PERFORMER SPOTLIGHT: LaRa ZORN!

“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself.”  ― Mikhail Baryshnikov

Known to her friends and community as a “Glamazon” of the stage, LaRa is adamant that Bellydance goes beyond sinuous undulations and stage sparkle. She strives to be a student FIRST,  and a teacher second. She passes on not only passion, technique and choreography, but (more importantly) in-depth knowledge of our bodies, self-esteem and the importance of community through the art of Belly Dance.

 LaRa first became entranced by the art of Bellydance while watching some original members of Urban Tribal Dance Company at the Southern California Renaissance Faire.

Years later, at the age of eighteen (1999), she discovered Cabaret Style belly dance classes taught by such well known instructors as Catharae, Amara and Shahira. In 2003, she sought out Tribal Style classes and, shortly thereafter, found Rachel Lazarus Soto of Devadasi-World Fusion Dance (a Tribal Fusion dance troupe.) After a few months of studying exclusively with Rachel, she was invited to become a member of Devadasi. One of her final performances with Devadasi, “Asian Magic,” is to be remembered forever on the first Tribal Fusion performance DVD ever produced, entitled “Evolution.”

Outside projects and instruction by Sabrina Fox later led her to realize her dream of becoming a core member of Atash Maya Dance Company (a Tribal Fusion & Fire Performance dance troupe), based in San Diego, California. In 2007, LaRa relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah where she danced and taught, as a Soloist and as a Dance Company Director for five years. LaRa was honored to have created and directed her dream Dance Company “Beauté Dérangée – Wayward Bellydance” (literal translation “Deranged Beauty.”)

Those formerly under LaRa’s Direction are now under the Direction of Andrea Hansen as a Beauté Dérangée sister studio-Beauté Obscuré, as with mutual love and respect, LaRa moved on to the next adventure. She has recently moved home to Southern California, where  she continues to explore her intense passion for ATS, Tribal Fusion, Fire Performance, Experimental Theatrics, Costume Design and most importantly… personal expression.

So stay tuned for many yummy and unexpected Wayward Bellydance adventures!

Did you know? LaRa also holds CERTIFICATIONS as an American Tribal Style (ATS®) Instructor through Carolena Nericcio Founder of Fat Chance Belly Dance & ATS AND as a Holistic Health Practitioner AND as a Massage Therapist!