Seana has over 30 years
of formal dance experience, including study, performance, choreography,
and instruction. Since 1993, she has been devoted primarily to belly
dance, studying it intensively, while supplementing with other
disciplines to enhance her artistry. She spent the four years between
2004 and 2008 studying in the Dance
Program at UW-Madison, the nation's first degree
program in dance. Her repertoire of dance forms includes ballet,
modern, contact improv, jazz, ballroom, Flamenco, Bharat Natyam,
African, Gypsy/Rom, Middle Eastern, Tribal style improv, and Tribal
Fusion belly dance. Her 10 years of musical training in flute and
piccolo, and her 4 years of Middle Eastern drumming inform her dance, as
well.
Seana's performance career began in 2001 when she became one of the
founding members of the nationally-acclaimed tribal dance company, Blue Lotus
Tribe from Chicago, IL. While performing with the group
around the region at various fairs and theatrical venues, she also began
her solo career as an oriental style dancer, appearing at such Chicago
area restaurants as 773 Chicago and Kan Zaman. After relocating to
Madison, WI, Seana set her sights on jump-starting the tribal belly
dance scene locally. In 2006, she founded Ashar Dance Company. In the
next two years, Ashar grew to include three more of Madison's most
notable belly dancers, Mahela, Ayperi, and Tashar. Ashar Dance Company
is now Madison's premier, award-winning Tribal/Tribal Fusion troupe,
bringing exciting and innovative performances, including sword and fire
dancing, to audiences around the Midwest.
In 2003, Seana began teaching classes in both Middle Eastern and tribal
style belly dance. Over the years, her instruction locally has landed
her invitations to teach at out-of-town workshops, such as Midwest
Tribal Mafia, brought to the Chicago area by Hipnotic Tribal
Belly Dance and Christina of Blue Lotus Tribe. In 2008, Seana was
invited as a guest artist by the Beloit College Dance Program to serve a
two-week residency with Christina to select a group of dance students
and set upon them a tribal performance piece, "Rasha". The piece was
featured in February 2009 in the college's annual dance concert,
Chelonia. Presently, Seana teaches several weekly classes in the Madison area from beginning to advanced levels.
In the future, Seana hopes to expand the number of classes she teaches
in the area, while researching further residency opportunities at
colleges and universities around the country. Along with Ashar Dance
Company, she is always looking for new performance opportunities and
venues. She currently performs solo once a month at the Mediterranean
Hookah Lounge and at various other venues both as a soloist and with
Ashar. Please check the Classes Page and
Performances Page for up-to-date information.