What Was New: 2005 And Earlier

November, 2005:

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Members of The Daughters of Sophia were delighted to participate in the November 12th Belly-Jam sponsored by Hipnosis, a Tribal Style troupe in the Philadelphia area.   We've finally got some pictures to post.   Here is Aislynn (with sword) and Sarahe (with fans) doing the Challenge Dance.

September 18th, 2005:

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The Daughters of Sophia Tribal Dance Troupe is honored to have danced on September 18th, 2005 with the Alborada Spanish Dance Theater and The Tisza Ensemble of Hungarian dancers in "The Feast of Sarah: A Gypsy Festival".   Alborada is one of the finest Flamenco dance companies in the U.S. and regularly imports artists from Spain and elsewhere to enhance their already superb performances.   That's us on stage in the photo to the left, taken prior to the performance.   To the right is the one picture that Giovanni took during the show that actually came out (no flash allowed) that shows Lisa Botalico, a principal dancer with Alborada Spanish Dance Theater.   Lisa is dancing Tientos with true Gypsy fire and passion.

Ketri-Ketri

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Aislynn

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To see more pictures from this performance, go to the Feast of Sarah, 2005 Gallery Page at our Troupe's website - DaughtersOfSophia.com.

September 17th, 2005:

Ready!....  Set!....

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....Go!

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On September 17th, The Daughters of Sophia performed at the 24th Annual Lakewood Renfaire in Lakewood, (NJ).

Sarahe with fans

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Aislynn with sword

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Here are two beautiful photos we recently received that were taken at the Lakewood Renfaire.   To the left is Sarahe doing a full backbend while performing her Fan Dance.   We know of no one else in the world who bellydances with Mulan Fans.

To the right is Aislynn doing spinning turns while dancing with a sword balanced on her head.   She can go from a standing stop - to spinning - to a standing stop - to rolling on the stage - to... whatever!   She also walks around the Faire all day with the sword balanced on her head.   Neat!

To see more pictures from the Lakewood performance, go to the Lakewood Renfaire, 2005 Gallery Page at our Troupe's website - DaughtersOfSophia.com.

August, 2005:

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The Daughters of Sophia performed at the Brick Branch of the Ocean County Library on August 6th, 2005.  We would like to thank everyone who came for their warm reception.   A special thanks goes out to Reference librarian Gale Yallop and the library staff for their support.   We would also like to thank Karen Hammerdorfer Delancey and the Ocean County Observer for the wonderful article they published.

To see more pictures from this performance, go to the Brick, Aug 2005 Gallery Page at our Troupe's website - DaughtersOfSophia.com.

July, 2005:

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Here is a photo from the Spanish Hand Rhythms class held during the The Tribal Rhythms Workshop in July, 2005. (That's Ashtar on the left.)

May 2005:

Members of The Daughters of Sophia participated in the Belly Jam in Historic Smithville, NJ.  Ashtar, Aislynn and Sarahe performed a semi-improv'd dance to close the event.  The Belly Jam was sponsored by The Dance Cooperative.  Pictures of many of the dancers who perfomed that day can be found on the MSN Group Middle Eastern Dance in South Jersey.

March, 2005:

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The Daughters of Sophia danced at The International Festival of Women presented by the Ocean County Library.  For more pictures of the performance, go to the Manchester Library Gallery Page at our Troupe's website - DaughtersOfSophia.com.

Thanks to all who attended The Tribal Rhythms Workshop on July 17th, 2005 at the Om Baby Yoga Studio, 726A Arnold Ave, Point Pleasant, NJ.  The high number of professional teachers and troupe leaders who attended added a special sparkle to all the classes.  Special thanks to Nicole for a grueling and inspiring yoga class, Emyrs for sharing accelerated drum learning techniques, and Perizad for an inspired and spiritual Guedra.  Ashtar is particularly grateful for an enthusiastic group of students in the Spanish Hand Rhythms class.  Ninety minutes was too short; we're already planning another day of workshops.

We have more ideas than we know what to do with for future workshops.  Some ideas include: African Yoga, Theatrical Presentation: What Is Your Philosophy of Dance?, and Transitions in Improvisation.  We would love to hear from our fans as to what topics they would be interested in learning more about.  Feel free to email ashtar@tribaldancearts.com.  All suggestions will be given full consideration.  We'd also like to know what time of year would be the best for the next workshop.  Talk to us!

Ashtar danced at the Grand Opening party of Om Baby Yoga Studio on Saturday, April 9th 2005.  The studio is located at 726A Arnold Ave, Point Pleasant, NJ.  For more information about Om Baby call 732-899-9642.

Ashtar performed at Crimson Gypsy's Hafla in Kingston, NY on April 16th.  The hafla followed a workshop in Spanish/Arabic Fusion by Altagracia.  Visit www.caribbeanrose for more information.

September, 2004:

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Our First year in performance: From left-to-right: Yasmin (with tamborine), Ashtar, Sarahe (with Mulan fans), Aislynn (with sword), and Fatin. I find it amazing to look back at these photos and see how much we've changed.

Sarahe with Fans

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Aislynn with sword

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To see more pictures from the 2004 Lakewood performance, go to the Lakewood Renfaire, 2004 Gallery Page at our Troupe's website - DaughtersOfSophia.com.

The Daughters of Sophia Tribal Dance Troope formed in early 2004.  In their first year they performed at Rakkasah East (NJ), the The Zhang San Feng Festival (Penn), the Southern Connecticut Renaissance Festival (formerly the Park City Renfaire) (Conn), the West Windsor Renfaire (NJ), and the Lakewood Renfaire (NJ).