2015 PERFORMERS
~ Paul Mercer ~
Paul Mercer is a composer and violinist from Atlanta, Georgia. He began studying the violin at age eight and started writing music almost immediately. At age 17, an epiphany occurred and music became the focus of his life.Developing his unique improvisational approach to the violin from street performing and forays into different genres and styles, he joined the neoclassical pop quintet The Changelings at their inception in 1994, going on to produce six critically acclaimed albums with them.
In 1995 he began studying Hindustani music with Afghan Rebab master Rafi Akbar Zada. The influence of raga and its ancient concept of modal music theory went on to greatly influence his style. In 1997 he entered the violin business, learning a great deal of the instruments history as well as becoming adept at identifying the work of different schools of makers. This experience led to the production of his first solo album of classical work, entitled "Ghosts".
This recording has led to numerous soundtrack productions for stage and film, 36 to date. In 2004 he began performing with avant garde jazz pioneers DP3, releasing three albums. 2006 saw the birth of The Ghosts Project with cofounder Davis Petterson, which refined his improvisational technique and has resulted in three albums and improvisational musical collaborations too numerous to count.
In recent years he has toured and/or recorded with Jill Tracy, Zoe Keating, Brass Knuckle Surfer and Faith And The Muse at venues all over the world. He is currently working on a new Changelings album, a new Ghosts Project album, and putting the final touches on several soundtrack releases.
Paul Mercer Website
~ ZOE JAKES ~
A versatile and extremely well-rounded performer, Zoe Jakes has developed an instruction style all her own and is a popular touring instructor, her workshops regularly selling out.
Katarina Burda (an original member of Bal-Anat) is her first teacher and influence, and Zoe was a company member of Katarina's troop Aywah! along with the talented Mira Betz and Elizabeth Strong. She went on to perform with Suhaila Salimpour, spent a few years learning how to get in peoples faces in Extra Action Marching Band, and immersed in Americana Vaudeville with The Yard Dogs Road Show. A proud Member of The Indigo Belly Dance Company, Zoe holds Mardi Love and Rachel Brice as her teachers and inspiration. Currently Zoe Jakes is touring with her band Beats Antique, a group that has 6 albums and hundreds of live shows under their belt. Zoe designs and makes many of her own costumes and co-produces tracks with Beats Antique, also adding set designer and stylist to her body of work.
Zoe Jakes has the desire and opportunity to bring belly dance to the masses, having performed at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonneroo in front of thousands of people that don't know belly dance from an elephant. It is her passion that Belly Dance can get a wider recognition and respect, and her classes reflect that with a focus on strong technique and long term motivation.
Zoe is excited and proud to launch her accredited dance program, DanceCraft, in 2015. DanceCraft will allow beginning to advanced dancers to focus on the technique and dance forms that have shaped and influenced her own Tribal Fusion aesthetic and her artist’s heart.
Details at: www.ZoeJakes.com
~ Ariellah & Deshret Dance Company ~
Ariellah is an international performance artist and instructor. She has an extensive dance background that includes strict classical ballet training for 12 years with the Royal Academy of Dance from London. She has studied and performed belly dance since 2001, commencing her training with Janine Ryle of DanseMahgreb and as a founding member of The Indigo with Rachel Brice. Most recently Ariellah began training in classical Indian Odissi dance, studying in India at the Shakti School of Dance in 2009. Her style infuses many genres of dance, all with a modern dark flavour that is uniquely her own. She is featured on the first of its kind "Gothic BellyDance" DVD and also released her first instructional DVD, with plans for volume two up and coming. She is the founder and director of Deshret Dance Company, founded in 2007.
She is also your host and the producer of ShadowDance... http://www.ariellah.com/
http://www.deshretdance.com/
~ ARISH LAM ~
Arish Lam is a multifaceted incredible character with a very particular beat. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Arish Lam began his career more than 20 years ago as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and actor. The first step in this career was Jazz under the direction of the Island’s most famous teachers and choreographers Joshua Melendez and Luis Salgado. Arish Lam let loose his imagination and creativity thus creating his own unique and one of a kind fusion form. This style has crossed the seas and is now known internationally earning him the well deserved title of “The Puerto Rico Sensation.” Arish Lam has performed and served as judge in various competitions in the USA, Europe, and Asia. For years, he has used his creativity and focus concentrating on melding Fusion Artistry with Latin music. Arish Lam and his Miracula Troupe are known to be exhilarating and contagious wherever they performs. Arish Lam is the President of the Temple of Dance School in Puerto Rico, and Director and Choreographer of the one and only Miracula troupe. As a soloist and a mentor, he is a favorite wherever he goes always captivating the audience and classrooms with the power of his movement. Arish Lam is a multifaceted talent. One of his strengths is training new stars. Arish has developed young Puerto Ricans in the Art of Belly Dance and Fusion and has traveled with his pupils and his spellbinding troupe Miracula, to various competitions in California, Las Vegas, Miami, Korea, and the Dominican Republic typically bringing back winners in various different categories. Today, Arish Lam is the creator of his own unique style; a challenge conquered. His theatrical dances have reached places never imagined giving life to his amazing choreographies.
~ Bad Unkl Sista ~
Bad Unkl Sista is a performance installation ensemble that combines stillpoint choreography, improvised music, couture costuming, and physical theater elements to produce site-specific experiences that seek to move each witness to a state of extraordinary and memorable being.
Website: www.badunklsista.com
Photo by RJ Muna - www.rjmuna.com
~ KANDROMA ~
Having performed for years with the likes of The Wandering Marionettes, Freakshow Deluxe and CoRE, Iris is known for her stylized and visceral blend of movement, performance art and ritualistic theatre that is both thoughtful and emotionally charged.
She first appeared on the Shadow Dance stage as Eerie DeScent, DeathGuild Thunderdome’s grinder girl, bringing theater to sideshow and modern interpretation to old rituals. She returned as Kandroma, a duo act with her partner, exploring duality with projected visuals. She has since appeared with acts such as Ego Umbra and collaborated recently with Mastema, exploring dance and blood rite.
Solo performing at ShadowDance for first time since 2011, she is supported backstage by suspension team Transmuted Orijins and her creative co-conspirator, Art Kandroma.
Photo credit: Amani Wade
MUA: Melanie Leandro
Graphic design: Fictiontech"
~ ANTHONY JONES ~
Anthony Jones is best known for being the voice of MONASTIC. He has performed at various festivals including headlining the Endless Night: Vampire Ball in New Orleans, lent his vocals to songs for :Wumpscut:, Suicide Commando, and L'ame Immortelle. Anthony's solo works blend old world instrumentation with darkwave beats and ethereal vocalizations. His album sales and performances have all been used to raise funds and awareness for the Wolf Mountain Sanctuary in Lucerne Valley, Ca.
Website: Death As Their Way
~ EGO UMBRA ~
Ego Umbra is a fusion dance troupe that explores the shadow self. They meld together the dark and the light, and metal music with fluid dance. They specialize in theatrical pieces that explore the inner self, create beauty in the unexpected, and find peace in the bittersweet. They are based out of Oakland, CA. Raven Ebner is director, choreographer, costumer, and makeup artist.
Website: www.deathvine.com
~ FLUIDGIRL ~
From dance, to acting and her love of Spirituality, Chris’s drive to expand her versatility in her performance shines through her will to grow as an individual and artist.
As a previous 6+ year member of the legendary Bay Area dance group Medea Sirkas, renowned for their pioneering of strutting, boogaloo, and the Fillmore dance styles, with experience performing on stage, television, in competition, and in dance instruction, this phenomenal 38 year old performance artist embodies a personality that can only be described as lively.
A veteran dancer and performer, Chris’s repertoire includes Hip Hop Dance styles such as Popping, Waacking and House Dance. With training and experience in Physical Theatre (Dell’Arte International and The Flying Actor Studio), Improv Theatre (Pan Theatre), drawing, spirituality and Holistic Health (The World School of Massage), Chris displays versatility in her outside interests as well as in her profession proving that she is a well of diversity.
Her most recent performances have been local and abroad. In 2014, Chris created and performed a solo clown theatrical piece and was chosen to be a part of the RAW Artists Showcase in San Francisco. In the summer of the same year Chris was cast in a theatre show called, The Tain, in Limerick, Ireland. She spent 6 weeks training and preparing for the full length show which performed for 6 nights in a row, receiving standing ovations each night.
In 2015, Chris performed 2 solo pieces for two local artist showcases called the Bare Bones Butoh Showcase and also for the Shawl Anderson Dance Center’s annual theatrical show.
Yet Chris’ most recent achievement is opening a Production Company with her husband called Follow The Trees, where they showcased their premier event called “The Voice of the Trees” in July 2015 in Berkeley, CA, fulfilling a long time dream of hers. Chris plans to continue to grow Follow The Trees creating consistent events celebrating the connection with Nature through performance and art, sharing it locally and abroad.
Website: Fluidgirl
~ DISPLAYED LABORS SIDESHOW ~
The Displayed Labors Sideshow Has Been entertaining and horrifying legions of people since 2009. Combining old school sideshow with an insatiable blood lust, founding members Courtney Crimson and Chi-Kitty hit the bay area like napalm. These two have single handedly Set Fire to the minds of many with a take no prisoners approach to audience interaction. Displayed Labors is notorious for revealing never before rehearsed acts danger of live and on stage, including Their signature performance, "William Tell". Armed with fury and a suitcase questionable, DLS promises to leave scars, not only on Their bodies, but in the minds of many. If you have seen Them once, you can not get enough. If you have never seen Them, you will never forget. Ladies and gentlemen .... Step into the sideshow.
Facebook: Displayed Labors Sideshow
~ INMAN & UNDERCRYPT ~
Lesley Inman is a musician, movement artist, instructor, and general force of nature whose influence on the Minneapolis belly dance community is felt in all styles. A lifelong performer and expression alchemist, Lesley continues to study and collaborate with other national artists. Tansy Undercrypt is a purveyor of doom and whimsy living in the wilds of Portland, Oregon. A writer, illustrator, and performer, Tansy’s online daily microfiction has thousands of readers and her web extends from the page to the stage. No, she will not tell you where she hid the bodies.
~ CINDY KAORI with SAUDADE & HIRAETH ~
Cindy Kaori:
"all your life you live so close to the truth, it becomes a permanent blur in the corner of your eye - and when something nudges it into outline, it is like being ambushed by a grotesque." -tom stoppard, rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead. cindy kaori is an aerialist and movement artist. off and on the ground, she explores the gorgeous and raw sensation of letting the heart open with animal intensity.
~ DUSTY PAIK ~
Dusty Paik is a costumier and lifelong dancer hailing from the wilds of Los Angeles. She's been a painter, a wardrobe mistress, an actress, a retail slave, a special effects makeup artist, and an intermittently upright citizen (among other things). With her extensive background in Ballet and Modern Dance, as well as her side forays deep into the worlds of pop-locking, sideshow entertainment, and folkloric dance and music, Dusty brings a highly unique voice to the fusion dance community. She has had the great fortune of having either costumed or performed alongside some of the most interesting and hard-working dancers around, as well as having appeared on the Belly Dance SuperStars DVD, Tribal Fusions. She resides in Oakland with an industrial sewing machine named Slayer, a floppy muppet dog named Pastor, and a costuming outfit called Snake Church.Website: Snake Church
~ MEREDITH YAYANOS ~
Meredith Yayanos:
Meredith Yayanos, aka "Theremina", is a performing and recording violinist, vocalist, and thereminist and a score composer for film and television. She was also a co-founder and editor-in-chief of Coilhouse Magazine and Blog: "A Love Letter to Alternative Culture". She likes turtles.
Website: The Parlour Trick
~ DANGEROUS PUPPETS ~
Dangerous Puppets has been creating and performing with hand carved wooden marionettes for over 20 years. Made from found dead wood, these puppets have a dark edge to them that both frightens and entertains audiences.
Website: Dangerous Puppets
~ DJ OWEN ~
If you spend time at Gothic clubs, you have probably seen Owen around. He has been a staple in the American Gothic Scene for decades from coast to coast. Currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area, his unique way of bringing joy to a dancefloor can be experienced regularly at multiple clubs, including Dark Shadows, Batcave, and Requiem, just to name a few.
A love of, and devotion to, music has manifested in many forms over Owen's lifetime. Aside form being a trained classical musician in his own right, Owen has spun professionally in such divergent musical genres as Swing, 80's, Indie, and Lounge. Even in the Goth/Industrial realm, he is unusually diverse, spinning anything from Ethereal, to Aggrotech & EBM, to Deathrock, to 80's & 90's Industrial, and much more. He simply has a passion for music, itself, and sharing the feeling of experiencing its transcendence with others. This is why he is so eager to take and play as many requests as possible from the crowd. A club is a place to feel good. The Gothic Scene is something truly special. It is more than a place to go out; it is a genuine community. This is what draws many people it be part of it and this is why many of those people continue to be with it well after their peers in age have lost interest in going to clubs. When not behind the DJ tables, you will often find Owen loving this community. Chances are good he is probably dancing on the floor or conversing with everyone. His personal contributions include creating clubs and festivals, playing benefits whenever possible, and even constructing group trips and tours.
When you see Owen around, say hello, make musical requests, and most of all, have a great time. After all, we're among friends and the joy of music. That's a good enough reason to celebrate any night!
~ DJ MELTING GIRL ~
Music should make you feel joy, passion or sorrow. With every song she spins DJ Meting Girl looks for the emotion in the song, the power in the lyrics and the way that perfect beat can make you dance every time you hear it. She has been a part of the San Francisco goth/industrial club scene for over 20 years. She is a resident DJ at Death Guild, the longest running weekly gothic/industrial club in the United States.
In addition to her residency at Death Guild she is also the co-founder of Dark Shadows which brings San Francisco a dark place to gather and celebrate the gothic/industrial culture through music, dance, decor and aesthetic. Dark Shadows is a bi-monthly club night which focuses one room on Gothic music and one room on Industrial music. If that wasn't enough she also has also partnered with artist Daniel Skellington to create The Haunted Manor Boutique, a shop on Etsy, selling spooky art and decor for your haunted home. Everything DJ Melting Girl does is a reflection of the dark and spooky lifestyle she has loved since she was a child.
~ NISHA ~
Nisha started her dance history in 2003. Having such a passion for movement has helped carry her through the years aiming to quench a thirst only dance could satisfy. Constant practice and a drive to better her art Nisha recently reached a goal of adding award winning dancer to her credits. She recently won 2nd place in the So You Think You Can Bellydance?competiton held in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive. The culmination of years of hard work and determination. "Art should comfort the disturbed, and disturb the comfortable" - Cesar Cruz.
Master of Ceremonies
~ Loren Muzzy ~
It is with unspeakable pleasure and inchoate joy that Loren the Black returns to sing and Master the Ceremonies of ShadowDance a second time. Currently employed full-time in the sci-fi/fantasy gaming miniature business, he still frequents the stage lending his voice to Zahara's Tangled Web (sometimes with a certain Ms. Darker Still) and serves his fifth season haunting aboard the USS NightMare this year,. Recently Loren completed a minor starring role in the upcoming camp-fest “UberZombieFrau” as Dr. Larson, singing “Erika” on it's score. Weekly he ecstatically embodies his original creation- the Late Dr. Arlington Graves -in Band of Pirates (Pirates' Band). As the front-man of BoP, he harmonizes and shakes his staff (Young Mr. Hawkins) with his five extremely-talented singer/musician 'mates.
https://www.facebook.com/Loren.the.Black
https://www.facebook.com/bandofpiratespirateband
Photo Credit: Laura Dark as Photog & Aryn Fox as MUA - she's in the final four contestants of Skin Wars; a body-painting competition TV show)
STAGE CREW
~ Little Boy Blue ~
After almost a lifetime of working as a disposable cigarette lighter repairman in Europe, Bruce now lives as a hobo in the United States, traveling from state to state, juggling rats, birds and insects for food, and sometimes he can be seen doing cartwheels behind hot dog vendors. During his off season, he enjoys needlepoint work and stage managing.
VENDORS
~ EYESCREAM JEWELRY ~
Eyescream ~ Jewelry to inspire your muse...
Artist Ruby Smith creates ornate totem adornments, implementing various techniques and mediums. She crafts them in moonlight, while most of the world sleeps, etched with metal scribe, painted with delicate bristles, torched in flame, encased in glass like surfaces, embellished with intricate wires, encrusted with pearls and stones, imbued with Vintage remnants of past lives, formed with calloused fingers, and sent out into the world with undying love. Custom and one of a kind Ritual Witchy Jewelry, quartz pendants, Copper Alchemy, Silver Sorcery, Eye Talisman, Bats, Moons, Skulls, Artifacts Macabre, & other dark delights. For Custom Work, you can find the artist at the Eyescream shop @ 3816 Telegraph Ave. Oakland. Tue-Sat 12-5pm.
~ SNAKE CHURCH ~
You’ve somehow found yourself in the Snake Church. The air is scented with florida water, night blooming jasmine and burning wood. To your right, a hooded altar boy fumes incense in front of a statue of La Santisima Muerte, blowing misty clouds of homemade hooch at the flickering red glass candles at her feet. To your left, a tent show revival congregation is wrestling sidewinders and speaking in tongues. In the middle, at a battered wooden table she sits…Toiling, oblivious, industrious. Her hands fly over her newest piece. Is it yours?
Borne of a deep and abiding love for antique textiles, carnival culture, old creaky music and rusty things, Snake Church is the brainchild of one Dusty Paik, Costumier and Performing Monkey. Her works cling gently to the bodies of some of the loveliest dancers in the world, and she is honored by an invitation to display her offerings at ShadowDance 2015. Please see www.snakechurch.com for more information...
OR: Snake Church on Etsy
~ MEDINA MAITREYA ~
Medina Maitreya fell in love with costume design at a very young age. Raised in the teeming jungles of the Hawaiian Islands, she began dressing her dolls in flower petals, leaves and moss. She’s been a professional makeup artist (with a diploma from The Makeup Designory in Special Effects and Creature Creation), a successful hairstylist, and after spending time in the design program at FIDM enjoyed a three-year stint designing for Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque, creating countless costumes for their touring shows. After a relocation to the bay area, she furthered her fashion design education at CCSF. She’s costumed a myriad of world-renowned dancers and performers, including Ariellah, Kami Liddle, Zoe Jakes, The Belly Dance Super Stars, Colleena Shakti, Jill Parker, March Fourth Marching Band, and many more. She currently resides in a seaside castle with her fiancé and two cats where she creates her one-of-a-kind costumes and works towards her Masters Degree in Art History.
Website: MedinaMaitreya
~ FOXY/TOOTH GEMS ~
Foxy started doing Tooth Gems about 10 years ago as an EFDA, EDDA Dental Assistant in Boulder, CO. She saw a flyer that came through her office advertising them and she had always been putting Swarovski Crystals on her face and body as decoration and didn't know you could put them on teeth!! Since she worked for a very high-end office that had it's focus on quality materials-she quickly noticed that the bonding materials and the crystals they were using in their kit were crappy and set out to figure out the best materials to use. After having them on her own teeth for 2 years, she was convinced that this was something that wouldn't hurt teeth and would be fun to do! Tooth Gems made it's debut at the Jem and Jam Festival in Tuscon, AZ 2007. From there it took off and Foxy was asked to tour and brought the look to the west coast-making the move out here in 2008.
Facebook: Foxy/Tooth Gems
~ FOOLPROOF ~
My name is Lee Kobus. I have a B.F.A. I'm a local artist and started FoolProof Studio in 2004.
Intentional Adornments began in 1999 while dancing and making costumes.
When Tribal Fusion became a thing, some really neat dancers (Name drop here) started wearing my "Urchindise" while teaching and performing all around the planet.
"I have been deeply honored to work with and continue to be sought out by women who support this tradition of craft." -TuKeh
~ Old Crow Tattoo ~
Old Crow Tattoo & Art Gallery. Oakland's finest tattoo shop and home to artists Bryan Proteau, Evan (ESK) Wilson, Halley Mason, Holi Barahati, Philip Milic, Miahwaska, Sean Gillespie & Sabreena Haque Custom Tattooing, Henna Art and handmade jewelry from local and independent designers.
~ ARTWORK BY CHUCK MCNARY ~
Chuck McNary is a self-taught artist and animator originally from upstate New York. He currently resides in Crockett, CA. Working in a variety of mediums and subject matter, McNary's eclectic style is often marked by his tedious technical skill and dark humor. With artistic influences ranging from Nordic history, Native American spirituality, skateboarding culture, aggressive genres of music, and absurdist comedy. He is currently working on developing an adult themed classic horror animated short called, The Nightcrawler's Of Underwood. His newest fine art illustration series is a surrealist vision of a future post apocalyptic world where human are extinct and demonic insects have mutated and rule the planet. Examples of Chucks professional graphic work can be seen from major skateboarding companies products to band logos and album covers.