Synergy Rhythm and Dance: Synergy Sirens

Synergy Sirens

The Synergy Sirens dance company explores creative expression through high-quality dance performance, incorporating bellydance technique (Raqs Sharqi, ATS, fusion) and other dance forms such as modern, jazz, and hip hop.

Sahira Zedare directs the company, which includes dancers Aliah, Kalianna, Katia, and Zahra.

The Synergy Sirens have performed in central Illinois, Chicago, and St Louis and they are the featured performers in the semi-annual Synergy RaD Bellydance Showcases.

Scroll down to read more about us, check out our photos and videos, and find out about our upcoming performances. You're also welcome to join the Synergy RaD group on Facebook.

If you would like to hire Synergy Sirens to perform for your event, email Sahira or call 309-530-7403.

Some Past Performances

HoHoHo Habibi Hafla, Chicago

Tribal Revolution Hafla

Bellies for Life, Champaign IL

Bellydance on Bourbon Street, Chicago

Cultural Festival, Bloomington IL

Bellydance Underground, Chicago

Amel Tafsout Show hosted by Simone's Seventh Veil, St. Louis

In Bed By Ten hosted by Nawar Neesa, Springfield IL

Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo at IWU, Bloomington IL

Jawhara Show hosted by Bellydance with Babs, Bloomington IL

Sahira Zedare, Director

Sahira Zedare performs and studies a variety of dance forms and has taught bellydance in Bloomington-Normal since summer 2005. She has over twenty-five years of training and performance experience in many dance forms, beginning with jazz, tap, and modern. Since 2003 she devotes most of her dance energies to bellydance, with its deep beauty and boundless joy.

Sahira dances to embody the music, honoring and entertaining the audience, as each performance provides an opportunity to be an ambassador for this art form. Her main styles are Raqs Sharqi and Tribal Fusion, often merged with her background in jazz and modern dance.

Sahira Zedare's skills include drumming with tar (frame drum), riqq, and doumbek. Dancing and drumming generate a joyous synergy! Click here to learn more about Sahira Zedare.

Aliah

Looking for something new to learn, Aliah encountered a community education session featuring belly dance in 2005. After performing in a showcase with her class, she wanted to learn more of the art of bellydance and joined one of Sahira's classes in 2006.

It has become a major part of her life and she looks forward to studying the different facets that make up modern bellydance. Not having a dance background, she appreciates how simple and elegant bellydance is and that all women, regardless of backgrounds, are able to join in this form of expression.

Aliah lives in Bloomington with her husband, children and dogs. In her spare time, you can find her at area farmer's markets or at mitchellproduce.blogspot.com.

Kalianna

Bellydance is a beautiful discipline connecting the Mind-Body-Spirit to creative expression.

Kalianna has enjoyed the art of bellydance for over a decade. She was initially inspired from observing troupes perform at various Renaissance Fairs. The grace, agility, and confidence resonating from these women was contagious! This led to a sincere interest in cultivating her own abilities into performing.

Kalianna is a graduate of Illinois State University. After graduation she attended a massage therapy program in Mesa, Arizona. She moved back to Illinois to be closer to her family and friends.

Currently, Kalianna is a Licensed Massage Therapist working at a successful massage clinic in Bloomington. In addition to massage therapy, she practices and teaches the ancient art of yoga.

Photo by Debra Risberg.

Katia

Katia began belly dancing her senior year at Truman State University when her sister asked her to join in a dance club in the university. After some prodding and a few extra practices in her sister's dorm room, Katia performed in her first belly dance on stage. She instantly fell in love with the beauty of the dance.

After moving to Normal, Illinois almost two years ago Katia discovered Sahira and her belly dance community, and has been studying with Sahira ever since. Belly dance continues to be a shared experience with Katia's sister, although they live several hours apart.

In addition to belly dancing, Katia also enjoys salsa dancing, running, reading, travel, journaling, and learning about Spanish language and culture.

Zahra

Zahra's dancing career began at age six with ballet lessons. She then expanded her repertoire a few years later by taking lessons in jazz and modern dance classes.

Zahra began taking belly dance lessons from Ishara Gamal three years ago in Champaign, Illinois and continued taking lessons from Ishara for about six months.

When she was fortunate enough to find Sahira Zedare in Bloomington, Illinois she began taking lessons from her and has continued to do so ever since. Zahra's primary style of belly dance is Tribal Fusion, however, also has training in ATS (American Tribal Style) and American Cabaret.

Photo by Debra Risberg.

Alumna

Leighna

Leighna began her journey in dance in the early 1980s when her family moved to Normal. She feels very lucky to have settled into a community with many dance opportunities. Although Leighna has studied various dance forms, including ballet, modern, jazz, tap and folk, she considers classical ballet her first and true love. She has been fortunate to be exposed to many instructors, including Alexander Bennett, Laurie Merriman, Greg Merriman, Jane Nygood Plum, Nana Shineflug and Janet Hayslip Streenz.

Leighna graduated from Illinois State University with a minor in dance. Entry into the work force directed Leighna onto a new path and out of the dance community for a decade. She continued to grow and challenge herself through yoga and pilates practice.

In 2006 the dance world beckoned again, this time in the form of belly dance! Leighna began studying with Sahira Zedare in the winter of 2006 and has found this art form to be very empowering both physically and emotionally.

Photo by Debra Risberg.