TEACHER BIOS

Although her degree emphasis was on photography, Kami spent most of her energy dedicated to her dance minor, studying various aspects of dance such as movement theory, dance history, theory of teaching dance and choreography studies as well as the various required technique classes. In 2003 she joined the teaching staff at the university on a letter of appointment and taught classes there until 2005.

Kami’s style is what she calls a modern fusion of an ancient dance. Although she is primarily a tribal dancer, she pulls from the various styles of belly dance that she has studied, as well as modern, hip hop, jazz, and bhangra dance. Her goal is to always be a student of dance and to constantly expand her repertoire.

She joined Bellydance Superstars in 2005 and is a contributing choreographer, as well as having been the director of the Tribal Superstars thru 2012. Most recently, Kami started her own troupe, Gold Star, and has been collaborating with Bay Area band Junk Parlor.
www.kamiliddle.com

Katarina Burda (an original member of Bal-Anat) was her first teacher and influence, and Zoe was a company member of Katarina’s troop Aywah!, along with the talented Mira Betz and Elizabeth Strong. She went on to perform with Suhaila Salimpour, spent a few years learning how to get in people’s faces in Extra Action Marching Band, and immersed herself in Americana Vaudeville with The Yard Dogs Road Show. A proud Member of The Indigo Belly Dance Company, Zoe holds Mardi Love and Rachel Brice as her teachers and inspiration.

Currently Zoe Jakes is touring with her band Beats Antique, a group that has six albums and hundreds of live shows under their belt. Zoe designs and makes many of her own costumes and co-produces tracks with Beats Antique, along with adding set designer and stylist to her body of work. With multiple years and disciplines of belly dance under her belt, she has also studied Jazz, Ballet, Tango, Popping, and Indian dance.

Zoe Jakes is pursuing her desire to bring belly dance to the masses – performing at Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo put her in front of thousands of people that didn’t know belly dance from an elephant. Zoe always includes her own Tribal Fusion aesthetic, as well as the many dance forms that have influenced her art the most.
www.zoejakes.com