Lesley Inman, troupe director, has been dancing in the Twin Cities for over 10 years. From her musical background and strong belly dance technique, Lesley creates performances and teaches classes/workshops which are never lacking in entertainment and always pushing the limits to what can be done. She makes every effort to help each student find their internal dancer. Lesley still continues to travel and study as much as she can while still working to build a reputation at home in the Twin Cities not only for herself but for Tribal Fusion Belly Dance. To find out more about Lesley, check out her website.
Deb Brazil (Kamala Devi) is a self-proclaimed dance dork, with plenty of blackmail…err, pictures…that proves her foray into the basic dance lessons of ballet, tap and modern jazz in the early 1980s. Although she didn’t dance much in her older teenage years, she still indulged her creativity by being involved in theater, choir, and band (marching band, pep band, jazz band and symphonic band from age 10 through her entire college years). She rediscovered her love of dance in January 2000 when she started taking cabaret-style belly dance lessons. But then life intervened and she broke her foot in class one night, and as soon as she recovered from that, she and her husband announced the expectation of their first (and only) child. She reentered dance in 2004 and started learning Tribal Group Improv, and soon became one of the founding members of Totally Northern Tribal (TNT), the Twin Cities first group improv-based troupe. She left TNT in late 2010 but soon came to miss the camaraderie and sisterhood that only being a part of a troupe can bring. Fortunately, she had this crazy friend named Lesley Inman who invited her to join her group, the Bourgeois Bohemians. Deb became a member in 2012 and hasn’t looked back!
Lynn Winter
Shaking my little bum like any toddler.
Polka and square dancing with family at weddings.
Free form movement in the basement, in the living room, at dance halls with my friends.
Mountain Dew Action Crew (break dancing) and learning what not to do.
Out to clubs, just moving to the music.
Then… BELLYDANCE!! Oh the styles learned and evolved in my lifetime!!
Egyptian/cabaret, folkloric (a buffet), Turkish, ATS, Tribal Fusion and then Fusion (yeah Theater influence)!
My heart soars, I move, time passes and eventually my breath wears thin and I am beyond contentment.
Shaking my little bum like any toddler.
Polka and square dancing with family at weddings.
Free form movement in the basement, in the living room, at dance halls with my friends.
Mountain Dew Action Crew (break dancing) and learning what not to do.
Out to clubs, just moving to the music.
Then… BELLYDANCE!! Oh the styles learned and evolved in my lifetime!!
Egyptian/cabaret, folkloric (a buffet), Turkish, ATS, Tribal Fusion and then Fusion (yeah Theater influence)!
My heart soars, I move, time passes and eventually my breath wears thin and I am beyond contentment.
Medea (aka Karol Kurtz) has been belly dancing since 1989. Her initial dance training was in Egyptian cabaret and folkloric. For nine years, she had the pleasure of being a part of the troupe representing the American Egyptians at the Festival of Nations, MN. She enjoys exploring different styles and nuances of belly dance and related dance forms. She is especially intrigued by the creativity found in fusion and theatrical styles, and is enjoying both exploring the possibilities (as dancer and choreographer) and writing about them as a founding member and managing editor of fuse: A Tribal And Fusion Belly Dance Magazine! Medea loves being a member of the Bourgeois Bohemians and is truly enjoying her trip “down the rabbit hole” with her fellow Bobos!
Mystic Siren is a Tribal Fusion dancer from St. Paul, MN. Her signature creativity is blending together styles of dance from different cultures into beautiful expressive works. Her favorites are Tribal, Bolly, and Gypsy fusions. Growing up as a traveling "military brat", Mystic Siren had the pleasure of learning many various ethnic community street dances. She was even as a cheerleader for Gila Bend High School as a freshman. These experiences gave her an appreciation dance and inspiration for her art. Her belly dance journey started about five years ago when she became entranced by dancers like Rachel Brice, Carolena Nericcio, and Colleena Shakti, all of which she's had the pleasure of learning from. She first studied ATS® from Tasha Rose, and was a founding member of Kamala Chaand Dance Company. For Mystic Siren, this was a great introduction to the art of improvisation which she still incorporates today. She moved into Tribal Fusion Belly Dance after a couple of years, often dancing as a soloist. She taught herself how to mix her own music and choreograph pieces that blended her favorite cultures. During that time, she met Lesley Inman, and things just clicked. Three years ago, she joined the troupe and has been having the best time of her dance career with them, dancing all kinds of styles and entertaining the masses!! She can't imagine having more fun with another troupe.
Leila Azara (aka Tina Cotterman) began her dance journey by studying American Tribal Style (ATS®) belly dance for three years with Crystal Welle of Petals, Thorns and Hips. She is currently studying theatrical fusion with Shannon Townsend as well as tribal fusion with Lesley Inman. She is a member of the Geek Slink Student Troupe and currently performing with the Bourgeois Bohemians as their newest dancing monkey!
Ms. Zuza (aka Valerie Vigdahl), is a dancer, writer and editor in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She started her dance journey in 2000 and quickly delved into fusion styles and tribal style improvisation. In addition to dancing with the Bourgeois Bohemians, Ms. Zuza performs solo and collaborative fusion dance pieces throughout the region and country, including as a former member of Mischievous Djinn, and former, founding member of Totally Northern Tribal. She also is creatrix and publisher of ‘fuse: A Tribal and Fusion Belly Dance Magazine’ - a publication dedicated to the creativity, artistry, and beauty of tribal and fusion belly dance worldwide.