To set up and interview with any of the sources below or if your business or club would like a speaker to address any topic related to belly dance, Middle Eastern arts or culture, please contact Karen, or (417) 576-1170. Prices for lectures vary per time and topics covered, but pro bono work is available for non-profit organizations and college classes, among others.

Brittney
Karen
Lisa
Brandon
Daniela
Scott

Classically trained in ballet and jazz, Brittney is of Persian descent and an expert on those forms of dance in addition to a variety of classical belly dance styles. Topics she can address include:

	Persian dance
	Persian-American culture
	History of bellydance in the Middle East and United States
	Bellydance’s role in Middle Eastern culture
	Growing up in a Middle Eastern/American household
	Dance curriculum development
	The creative process, as it relates to dance, and artist development

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A dancer since she could walk, Karen is passionate about bellydance in all its various forms. Her areas of expertise include:

	Bellydance as it relates to western forms of dance and its development in the west
	Introducing adults to dance
	Media and the role of the press in the development of bellydance in the United States
	History of bellydance in the Middle East and United States

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Lisa is a student at SBDA, married to a Persian man, Ali and the mother of two beautiful daughters, Brittney and Marleigh. She has worked hard to educate herself on the Middle East, particularly Iranian and Persian culture. She could speak to the following:

	Persian dance
	Developing bellydance costuming
	Persian cooking
	The No Rooz, or Persian New Year, celebrated every year around the first day of spring
	Persian-American culture

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As lead music instructor, Brandon understands Middle Eastern rhythms and can break these often complex constructs down. He can address the following:

	Middle Eastern drumming
	Middle Eastern rhythms
	Middle Eastern instrumentation
	Portions of a Middle Eastern song and how to interpret them

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(also known as Aracenia)

Daniela is a student of SBDA and a member of Evolution Dance Company. She is also a costumer with her own costume company, Aracenia designs. She can discuss the following:

	Tribal fusion style bellydance
	Dark fusion or gothic fusion bellydance
	Gothic subculture and its role in bellydance
	Avant-garde, break-the-mold costuming for bellydance and the new generation of costuming

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Our technical wizard, Scott is a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator with a wealth of knowledge related to technology. He can address the following:

	The SBDA website and its development
	Any concerns with the website
	Developing and maintaining a website for bellydancers, no matter how flaky or artsy-fartsy they are

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