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Snakedance Theater
Snakedance Theater brings Middle Eastern-style Bellydance --in all
its forms and fusions-- to the theater. Director/Choreographer
Johara (Juliette Cusick) has produced three large-scale dance
productions in the Boston area: Celestial Bodies: 2001 Bellydance
Odyssey (11/2001 ); East Meets WestArabia American Style (2/2003);
and A Gypsy in Cairo (4/2005). Each show contains a tightly
knitted thematic framework, or in the case of Gypsy a storyline,
for the audience to follow. Johara's productions exhibit her
wide-range of choreographic skills and her abilty to entertain a
public which has had little exposure to this dance form. A few
adjectives to describe her versatility of style include: Introspective
and conceptual, campy and flamboyant, sensual, and traditional. From
the glamorous solo cabaret style to the traditional Egyptian, Turkish,
Greek, and Romany Gypsy dances, Middle Eastern dance is rich with
variety and provides fertile soil form which to create shows for
the stage. Nevertheless, Johar's artistic visions transcend cultural
boundaries. She continues to extend her vision to include new dance
forms, acting, set, and multi-media formats.
A Gypsy in CairoJohara and Snake Dance Theater's third and most recent production "A Gypsy in Cairo' is a magical tale told through dance. It premiered April 15,2005 at the Regent Theater in Arlington, Massachusetts before an audience of 400. The presentation featured Johara and a cast of over thirty Middle Eastern-style dancers, actors, and narration by Jennifer Bliss. Johara's theatrical production was inspired by the classic Egyptian musicals of the 1950s and 60s and includes all facets of Middle-Eastern dance and music: Turkish, Oriental, folkloric and fusion. "A Gypsy in Cairo" brings together colorful choreography, humor, and sensuality in a unique blend of tradition and innovation reminiscent of what "Lord of the Dance" created with Irish Step. Even the newcomers to this dance style were swept away by the strong story line-complete with romance, intrigue, and comic relief-- and incredible performances. The story transports you to a world beyond where magic bracelets and serpentine dancers invoke the power of the Indian goddess to bring together two lost souls and where the golden Phoenix illuminates the path towards their destiny. Follow our lovers on their stormy journey through gypsy camps, crowded Egyptian market-places, and seedy cafes with Arabesque dancing girls. You will rejoice as fate reunites our lovers in Cairo during this Hollywood-style grand finale. This spectacular production brings Middle Eastern dance out of the shadows and under the bright lights of the theater. Past Shows and HistoryCelestial Bodies: 2001 Bellydance OdysseyIn January 2001 (the Chinese year of the snake) Johara founded Snakedance Theater Company. Johara's first production, Celestial Bodies:2001 Bellydance Odyssey, was an exploration of the five elemental forces-water, ail, earth, fire, and ether-which underlie every aspect of our lives from our movemnts to our ideas. This introspective, yet celebratory work incorporated Middle Eastern, modern, and African dance styles. The show featured original choreography and poetry by Johara and involved 11 professional and students dancers from Boston, New York, and LA including: Anita Cristina of The Goddess DancingI, Sabrina, Najmat, Jennifer Sears, and drumming by Micheal Gregian and Abes. They enchanted two sold-out audiences in Cambridge with its new approach to an ancient dance form. East Meets West: Arabia American StyleJohara's second show, East East Meets West Arabia American Style in 2003, was a Retro Bellydance Show full of fun, colorful costumes, and fabulous performances by over twenty Middle Eastern "belly" dancers. From 20th century orientalist visions to present-day techno-Arabic fusion, the show looked back at the western world's interpretation of the East and Eastern adaptations of the West. The choreographies by Johara and guest artist such as Melina of Daughters of Rhea, Zari of San Francisco, Goddess Dancing, and Sabrina, combined elements of Middle Eastern Bellydance and American popular culture over the last decade through the use of music, dance movements, and costuming. More humorouse and extraverted than her first work, this production nevertheless carried a message. It endeavored to reveal how Eastern and Western cultures-experiencing intense conflict and mutual mistrust-have a long history of cultural exchange or cross-pollination. The show appeared before a sold-out audience of 275 at the McCormick Theater University of Massachussetts Boston campus. A second show was added with a new 1970s medley the following month at the Karoun restaurant in Newton, Massachusetts.
SnakeDance Productions About The DirectorJohara, which means Jewel in Arabic, is a passionate and innovative dancer, drummer, choreographer and teacher in the Boston area. She has performed professionally in Istanbul Turkey, Baiia Brazil, New York City, and throughout New England since 1997. Besides club and restaurant shows, she has performed at numerous university cultural days and at festivals including the Cambridge River Festival, the Central Square World's Fair, and at the opening for the Boston Revels 2005. She has been featured on "Fernando's Hide-away" a television program highlighting Boston's top entertainment and in the Boston Globe Newspaper. She is director and producer of Snakedance Theater, Serpentine Nights (semi-monthly dance events), and the Bellisima dance troupe. She is creator and host of the Boston Annual Bellydance Awards which began in 2004. Johara's diverse background in dance includes ten years of study in Middle Eastern dance (Egyptian and Turkish) along with five of study in West African and several years of Afro-Caribbean and Latin dance styles. Beyond folk dance, she has taken courses in Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Yoga, and Pilates. Johara also has a background in music. She studied for three years at Berklee College of Music and holds an Associates degree in jazz and Contemporary Music from the University of Maine at Augusta. Johara combines her diverse knowledge of music and dance to create rich and exciting shows and choreographies. Johara is a compassionate and committed dance instructor and workshop leader with over 10 years of experience. She holds a Masters degree in Teaching English as a second language and teacher certification in the state of Massachusetts. She has trained some of Boston's top bellydancers and two of her students have passed auditions to join the Bellydance Superstars International performing company produced by Miles Copeland. Many of her students have performed in her professional theater productions, Serpentine Nights events, and recitals. Two of her students were winners in the 2004 Boston Bellydance Awards.
For bookings or class information call: (617) 780-8890 |
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