American Tribal Style Dance
Darshan aka Cammi Vance chose the dancer's path in 1991 as she began the avid study and practice of
bellydance. Oh, there had always been dance in her life: music, dance, and spirituality were key elements
in her family. Growing up, her movement studies included ballet, jazz, gymnastics, martial arts. As with
many on the path, her soul ran off with bellydance and left no return address.
Her first teacher, Aurelia,(trained by Badawia), was strong and sincere, and taught her the foundations of the dance, rhythms,
and connections in the body, and prepared her to perform and improvise. Her first performances were
with lively Greek bands in the clubs of Portland, OR.
In her second year, she discovered tribal style bellydance and became ensconced in the mysterious
and delicious culture of Gypsy Caravan. Over the next decade, her dance studies telescoped to include
Folkloric and trance, Flamenco and Salsa, Gypsy/Rom, Capoeira and Samba, aerial and more, and her
challenge was to integrate what she learned while keeping performance styles appropriately distinct. She
traveled with Gyspy Caravan, playing festivals around the country, including Peter Gabriel's WOMAD; New
Orleans Lazarus Project, Halloween Parade and Gospel Brunch; Seattle Folklife and Bumbershoot; Maja's
Spirit of the Tribes (FL), Tribal Fests and Rakkassah and much more.
In 2003, Darshan moved to NYC to further pursue the depths of dance and art. She joined the Dalia
Carella Dance Collective for several off-Broadway productions including 'In Search of a Goddess,' a tribute
to Ruth St Denis at the Duke Theater on 42nd St. She produced a few DVDs through World Dance New
York, traveled and taught nationally and internationally, co-founded global dance activism network PURE
with Kaeshi Chai, and continued her studies including modern/Horton, and modern Egyptian style. Her
own style is a continually evolving blend of her dreams and her studies, always inspired by her students,
always embracing a challenge. Her performances are lauded as dynamic, often athletic, and creative. Her
teaching style is active, clear, fun, informed: a nice challenge for all levels.
Also a Bikram Yoga Instructor, Massage Therapist (OR), and Personal Trainer (ACE), Darshan teaches
and performs with a passion for body mechanics and character of movement, and believes the gift
of dance should be a pleasure in the body and, with practice, can approach transcendence of mind to
spirit.
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