June 9-13, 2010 - Cazadero Camp, CA What's Kosmos Camp really like? Click here to check out the preliminary 2010 class schedule! |
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June 9-13, 2010 - Cazadero Camp, CA |
The warm summer days at Kosmos Camp are filled with music and dance. Our inspiring open-air venues host both Dancers and Musicians, as they learn and perform with authentic world-class professional teachers in a wide variety of styles from different cultures around the world. Kosmos is more than a camp; It's a celebration where friends bond their passions and talents. |
Discount early registration for the 2010 Kosmos Camp is now open... Click here to learn how to save $100 today. |
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Kosmos Camp proudly offers some of the very best music and dance instructors from all over the globe. Recent and regularly returning instructors include: Zoe Jakes, Heather Stants, Sulyman Feldthouse, Amy Sigil, Jill Parker, Sani Rifati, Eva Primack, Dandara, Kajira Djoumahna, Sinan Erdemsel, Aubre, Isidro Valor, Elizabeth Strong, Dan Cantrell, Ben Woods, Athena O'lochlainn, Fathi Aljarrah, Dan Fries, Lars Tergis, Xiomara Salinas, Aramis Pazos, Georgios & Antonea Leftheriotis, and Katy Barnhill. Listed below are teachers and performers currently lined up for this year's camp. We are 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 |
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click to see
Music
Instructors
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NEW! Shelly DeCant Unmata Fusion |
| 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. |
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Paco Gomes Brazilian Dance |
| NEW! Joti Singh Bollywood Style Choreography As Artistic Director and founder of Duniya Dance and Drum Company in San Francisco, Joti teaches, choreographs and performs Bhangra, Bollywood (Indian dance), and West African dance styles both nationally and internationally. Bollywood dance, as seen in the popular musical films from India, integrates various dance forms, including Indian folk dance, kathak, hip hop, and jazz. Joti’s fun, high-energy choreography and clear teaching style have led to her popularity as a performer and instructor. She has been an Artist in Residence at CounterPULSE, and recently received the Creative Work Fund grant to do a project on the Punjabi-Mexican communities of California. Joti is very excited to join the Kosmos staff! For more info, visit www.duniyadance.com |
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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. |
| NEW! Shoshanna Belly Dance Shoshanna is from Arcata, in the redwoods on California’s North Coast, and danced many styles before finding her art in Middle Eastern dance in 1991. Shoshanna serves on the dance faculty of Humboldt State University, directs the Ya Habibi Dance Company, produces music and dance events such as the Redwood Coast Belly Dance Festival, owns Redwood Raks World Dance Studio, and teaches and performs across the US. She appears on numerous performance and instructional DVDs and in 2004 earned the title of Belly Dancer of the Year. For more info, visit www.shoshannaland.com |
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Mira Betz Middle Eastern Dance Mira, a sought-after dancer, choreographer, costumer, and teacher, has performed on stages around the world (Japan, Spain, UK, Venezuela, Belgium, South Korea), including The Fillmore, Hollywood Bowl, and NYC's Knitting Factory in the US. She has a tour planned for 2010 that will take her talent to Spain, Croatia, Holland, Italy, Poland, and the UK. She is a repeat teacher/performer at the Tribal Massive in Las Vegas and was part of The Bellydance SuperStars event, Raks Britannia. Mira has been active in the performing arts for 20 years, training in Middle Eastern dance with teachers such as Jamila Salimpour and Katarina Burda, whom she worked with for 10 years as a founding member, choreographer, and solo performer of Aywah! Ethnic Dance Company. Mira was a featured dancer at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire for nearly a decade and has studied the native dances while living in Morocco. Recently, she has served as guest choreographer for Ultra Gypsy, co-founded the Barbary Coast Shakedown, and was an original member of the Eve's Elixir project. Nominated "Instructor of the year" by Zaghareet Magazine, Mira teaches and performs at festivals and camps across the nation, as well as at the Malonga Arts Collective in Oakland California. She has been a camp favorite since the first year of Kosmos. |
| 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. |
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NEW! Jordan Wilson Salsa Rueda & Latin Singing Jordan has been active in music, dance and athletics since his youth. He coaches competitive figure skating at 3 Bay Area Ice Arenas. A skater himself, Jordan has competed in 8 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and performed in several Professional ice shows. Also, active in music, Jordan sings and plays Cuban Tres in the Afro-Cuban Ensemble at SF State and leads his own band, Canto Mixto which plays throughout San Francisco. An ongoing student of music and dance, Jordan recently traveled to Havana, Cuba to experience the local music and Dance firsthand. At last year's camp, his class (and his late-night performance at the firepit) was wildly popular and he will be teaching introductory Cuban Style Salsa, Rueda de Casino and Coro singing clases this year. |
| Cera Byer World Fusion Contemporary While Cera's approach to Modern comes from Graham, Horton/Ailey, and Dunham techniques and her floor exercises draw on a wealth of movements from Kathak, Persian, Bellydance, Hip Hop, and Afro-Caribbean traditions, her class at Kosmos is anything but a dry academic approach to the dance. Instead, it's a hot sweaty tribute that will have dancers of all levels moving and moved by the material. In between her informed warm-up/cool-down, Cera's worldly combinations focus on alignment, strength, moving "off balance", musical interpretation, and performance quality but, when feet hit the floor, it's a funky block party and everyone's invited. Cera owns and operates Shoebox Studio in San Francisco and is the founder and director of Damage Control Dance Theater. |
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| Music Instructors |
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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. |
| NEW! Alfredo Caceres Basic Flamenco Rhythms Born in Guatemala City in 1977, Alfredo C·ceres has three records featured as a Composer, Arranger and Co-Producer. Alfredo has attended many courses and master classes with internationally acclaimed guitarists like Miguel Angel CortÈs, NiÒo de Pura, Antonio Carmona, Juan Manuel CaÒizares, and Fareed Haque. He studied the Flamenco compas and palmas for two years with the legendary Flamenco dancer and percussionist Manolo Soler. He has played in several bands, ranging from Jazz to Flamenco, Latin and Pop and has collaborated in more than 50 recordings in different Guatemalan and international productions with singers, dancers, and other musicians. He is the guitarist for The Karina Velasco’s Flamenco Company “Cuatro Caminos Arts & Flamenco” and the Russ Hewitt Jazz Band. He lives in Los Angeles and is excited to be a part of Kosmos Camp, where he will work on basic rhythms of Flamenco through learning the compas and palmas. Beginners welcome. For more info and music, visit www.myspace.com/alfredocaceres |
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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. |
| 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. |
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Fattah Abbou Moroccan Percussion & 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. |
| Rumen Shopov Balkan Gypsy Drumming 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. |
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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. |
| NEW! Carlos Caro Latin Percussion Carlos M. Caro was born in Havana, Cuba and, from an early age, was strongly drawn to Cuban music, particularly percussion. He moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and has become a much sought-after percussionist working with established, renowned musicians such as Omar Sosa, Jesus Diaz and his QBA, Eddie Palmieri, Jorge Santana, & Louie Romero & Mazacote. In addition to being an active performer, Caro is also a Latin percussion/music instructor. Caro will be teaching a Latin Ensemble Class and a Latin Percussion class. For more info visit www.carloscaro.net |
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NEW! Azriel “El Moreno” Goldschmidt Flamenco Singing A native of Argentina, El Moreno began studying flamenco dance with Rafael Martos. Soon after, he was introduced to the flamenco cante (singing) by guitarist Ives Lucero. Under the artistic direction of Ramona GarduÒo, El Moreno began performing as a singer and dancer with the group Aire Flamenco in 1998. He studied with singers Silverio Heredia, and JosÈ Anillo. Since moving to the Bay Area in 1999, El Moreno sings regularly for most professional Bay Area flamenco dancers, including Carola Zertuche, Melisa Cruz, La Fibi, La Tania, Yaelisa, Mercedes Metal, Virginia Iglesias and many others in both theater and "tablado" style performances. He is a current member of Riquezas Flamenco. He will work on accessible Flamenco songs with any Kosmos participants drawn to singing. All are welcome…. |
| 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. |
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NEW! Dudley Flores Rhythm and Motion Workout Dudley is a native of San Francisco and started dancing in high school musical theater. Since then he's expanded his movement vocabulary and has had the opportunity to work (and play) with Charles Moulton, Paco Gomes & Dancers (Afro-Brazilian), and David Schrag and Micaya (Hip Hop). He’s worked with the Printz Dance Project since 2003, and currently also works with RAWdance and Janice Garrett & Dancers. Offstage, he is the Artistic Director of the Rhythm & Motion Dance Workout Program at ODC Dance Commons in San Francisco, and is on the steering committee for Bay Area National Dance Week. Pulling effectively from many dance genres, Dudley is a great fit for Kosmos Camp! |
| 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. |
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