tempe , Arizona) - admission charge $15, contact Shirley Cavaco at 602/390-0001or email: leilabelar@excite.com

Tues.  May 13th, 2008 - Yasmina's Mesa Art Center last class recital, 7 - 9 p.m. - Mesa Art Center, Art Studios (1 East Main Street, south east corner of Main and Center) contact Yasmina for more info, yasmina@joyofbellydancing.com

Sat., May 17th, 2008 - Hipnotic Hips performing along with other performers at Shop Devious  - Show 8:30 - 10:30 p.m.  - Shop Devious (13th Ave. & Grand, Phx., AZ.) - admission charge $10

Sat.  May 31st, 2008 - Egyptian Cartouche presents, 2nd Annual Dance Profusion, a day of workshops and evening show 6:30 - 9 p.m. - Mesa Art Center, Art Studios (1 East Main Street, south east corner of Main and Center) contact Morgiana for more info, 480-363-0521

Sat., June 21st, 2008 - Yasmina will be teaching a workshop in Casa Grande  - 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. - for more info contact Lois, samrabellydancer@hotmail.com

Sat., July 26th, 2008 - Yasmina will be teaching two workshops in Mesa at the Women's Club  - 10 - 11:30 p.m. & 12:30 - 2 - for more info or contact Yasmina, yasmina@joyofbellydancing.com

Sat., August 16th, 2008 - Yasmina will be teaching a workshop in Sedona and performing with the Gypsy Chicks  - contact Holly at 928/300-4452 or bodyandmindholly@esedona.net for more info.  

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[all photos by Gina Cinardo]

powered by FreeFind       More about Yasmina Classes & Workshops Performance Schedule Shimmy Bliss Shimmy Bliss eBay Store Yasmina Spotlight Dancer/Troupe of the Month Dunyana Spotlight Link Near East Dance On-line Text Book What's New 2 Workshops with Yasmina July 26th DVD Review: Middle Eastern Percussion Instructional DVD Review by Mick Snookes Updates to: Articles Belly Dance in Motion   Amira  International Emissary of Dance Original Videos, Music & Clothing For Your Belly™. Highest Quality 5-Star Rated Free Bellydancing Music Downloads www.amirasbelly.com   Gypsy Chick Productions   is Proud to Presents…. Three Fabulous Instructors….  One Sizzling Summer of Belly Dance. Only in Sedona! Saturday, May 24 Emily from Oregon’s Circus Tribal  Isolate • drill • sassy combinations $50 workshop Old Town Center for the Arts Cottonwood, Az. 1:30-4:00pm • Dinner Show at the Rock Café! $40 6:30-8:30 ***************** Saturday, June 28 Kathryn Ferguson 1:00-3:30 $50 ($40 by June 1)  Internationally renowned dancer, teacher and choreographer will work with dancers on arm & head positions, performance posture and graceful combinations. Devi Yoga, Sedona • Dinner show at the Rock Café! $40 6:30-8:30pm  *************** Saturday, August 16 Yasmina Spicy, Playful, Fun Combos and More Need some new combinations to spice up your dance? Do you feel like you dance at the same speed all the time? In this workshop you will learn new combinations from the basic combo and adding layers to it to really spice up your dance. These combos are great for both cabaret and tribal dance styles. We will also work on slowing your dance down. Learn tips and techniques to add variety and spice to your performance. 1:00-3:30 Devi Yoga, Sedona $50 ($40 by Aug 1) • Evening Performance at the Rock Café $40 Together with The Gypsy Chicks! 6:30-8:30pm **************** For complete details please contact Holly: 928.300.4452 bodyandmindholly@esedona.net www.gypsychicksdance.com   Carrie Konyha of Sedona, AZ Bellydance performer, instructor, choreographer. Voted Best Teacher in Sedona, Kudos 2007 Readers choice award Weekly classes in Sedona (beginning - advance),  Dance retreats, Workshops & Performances NATIONWIDE Traditional Raqs Sharqi , Tribal & Gypsy Fusion www.gaiadance.net  carrie@gaiadance.net  (928) 282-1587   www.orientaldance.tv allow these beaded heavenly adornments to carry your imagination to a place of joy and spirituality as you experience the mystical language of dance Even if you don’t dance barefoot – consider our lovely foot jewelry as a finishing touch to your photography session while in full costume.   Many of our designs are made with genuine Swarovski crystals that sparkle like the sun.  You’ll look like a Goddess!  And if you’re planning a beach wedding, be sure to take a look at our Beach Bride Collection Seaside Aqua  This pair of handcrafted barefoot sandals combines a mixture of faceted ovals, tiny hearts, rondelles and pony beads in ocean-inspired shades of aqua.  The design is accented with gold Bali rings, ovals and rounds.   (Also available with silver accents instead of gold.) A mother of pearl shell medallion graces the top Handcrafted on durable,  elastic cord An array of designs and colors to match your costumes Available in Small,  Medium & Large Custom designs welcome Jewels by Jan http://www.jewels-by-jan.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! 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    http://thebellydancetrainer.com/     Aradia  of Las Vegas www.aradialv.com aradia11@aol.com (702)808-3430   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 Would you like to see your ad here??  Check out the Ad Page for more info.