KHELASHI



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The word Khelashi comes from a Romany word meaning "dancer" or "player".
Romany language is based on sanskrit but adapts many words and expressions from different cultures during their travels.
Khelashi Dance takes it's roots from the different Styles of Egyptian and Oriental Belly Dance and fuses them with other dances from along the Gypsy Trail - Indian  Dance, Eastern European Dance and Spanish Dance.

In Performances, these dances can be enjoyed in there pure traditional forms as well as in modern fusions.

Tribal Sword Dances, Hypnotic Wings of Isis, Sensual Veil Dances, Egyptian Cane and Shamadan Dances, Fiery Gypsy Dances and more are performed by the Khelashi Dancers on stage and at events.

Student Shows Video Clips:


Student Performances 2006

Student Performances 2007

Khelashi @ Rags to Ruffles (Alex, Dearbhla, Laura)

Sword Dance (Alex)

Bollywood Dance (Lilith)


KHELASHI GALLERY



 
   
        

      

        

      
 
   
            

 

THE KHELASHI DANCE COMPANY:



Reka Fodor



Alexandra Drafilova



Siobhan Donohue



Laura Larkin


Kate McKenna


Ewa Babiarczyk


Dearbhla Dunne (Teacher)



 Sandra Hayes (Artistic Director, Teacher)


PERFORMANCE BOOKINGS

If you want your own party, wedding, hen night (sorry, no stag nights!) or opening event to be  truly unforgettable, you can book a performance by one or more dancers - for a quotation please e-mail khelashidance@yahoo.ie.


PRIVATE WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

For Hen Nights or as a party starter, or to learn a beautiful choreography to perform yourself, private classes or workshops are also available - for quotations please e-mail

khelashidance@yahoo.ie

Reviews:

Wexford Echo, 22nd September 2010



Wexford Echo 9th June 2010


Wexford Scene June 2010:




Wexford people (25. April, 2007)

 
Wednesday, 11th January
Khelashi Belly Dance on RTE Nationwide
watch a clip on
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0111/nationwide.html

Wednesday, 21.June 2006
Wexford Echo
(article by David Looby):

A night of exotic dance providing a gateway into the age-old dance traditions of the Romany people will be held at Wexford Arts Centre this Saturday night.

Khelashi Dance Group will perform their flowing dance routines involving tribal dance, flamenco and belly dancing in a shimmying spectacle of colour, sound and movement from 8:30p.m.

Founder of Khelashi Dance Group, Sandra Keil’s passion for dance is apparent in the way her eyes light up as she describes the various routines she performs and teaches at classes in Wexford and Waterford.

 “Tribal is a proud dance. The Egyptian style is more feminine and playful,” she said; adding “men perceive belly dancing as sexy, but women are sexy anyway. The intention is to celebrate our sexy, proud and playful side.”

Born in Germany of Romanian parentage, Keil loved to dance from a young age. She developed a love of Romany dance from her travels throughout Europe and her study of the history of the Romany people.

Initially she studied flamenco, a dance which the Romany people developed by incorporating Moorish dance tradition with their own.

Sense of identity:

“The dance of the Romany people is a celebration of the woman. It includes dance rhythms and routines from different countries going back 1,000 years when they fled India. This sense of rootless-ness informs the dress of the Romany people to this day,” Keil said.

“You can see it in their gold teeth and the coins that can be heard rattling as the dancer’s shimmies represents the fact that these people wear what they own,” she added.

The name for Keil’s dance group, Khelashi comes from the word which means player or dancer. This sense of fun runs through Keil’s conversation about the classes she will run at Carmel Corish Wallace’s studio in Charlotte St, Wexford.

Improvisation is another important feature of the dance classes.

“Fun is very important. The women really change. They come out of themselves where before they were shy and didn’t want to show anything,” Keil said.

The 35-year-old describes belly dancing in sacred terms. Her dance classes are held every Wednesday from 6:30-8p.m. (Tribal style) and from 8-9:30p.m. (Egyptian style). She also plans to start morning classes for women with children and pregnant women also from 10:30a.m. to noon. To book a class contact Sandra Keil on (086) 1594508.
23.11.2005:
Irish Examiner

The Woodford Bar, 15.05.05
(Review by Su Sexton):

<>Pub goers in the Woodford Bar on Paul St in Cork were treated to a ravishing display of  belly dancing last Sunday night. Appealing and entertaining, 3 dancers of the Khelashi Troupe were joined by some of Cork’s best musicians, who mixed exotic and primal drumming with lively violin and mournful flute. The dancing and music were of high professional quality, giving us all a taste of the Midddle East in a polished yet endearing manner.
<>Rita was the first dancer. She was beautifully dressed in an ethnic-themed outfit, and used her full-length multi-coloured veil to weave an exotic luxurious spell over the audience. We were mesmerised  by  her flexibility and confidence as she moved gracefully to the slow, haunting music. The leader of the troupe was next, and she commanded the space with directness and strength, inviting onlookers with her obvious enjoyment of  the dance. She was adorned with shells and shiny jewellery, and with streaming dark hair and dark eyes, was every inch a Gypsy dancer. The live drumming filled the air with primal energy as Sandra whirled into action, using the dance as a greeting to all. She used a sword to display tremendous skill and strength as she balanced it on her head and hip while performing difficult isolated dance moves, that completely amazed the audience. Her energy and love for belly dance is inspiring, and her students would no doubt agree!
<>The third dancer was elegant  and graceful, performing to a cover version of  Christy Moore’s “Ride On”. Nina used a veil beautifully and skilfully to capture the audience’s imagination, creating a floating dreaming atmosphere that we were happy to drift along to..
<>The three dancers mixed their own styles as the night wore on, extremely entertaining and interesting to watch. They danced together and alone accompanied by the excellent musicians. The versatility and diversity of  belly dance was highlighted and celebrated - how it encompasses a lot of  cultures and styles, from tribal to gypsy, but is always welcomed and recognised all over the world, even in Cork!
<>At the end of the night we were invited up to dance, and many of Sandra’s students obliged, happily ending a very enjoyable evening. 


contact
086 1594508 or
khelashidance@yahoo.ie

     


Recent Productions:


November 2010

KHELASHI DANCE CELEBRATIONS

Wexford Arts Centre


September 2010

Hossam & Serena Ramzy

and the Belly Dancers of Ireland

Wexford Arts Centre


June 2010

KHELASHI DANCE

Wexford Arts Centre


December 2009

KHELASHI - THE SHOW

Wexford Arts Centre


June 2009

"KHELASHI CABARET"

Wexford Arts Centre


November 2008

"DESERT STARS"

Wexford Arts Centre


June 2008

"ARABIAN NIGHTS"

&

"GYPSY FIRE"

Clonard Hall, Wexford


November 2007
"DESERT NIGHTS"
Wexford Arts Centre

April 2007
"DESERT FIRE"
Wexford Arts Centre

June 2006
"DESERT MOON"
Wexford Arts Centre

December 2005
"KHELASHI"
Institute for Choreography and Dance (Firkin Crane), Cork

August 2004
"BAXTALE ROMALE" - a Romany dance fair
CBS School Hall & Yard
   
For more information or bookings call 086 1594508
or e-mail khelashidance@yahoo.ie