Dancer Biographies
Tundra Caravan Dancers
Chandani is the founder of Raks Amaal Dance Instruction, founding member of Tundra Caravan and co-director/vice-president of Tundra Caravan. Chandani caught the "belly" bug about 15 years ago at a birthday party in Port Orchard, WA. She immediately got in touch with a local instructor, Ne-Kajira Jannan and started dancing every chance she got with The Amaal Dance Troupe. She danced with The Amaal Dance Troupe until moving to North Pole, Alaska. After taking a several year hiatus she decided to take classes from Zara to brush up on her dancing and learn some new things. She had friends out on Eielson AFB who wanted her to teach them the beautiful dance. She then began teaching at Ft. Wainwright and in Fairbanks as well as at North Pole Elementary in the After School Program. "Teaching the young girls will help build self esteem and confidence and is very rewarding" she said of her young students. Chandani is currently teaching all her classes at Dance Theater Fairbanks. Her style is more eclectic as she can't make up her mind as to what her favorite style is. Chandani has studied with master instructors Amaya, Suzanna Del Vecchio, Aziza, Morocco of NY, Margo Abdo O'Dell, Saqra and Eva Cernik just to name a few. Chandani is always learning and working to improve her own dance technique.
Souzana (Susan Chapa), founder of Raks Souzana and co-director and president of Tundra Caravan is a dynamic teacher and performer, specializing in both modern and classic Belly Dance. She offers beginning through advanced classes at Raks Souzana Studio, University of Alaska Fairbanks and is a guest artist for the esteemed Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival www.fsaf.org. Souzana has been dancing since the age of nine, and has studied Jazz, African, Ballet, Tap and Hip-Hop. In 1998, she began her study of belly dance at Kismet in Salt Lake City under the direction of Yasamina. She has since devoted her life to learning, performing and teaching this ancient art form. Visit Souzana's website at www.souzanadance.com
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Jessica no longer dances with Tundra Caravan but still serves on its Board of Directors and as Secretary. Jessica was introduced the middle eastern dance community in the fall of 2005. She was at the Tanana Valley state fair, recovering from a concussion, and wallowing in self pity, when she saw the leading ladies of Tundra Caravan performing group routines and solos. She was greatly impressed by their grace and talent, and wanted to learn how to dance too, all in all making an awesome comeback from her misery and concussion. Call dance her therapy. Jessenia took jazz, hip hop and ballroom dance in high school, which served a decent background for belly dancing. She has studied with most of our local instructors, enjoys performing with her sister dancers, and somehow found time to moonlight with fellow local dance organizations-Cold Fusion Tribal Dance, and Tribal Wallah. However, she had to take a temporary dance sabbatical due to a different belly dance-she and her husband are expecting their first baby around Christmastime. She plans on resuming dancing again shortly, after welcoming baby Gabriel into the world. (FYI-boys can dance too!) Jessenia has also done some theater work, and enjoys costumes and stage makeup.
Good Bye Linda!!! Thanks for everything! Linda has moved to California to fulfill her dreams of becoming of professional dancer.
Stephanie began dancing in the fall of 2007 with Souzana's UAF Middle Eastern Dance class and immediately fell in love with dancing! A classically trained vocalist and instrumentalist, she is no stranger to the stage. Stephanie's extracurriculars in music, acting, directing and producing have helped lead her to her discovery of dance, which she is deeply greatful for! She just can't get enough dancing, and enjoys African dance along with Middle Eastern, and even dabbles in African drumming. She began dancing with Tundra Caravan's student troupe in the fall of 2008 and can't imagine her life without dance!
Nicole first became interested in belly dance after seeing the cover of a Neena and Veena belly dance video at Borders. Her first instructors were Magdalene and Della of Omaha, NE. Nicole moved to Alaska to study volcano seismology at UAF in 2004. Shortly after arriving in Fairbanks, Nicole began taking classes from Terri Massa and continued until Terri moved out of the state in 2005. In 2006, Nicole auditioned and was immediately selected for Tundra Caravan's first student troupe. Nicole's grace and natural dancing abilities caught the attention of the other troupe members and a short time later she was invited to join Tundra Caravan as a full troupe member. Nicole has been taking classes with Souzana since 2006 and continues her dance education by attending workshops with world renowned master instructors whenever possible.
Lara no longer rehearses and performs with Tundra Caravan but still serves on it's Board of Directors and acts as Treasurer. Lara began studying Middle Eastern Dance at age 12 with the subtle & elegant Rabia Banu (Robyn Russell) of Fairbanks. Her debut performance was at a fundraiser for Fairbanks Light Opera Theater in 1995. Lara has taken classes in many other dance forms before and since, but Raqs Sharqi is the dance form that has stolen her heart! Lara danced for many years with Rabia Banu’s group Noor Shimaal, and helped found UAF’s MEDCA (Middle Eastern Dance and Culture Association) while attending classes there, and is now part of the performing troupe Tundra Caravan. Lara continues to study and extend her knowledge of this beautiful dance form at every opportunity. In addition to teaching Raqs Sharqi classes www.alaskaawalim.com, Lara is also a certified instructor for the Dancing Thru Pregnancy and After Dance program. Lara is on a hiatus from dancing with the troupe but continues to volunteer her services to the troupe as a board member, treasurer, and with various other projects.
Sonsuza first tried a 3 month class Middle Eastern Dance in Texas in the 70's with Mahal, and with Sirrom in the 80's for 3 months. She then found her way to Alaska, dancing with the troupe Tundra Caravan (formerly known as the Daughters of the Midnight Sun) for the last year. She combines traditional movement with fusion and American Tribal opting for the fast and unusual, whether with a sword, veil or gypsy skirt. "I think the dance is very diverse - it can range from being very sensual in motion, conveying the emotion of the music to a vibrant, robust celebration." Sonsuza is currently serving in Iraq as a civilian contractor. We look forward to her return.
Good bye Amoy! We will miss you! It was great dancing with you these past couple of years.
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