NOW A WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON, BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS
COMING TO THE ILLSLEY BALL - NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 30TH !
SPECTACULAR TROUPE TO ONCE AGAIN DAZZLE AUDIENCES WITH
MESMERIZING CHOREOGRAPHY & VISUALS OF ACCLAIMED NEW “RAQS CARNIVALE” SHOW
Seattle, WA - The Bellydance Superstars bring their enthralling performances and mesmerizing choreography to Issley Ball - Nordstrom Recital Hall in Seattle on Tuesday, January 30th at 8 PM. The hall is located at 200 University Street / Seattle WA 98111. The Bellydance Superstars – the world’s premier belly dance troupe – have performed 375 concerts in 16 countries in just three years, wowing over 1 million enthusiastic fans in venues, and 80 million on television with their fascinating live performances. Now the acclaimed troupe formed by music business mogul Miles Copeland is back in the United States to once again wow American audiences.
To purchase ticket for this performance, visit www.ticketmaster.com/venue/123180 or call the box office at 206.215.4700.
Comprised of America’s best-known, most sought-after belly dancers – many of whom are expert belly dance instructors – the invigorating troupe is the only professional dance company of its kind on tour, making their performances and workshops popular affairs. The dancers themselves come from a variety of dance backgrounds ranging from Egyptian, Mexican, Latin, Classical Ballet, jazz and others. Critics and fans alike note it is the star power of the individual dancers that differentiate the Bellydance Superstars from touring troupes with faceless unknowns. Each dancer has its own individual fan base as the brand of the troupe is simultaneously being built.
Performing a cross-section of Tribal, Egyptian and Cabaret styles, the Bellydance Superstars exhibit an intoxicating spectacle that transports the audience to a distant time and place while stimulating all the senses. Taking an ancient art form into the mainstream, they have garnered international acclaim from critics (Rolling Stone, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, DesiXpress), instructors, dancers and fans alike.
The troupe’s new show, “Raqs Carnivale,” features all new choreography, costumes and production. Dressed in luxurious colorful costumes led by main choreographer and artistic director Jillina, the dancers beautifully display the true art of belly dance. The exotic sounds of haunting melodies echo throughout each venue during each show, and the dancers perform in front of an amazing backdrop with washes of lighting and flame-effects.
Over half a million people were first exposed to the Bellydance Superstars on the Lollapalooza rock tour in 2003 following auditions in 2002. That auspicious beginning led to many achievements, including a stint at the famed Folies Bergere in Paris in 2005 that garnered rave reviews and standing room only crowds. The Bellydance Superstars have truly set a new standard for belly dance and proved, without a doubt, its wide appeal to a Western audience.
Countless television appearances (Live with Regis & Kelly with dance cameos from the famous co-hosts!) and impressive press coverage have added huge impetus to an already intense interest in this sensual dance art that celebrates all women. the Bellydance Superstars have sold out shows in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, Italy, France, Spain, Monte Carlo and all over Europe, and are now gearing up for a tour of Latin America.
Copeland, whose vision was realized with the formation of the Bellydance Superstars, is the former manager of The Police and Sting. A legendary impresario, Copeland has served as manager, agent or record label chief for such acts as The Moody Blues, R.E.M., the GoGos, The Bangles, Fine Young Cannibals, Keith Urban, and a host of others.
“Great art grows, it does not stagnate,” Copeland says. “What we are doing is elevating the art form of belly dance. We have never pretended to be traditionalists. What makes the Bellydance Superstars special is that this is a belly dance show through and through. Any musical that opens people’s minds is a good thing. Our audiences come to watch the show (which incorporates Arabic, Middle Eastern and Egyptian music) and they walk away wanting to listen to more world music.”
In this world of conflict between east and west, the Bellydance Superstars have become one of the few cultural bridges between the Arab world and the West. The Sunday Times was quoted as saying the BDSS are “the most important dance troupe in the world.” These all-American women and their growing, enthusiastic audience clearly demonstrate a Western appreciation for music and dance largely inspired by these arts in the Middle East as no other entertainment outfit does. At a time when all too often the West and especially the U.S. seem to disregard other cultures, this is an important message. The Bellydance Superstars inadvertently accomplish this as entertainers with no underlying agendas, but it is there just the same and becoming recognized by the media both here and around the world.
The troupe has been chronicled in the fascinating documentary, American Bellydancer: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Dance, which was chosen for screening by several film festivals, including the Tiburon Film Festival. The film also debuted in 30 theaters across the United States in 2005. In addition, the Bellydance Superstars also produce a series of DVDs that have greatly contributed to a new fitness craze (seven instructional, three live concert & performance to date), CD and merchandise products, which are sold at each performance and via their official website, www.bellydancesuperstars.com.
The Bellydance Superstars are dedicated to celebrating the art form of bellydance and elevating it to its rightful place among dance genres. Their motto: We Dance, Therefore We Are.
“Belly dancing is not only the fastest growing women’s leisurely activity, it’s also finally come of age as a respected dance art,” Copeland says. “At the forefront of that movement are the Bellydance Superstars, who have almost single-handedly accomplished this in less than three years. They have helped contribute to belly dancing becoming a curious phenomenon…a lifestyle and a passion.”
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR THE BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS:
“…In a world filled with war, hatred and distrust, how refreshing to share the beauty and culture of the Arabic Middle East. Forgive the cliché, but music and dance do transcend and break down culture barriers and prejudices. The Bellydance Superstars are a multi-ethnic company who, in the course of the evening, manage to stretch the choreographic boundaries of belly dancing to overlap those of flamenco, samba, salsa and other ethnic styles.”
- Richard Elfman (from opening night of the Spring 2006 U.S. tour)
“East meets West in an enticing blend of music and motion…The Superstars are doing more than just shaking their hips; they’re giving Americans a window to a world beyond the Middle East turmoil shown nightly on CNN.”
- Fort Collins Weekly