Makara is a multi-award winning bellydance artist and instructor in Tempe, Arizona. Her unstoppable energy and her amazing ability to put so much expression into her dance captivates audiences of young and old alike. She grabs your attention and never lets go. Whether amazing her audience with the fluidity and grace of her double veils or daring sword dance Makara is always an audience favorite. That’s why she is The People’s Choice 2006 Miss Bellydance USA, Dance of the Seven Veils and current reigning 2010 USA Belly Dance Queen!

Makara was born in sunny Southern California to her French Creole mother and Spanish father. Her mother’s love for dance and music filled Makara’s early childhood with both music and dance. Her mother often says, “her (Makara) first language was rhythm and she could dance before she could walk.”  Her father’s love for his Spanish culture exposed Makara to the sounds of the acoustic Spanish guitar and sights of the dynamic art of Flamenco. “I never wanted to be anything other than a dancer and choreographer for as long as I can remember,” says Makara remembering back to her childhood.

Makara’s studies in dance began at the age of 5. Her mother, a professional dance instructor herself at the time, taught Makara her first dances. Soon after that Makara’s journey in dance led her to Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Flamenco and finally Bellydance. “It was as if I had done this dance before in a previous life,” Makara says about bellydance. It was the perfect fit for Makaras natural sense of rhythm, love for exotic sounds and music, and ability to express emotion through dance. Her journey through so many different styles of dance developed a unique and dynamic performing bellydance artist.

Makara’s love for bellydance began at first sight when she took shelter from the rain at the Arizona Renaissance Faire and stumbled upon a bellydance show put on by the Tribal Bellydance troupe DOMBA! Immediately Makara began lessons in Tempe, Arizona with her first instructor Jazille of DOMBA! World Music and Dance. Within no time Makara was immersing herself in lessons five days a week and sometimes even two classes in an evening. She took every workshop with visiting bellydance artists such as Suhaila, Rachel Brice and Helena Vlahos. In 2003, Makara, auditioned and landed  a spot with the sister troupe of DOMBA!, Bedouin Tribe. Her professional bellydance career with Bedouin Tribe and as guest dancer with DOMBA! exposed Makara to a whole community of bellydance she never knew existed. 

Her solo career began in 2004 when Makara was asked to become one of the house bellydancers for Sinbad Middle Eastern Restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona. Spurred on by owner Tara Eivers who saw a natural talent in Makara, Makara switched bellydance styles from Tribal to Oriental  and quickly became a success. Sinbad was a family owned and operated, award winning restaurant famed for it wonderful food and amazing bellydance artists. Makara became a favorite of the guests among which many were visitors from Middle Eastern countries. Soon Makara was performing 8 to 12 shows a week and was quickly becoming one of Arizona’s premier bellydance artists and was featured on the cover of Nightlife Magazine.

In 2006, Makara, with the encouragement of friends and local fans, entered the bellydance competition arena. Her first competitive event was at the Miss Bellydance USA competition in Canyonville, Oregon. Here Makara came away with her first two titles, 1st Place People’s Choice, Dance of the Seven Veils, 3rd Place, Dance of the Seven Veils, Miss Bellydance USA. Makara returned to Arizona with an even greater fire to study and perform the art of bellydance. During her 5 years of performing every weekend at Sinbad and subsequently Club Sinbad, along with many other Middle Eastern restaurants, lounges and clubs including conventions, festivals, charity events, birthdays, concerts and many other events, Makara developed and perfected her own unique style of bellydance.

In 2007 Makara fused her love of bellydance with with another style of dance close to her heart, Hip Hop. She took the fluidity and serpentine movements of bellydance and the pops, locks and attitude of Hip Hop and what developed was a sexy, sassy style of dance that quickly led Makara to be asked to teach her first workshop. Makaras ability to relate easily to others and to associate dance moves with everyday movements made Makara a natural teacher. “The most important thing for me to relate to my students is that they should love themselves. If they leave my class having learned nothing but feeling good about themselves and their bodies then I have done my job. Too often women come into my classes with a negative self image due to the pressures put on by society to look like the women we see on television or in movies or magazines. One of my favorite things about bellydance is that it celebrates and accentuates the wonderful curves and uniqueness of each woman. This dance is not limited by body type or shape, culture or color. I have seen so many wonderful bellydance artists in every shape and size, color and ethnicity.”  Makara has had the honor of teaching students nationally. 

2009

2010

• USA Belly Dance Queen, Belly Queen Competition, Phoenix Arizona

2011
Makara teams up with Yiannis HatziMilousis of Cosmos music and starts a Live Music and Dance Duo called Pathos. Pathos’s goal is to put together a Las Vegas Style show that incorporates multi cultural music and dance with an emphasis on the Mediterranean. Pathos performs regularly at The Bacchanal Greek Cuisine in Phoenix, AZ.

Makara lives in Phoenix, Arizona. She continues to perform, compete, teach and above all learn. “Never stop learning, never stop growing, never stop doing what you love and of course never stop dancing.”

Upcoming Performances, Appearances, and Events

Teaching

Weekly Classes at Plaza De Anaya Studio in Tempe, Arizona

524 West Broadway Road, Suite 107, Tempe AZ

www.PlazaDeAnaya.com

Regular Performances

• Hubbly Bubbly Hookah Lounge, Tempe Arizona

          Show days and times: Thursdays 10:30pm, Friday 11pm

• Bacchanal Greek Cuisine, Phoenix Arizona

          Show days and times: Friday 7:30pm & 9pm, Saturday 7:30pm & 9pm

• Mijana Lebanese Grill , Scottsdale Arizona

         Show days & Times: Saturday 10pm

• Hookahmania, Scottsdale Arizona

          Show days & Times: Saturday 10:30pm

**Makara has the honor of judging the upcoming USA Belly Queen Competition in Phoenix Arizona Feb 4th 2012**

Business Directory

Shimmy In The Spirit of Bellydance Magazine

E-Mail: shimmy@esedona.net

Phone: (928)282-7755

Web Site: www.shimmyspiritofdance.com

Features:

    * Event profiles

    * Travel features

    * Natural health

Offers:

    * Quarterly Print Publication, Monthly E-Newsletter, and an Interactive website

Daily Bellydance Quickies