As of Fall 2008, Tempest has taught over 90 workshops on Gothic Bellydance and Ritual/Sacred Dance across the nation and in Europe, and actively travels each month teaching and performing. She has organized two nationwide tours (The Durga Tour in 2006 and Movin'Th'Mischief Tour in 2007) with a third planned for 2009. She is also co-producer of the largest festival devoted Gothic Bellydance in North America - Gothla US, and is the founder and primary author of The Gothic Bellydance Resource, which tracks the progress of the movement as it develops worldwide.

Tempest's study of belly dance began officially with Sabra Jamal of Providence, Rhode Island, and then studied extensively with Azar of Mystic Sun Studios in California. Since then, she has studied extensively many forms of traditional bellydance - from Turkish Oriental, Romani, Classic & Modern Egyptian, American Cabaret, Folkloric & Trance dances of North Africa and the Mediterranean. Some of the masters of the dance she has taken workshops and classes with include Princess Farhana, Alexandra King, Judeen, Malia de Felice, Artemis E. Mourat, Kajira Djoumahna, and Lee Ali. In addition, she has learned various styles of Classical Indian Dance from Sarada (CA & Canada), and still actively studies folkloric, traditional, and some fusion forms of bellydance. While many others in the Gothic genre work and teach from a Tribal/Tribal fusion base, she distinctly blends the Gothic culture with the more traditional & folkloric forms of bellydance, earning her style the appropros description of "Gothic Oriental."

She finds inspiration for her dances in many eras, places, and faces, from ancient cultures and spiritual myths worldwide, to the work of silent film star and original vamp Theda Bara, and turn-of-the-century dance goddess Ruth St. Denis. She is particularly well-known for her Nouveau Noir Dance performances - which transport the audience backin time to the early 20th Century, and sacred-fusion, ritualistic forms of belly dance. Her devotion to art, creativity and innovation in dance marks her as a stand-out, must-see performer who continues to evolve and set the bar for others in the Gothic Bellydance genre.

In addition to being a world-renowned dancer and instructor, Tempest is a professionally trained visual artist, receiving her BF in Printmaking from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her artwork has received awards and honors worldwide. She is also very well-known for her unique costuming designs, including the original "corset belt" design, the "skorset", the "corset bra" and other designs. Her work can be found on dancers and other design aficionado across the world, from individuals to whole troupes and dance companies (including Ultra Gypsy, Urban Tribal, Frederique, Atash Maya, Sashi of Ascend Tribal, Asharah, Dalia Carella, Suhaila Salimpour, and many more).

www.darklydramatic.com
www.meddevi.com
www.gothicbellydance.com

Asharah (on tour from Bloomington, IN to Rhode Island)

Asharah has been performing since the age of six as a dancer, figure skater, and singer. As a bellydancer, she is best known for her dramatic fusion of tribal and cabaret styles, but also has extensive experience in Turkish, Egyptian and American bellydance. She recently earned her Level 2 certification in the Suhaila Salimpour format, and aims to blend this format with American Tribal Style bellydance. Her technique, musicality, emotional expression, and finger cymbal playing skills have been noted and admired around the world. She is deeply grateful to Alexia (Kim Leary), Artemis Mourat, Suhaila Salimpour, and others who have guided her along the way.

In addition to traveling around the world to teach sold-out workshops, she teaches regular tribal belly dance classes at two of the Washington, DC, area’s finest dance studios, Joy of Motion and Saffron Dance. She released her first instructional DVD Modern Tribal Bellydance, produced by WorldDanceNewYork, in January 2008, which has received excellent reviews from all styles and levels of dancers. She is also featured on the groundbreaking DVD Gothic Bellydance: The Darker Side of Fusion, produced by World Dance New York. From 2003-2005 she performed with the avant-garde troupe Martiya Possession and before that was a two year member of Raks Odalisque, Princeton University’s Middle Eastern dance troupe. She also provided live percussion and graphic design for Maduro’s debut release Shimmer Sustain.

Asharah is not only an accomplished dancer but also has a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University. Ever since her childhood, Asharah has been deeply interested in Middle Eastern arts and culture. She believes that every belly dancer must know the history and culture of this dance, whether she is performing it in its traditional forms or fusing it with others.

http://www.asharah.com/

Tim Rayborn (on tour from Sacramento to Rhode Island)

An internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, Tim has been active in the fields of world and early music for 18 years. He plays dozens of musical instruments from medieval Europe, the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Asia, including: lutes, plucked strings, flutes, and percussion, as well as being a singer.

Tim lived in the UK for seven years, studying for his M.A. and Ph.D. in medieval studies at the University of Leeds. He concurrently worked as a musician, performing and recording.

He has toured the U.S. and Europe extensively (from Ireland to Turkey), performing with the London-based medieval group Tintagel, and his own group, Ensemble Florata (including concerts at the York and Beverley Early Music Festivals, and the Spitalfields Festival in London), as well as with the Middle Eastern fusion group, Solace. He has given a number of performances for BBC (in the UK and Jersey), appeared on Belgian classical radio in a live concert broadcast, toured in Canada and Australia, and worked with folk musicians in Marrakech and Istanbul.

He has recorded to date on 29 CDs for a number of labels, including Gaudeamus, Wild Boar, Magnatune, Diaphonica, Octofoil, Osmosys, and Eventide Music Productions, as well as on recordings distributed by Nimbus and Harmonia Mundi.

In addition to his solo projects, he currently performs with Celtic harpist and storyteller Patrick Ball, recorder virtuoso Annette Bauer in the medieval group Cançonièr, Swedish folk musicians Dråm, Grammy-nominated vocalist Linda Tillery, tribal and Celtic rock band Pandemonaeon, and collaborates regularly with bowed string master, Shira Kammen.

Dance collaborations include: Suhaila Salimpour, Rachel Brice and the Indigo, Tempest, Kami Liddle, Urban Tribal, Atash Maya, Unmata, Gypsy Caravan, Underbelly (Australia), Frédérique David, Katie Kay, Ayse Cerami, Desert Sin, Eve's Elixir, Kitiera, Blue Damsel, Devadasi, Tatseena, and Morgana (Spain).

World, folk, and contemporary collaborations include: Kitka (Balkan vocal group), Solace (Middle Eastern fusion), Maduro (Industrial electronica), Ya Elah (spiritual vocal music), Kate St. Pierre (vocalist with Le Rève in Las Vegas), Ruben Van Rampaey (Turkish percussion), Karim Nagi (Arabic percussion), Shuvani (Romany music and dance), Stellamara (world fusion), Lily Storm (voice), Diana Rowan (harp), Mark Deutsch (Bazantar), Celtarabia (Arabic/Celtic fusion), Alex De Grassi (Grammy-nominated guitarist), Distant Oaks (Celtic), Lisa Rafel (voice), Gary Malkin (seven-time Emmy award-winning composer and pianist), Stephen Kent (digeridoo), and John Sponsler (composer for Warner Brothers' film trailers).

Early Music collaborations include: Shira Kammen, Anne Azema, Susan Rode Morris, Phoebe Jevtovic, Sinfonye, Tintagel, Ensemble Florata, Ensemble Alcatraz, Misericordia, Annette Bauer, Clara Sanabras (Harp Consort), Wyrewood, Isabeau Corriveau, Kit Higginson, Peter Maund, Gilbert Martinez, Suzanne Elder (Theater of Voices), and members of the Dufay Collective.

"Tim Rayborn's playing is quite extraordinary, with all the technique of a virtuoso."
~ Sacramento News and Review

"Tim Rayborn is an amazing singer."
~ Cardiff Early Music Series

"[...] a world-class talent in the field of ancient music."
~ Magnatune

www.timrayborn.com
www.myspace.com/timrayborn
www.myspace.com/canconier

Keith Schmidt and The Van (entire tour)
The real hero of the Durga Tour is Keith Schmidt (and Tempest's husband) - who makes sure we get safely from stop to stop, in one piece. Keith has driven 8+ hours in a single trip, only to have to wait in the van another 2-4 hours while we do classes and/or perform. Without complaint. We've learned a few lessons on the last tour to make things smoother and more time-efficient for everyone. In addition to his amazing driving skills, Keith is a top-notch sound guy for both recorded and live music, and also plays the frame drum, saz, and doumbek. He's the man behind the scenes that makes it all possible.

Also new for this tour is The Van, which has replaced the KamelVan. We don't have a snazzy name yet for it (Vanpyre and Stealth Van are in the ring), but it's a great van all the same!

Mischief (entire tour)

Yes, we travel with our cat (or more specifically, she travels with her people). No, she's not a mascot. Yes, she does enjoy being with us - especially arriving at a new place, but she's not too keen on the leaving part.

Mischief is 11 years old, and approximately is 20 solid pounds of pussy. She enjoys catnip, valerian, and those little fake mice, in case you wish to make offerings to her altar.