Kat's Multiverse
Passionately Navigating Through the Unknown
The Oasis Dancers, Drummers and Friends present...
Mosey Down Main Street
One Saturday a Month for Summer 2009
6:00 pm
Downtown Lafayette, IN
Join us for our summer season!
Belly Dancing
“Bellydance is both a celebration of the female spirit and a physical display of the strength and beauty of women. Its roots can be traced back to the rituals of past matriarchal cultures and to the secular entertainments that evolved as the gypsies traveled through India, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Spain.” -- Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Belly Dance
About Troupe Oasis
Photo: Oasis Dancers at Wabash Landing Summer 2007
The Oasis Dancers and Drummers (referred to collectively as Troupe Oasis) performs regularly in the Greater Lafayette Area in Indiana. We are an eclectic group belly dance troupe that performs to both live drumming and pre-recorded music. You may see at any one performance a range of dance styles including: Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese, American Tribal, Traditional Folkstyle, Cabaret, Gothic, and as always just fun improvisation.
The Oasis Drummers, who often perform without the larger dance troupe, have a separate blog site with photos here at Oasis Drummers. Almost all of our drummers are also associated with Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) in the Barony of Rivenstar and can be seen in local jam sessions and late night fire circles.
Although Oasis Dancers is the main dance troupe, there are several sister dance troupes associated with the Oasis Dancers that specialize in a specific style and sometimes perform without the rest of the troupe.
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Lungo Drom is our American Tribal Style troupe which specializes in the various and ever popular tribal style of belly dance.
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Caravan Dancers is our Intermediate level troupe and is open to all intermediate and upper level students.
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We also have a PURE (Public Urban Ritual Experiment) troupe in West Lafayette that dances to help raise public awareness at charity events.
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The oldest sister troupe, Nir Misir, dances primarily in the cabaret style and can be seen at evening shows wearing their most sparkling bedlah.
The Oasis Dancers are also members of the Indiana State Association of Middle Eastern Teachers and Dancers or ISAMETD. ISAMETD hosts several workshops and events throughout the year and has regular bimonthly business meetings.
Purdue students may also participate in the Purdue Belly Dancing Club also known as the Mirage Belly Dancers. This club was started by members of Oasis who were also Purdue students. It now functions as a separate organization which offers classes for registered students at Purdue and sponsors open haflas and workshops.
Classes & Practices
Directed by Mary Kat Lebo, Troupe Oasis practices weekly at the Morton Community Center. The troupe is made up of students from the Bare Bones Belly Dance Classes also held at the Morton Center. Typically, there are beginner, intermediate, and advanced class sessions held each semester. Specialty workshops and classes are announced each semester. Ongoing troupe information and schedules can be found on the Oasis Dancers Yahoo Group.
To Register for classes, contact the Morton Community Center (765) 775-5120. Morton also takes registration by walk-in and by mail. For a catalog of all Morton's classes, call the center to be put on the Park and Rec Catalog of Classes mailing list. Morton is located next to the new West Lafayette Library on the corner of Salisbury and North street. Morton's street address: 222 North Chauncey Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906.
For more information about Troupe Oasis, contact our Director Mary Kat Lebo at email: katlebo@aol.com
Performances
We perform at many local charity and specialty events throughout the year and often particpate in ISAMETD sponsored events and workshops. Many of our dancers also perform solo in the various Middle Eastern and Greek themed resturants in the Lafayette and Indianapolis area.
You may see us at these Local Events:
