| |
|
|
|
|
Artistic Director |
Karin Jensen
|
|
|
 |
|
Karin Lynge Jensen is an award winning choreographer and the recipient of a BA in teaching and an MFA in Modern Choreography from UC Irvine. She has worked as an independent choreographer for the past two decades and her works have been performed throughout California for universities, festivals, cable television and museums. She has taught at numerous schools and universities, and currently teaches at LA City College, Long Beach City College, El Camino College and East LA Community College. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Dancers |
| Diana Aburto |
|
|
 |
|
Diana Aburto began her journey as a dancer at age 5, studying Modern, Folklorico, and Latin social styles at the National Studio in her native Managua, Nicaragua. At the age of 14 she joined a jazz company, performing in paid shows with international talent. In 2007, after 6 years of full-time training in Salsa, Ballet, and Cabaret Bellydance as well as professional dancing, she left Nicaragua for the U.S. For her first 5 months in the country, she danced for the Contemporary Company of Jackson Hole in Wyoming before moving to California in 2008 to attend college and further her dance career. Referred to Karin by a fellow dancer, Diana was brought in with little delay, displaying an ability to pick up choreography quickly and a background with a diverse range of styles. Her goal upon graduating with a Masters in dance (with an emphasis in business management) is to start a conservatory in her home country. Of this dream in dance and art, Diana says, "In Nicaragua, we have so much talent that goes to waste. I want to give kids in my country resources I didn't have." |
| |
|
|
| Angela Christiano |
|
|
 |
|
Angela has been dancing with Mandala since Summer of 2008. She is trained in classical ballet under the supervision of Sabrina J.A. Vaz and Massachusetts State Ballet, and danced with MSB for 8 years. Angela recently received her A.S. in Human Services and is continuing her college studies to include a degree in Nursing. After taking Karin's class, she found a new love. Angela is ecstatic to be a part of the company and to have the opportunity to work with Karin and her tribe of sisters! |
| |
|
|
| Ashley Ferguson |
|
|
 |
|
Originally from the SF Bay area, Ashley Ferguson began dancing ballet at age 3. After moving to Palos Verdes with her family, she danced with the San Pedro City Ballet Company and studied ballroom dance with Bobby Burgess throughout junior high and high school. She received her BA in Theatre Arts (with a minor in dance) from CSU Dominguez Hills in 2008, where she was the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding acheivement in acting and technical theatre. While at CSUDH, she was a national UDA semifinalist with the college Hip Hop dance team and was also assistant costume designer, heading design and fabrication for two plays. She has been with Mandala since Fall of 2006 and loves finding new fabrics, making patterns, and helping to create costumes for the company. Ashley is also proficient in Tap, Jazz, Modern, African, and, of course, Bellydance, and is currently learning the discipline of Fire Dance. A born artist, Ashley says, "I have always been a dancer and will always be a dancer. I live my life eight counts at a time." |
| |
|
|
| Mi-Ri Harris |
|
|
 |
|
Mi-Ri began dancing informally during her 9th grade year to get out of taking the usual P.E. classes! She soon became a part of the High School's small 9-person dance team, Reseda High Regent Body Express. At the end of Senior year, the team had built up a good reputation and was performing at basketball games, football games, and dance competitions. Later, at Los Angeles City College, Mi-Ri enrolled in Karin Jensen's class. With Karin's eclectic mix of hip hop, jazz dance and afro-Haitian dance styles, she found herself excited again. She soon found herself at El Camino College where Karin had developed a more solid bellydance-structured class. After almost two years, Mi-Ri has been with Karin and her Mandala dancers from the very beginning. |
| |
|
|
| Kat Krikac |
|
|
|
|
With the desire to pursue the field of Nursing, Kat is currently attending El Camino College with her four sons. She has received two black belts in Kung Fu San Soo and also enjoys Tai Chi and Mixed Martial Arts. Her passions include her husband of 21 years, downhill skiing, and belly dancing. She has studied dance under Bernice Boseman, Josie Belfiore, and Rahana. Kat has recently immersed herself in Tribal Fusion Dance under Karin Jensen and feels honored to be a part of the Mandala DanceWorks family! |
| |
|
|
| Audrey LaBenz |
|
|
|
|
Audrey became enchanted with Le Danse du Ventre upon taking Karin's bellydance class as a student at El Camino College. With really no previous dance training, she took to the art of bellydance with passion and zeal, shimmying her way through most of every day- brushing her teeth, doing her laundry, and even engaging in occasional public undulation. She enjoys getting into the character of each piece she dances (fitting comfortably into Blood, Oil, and Gold's Dominant role and the wicked, sinuous feel of Gothique). She has been known to design costumes using armor plating, gears, and chains. She has now been dancing with Karin for about a year and a half and understudying with Mandala since December of 2008. Audrey is a college student majoring in Journalism who loves to write and hopes to edit a publication focused on one of her other two passions: electronic music and SCUBA diving. |
| |
|
|
| Sara Melish |
|
|
|
|
Sara Melish was born and raised in Kailua, Hawaii. She studies modern dance with Diana Cummins at Los Angeles City College, finding inspiration in movement and a deeper connection to her intellect and subconcious through creative expression. After taking classes with Karin Jensen, Sara became hooked on Bellydance, which has infused her life with color and vibrance. Sara is an original member of Mandala DanceWorks and has been with the company for two years. She lives and bicycles in Los Angeles. |
| |
|
|
| Kimiko Jean Micah |
|
|
|
|
Kimiko was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in Harlem, New York. She has studied dance since the age of 3 and has a strong background in dance styles such as Latin, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Modern, and Dancehall. Kimiko has been Bellydancing for a year. She is currently studying Business, Psychology, and Fashion Design and her goal is to transfer to Cal. State Northridge, where she can major in all three subjects. |
| |
|
|
| Jennifer Molina |
|
|
 |
|
Jennifer Molina graduated from Bishop Montgomery High School in 2007 and is currently a junior in college, majoring in History and minoring in French. Jennifer previously danced for Borka, a cabaret instructor in Westchester, California. She began studying with Karin at El Camino College in 2008 and has since become fanatical with the choreography and teaching skills she has so far experienced in her foray into tribal fusion. She first began belly dancing for Karin in spring of 2008, and is currently an understudy for Mandala. |
| |
|
|
| Sarah Rothe |
|
|
 |
|
Born and raised in San Pedro, California, Sarah Rothe has always been drawn to the art of movement. Sarah studied yoga and martial arts as a teenager and maintains an avid yoga practice. Currently working toward a postgraduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, she hopes someday to be a yoga therapy practitioner for children with special needs. She discovered tribal bellydance three years ago and has been obsessed ever since, learning as much as possible about the captivating art form. Sarah feels thrilled and blessed to dance with the beautiful ladies of Mandala! |
| |
|
|
| Autumn Rubio |
|
|
 |
|
Autumn Rubio was born and raised in Redondo Beach, California and graduated from Redondo Union High school in 2007. Currently in her second year at El Camino College, Autumn dances for two companies - Mandala DanceWorks and eFunk Dance Company, a Hip Hop troupe. She is currently employed by Hype Dance Studio in Torrance, Californina. She enjoys learning new things and spending time with friends and family. Autumn says, "I plan on being successful in anything I do and will always keep dance as part of my life." |
| |
|
|
| Kat Staerker |
|
|
 |
|
Kat Staerker is a club promoter for goth industrial clubs, and has been belly dancing for about two years now. She met Karin Jensen at El Camino at Karin's yoga class where Karin asked her if she wanted to be a bellydancer. Kat has developed rapidly in a short time from never taking a dance class to dancing on stage with Mandala Danceworks. She loves tribal belly dance and likes to dance with knives, thai nails and any other sharp things. She looks forward to learning how to pop and lock more in the future, and wants to learn fire dancing and contortion. Kat's favorite color is burgundy and she loves bunnies! |
| |
|
|
| Tracy Stanbury |
|
|
 |
|
Tracy Stanbury has been dancing with Mandala Danceworks since Winter of 2008, and began learning belly dance the previous Fall. Dance was never an integral part of her life until she took yoga with Karin Jensen, where Karin suggested that with training, she could be up to snuff for the company. Ever since she has been catapulted in to the world of belly dance, Tracy has taken on choreographing solos, modeling for belly dance clothing designers, creating custom dance belts and hair pieces for herself and others, and performing whenever she gets the opportunity. Tracy is currently an English major at UCLA with the intention of teaching and writing, and aspires to continue her journey through the alluring world of belly dance. |
| |
|
|
| Skyla Walker |
|
|
 |
|
Skyla Walker has been studying dance, Pilates and yoga at LA Community College since January of 2009. It was during this time that she fell in love with bellydance, having enrolled in Karin’s class. Prior to that, she was a regular at dance clubs in her hometown of Sacramento. Skyla herself has DJ'd for Sacramento’s The Press Club, the California Intl. Marathon in 2007, and various house parties. She is a self taught drummer, and has been a part of two successful indie bands. Her majors at LACC are dance and music. Other jobs/pastimes/hobbies/entrepreneurial endeavors include working as a hairstylist, running, reading, photography, making collages, spray painting, and sewing and designing clothes. |
Back to Top
|
