Dondi

Dondi grew up in the exciting world of healing, music, dance, drama and the arts. She was raised between San Diego, California and Ashland, Oregon while also traveling to all corners of the globe. She started in Polynesian dance at the age of 4, and Belly Dance at the age of 12. Dondi has had dance contracts in the Middle East, India, Africa, South Pacific, Mexico, Spain, Greece and Europe and is a member of the prestigious Screen Actors Guild for film and television actors. She has danced for many celebrities, including Angie Dickinson, Amr Diab, Jimmy Buffet, Dwight Yoakam and Peter Fonda. Dondi was chosen as the exclusive dancer for Omar Sharif on his 60th birthday. She has won the titles of

“Belly Dancer of the Universe,”
“Wiggles of the West”
“Outstanding Speaker in the Nation.”

She is a sought-after teacher and spokesperson revered for her knowledge of Middle Eastern Dance, music and history. Dondi enjoys being “cutting edge” with her performances, as well as staying true to the Middle Eastern culture and feeling. Dondi joined the original tour of The Belly Dance Superstars in 2003 and is a contributing writer with several Middle Eastern Dance magazines. Dondi teaches Arabic style Raqs Sharqi as well as American Style Belly Dancing and has researched Zambra Mora in Southern Spain. She teaches annual dance retreats with her sister Titanya, where together they incorporate the Chinese Five Elements which empower dancers and brings harmony to the dance. She can be seen on several Belly Dance videos including,

Instructional (linked to purchase points)

Ultimate Combinations Vol. 3
Ultimate Combinations Vol. 4
Exciting Entrances & Exits
“Belly Dance with Dondi”(reviewed on Gilded Serpent here)

Performance

Belly Dance 007
Belly Dance Live!
Belly Dance!
Hollywood Babylon
The Third Awards of Belly Dance
The Second Awards of Belly Dance
“Live in Paris at the Follies Bergeres.”

When not overseas for contracts, Dondi works as a tour guide throughout Southern California and Baja, Mexico. She lives in a 1904 historic home of which she personally fought for two years to have added to the Historical Registry in San Diego. In May, 2009 she became a mama to the greatest project of her life, Tiernan Ray.

She is found on the web at:
www.DondiBellyDancer.com

Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Dondi

10-17-06 Judging in Germany, The Summer Festival and the International Raks Sharqi Contest 2006 by Dondi S. Dahlin.
photos by Klaus Rabien, Berlin, Germany. "It is also an easy out for judges who need to find a reason to drop a dancer’s score…especially if the competition is tough."
2-17-06 Belly Dance Superstars ~Raks Carnivale! Review by Dondi Simone Dahlin
Am I jaded because I was part of the company for so long? Am I unable to view the show from unbiased lenses? How I yearn to have virgin eyes, seeing belly dance for the first time.
11-4-05 A Weekend with Horacio & Beata Cifuentes, Part 2, Event & Workshop Review by Dondi Simone Dahlin. For me, if I am still thinking about it and what I gained from it as a dancer, months or years after I took it, then that is a “golden” workshop. Making it “golden” takes the effort of a lot of people involved.
10-13-05 A Weekend with Horacio & Beata Cifuentes, Part 1, Event & Workshop Review by Dondi Simone Dahlin. What is it about certain workshops in which the profundity and joy of the workshop stays with you long after it is over?
3-8-05 Belly Dance Super Stars Video Review by Amina Goodyear
Produced and Directed by Jonathan Brandeis Executive Producer: Miles Copeland. "... However, as there is no audience, most of the dancers have a difficult time conveying the emotions of the dance to the video viewer. Only Jillina and Dondi seem to overcome this obstacle. "