Rita Alderruci (Hahbi’Ru)
Sensuous and graceful, Rebaba's (aka Rita Alderucci) dramatic interpretation, style and technical skill earned her an international reputation as one of the United States' most exciting performers of Oriental Dance during the 1980s. These attributes have created the foundation for Rebaba's unique teaching style which combines precision movement with emotional characterization.
Rebaba had background in Ballet, Modern, Afro-Haitian and Polynesian dance when she began studying Oriental dance with Jamila Salimpour in 1969. In 1970, Rebaba began performing as a solo dancer in Bal-Anat, Jamila Salimpour’s Middle Eastern dance company. Shortly thereafter, she made her cabaret debut in the Middle Eastern and Greek restaurants in San Francisco, her home town. In 1975, Rebaba became one of the first North American Oriental dancers to perform in Paris, France, and throughout the 1970s and 80s, she continued to dance extensively in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. (For more details, please see her “Queen of Denial” articles published on the Gilded Serpent website chronicling her travels and adventures belly dancing.)
Returning to the U.S. in the 1982, Rebaba made her home in Hollywood, California where she was well known in the thriving Middle Eastern performance community. In 1992, she co-founded Hahbi’Ru Dance Ensemble with her long time creative partners and friends John Compton, Paula Oxman and Sage Hoban. For over 18 years Rebaba and John Compton joined creative forces to choreograph and assemble a substantial repertoire of Folkloric style dance unique to our community. She and John began teaching the Hahbi’Ru style of dance in the mid-1990s. After John Compton’s passing in 2012, Rebaba continues to teach their combined body of dance work as well as her own unique “American Cabaret” belly dance style.
Teacher Bios
Mira Betz
Mira Betz has been teaching and performing Traditional and Contemporary forms of Middle Eastern dance for over 20 years. Her work has been instrumental in the emergence of a new style known all around the world as Tribal Fusion, a dance rooted in tradition while forging new bonds between world dance and individuality. Mira, known as "a teacher’s teacher", empowers students to cultivate curiosity, find their own unique voice, and brings the notions of artistry and integrity to every class. She travels internationally continuing to spread her experience, knowledge and love for dance through her captivating performance and engaging teaching style.
The multi-faceted career of Mira is a testament to her passionate artistry and desire to for continual growth. Mira began her training in Middle Eastern dance as a young teen studying primarily with Katarina Burda for over 10 years, where she developed a solid foundation of contemporary, traditional, as well as ritualistic dance forms. In 1996 she studied with Jamila Salimpour and Suhaila Salimpour. In 1998 Mira went abroad to live and study in Morocco. Active in theater, dance and the performing arts for over 20 years, Mira Betz has become a sought after dancer, choreographer, costumer, and teacher. Mira Betz received her B.F.A. from the California College of Arts and Crafts. Her dance background includes training in Salsa, Modern, Jazz, and Flamenco.
Rita circa 1981.
Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman
Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman is the dynamic founder of the worldwide dance phenomenon called American Tribal Style® Dance. An early fascination of permanent body adornment lead 8-year old Carolena to request that her Father, Carl, a collector himself, to buy a ring she could “wear always and not take off.” This concept evolved into the study of folkloric textiles, a body full of tattoos and a collection of jewelry and textiles from around the world.The discovery of belly dance led to the creation of her own dance style, American Tribal Style® (ATS®) Belly Dance.
FatChanceBellyDance® was founded by Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman in 1987 and immediately captured the attention of audiences worldwide with stunning dance performances featuring majestic costuming and layers of tribal jewelry. The music, a carefully chosen collection of both traditional sounds and modern fusion adds to the effect. American Tribal Style® looks old, but it is actually new.Carolena has compiled a montage of different “tribal” elements into what has been coined American Tribal Style® Belly Dance.
ATS® movements are inspired by folkloric dances of the Middle East and India. Aesthetically ATS® is based on the richness of textiles and jewelry from North Africa and India. ATS® is a method of improvisational choreography, using a vocabulary of natural movements and cues allowing the dancers to communicate via gesture and eye contact when dancing together. The effect is vibrant thread drawing the audience into the tapestry.Currently Carolena directs FatChanceBellyDance® at her studio and resource center in San Francisco, CA.
She masterminds the business side of the Nakarali Jewelry Company, co-owned with Colleena Shakti. Students can find classes in San Francisco, via Skype, and soon to arrive On-line Classes. Instruction is further augmented by a collection of instructional DVDs and international workshop travel. Through workshops such as Tribal:Pura with Megha Gavin, Carolena and her FatChanceBellyDance® instructors take ATS® around the globe.
In addition to instruction, Carolena provides business consultation in the form of Tribal Counsel and ATS® Troupe Consulting.When she’s not traveling the globe or working at her studio, Carolena enjoys spending time with her partner Loretta Nericcio-Bohlman, exercising, sewing, knitting and reading.
