Shari has been studying Middle Eastern belly dance
for six years, performing for three years, and teaching for two.
She was born in Capetown, South Africa, and grew up in Johannesburg,
South Africa; Moscow, USSR; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Reston, Virginia, USA, before
settling down in Richmond, Virginia.
She earned a double bachelor's degree in English and Psychology
at the University of Virginia, and earned her master's degree in Adult Education from Central Michigan University.
When she's not choreographing a new dance routine, planning
her next belly dance class, or practicing new moves learned at a belly dance workshop, she is working
in her vegetable and flower gardens, reading science fiction and fantasy novels, camping,
hiking, mountain biking, or travelling in the USA and Europe. She is also a part-time group
fitness instructor at Golds Gym.
Geoff has been playing Eastern percussion
for six years, fusing Arabic, Turkish, North African and Balkan rhythms and techniques into a hybrid style. He plays Arabic tabla, riqq and tar,
and Turkish darbuka and davul,
as well as many stringed and wind instruments, including Macedonian and Bulgarian
kaval, octave mandolin, and guitar (with just enough Bulgarian gaida
and accordion to annoy the neighbors).
He currently plays with
BALKANIZE!, an ensemble that performs folk music from the Balkans, Turkey and the Near East for belly dancers and international folk dancers.
Geoff was born in Fairfax, Virginia, USA, and grew
up in Reston, Virginia, and in Beograd in the former Yugoslavia before settling down in Richmond,
Virginia. He earned his bachelor's degree in English
from Virginia Commonwealth University. When he's not playing and practicing
with Shari or BALKANIZE!, he likes to travel across
America and abroad, read history and fiction, camp, hike, mountain bike, lift weights, jog, and watch zombie
movies.
