Bahiya, known in the bellydance world as Jawahir Bahiya, is an award winning Belly Dancer, studying Middle Eastern Dance since 1998. In more recent years, Bahiya has explored "experimental" dance and Ankoku Butoh (Japanese Dance of Darkness).
Jawahir Bahiya performs, and offers workshops and classes on a variety of belly dance topics in Colorado and nationally. Jawahir (aka Jewl) is a member of the Bohemian Artists' Guild in Denver participating in local events/collaborations with other artists.
Jewl is also a dj, seasoned musician, massage therapist, reiki master, vegan, enjoys yoga, community, healing arts, painting, and is the proud mother of Terra, amazing little girl born in 2005 who is "more a teacher to me than I am to her".
Bahiya Experimental Dance: Jewl has been performing to electronic/experimental music for over 5 years. Bahiya is an extension of this, including other dancers when possible in an exploration of experimental dance and performance art to live and recorded sound art. Performances may include choreography and/or improvisational dance with an underlying concept. Jewl is coordinator and choreographer.
Jewl has more recently taken interest in Japanese Ankoku Butoh (dance of darkness). Her introduction to the dance form was several years ago watching P.A.N. Butoh out of Portland. Seeing this amazing group perform several times, Jewl was inspired to learn more about the dance form, which strongly speaks to her spirit. Butoh uses our connections to nature, imagery and breathwork. It tends toward the grotesque, and is also profoundly beautiful. Jewl is studying with Jennifer Hicks (Boston/Boulder) and plans to continue, and study more with Katsura Kan, Jennifer's Butoh Sensei (master). click to see video of experimental dance inspired by Butoh, with live music & video by bios+a+ic at transistor 2007
"You are the most amazing woman! I loved your performance piece at the CDAF! It touched me somehow and I am not really sure how, but I felt something..............beautiful.
You are a beautiful and powerful performer and a consummate professional! Not to mention you have some serious skilz at spinning tunes! It was so great to see you and bask in your loveliness! You are an inspiration to all that is Goddess-like~I could just kiss you all over!"
~ Tina Striegel, aka Saira, beautiful Denver Dancer (and local Goddess)
regarding Butoh inspired experimental dance & dj/emcee at Colorado Dark Arts 08
dj bahiya: Jewl does transglobal and eastern-inspired dance beat dj sets for parties, and events. You can also find her on myspace at myspace.com/djbahiya.
To book Jawahir Bahiya Bellydance, or dj bahiya for your next party or event, please send an email.
"...I especially liked how you shimmied to the drum roll, yet hit each accent beat with the rest of your body..." -- Janice "Roxelana" Wing of Seattle, Creator of the comic strip "Belly Laughs" and director of award-winning troupe, Sticky Veils
"I am so impressed with Jawahir's finger cymbals and dance combos!" -- Yasmin of Seattle, WA, about Jawahir's dancing with finger cymbal workshop
Jawahir dances "beautifully...mischievously...gracefully" -- Madeline Dixon, Irish Dancer, Everett, WA
Dancer tip: Spot choreograph. Your routine doesn't always have to be entirely choreographed. Pick a few phrases from the music and choreograph them. Then fill in the blanks with improv. If you spot choreograph sometimes, you'll be much more comfortable improvising if you forget parts of your full choreographies. If you are doing improv only, as in dancing with live music, come up with a couple combinations or tricks and work them in where the music seems to fit. That way you don't feel like you're doing the same move over and over again.
More tips
Jewl/Bahiya is honored to be dancing with Fragile Creep Theater at the festival. Here is a description:
A visually stunning dance, exploring the haunting abstract imagery of home, deep nature and animal spirit. Birth, death and bad manners, this project draws it's choreography and text from "The Outermost House" by Henry Beston as well as personal stories of home by the company members. This project began as a dance in the dunes of Cape Cod and is constantly evolving as the sea moves the sand. "At A Distance I Can Say" is a about the loss of our relationship to nature, told in an oddly funny, disturbing and weird fashion. Just as we like it!
Jennifer Hicks of Boulder is the director & choreographer.
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August 23
I will be at the Fringe, but Serpent Moon hosts a bellydance event at
Gypsy House Cafe in Denver.
butoh-inspired dance performance & vocals with bios+a+ic playing live, transistor festival 07. this is a small piece in the middle of a 25 minute performance, so it is somewhat out of context. video by math you, on denvertronic.com
