Sheela is an exponent in Bharatanatyam, one of the oldest classical dance forms of southern India. She has extensively traveled in India and abroad rendering more than 100 shows till date. Adept at vibrant choreography, her ability to communicate the complexities of Bharatanatyam to the masses is remarkable. Her approach is uncompromising and she aims to deliver the message of peace through her dance.

Sharna Fabiano Tango Company is inspired by authentic tango aesthetics and social themes. The company offers both classical tango performances and choreographic works that delve into the rich creative territory of contemporary dance.

Each project acknowledges the transforming power of human connection and community found in the tango world, and explores the deep nostalgia, intimacy, and longing that is found there. Passionate embraces meet quiet moments of personal reflection, and gender roles are challenged as women and men exchange following and leading. Collaborations with guest dancers and musicians enrich the quality of our process and our production.

The Moving Company is a progressive modern dance company in the Cockeysville, MD area. Originally directed by Nancy Romita and now under the artistic direction of Dana Martin, The Moving Company values creating high caliber modern dance choreography. We strive to build an artistically intelligent audience, reaching out to the Baltimore community through open classes, performances and professional development, commissioning works by local choreographers, and supporting the ambitions of professional dancers.

tributaries brings together several contemporary dance artists with an intersecting dance lineage for a shared program of works in process at Artomatic. Solo, duet and small group work will be performed on June 20th at 6pm and 10:30pm at the Dance/Theater stage on the 6th floor. tributaries engages dance artists from the District, NYC and North Carolina; the artists include Amy Love Beasley, Jamal Ari Black, Heather Glasgow Doyle, Stephanie Leathers, Jennifer McNure and Ashlee Ramsey, Myra Scibetta and Kathryn Ullom. Through this shared space and time, connections between each work establish and then diverge, offering different possibilities from a common source.

Suspiro Andaluz is a D.C. flamenco group founded in 2007, whose members have been featured at the Annual Spanish Festival at the Strathmore Center for Performing Arts, the Spanish Cultural Fair Fiesta Real in conjunction with Real Maryland FC Professional Soccer, as well as local venues throughout the greater D.C. area. Accompanied by a live guitarist, Suspiro Andaluz will perform some traditional sub-genres of flamenco, including Alegrias and Farruca, as well as the flamenco-style partner dance from Seville called Sevillanas.

Jayantee Paine-Ganguly is an accomplished performer of several Indian dance styles, including Odissi, Kathak, and Mohiniyattam. Jayantee received a master's degree in performing arts and dance from American University and is a board member of the Indian Dance Educators' Association. She is the founder and director of Konark Dance School and Jayantika Dance Company, based in the Washington, D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.konarkdanceschool.org.

At Artomatic, Jayantee will perform Odissi, a sophisticated and expressive art which features percussive footwork and undulating torso movements and often retells mythological stories.

"Om" is a trio of dancers who mix belly dance with various dance forms including hip hop, latin and caribbean. What they offer is new and fresh.

"Om" members are Malina, Haruko and Jenn.

Come see Om @ Artomatic!
EVENT DATE: Friday, June 26, 9--10PM
LOCATION: 55 M Street, SE, Washington, DC

What is "Om"?
The word "Om" is the most often chanted sound among all the sacred sounds on earth; it is the sound of existence and meditation. The syllable "Om" was first described as all-encompassing mystical entity.

UpRooted Dance will be showing a new work in progress. The contemporary dance company is working on a piece to include haute couture fashion elements into the costumes of the dancers. Choreographer and Costume Designer Keira Hart-Mendoza is working from inspirations from the latest Chanel headpieces made from paper and fabrics. The piece is yet to be titled, but stay tuned for more info!

Dancers include: Heather Doyle, April Gruber, Keira Hart-Mendoza, and Mary Lane.

Next Reflex Dance Collective is a new modern dance company in the DC Metro area. Founders Erika Surma and Roxann Morgan Rowley center the collective around collaboration and providing a venue for more artistic voices in the DC Metro dance community.

JOYISM!
dance : play : live

Binahkaye Joy, the Visionary Space Activator of JOYISM!, weaves together an interactive dance experience for everyone! Using dance, poetry, and play, Binahkaye intiates a communal re-membering of humanity's indigenous movement.

Show appropriate for all ages. Audience participation highly encouraged for maximum fun!

The interactive dance show on Thursday, June 18th features live music with Manatho "Shumba" Masani on Mbira, an ancient, traditional percussive instrument from Zimbabwe. Played with the thumbs, the Mbira is a unique percussive instrument because it makes melodies. Mbira is very sacred and used to communicate with the ancestors.

Interactive Show: Thursday, June 18th @ 8pm

Community Dance Workshops: Friday, June 12th @ 10:00pm & Thursday, July 2nd @ 6:30pm

"The Fragmentation of Femininity" is a quintet that explores what is feminine. We witness as the images of sensuality mix with that of modesty, resulting in the splintering of the woman. How are they affected? How are we affected?

Performers: Adrienne Latanishen, Alyssa U, Caitlin Foley, Allison Moeller, and Ashley Chapman
Cellist: Elizabeth Meszaros

Lauren Withhart (choreographer) is an M.F.A. candidate at the University of Maryland Department of Dance.

ZEZEH BRAZIL Samba School is a dance troupe and team of musicians dedicated to bringing the great beauty, diversity and vibrancy of Brazilian culture to the United States. Performing a number of styles of Brazilian dance -- from traditional samba de roda movements of Bahia to the afro-influenced pulsing samba reggae rhythms of Pelorinho to the intoxicating carnival batucada styles of Rio de Janeiro -- with its performances ZEZEH BRAZIL takes you on a whirlwind tour of the magnificant country that is Brazil.

Unique and Astounding, The Bethesda Ballet Dance Ensemble lead by artistic director/choreographer Kim Bell, is a newly formed small group of classically trained dancers who perform an array of mixed programs year round.

The artistic director/choreographer draws from a diversity of training and performance experience spanning Washington DC to New York City where she has cultivated her zest for creativity and professional presentation.

All of her works have been showcased in the
Washington, DC metropolitan area including the Randolph Theatre, Warehouse Dinner Theatre and the Dance Place in Washington, DC.

The collection of works include: original theme-based, abstract, and, storyline ballets that are set to rare and contemporary music.

Precise in their execution of the classical ballet technique, modern and contemporary styles, these dancers are most certainly a unique group and a joy to watch.

Kim Bell-

The SAPAN Performance Company, the official performance company of The South Asian Performing Arts Network and Institute (“The SAPAN Institute”), serves as the nexus for Washington, DC's most professional, highly skilled South Asian performing artists, including singers, dancers and musicians. The Resident Artists of the SAPAN Performance Company work together to preserve and promote traditional South Asian performing art forms as well as create innovate performance art by fusing the classical arts with modern day music and dance.

Our performance will showcase various genres of classical and traditional folk South Asian dance and music with some more modern "fusion" choreography intermixed. The Resident Artists of the SAPAN Performance Company are all skilled in a variety of different South Asian artistic disciplines, including Indian classical dance (Bharatanatym, Kathak, Odissi, etc.), folk dance (Bhangra, Garba, Dhandia, etc.), modern dance (Bollywood, Fusion, etc.), classical Karnatik and Hindustani vocalists, classical Karnatic and Hindustani violinists, Tabla and Dhol drums and the list goes on. The purpose of the showcase will be to expose the greater Washington, D.C. community to more than just Indian Bollywood dance and to all the other genres of South Asian performance arts that often go overlooked and under appreciated.

Krista performs raqs sharqi (known as belly dance) throughout the DC/Baltimore area. She has studied and danced with Egyptian Sun Productions (Baltimore, MD) for several years. Her playful dance style is a blend of Egyptian, Lebanese, and American influences.

DanceAntonini presents a short concert of selected works from its repertory including Lou Antonini's "Get Along L'il Dancers" hailed as "a delightful romp" by The Washington Post. Other works on the program feature works by company dance artists Mary Szegda and Hilary White as part of DanceAntonin's Open Range project. For more information about this performance and DanceAntonini visit www.danceantonini.org.

Shemika Berry is an Inspirational Praise Dancer. Combining a mixture of lyrical dance, mime and theatre she brings songs to life. She hopes to touch the lives of those who witness her presentation of Inspirational Praise Dance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PERFORMER: Dr. Janaki Rangarajan, a senior disciple of Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam for more than 23 years, started learning Bharatanatyam at the tender age of four and has given numerous solo and group recitals all over India and around the world. Janaki who has received the prestigious "Vasanthalakshmi - Narasimhachari Award" of the Narada Gana Sabha, is a graded artist for Doordarshan (National Television of India) and is an empanelled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). She runs her dance school "Nrityaniketan" in Alexandria, Virginia. For more information on Janaki, please visit www.nrityaniketan.com.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PERFORMANCE: Bharatanatyam is a type of South Indian classical dance form, which is almost 2000 years old. It is known for very beautiful movements and facial expressions choreographed to intricate rhythmic passages and melodious music. The music used in Bharatanatyam is traditionally Carnatic music from South India. The main posture in Bharatanatyam is called “Araimandi” or “Mandala Sthana.” Araimandi literally means half-sitting position and movements are performed in this position. Bharatanatyam is usually performed in medium tempo. Colorful costumes and golden ornaments with precious stones are very typical of this style.

Ever thought, "Hey, I'd like to see some glamorous and elegant dancing while also getting a healthy dose of Egyptian culture?" Well, here's your chance! Come see Farah-Abi bellydance! Forget that Bangles song. Get ready to see what Bellydancing is really all about. Farah-Abi is a trained Egyptian Cabaret performer with over ten years of professional training. This full 20 minute show will include audience participation, so get ready to "Walk like an Egyptian!"