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See Kosmos in action! Check out Music and Video from previous camps!
June 10-14, 2009 - Cazadero Camp, CA

Kosmos immerses campers in music and dance. Our beautiful Northern California facility hosts world-class workshop instructors, along with ample spaces to jam and perform with others who share their dedication.
Complete 2009 class schedule just posted... click here to check it out!

Kosmos Camp is proud to offer some of the very best world music and dance instructors from all over the globe.

Listed below are just a few of the teachers and performers we currently have lined up for this year's camp. We are currently hiring additional staff for this year's camp, so if you are interested or have an instructor you'd like to see at camp, please contact Matthew Furey.

Dance Instructors
click to see Music Instructors
Jill Parker Belly Dance Theatre
Jill is the founder of Ultra Gypsy and a respected member of the vibrant Bay Area dance community. She has been teaching and performing belly dance since 1989, when she was a founding member of the widely recognized FatChance BellyDance, and she has been director of Ultra Gypsy since 1996. In addition to Ultra Gypsy and teaching belly dance at various bay area studios and national workshops, Jill co-directs Zambra Bailar Yalla!, a flamenco and belly dance fusion company. Her workshop/performance world tour with Heather Stants and members of both Ultra Gypsy and Urban Tribal Dance Company was a huge success.
Naby Bangoura West African Dance
A native of Guinea, West Africa, Naby grew up dancing. He travelled and performed with Les Ballets Merveilles for many years before coming to America. In New York, he taught at the Djoniba School, as well as at the Abized School. He has also taught at the Jewish Community Center of Houston, Texas and the Dance Gallery in Santa Cruz, California. Currently he teaches West African Guinean dance at San Francisco's prestigious ODC studio. Naby's dynamic skill and soaring spirit have quickly established him and his high-energy class as a Kosmos Camp favorite.
Vicki Virk Indian Bhangra Dance
Vicki was born and raised in Punjab, India. Though she has been in the United States since the age of 12, she is still very connected to her Indian culture and has been dancing Bhangra all of her life. Vicki's passion to dance inspired her on a creative path that led her to form Dholrhythms, a dance company out of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is the leading instructor, choreographer, and creative director for all Dholrhythms classes, workshops, performances, and events. She lit up the camp with her infectious energy last year and Kosmos is delighted to welcome her back.
Amy Sigil Fusion Bellydance
Amy Sigil, director/choreographerof UNMATA, and owner of Hot Pot Studio in Sacarmento, CA, has been spreading her high-octane performances and workshops around the globe for the last 7 years and has been dancing for 13 years. She likes her dance "fasty" and her music "loudy"! She is an athlete; a full-force tough-love dancer, with 110% heart for the game. Her workshops will make you sweat till you bleed and UNMATA will make you smile till you scream! Influenced by her studies in Bellydance, American Tribal Style, Hula, and Hip Hop, Amy brings you...SIGIL Style...not just a dance style; a lifestyle.

NEW! Paco Gomes Brazilian Dance
A recognized dancer/choreographer/musician from Bahia, Brazil, Paco was a Professor and choreographer at the Cultural Foundation of Dance in Bahia teaching Modern Dance, Composition and Theory of Dance before moving to San Francisco. Since relocating, he has been an artist in residence at both San Francisco State University and Stanford University. He has choreographed for the Nego Gato Foundation in Philadelphia, The Rocky Mountain Youth Foundation in Colorado and San Francisco State University’s University Dance Theater, Theater Works in Palo Alto, US Performing Arts Dance Camp, and the ODC Youth Program. He currently lectures at San Francisco State University and also teaches at ODC Dance Commons, City Ballet, and Dance Mission Theater. His Dance Company performs throughout the Bay Area and Bahia, Brazil.
Phoebe "La Fibi" Vernier Flamenco Dance
One of the Bay Area's premier flamenco dancers, “La Fibi” has studied, performed, and taught flamenco for 25 years. She has performed extensively in the Bay Area as a featured soloist. She has danced in the companies of Rosa Montoya’s Bailes Flamencos, La Tania Music and Dance, Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco, and has toured nationally with The Boston Flamenco Ballet, The Company of Rinaldo Rincon, the renowned Maria Benitez Spanish Dance Company, and the Madrid-based “Compania Noche Flamenca” at the Hollywood Bowl. She currently teaches in Petaluma, CA. and is the director of La Fibi Flamenco Dance Company, winner of The Northbay Bohemian Readers Poll - "Best Performing Dance Company" in Sonoma County. Kosmos is proud to have her on staff once again.
Mira Betz Middle Eastern Dance
A life-long dancer, Mira Betz began her training in Middle Eastern dance at the age of 13. As a founding member, choreographer, and solo performer of Aywah Ethnic Dance Company for 10 years, she developed a solid foundation of contemporary, traditional, as well as ritualistic dance forms. Mira began performing at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in 1994 and continued to be featured there each summer until 2002. In 1998 Mira went abroad to live and study in Morocco. She has studied with renowned teachers in the United States and North Africa, and has taught on the east and west coast for over ten years. Mira tours nationally with renown drummer Tobias Roberson and the multi-talented Gari Hegedous, as the trio Fringe. She is artistic director of the ECHOS Project, a collaboration of emerging choreographers in the Bay Area. Her dance background also includes training in Salsa, Modern, Jazz, and Flamenco.

Sani Rifati Rom Line Dancing
Sani is a Rom from Kosovo, in the former Yugoslavia, and the president of Voice of Roma, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the general public and raising awareness concerning the plight of the Roma, particularly those in and from Kosovo. Sani has been a strong advocate for preserving the traditional folk music, songs, and dances of his native culture. He is a strong believer in creating community through his people's spirit of sharing music, dance, oral histories, food and drink. Kosmos is very excited to add his rich knowledge and energy to the mix this year!
Fattah Abbou Moroccan Berber Dance
Fattah was born and raised in a small Moroccan village before moving to the city of Marrakech. He has played Tamazight and other traditional Moroccan music for over 23 years. He is proficient in many stringed instruments (banjo, oud, lotar, bouzouki, sentir, gimbri, mandolin, violin, and guitar), and an array of Moroccan percussion instruments. Fattah's passionate vocals help deliver the impact of AZA's powerful vocal section. Fattah's infectious poolside jam sessions were a highlight of last year's camp, for both musicians and their audience.
Cera Byer World Fusion/Modern
Cera's approach to Modern comes from Graham, Horton/Ailey, and Dunham techniques. Her warm up and combinations will focus on alignment, strength, moving "off balance", musical interpretation, and performance quality. She'll focus on technique, combinations, and floor exercises drawing on movements from Kathak, Persian, Bellydance, Hip Hop, and Afro-Caribbean dances. Using games, writing exercises, and worksheets, we'll explore process and theory for creating fusion and choreography you can take home with you to work into your own dance practice. Heady stuff... It is recommended students bring a notebook and pen.
Gibson Pearl Tribal Bellydance Basics
Gibson Pearl's bellydance roots from nearly a decade of experience in tribal fusion, as well as the influence of both traditional folkloric and contemporary modern dance. Gibson began her dance studies in 2000 with Ultra Gypsy director Jill Parker and joined the esteemed company in 2001. There she served as a choreographer, principal dancer, and frequent substitute teacher for Jill's classes until 2006. In 2007, she was the original Assistant Director of Damage Control Dance Theater, performing at Cowell Theatre and Dance Mission. Other styles studied by Gibson include Turkish Rom with Elizabeth Strong, Tunisian folkloric with Malia DeFelice, and American Cabaret with Ansuya and Nanna Candelaria. Her performance career includes Burning Man, the Crucible's Fire Opera, The Boiler Bar Theater, Marrakech restaurant, and Kosmos Dance and Music Camp.
Georgios & Antonea Leftheriotis Greek Violin / Line Dancing
Georgios Leftheriotis was born and raised in Kalamata, Greece. He has sang and played violin from a very early age. Georgios has since travelled all over Greece, learning from some of the country's greatest musicians and subsequently moving to the United States in 1987. His wife, Antonea Leftheriotis, will be at Kosmos Camp this year as well, teaching the engaging Greek Line Dancing techniques and routines she learned at an early age from her father and other relatives at Greek weddings and house parties. Very generous and warm-hearted, Antonea is a naturally talented teacher and everyone enjoys her festive classes.
Music Instructors
Faisal Zedan Arabic Dumbek Drumming
Born in Syria, Faisal Ghazi Zedan grew up obsessed with the derbakki hand drum. After coming to California in 1992, he met noted UCLA ethnomusicology professor Dr. Ali Jihad Racy, as well as renowned Arabic percussionist Souhail Kaspar. In 1993, Faisal helped found the Kan Zaman, specializing in the Al Andelus style of Mowashahat, the North African Arab-influenced music of Spain from the eighth to fifteenth centuries. Kan Zaman has performed up and down the West Coast. He has also performed with Julian Weiss of the Al Kindi Ensemble of Syria and Qanun player George Sawa. Faisal is also a founding member of the Los Angeles-based Youm It Talaata percussion group. A veteran of both Middle-East Camp and Kosmos, he will be teaching both beginning and advanced classes, as well as playing for dance classes.
Louie Romero Latin Ensemble
Born and raised in New York City, Louie Romero is a gem of the San Francisco music scene. Performing and recording as a lead percussionist with such salsa greats as Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, and Willie Colon, he is no stranger to heavy-hitting musicians and will be a great new addition to Kosmos. Band leader of Mazacote, a well-known Bay Area salsa band, Louie creates a powerful foundation of rhythm and his easy going and positive nature helps make him a great teacher. His class will be an ensemble of latin/salsa songs and will be open for musicians of all instruments.
Karamba Dioubate West African Drumming
Griot and master musician Karamba Dioubate is originally from Boke, West Africa and has played with such renowned acts as Fish de Rice and Famouro Kouyate¹s group Keke in Guinea, before touring Europe and the US with Fatala, a traditional drum and dance troupe formed by master percussionist Yacouba Camara. He has been living in the US since 1992, teaching drumming in the New York and Oakland communities and workshops nationwide. His positive vibe at previous year's Kosmos Camps has been absolutely infectious.
Daniel Fries Flamenco Guitar
Daniel Fries, one of the Bay Area's premier flamenco guitarists, studied in Spain with masters such as Manolo Sanlucar, Paco Peña, and Jose Luis Rodriguez and has performed with such world-class artists as La Tania, Andrés Marín, Cristo Cortés, and Manuel Gutierrez, as well as many local artists and companies. While his style remains grounded in traditional Spanish flamenco, he also explores new directions by blending various musical traditions, including Indian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African. Dan has Music degree from UC Berkeley and has studied Indian Classical music under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ghanain drumming with C.K. Ladezkpo. Dan served as musical director for Carolina Lugo's Brisas de España and for Zambra Bailar, a company mixing flamenco with Middle Eastern music and belly dance. He has performed in venues in China, Italy and India.
NEW! Hamed Nikpay Persian Ensemble & Percussion
Born in Iran, Hamed studied Tar & Setar under the tutorship of some of the masters of classical Persian music including Hooshang Zareef, Zeydolah Tolouee, Attaolah Jangook, Farokh Mazharee, and Daryoush Pirniakan. He received top honors for improvisation for Setar and vocal in the All-Iranian Students Music Festival held in Tehran in 2002. After graduating, he performed in concerts as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, with some of the highly acclaimed music ensembles Iran, Europe and Asia. Performing as a fusion vocalist, he has two albums, one with Pedram Derakhshani & Rumi ensemble, and one with Emad Bonakdar ensemble. He has also recorded with an ensemble of selective members of Tehran Symphony Orchestra pieces composed and directed by Majid Derakhshani, one of Iran's greatest contemporary music composers. Hamed has also written music scores and performed solo instruments in several motion pictures made by some of the most distinguished directors of the Iranian cinema.
Kim Atkinson Samba Percussion Ensemble
Wine Country percussionist Kim has been an energetic presence on the Bay Area music scene since the 1970s. His initial studies in Nigerian, Ghanaian and Congolese drumming lead him to Brazilian shamanism, Caribbean music, American jazz, folk and popular music. He has performed with master musicians and dancers since the 80s and is respected as a gifted teacher and inspiring player. Kim recently performed with Planet Drum, holding the groove for over 4000 other drummers at the annual Earthdance event. He directs the Carnaval Spirit Parade Group, his rhythm fusion band " Samba Lumina" and performs with other groups in many styles. Visit Kim on the web at www.pulsewave.com.
Fattah Abbou Moroccan Ensemble
Fattah was born and raised in a small Moroccan village before moving to the city of Marrakech. He has played Tamazight and other traditional Moroccan music for over 23 years. He is proficient in many stringed instruments (banjo, oud, lotar, bouzouki, sentir, gimbri, mandolin, violin, and guitar), and an array of Moroccan percussion instruments. Fattah's passionate vocals help deliver the impact of AZA's powerful vocal section. Fattah's infectious poolside jam sessions were a highlight of last year's camp, for both musicians and their audience.
Rumen Shopov Balkan Music Ensemble
Born in a Turkish/Muslim Romani neighborhood in Bulgaria, Rumen's family loved to sing all night and Rumen learned many traditional songs by ear. In 1978, Rumen was invited to join the “Nevrokopski Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances” (Bulgaria's first state ensemble, est. 1946). There, Rumen earned the role of soloist and then of concertmaster while still a teenager. He collaborated with the ensemble’s music director, Petar Avramov, and its artistic director, respected composer Zapryu Ikonomov, on arrangements for the orchestra and on ethnomusicological research. Rumen toured Western and Eastern Europe as well as Canada with the ensemble, rare during the Cold War. In 2002, Rumen began to play and teach in the United States. He has served on the faculty of the East European Folklife Center’s Balkan Music and Dance Workshops,World Camp, Arcata Folk Festival, and Stockton Folkdance Camp. He currently performs regularly with KITKA, Edessa, Anoush, Ziyia, and his own newly-formed band Orkestar Sali.
Georgios & Antonea Leftheriotis Greek Violin / Line Dancing
Georgios Leftheriotis was born and raised in Kalamata, Greece. He has sang and played violin from a very early age. Georgios has since travelled all over Greece, learning from some of the country's greatest musicians and subsequently moving to the United States in 1987. His wife, Antonea Leftheriotis, will be at Kosmos Camp this year as well, teaching the engaging Greek Line Dancing techniques and routines she learned at an early age from her father and other relatives at Greek weddings and house parties. Very generous and warm-hearted, Antonea is a naturally talented teacher and everyone enjoys her festive classes.
Robert Wallace Total Rhythm Workout
Bobby is an internationally-trained percussionist, dancer, and educator with 13 years professional experience. As a percussionist, he has performed and/or recorded with world music artists Bonnie Raitt, Airto Moreira, David Rudder, Mike Marshall, Calypso Rose and the Starlift Steel Orchestra. His dance background includes study of Afro-Brazilian dance with Roseangela Silvestre in Bahia, Brazil, and Afro-Cuban dance with Los Munequitos de Matanzas in Havana, Cuba. Robert's unique Total Rhythm Classes combine drumming and dance for a complete body-and-soul workout. Perfect for dancers who want a deeper, more personal relationship with rhythm and for musicians who want to improve their sense of movement and time. Students work with rhythms from Africa, America, and Brazil.
Deb Rubin Yoga for Dancers
Deb (MA, CMT, RYT) fuses 10 years experience in holistic health with 25 years of performance experience to create a yoga class geared specifically for dancers. Trained in Eastern and Western healing arts, and a life-long dancer proficient in many styles, she has facilitated at healing conferences all over the world and regularly teaches in the Bay area. Deb was a member of Ultra Gypsy Dance Theater for over 5 years and a regular sub for Jill Parker's classes. She assisted Rachel Brice at her 6-day Tribal Massive intensive, performed with Heather Stants and Urban Tribal at Tribal Fest, and produced the SF Mecca Immersion. Deb's Kosmos classes will focus on core integration, spinal articulation, and building the foundational strength and flexibility to directly support your dancing technique and prevent injuries.
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