About LaRa

[CERTIFICATIONS - American Tribal Style (ATS) Instructor through Carolena Nericcio Founder of Fat Chance Belly Dance & ATS / Holistic Health Practitioner (1,000 hr.)& Massage Therapist(500 hr.)]

Known to her friends and community as a "Glamazon" of the stage, LaRa is adiment that Bellydance goes beyond sinuous undulations and stage sparkle. She strives first to be a student and secondly a teacher who passes on not only technique & choreography but more importantly in-depth knowledge of our bodies, self esteem and the importance of community through the art of Belly Dance.

LaRa first became entranced by the art of Bellydance while watching, some original members of, Urban Tribal Dance Company at the Southern California Renaissance Faire. Years later, at the age of eighteen (1999), she found Cabaret Style classes by such well known instructors as Catharae, Amara, & Shahira.

In 2003, she sought out Tribal Style classes and, shortly thereafter, found Rachel Lazarus Soto of Devadasi-World Fusion Dance (a Tribal Fusion dance troupe). After a few months of studying exclusively with Rachel, she was invited to become a member of Devadasi. One of her final performances with Devadasi, "Asian Magic," is to be remembered forever on the first ever, Tribal Fusion performance DVD called "Evolution."

Outside projects and instruction, by Sabrina Fox, later lead her to realize her dream of becoming a core member of Atash Maya Dance Company (a Tribal Fusion & Fire Performance dance troupe), based in San Diego, California.

After a few years, LaRa relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah where she continued to dance and teach, as both a Soloist and, as the Director of Barefoot BellyDance, Utah's first Tribal Style and Fire Fusion Dance Company.

A year and half later LaRa met her true Creative twin, Andrea Hansen. A few short months later, LaRa and Andrea formed their own Partnership and Danse Asylum with the creation of "Beauté Dérangée - Wayward Bellydance." Within this new venture, she continues her exploration of ATS, Tribal Fusion, Fire Performance, Experimental Theatrics, as well as personal expression. Most recently, LaRa has let this group grow into the powerful foursome it is today, bringing the broader dance community a true blend of styles between ATS, Tribal Fusion, Burlesque, Modern Dance Forms, Egyptian Cabaret and of course Fire Fusion elements.

About Andrea

From the early age of three, Andrea focused on Tap, Jazz, Ballet (including Toe Ballet) and Modern Dance. The choreography, music and competition were her favorite aspects of focus during her Sophmore and Junior year in High School. During her Junior year, she was elected Drill Mistress where she had opportunities to choreograph and lead the school’s drill team.

All the while, however, she had an equal passion for Fashion Design - from sewing clothing for herself during High School to educating herself in 2003 at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Irvine, California. Since her schooling in Fashion, she’s actively designed and created costumes and clothing under the label, Pretty Macabre.

In 2009, after seeing JeniViva perform Gothic Tribal Fusion Bellydance, she was immediately prompted to start dancing again. Unlike her earlier dance education, Bellydance seemed to offer something more, personally, vivid.

Continued exposure to the Bellydance community, along with the help of classes and mentors, led her to more intensive training and performance opportunities...with Kat and Dimitria of Rubaiyat, a unique brand of Fusion Bellydance. Eager for more, she began taking classes from Stephanie and Rebecca of Hathor Dance, an Egyptian Dance Collective. Shortly after, she pursed American Tribal Style (ATS) and Tribal Fusion classes from LaRa Zorn, Director of Barefoot Bellydance.

After a few short months of working together, Andrea and LaRa formed their own Partnership and Danse Asylum with the creation of Beauté Dérangée - Wayward Bellydance. Within this new venture, she continues her exploration of ATS, Tribal Fusion, Fire Performance, Experimental Theatrics, personal expression as well as the blend of Modern Dance forms, Traditional Egyptian Cabaret and Burlesque that Meg and Shalee bring to this Dance Company.

Now combining her history, love of dance, and her ongoing love affair with Fashion Design, she hopes to continue exploring new styles of Dance and Design, performing with amazing talent, and pushing beyond her personal limits.

About Shalee

[CERTIFICATIONS- Yoga Instructor (200 hr.) through Yoga Alliance]

Shalee Denver is a Modern Style Belly Dancer from Springville, Utah. With a dance background in ballet, jazz, modern, and hip-hop, she integrates these styles into her own unique approach to Belly Dance.

In 1999, she was first introduced to belly dance and began private training under Nikki McCorristin. In 2003, she began studying American Tribal Style under Corrie Walker, director of Kashmir Dance Company in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to these trainings, Shalee has participated in classes & workshops from many professional international, as well as local, artists.

In 2007, after completing a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art, Shalee formed Black Star Belly Dance.  In addition to directing Black Star Belly Dance, Shalee has had the opportunity to dance in various professional level troupes and shows, as well as teach workshops throughout the Western United States. She currently teaches classes through Nebo Community Education, Seasons Spa and Salon, and Salt Lake Community College.

In 2011, Shalee completed a 200-hour level Yoga Teacher Training certification through the Yoga Alliance and became a core member of Beauté Dérangée - Wayward Belly Dance.

About Meg

Meg Hinds is Salt Lake's answer to classic Hollywood glamour. Stunningly gorgeous, Meg is also a very intelligent, talented, exciting and dynamic dancer who possesses incredible charisma on and off stage. With great subtlety and personal power, Meg owns the stage when she performs.

However, Meg is not a diva. She is very modest about herself, but it is undeniable that Meg simply possesses that certain something that elevates her performances above the rest. Her heart-centered personality and genuine warmth are ever present in her dancing. Meg has devoted herself since 1998 to the art of Middle Eastern dance, and views herself as a student first and foremost.

As a performer and teacher, Meg is continually expanding her knowledge and range of this art form and passing her wisdom, style, and technique on to her students. Her first love was Egyptian Cabaret, but she has branched out into American Tribal Style, Tribal Fusion, and Burlesque, and infuses her own solo work with essences of these styles.

She has studied with Stephanie Buranek for many years and more recently with LaRa Zorn as well as attending workshops with Sahra Saeeda, Eva Fleming, Rachel Brice, Jillina, Carolena Nericcio, Jim Boz, Sabrina Fox, and Steven Eggers, to name a few. Meg is proud to be a part of a belly dance community that is creative, artistic, open, and generous. Formerly known as an intricate member of Blue Lotus Dance Collaborative for many happy years, Meg is presently a core member of Beauté Dérangée - Wayward Belly Dance. (Adapted from SLUG article by Astara)