"The first time I saw Sharon Kihara perform was in Germany 2004. I was convinced that I had just seen a real mermaid that left the depths of the ocean to mesmerize us with the beauty of her dance. Since then, I have watched her on DVDs and have been further blown away by what I have seen.
When we heard that the BDSS were performing in Hampton this past March we couldn’t have missed the opportunity to go and see her again. I finally got to meet her and talk to her. I was very happy to learn that her personality was just as wonderful as her dancing.
Soooooo, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass. I asked her if she would be interested in teaching a workshop in Newport News at the studio I teach at. She agreed and to be honest I thought for sure she would forget. However, just a few weeks later we finalized the deal and started working out the details of her visit. Sharon, even though extremely busy touring and teaching, made the process painless. The day we picked her up at the airport we met an extremely tired superstar. Her plane was delayed and she sat one and a half hours on the runway in Baltimore prior to take off. Still we got the chance to talk to her and found out just how “unspoiled” she is. Actually, we were worried that we wouldn’t recognize her without the entire tribal getup. Let me tell you though, when she came down the hall towards us you couldn’t miss her. Her grace and beauty need no costume and even the “civilians” who don’t have a clue about Bellydance were falling over themselves to catch a glimpse of Sharon. Grateful for her accommodations, we wished her a good night and anticipated the following day.
Workshop The next morning the workshop began and boy were we in for a surprise! I’ve taken quite a few workshops over the past few years but never one from an instructor like Sharon. Her teaching techniques showed a thoroughly prepared instructor that explained the moves and pinpointed the muscles responsible for the execution of the moves. Even though she gave tremendous amounts of information of both medical and Bellydance terminology, she never left planet Earth. She explained everything in different ways so even a slow learner would benefit from it. What was more impressive to me than her vast knowledge of the human body and how to use it “remember the glut exercises” was the philosophy that she shared with us. To top it all off, humor was never missing and so what might sound boring here on paper was truly inspirational, educational, and fun!
Gala Show As if the workshop wasn’t enough of a workout, we all still had a show to put on later that night. We were all very excited to be sharing the stage with such a great dancer. Sharon watched our entire show cheering and encouraging members of Wicked Hips Tribal and the G-town Amiras during their grand debut that night. Sharon graced us with two solo performances that night and to quote several members of the audience, “I was breathless”. One gentleman was even ready to propose. When Sharon dances, she spins a web of magic and when you see her, her performance stays with you long after the show is over...
Sharon never got too tired to smile for countless photos and had a friendly and encouraging word for everyone. She even agreed to let us video tape the choreography that we learned in the workshop. She definitely is #1 on my “Super Star list”. Thank you Sharon, we can’t wait for the release of your new DVD and we are looking forward to having you back in our area soon! If I had any doubt in my mind before, I am 1001 times convinced that Sharon Kihara is that Goddess from the ocean that emerged to share her gift with us."
Aela Badiana is the instructor and
choreographer for Wicked Hips Tribal and the G-town Amiras. She teaches in
Newport News, Williamsburg, and Gloucester Virginia.
Visit her at
www.aela-badiana.com and
www.wickedhipstribal.com