About Us
Photo: Michael Baxter
Photo: Gladys White
We are Hala and Amanda (Hala + Amanda
= Halanda).
Our studio is dedicated to instruction in all kinds of dance styles and
fitness techniques: ethnic/international dance, folk dance, dance
&
theater arts, ballet, ballroom, aerobics, yoga, martial arts and more!
We offer a large, beautifully-decorated studio space for classes, workshops, rehearsals, performances, recitals, photo/video shoots, social gatherings, and more. Features of our Studio are detailed here.
Please peruse our website to learn
about our
diverse class offerings, our excellent teaching staff, and exciting
parties, events, and workshops. If you have any questions, suggestions,
inquiries, or proposals, please contact us.
Our Story
In May 2006, long-time friends Amanda
and Hala
opened Halanda Studio to share their deep love for dance with the Bay
Area. We both come from a lifetime of dance and movement activities.
While our mutual passion is Middle Eastern dance, we both have years of
experience with other styles -- ballet, ballroom, karate, yoga, and
more -- that have fueled a desire to offer that variety of movement
in our own studio. The cultural diversity of the Bay Area is profoundly
rich, and we hope to channel some of that marvelous diversity through
our studio.
We envisioned a studio where a wide
range of dance
styles could flourish and where a number of fitness and martial arts
techniques could be available in one place. We also support community
outreach activities -- including music and dance parties and
workshops -- so folks who might not normally experience these
diverse styles could sample them, and maybe want to learn more
themselves. And so, with the opening of Halanda Studio and the
inestimable help of our excellent teaching staff, eager students,
and supportive musicians, we are watching that vision take
form
and grow with great joy.
We hope you will want to help us grow
that vision
as well -- whether as student, teacher, performer, or
interested observer -- and visit us at Halanda Studio!
We look forward to providing the
space you need to
express yourself and share your talents, skills, culture, and
gifts with the community!
Please contact us if you would like
to exchange
links, subject to approval: info AT halanda DOT com
Teachers at Halanda Studio
Hala,
co-owner of Halanda Studio and director of Hala Dance Company: HalaDance.com
Amanda, co-owner
of Halanda
Studio and director of Karavansaray Dance Company: AmandaDancer.com
Terre Pruitt (Nia and Zumba): HelpYouWell.com
Farima Berenji
(Persian and
Central Asian Dance): FarimaDance.com
Vanessa Kuly (Tribal Fusion Bellydance): OrchidDance.com
Michelle Reynolds (Fusion Bellydance): NoRulesDance.com
Natika (Tribal Bellydance): NatikaStar.com
Setareh (Bellydance): SetarehDancer.com
Jizan (Tribal-Caberet Bellydance): JizanDancer.com
Courtney (Bellydance): CourtneyBellydance.com
Friends & Neighbors of Halanda Studio
Joe Kandalaft (Arabic music): JoeKandalaft.com
Sew Beadazzled (bead store): SewBeadazzled.com
Susan Frankovich (Tribal Fusion Bellydance): SusanFrankovich.com
Sue Flanagan and Keith Minton (Argentine Tango): TangoFantastico.com
Elizabeth Strong (Turkish Rom dance): StrongDancer.com
Alexandra King (Middle Eastern dance): AlexandraKing.com
Aisha Ali (North African dance): Aisha-Ali.com
Georges Lammam Ensemble (Arabic music): AmorfiaProductions.com
Miriam Peretz (Persian & Central Asian dance): MiriamDance.com
Supriya Gupta (Modern Bollywood Fusion): SGDance.com
Hahbi'Ru Middle Eastern Dance Ensemble: HahbiRu.com
Zora (American Bellydance): FloweringEnterprises.com
Adira Dance and Costume Shop: AdiraDance.com
Leslie Funk (Zumba): Wellness-Design.com
Darrin Henson (Hip Hop / Music Video-Style Dance): DarrinHenson.com
Ma*Shuqa Mira Murjan (Oriental Dance): MaShuqa.com
Pamela Broyles (Hip Hop): PamelaBroyles.com
Adriana (Bellydance and Makeup Artist): AdrianaBellydance.com
Melanie Hogan (Mindful Bellydance): MindfulBellydance.com
Tymn Urban (Dance Elemental): DevaGnosis.org
Shaheen (Bellydance Bollywood Fusion): ShaheenRaks.com
Ashley Lopez
(Tribal
Fusion Bellydance): AshleyLopezBellydance.com
Raquel (Ricki) Anaya (Latin Dances): SalsaDanceNow.com
Shahrzad Khorsandi (Persian dance): DancePersian.org
Kami Liddle (Tribal Fusion Bellydance): KamiLiddle.com
Helene Eriksen (Dance Ethnologist): Helene-Eriksen.de
Alyne (Bellydance and Veil work): Alyne.biz
Carolina Lugo
(Flamenco): CarolinaLugo.com
Petra Pino (American Tribal Style Bellydance): InannaRaqs.com
Dahlia Wist (Hatha Yoga): DahliYoga.com
Organizations
San Francisco/Bay Area MECDA, the
Middle
Eastern Culture and Dance Association: sfbaMECDA.org
San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival: WorldArtsWest.org
Ballet Afsaneh / Afsaneh Art and Culture Society: DanceSilkRoad.org
Bay Area National Dance Week: BayAreaNDW.org
Dancer's Group: DancersGroup.org