Politti Ashcraft

Politti Ashcraft has studied bellydance for over 12 years, with a strong focus on the beautiful and varied styles of Tribal Bellydance.  Inspired by the diverse cultures of the world, her progressive dance style is an engaging blend of the sacred and contemporary, by way of fluid movement and grace.  Politti teaches weekly classes in the Inland Empire (So. Cal), offers specialty workshops in ATS and Tribal Fusion, and performs regularly in and around So. California, either as a soloist or with the gorgeous dancers of Blue Damsel.

A teacher and performer, Politti is also an eternal student of Tribal Bellydance.  She has studied with some of the most talented and gracious dancers in the industry, and continues to learn and grow in her dance by frequently promoting and attending Bellydance workshops and festivals. 

Politti feels that Tribal Bellydance is unique in that while it is based on dance forms from around the world, it continues to grow and evolve into its own art form. She strives to honor the community aspect of the dance in her classes along with an emphasis on studying this art form as a discipline. She enjoys instilling her students with a passion for the dance, just as her teachers before her did.

Politti dedicates her dance to the memory of her mother.

Visit Politti Ashcraft on-line at:
www.tribal-stuff.com

Rachel Lazarus Soto has studied belly dance for more than fourteen years, and has performed and taught seminars nationally over the last twelve years. Her concise teaching style shows clarity of thought and knowledge of movement and the body, allowing students to learn class and workshop material easily. Rachel originally studied American Cabaret Belly Dance, and has been focusing on her development of improvisational Tribal Belly Dance for the last seven years. Rachel holds a General Skills Certification of Fat Chance Belly Dance Technique with Carolena Nericcio (January 2007). Over the last two years Rachel has begun studying Asian dance forms including classical and folk Indian styles with Meera, Shawna Rai, and most recently DaVid of Scandinavia, as well as Far East Asian movement concepts with Shifu Newton of Tai Mantis Kung Fu, and Classical Japanese dance with Mihoko Powers. These recent influences can be readily seen in Rachel’s performances and choreographies.

Rachel is the director of Blue Damsel, which encompasses many dance styles for a truly entertaining and though provoking experience. Blue Damsel performs regularly with Solace Live. Rachel was also the founder/director of multi award-winning Devadasi World Fusion Dance, now disbanded. Rachel is co-founder of the Southern California based event, Tribal Café: The Finest in Tribal Style BellyDance.

This year Rachel performed and taught at Tribal Con in Atlanta, Georgia (www.tribalcon.com), on a Cruise to Mexico (www.bellycruise.com), and accompanied Solace as manager, dancer and percussionist, to Australia for their first ever overseas tour, as well as taught and played more dates with Solace Live in Dublin, at Tribal Ford, UK, Vienna, Austria, Warsaw, Poland, Koln, Germany, and Barcelona and Madrid, Spain.

“My favorite thing about your dancing is your arms and hands. They are so elegant and beautiful.” -- Rachel Brice, The Indigo

”I loved you on-stage at Tribal Con (2006). Unadulterated Mojo in motion!” -- Onca, Baraka Mundi

Oasis Dance Studio was founded and operated by Basima until 2008, when she turned over the keys to the ladies of Blue Damsel. Basima is a professional performing bellydancer, who also serves as artistic director for the Jewels of the Oasis Dance Troupe. Basima discovered bellydance in 1988 during a trip to Egypt and has been performing and teaching for more than five years. She brings to bellydancing over 30 years of dance experience, including ballroom, jazz, and ballet.

Basima holds a B. A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Davis, and a M. A. in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University. She is currently the director of the Yucca Valley Hi-Desert Nature Museum. Basima has studied Middle Eastern culture and traveled in Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait. Basima has taken workshops with internationally renowned dance instructors including Sahra Saeeda, Dina, Mahmoud Reda, Dr. Mo Gedawi, Aziza, Jillina, and Hadia. Basima studied in the Washington D.C. area with Latifa, Faten Salama, and Anthea Poole (Kawakib). Her specialties include Egyptian Oriental and folkloric styles, to include: Cane, Melaya Luff, Veil, Sword, Finger Cymbals, and Wings of Isis.

Basima was a featured dancer at Nader's Middle Eastern Cafe in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and was a member of the Banat al-Beled Dance Troupe, performing at the Casablance Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia and Hellas Greek Restaurant in Maryland. She has also performed at cultural fairs, school events, nursing homes, senior centers, and conducted bellygrams for birthdays and anniversaries. Basima currently performs at VillageFest in Palm Springs and teaches a weekly bellydance class in Yucca Valley. SHe recently had a three part article regarding dance workshops published in "Zaghareet" magazine.

Basima is dedicated to learning, performing, and sharing this beautiful dance form with her students.

Zaheen was first introduced to belly dance at the age of 4 years old while watching a dancer on TV. The dancer was wearing a beautiful costume, and Zaheen was immediately smitten with her performance. Zaheen has been a student of belly dance since 2004, after taking classes while on hiatus from her Master’s Degree program.  She performs at local restaurants in Riverside and Rancho Cucamonga. Zaheen also performs for private parties, weddings, engagement parties, girls night out parties, and baby showers.

Dance is an expression of the inner self and Zaheen would like every woman to be in touch with her inner spirit. Zaheen teaches beginning belly dance classes that consist of several styles of belly dance, including: Egyptian, Cabaret, American and Lebanese styles.

Edenia has had an interest in bellydance from a young age, but when she saw her first Rachel Brice video – She was hooked! She began taking bellydance classes in August 2006 with Zahreen, and (being a quick study with daily practice) started performing a year or so later. Edenia can be seen performing her unique bellydance style of “Tribal Fusion with a Twist of Goth”, almost weekly, in and around the Inland Empire, Southern California.

Edenia loves all styles of bellydance and says that every dancer she's seen is an inspiration to her. Edenia’s current and constantly evolving list of her influences in bellydance include:

Zahreen
Rachel Brice
Zoe
Ariellah
Frederique
Olivia of Zafira Dance Company
Asharah
Onca
Mercy
And
Blue Damsel

Cheyenne has been involved with Martial arts for over 10 years. He began as a Muay Thai Boxing student, then progressed to competitive fighting. He's been studying Tai Chi with Shifu Newton at Tai Mantis Kung Fu for more than 5 years.

Cheyenne is also a Certified Massage Therapist, and can perform the following massage styles: Sweddish, Trigger Point, Sports Massage, Accupressure, Shiatsu (table or traditional floor mat), Reflexology, Deep Tissue, and Theraputic Stretching. In addition to his martial arts and massage skills, Cheyenne is also a personal trainer, currently working at Bally's.

Contact Cheyenne to schedule a massage, a personal training session, or to get more information about Tai Chi. 909-991-5284

Arlette Landa

Arlette is also a salsa dancer with her partner Jesus Arellano. Although at first it was only for fun, they are currently teaching/directing a quinceanera choreography. Arlette is currently in school to become a Registered Dietician.