Diana ~ Lady of the Lake
Having grown up in a Greek family surrounded by the
culture, Diana has been dancing ever since she can remember. Beginning her
formal dance instruction at the age of five in ballet and tap and continuing
her love for dance studying belly dance, flamenco, hula, tahitian and African.
Diana studied belly dance under the world renowned Burt Balladine. She has
performed and taught all over the country, including the San Francisco
Bay Area, the University of Utah and other parts of the world in the beautiful
and exotic Club Med Tahiti and seminars in Guatemala.
Believing in integrating all of life's learning including studying with one
of eight grand masters of Qui Gong in the world, Diana feels all of who
we are goes into our dance expression.
Her fluid, sensual and heart-felt, joyful style conveys her love of her art
as she entices, energizes and draws in her audience. Her deep belief and
the premise on which she teaches is 'the connection to oneself through
the dance experience'. 'The only way to the dance is through the heart'.
Expressing this in her love for teaching and performing of 30 years, she
completely supports her students in their process and personal style, encouraging
them to find themselves and trust their own expression. Diana teaches an
eclectic form of the dance combining all she has learned and continues
to learn.
Diana has lived in Lake Tahoe, California since 1987 where she teaches classes
from very beginning to intermediate-advanced while also working with her
troupe, 'Shakti'. She also teaches a credited class at Sierra Nevada College
in Incline Village, Nevada, Lake Tahoe.
Diana started ELFF corporation in 1996, a non-profit organization to fund
research for ALS. She is the producer-director of 'An Evening at the Casbah'
which ran successfully for three years along with 'Mediterraneo' a Middle
Eastern Renaissance Faire in Lake Tahoe, California. She continues with
'An Evening at the Casbah' for private events performing solo and with
her troupe.
Diana has been with Arabian Nights at Sea since its
maiden voyage in 1997.
Diana teaches Taxim on this Cruise
THE ART AND THE HEART OF THE TAXIM
The taxim can be one of the most dramatic and
emotional parts of the performance. Through the heart is the only true
path to "real expression". Through
certain techniques, we can connect to that powerful part of ourselves releasing
the joy and passion we have for our dance. Diana will take you through this
passage step by step to help you open your heart to who you truely are. This
can be the transformational point
that changes you and your performance forever.
