Meet Cris! Basimah ...
Cris! Basimah is an award-winning belly dancer from Santa Barbara, California specializing in dance styles of the Middle East (including Raqs sharqi) and Latin cultures. Trained in classic and modern ballet, Latin dance styles, Egyptian, Turkish, American Cabaret and Folkloric dance from numerous oriental regions, Cris! mixes a wide variety of techniques for dance to produce entertaining, educating and often innovative performances.
Cris! is the Dance/Artistic Director for the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Middle East Ensemble. She teaches beginner and intermediate belly dance classes at the Gustafson Dance Studio and performs regularly at Santa Barbara's Middle Eastern restaurant Zaytoon. Cris! can also be booked for privates parties (birthdays, weddings, dinners, graduations, holiday parties, anniversaries, etc.), corporate parties, festivals and corporate wellness seminars.
Originally from Porto Alegre and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Cris! began her Middle Eastern training with Marcia from Studio Gaia while in Rio. After moving to the United States, she started classes with the amazing Alexandra King and was immediately invited to join her dance troupe with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble. Cris! has also studied with the fabulous Judeen and has also performed with her group. Other wonderful dancers/teachers: Ansuya, Sahra Saeeda, Tamra-Henna, Bozenka, Meera, Nashwa Cahill, Shoshanna, Chellcy, Shareen El Safi, DaVid from Scandinavia, super-star Sonia, Laurel Victoria Gray, Tom Bozigian, Ahmet Luleci, Shahrzad Khorsandi, Amel Tafsout, Robyn Friend, and most recently Randa Kamel while in Cairo.
An accomplished Choreographer, Cris! Basimah’s work has entertained thousands at Santa Barbara’s Fiesta celebrations in the sunken garden as well as graced the stages of numerous concerts, performances and fundraisers such as the Moon over Morocco Festival and the UCSB Middle East Ensemble. As a teacher she has coached students ranging from newcomers to more advanced dancers and artists. As a soloist and group performer, Cris! has danced throughout the United States and Brazil for societies, foundations, corporations and Universities. Cris! Basimah (the smiling one) has the unique combination of technical skill and talent as an entertainer that allows her to connect with audiences who feed off her infectious basmah (smile) and rhythmic movements.
Cris! Basimah can fascinate, invigorate and charm audiences both large and small, on stage or up close. Offering performance pieces from Egypt, Turkey, Persia, Lebanon, Greece, Armenia, Uzbekistan and Latin America, see how you can book Cris! Basimah for an event.
Latest happenings
Cris! Basimah will hold a Dance Audition for her dance ensemble on August 16th, 2011. Find out how to participate.
Cris! Basimah became the new Dance/Artistic Director for the UCSB Middle East Ensemble in the Fall of 2010
Cris! was featured as Teacher of the Month by LaRaqs.com in August, 2010
Cris! performed with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble at the Cairo Opera House! The Ensemble was invited by the Egyptian Government to give a series of concerts in Egypt in July 2010. The highlight of the extended concert series were four performances at the Cairo Opera House, the premier performance venue in the country. As guests of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the ensemble also performed at the Cairo University, Cairo Library, as well as in the cities of Ismailia, Helwan and Beni Suef. See photos!
Cris! was featured on the TV show "Programa de Visao Multicultural" at Santa Barbara's local channel 17. See parts 1 and 2!
