Dancin’, dancin’, dancin’

Suzie Harrison

There’s plenty of art to go around, a concept exemplified at the

Festival of Arts when the California Choreographers Dance Festival

performs.

The group’s mission, according to Kimberly Bixler Leeds of

California Choreographers Dance Festival, is to bring new dance forms

to audiences and new audiences to dance.

On Aug. 9, Laguna’s Jheri St. James and JJ and the Habibis

featured Middle Eastern belly dancing. St. James has been a staple in

the dance community for more than 20 years, teaching, choreographing

and performing.

“JJ and the Habibis’ Laguna Beach belly dancers was formed years

ago by a bunch of us who lived in Laguna Beach,” St. James said.

“Originally there were five of us, and as time went on we

reformulated and opened it up.”

Now the company has 250 dancers and musicians under its umbrella

ranging from students to professionals.

“Jheri has been a cornerstone of belly dancing in Laguna Beach,

and is on the forefront of women’s rights in the Middle East,” Bixler

Leeds said. “Collaborating with her has been an absolute delight.

We’re really trying to bring professional quality of dance in Laguna

Beach.”

The dance concert was a collage to show the different costume and

dance styles that belly dancers use in Middle Eastern countries. The

colors and details of the costumes, including jewelry, sequins, coin

bras, hip scarves, Ghawazee coats and choli skirts, added to the lure

of the dance.

“It worked well as a collage with a lot of variety, different

movements and different things happening,” St. James said. At the

festival, various performances included veil dancing, balancing props

and finger cymbals called zills.

Dancer Breann Walter said she had a lot of fun with the

performance. She enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the smiling

crowd.

“It was a mix between fusion and tribal,” Walter said. “I like the

cane dance it’s very folkloric. There are all different types of

dances and different styles.”

The final dance performance of the season commissioned by the

California Choreographers at the festival will be at 5:30 p.m. Monday

with the Naked with Shoes Dance Company. Following will be a

performance by a Brazilian Capoeira Group.

The Festival of Arts is at 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Laguna Beach

residents receive free admission, general admission is $5 and $3 for

seniors and students. For more information, call (949) 494-1145.