Shimmies&Shenanigans
Sirens FEST
3 days of Festivities
July 24-25-26 -2026
WEST COAST BELLYDANCE SPECTACULAR
SUSU PAMPANIN
Saturday 12:00PM - 1:30PM
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Drums!
This drumming workshop is designed to elevate your skills and unleash your musical potential! Dive deep into the art of drumming with a focus on song breakdowns, drum riffs, and crafting captivating solos.
We'll explore the drum not just as a percussion instrument, but as a dynamic musical force. Learn to play the drum with nuance and finesse!
ELIZABETH STRONG
Friday 2:15PM - 3:45PM
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave
Sebastopol, Ca 95472
Turkish Roman Workshop with Elizabeth Strong - Choreography:
Learn folkloric foot patterns, hand & arm gestures and belly work in the authentic stylings of the Roman (Romani/gypsies) of Turkey. This workshop will include video for cultural context, a choreography for practice, and helpful breakdowns of the steps and technique.
Elizabeth began her studies with Roman dancers in Istanbul in the year 2000, and has continued to avidly study and share this form. ALL LEVELS ARE WELCOME.
source video of street style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khMXioxEtU8&list=RDkhMXioxEtU8&start_radio=1
and an example of one of the most famous America Turkish Style belly dancers, Artemis Mourat, using Roman style to great effect onstage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qWI4j54G9o
JAQUES AL-ASMAR
Friday 6:15PM - 7:45PM
Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Raqs Shaabi Workshop with Jacques Alasmar (All Levels Welcome)
Join internationally recognized dancer and instructor Jacques Alasmar for an energetic, culturally rich Raqs Shaabi workshop open to dancers of all levels.
Raqs Shaabi, meaning “dance of the people,” is a vibrant and expressive Egyptian street dance style rooted in everyday life, music, and celebration. In this workshop, Jacques will guide participants through the essential movements, musicality, and cultural context that make Shaabi both powerful and deeply authentic.
Dancers will explore:
Foundational Shaabi movements and combinations
Musical interpretation and rhythm awareness
Expressive styling and attitude unique to Shaabi
Improvisation techniques and stage presence
Cultural insights behind the dance form
Jacques Alasmar brings a dynamic teaching style that blends technique, emotion, and authenticity, creating a welcoming environment for both beginners and experienced dancers. Whether you are new to Middle Eastern dance or looking to deepen your connection to Shaabi, this workshop offers something for everyone.
Come ready to move, express, and connect with the spirit of Egyptian street dance!
RAMAN OSMAN
Friday 12:15PM - 1:45PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Side Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Govend - Kurdish Line Dance
The "Govend" workshop offers participants an immersive experience into the vibrant world of Kurdish line dancing. Throughout the workshop, attendees will be introduced to several traditional Kurdish line dances, each representing a distinct region within the Kurdish homeland. These dances, often performed during festivities such as Newroz, weddings, and other community events, serve as a joyful celebration of Kurdish social and cultural life.
Led by Raman, the workshop will guide participants through the rhythmic movements, footwork, and gestures that characterize Kurdish line dancing. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join, as the dances are inclusive and enjoyed by both men and women.
ZOE JAKES
Saturday 10:30AM - 12:00PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Beginning Layering
The fundamentals of multitasking:
This class will demysitify layering in fusion bellydance, and we will focus on the internal awareness nd muscular isolations necessary to succeed. The exercises and drills are appropriate for all levels, with the emphasis on the first steps a dancer can take to build this challenging skill. If you have been wanting to take the plunge into the crazy and fun world of layering then this is the class for you!
SHANNON BURLA and BELLADONNA
Saturday 12:30PM - 3:30PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Boho Blade and Sword Magick™ present: The Living Blade - A collaboration with Belladonna & Shannon Burla
Step into the circle and awaken the spirit of the sword.
In this special collaboration for Siren’s Fest, Belladonna, creatrix of the Boho Blade system, joins Shannon Burla, founder of Sword Magick™ , to explore the blade as both instrument and ally — a tool of precision, power, and transformation.
Boho Blade is a codified sword dance style that blends fusion dance technique with martial awareness and the guiding principles of the Boho 3 P’s: Powerful Purposeful Presentation. In this practice the sword is not merely carried — it is partnered with, becoming a weapon, tool, and extension of the self.
Sword Magick™ approaches the blade as ceremonial and sacred, inviting dancers into ritual-inspired movement where intention, symbolism, and presence transform the dance into a living spell.
Together, these two approaches weave technique and mysticism — grounding the body in strong, purposeful movement while opening space for the deeper archetypal power of the sword.
Through guided exploration, dancers will move between form and flow, discipline and devotion, discovering how the blade can become a mirror, a guardian, and a catalyst for personal transformation.
Shannon, a practitioner of Boho Blade and a licensed Boho Academy Foundations Instructor, bridges both worlds beautifully. Belladonna is deeply honored to share this collaboration and to bring the magic of sword dance to the Siren’s Fest community.
Come ready to move with intention, embody your power, and dance with the living blade.
JILL PARKER
Friday 4:15PM - 5:45PM
Sebastopol Community Center
Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Minimize to Amplify: Slinky Fusion & Internal Power
This mini workshop lab invites dancers into the subtle, powerful world of less is more. Through the lens of slinky fusion bellydance, we will explore how refining and internalizing movement can unlock a deeper, more magnetic presence.
Centering on the principles of heart lift and holding frame, alongside minimizing movement to amplify sensation and clarity, dancers will learn to access muscular control from within—dancing closer to the spine, the breath, and the body’s inner pathways.
We will move through slow, fluid drills, spinal articulation, and grounded walking patterns to cultivate seamless transitions and a continuous, serpentine quality. Through dynamic contrast work, exploration, drills, and visualization, you’ll develop the ability to shift texture and timing—melting, striking, suspending, and flowing with intention.
This workshop is designed to build deep body awareness, muscular clarity, and nuance while supporting a personal, embodied expression of the dance.
Expect to leave with:
· Greater control and clarity in your movement
· A more fluid, and deeply slinky quality
· Tools for dynamic contrast and musicality
· A deeper connection to your internal landscape
I'm so pleased to offer this concept at Siren's Fest 2026. Our deep dive together will lend itself to grounded and gratifying clarity in movement. This is the juicy intentional internal work my body craves. I know you're going to love it!
JODI WASECA
Friday 6:15PM - 7:45PM
Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex Building, Side Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
SINtillating Sparkle and sASSy Slink
Ever wanted to dip your toes into the wild world of Burlesque?
Join us for this exclusive workshop at Sirens Fest for an all inclusive journey through sparkle motion! All bodies, all ages, all levels welcome and celebrated!
We will be movin’ and shakin’ with absolutely zero judgement, so wear what makes you feel comfortable and unrestricted, and bring plenty of water, a notebook, and a towel if needed!
We’ll do a burlesque movement informed fitness warmup - which may or may not harken to the glory days of 80’s and 90’s workout videos (now with better movement mechanics!). When we’re feeling alive from head to toe, we’ll learn some basic movements found in burlesque that you can incorporate into any routine! To round out our journey, we’ll learn a basic choreography that harkens to a classic burlesque tease - something that you’ll be able to take and create your own sassy situation with!
AMINA GOODYEAR
Friday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Musicality, combos and choreos
Amina will talk about and explain how to listen to the music (including the rhythms) and create simple combinations and choreographies, both ahead of time and also while performing. Plus more...including observations on how and why dance has changed over the years. Very open to Q and A and discussion.
ANDALEE
Friday 4:15PM - 5:45PM
Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex Building, Side Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Luxor Party!
Join Andalee for a Sa’idi party. In this workshop, we will spend time on music, movement vocabulary, technique, and the joyful expression embedded deep in the style of dance rooted in upper Egypt.
this workshop can be taken with assaya (stick) or without. The combos and movement vocabulary can be refined and filtered for either folk presentation, a pop fusion piece, or as a folk section of a longer mejance.
The music, movement, and expression are so joyful it would be next to impossible to not smile and move your body to the rhythm.
MARIA SOKOLOVA
Sunday 1:30PM - 3:00PM
Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Elegant veil
The most elegant veil dance you’ll ever dance! Learn to feel your veil as if it’s an extension of your body. Lose the fear of losing it. Advanced veil technique, creative wraps, daring tosses, graceful moves, all composed into a flowy choreography to iconic song by Fairouz. Please bring a lightweight silk veil, movement will not work with other types of veils.
KAIRA NAWARA
Friday 2:15PM - 3:45PM
Sebastopol Community CenterYouth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Steal the Stage!
In this 90-minute Egyptian raqs sharqi workshop, you’ll learn Kaira's favorite high-impact bellydance moves designed for those big, attention-grabbing moments: accents and transitions that create drama and hook your audience. We'll incorporate these showstoppers into hort combinations, and you'll leave ready to work them into your next mejance. For dancers ready to level up from "nice" to unforgettable!
PIXIE FORDTEARS
Friday 12:30PM - 2:00PM
Sebastopol Community Center Youth Annex Building, Main Room
390 Morris St, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Moon of Artemis
A dynamic choreography. Slathered with gooey movement, crisp attacks, and delicious recoil. You will learn some of Pixie’s signature style from her cross training and how she integrates it into her dance, and will see how she hears music through movement! This choreography will be aimed for Intermediate, but beginners are more than welcome!
ATLANTIS
Friday 4:15PM - 5:15PM
Sirens Studio
234 Hutchins Ave, Sebastopol CA
95472
Intensify Your Improv w/ Atlantis
When the music shifts, can you shift with it?This dynamic workshop focuses on adapting your movement in real time—enhancing musicality through rhythm changes, accents, and style transitions, all while staying true to your personal dance voice.Explore three styles: Egyptian, Spanish Fusion, and Retro Cabaret. Zills and/or veil welcome (not required).
Includes Performance Opportunity:
Learn a short, structured piece and perform it live on Sunday, July 26 at Sirens Fest, alongside top competitors from Bellydance of the Universe: Wine Country Classic.