Zemira

Dancer and Photographer

Alisha Westerfeld, better known to many as Zemira, has been dancing since a small child. She found belly dance as a teen and began studying this art in the 90's with Zohra. She continues to study with celebrated instructors at workshops and intensives. She enjoys performing - especially when she has the chance to swing her cane!

From 2000 to 2011 Zemira served in several different positions on the board of the San Francisco/Bay Area chapter of MECDA and worked to host numerous celebrity dancers in workshops, showcases and events. During her time at MECDA she helped raise over $10,000 for numerous charities including Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence.

She fell in love with photography in high school and dreamed of becoming a photo-journalist, and though she chose a different career path, her interest in photography, especially travel and dance photography, have continued to enriched her life. Zemira teamed up with Davina (through the SF/BA MECDA board) and have worked together on various projects including advertising and marketing for events hosted by their local MECDA chapter. They have travelled to numerous belly dance events as a team, with Zemira capturing the event in pictures, while Davina writes articles and reviews.

Zemira and Davina are currently collaborating on a book entitled "The Cloth of Egypt: All About Tulle-bi-Telli, assiut, assuit...

Web site:http://zemirabellydancer.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zemira/118582709029

Articles on Gilded Serpent by Zemira

9-18-13 A Saturday in Sebastopol, a Few Photos from Tribal Fest 2013 on May 18, 2013 by Alisha and Lynette
Hahbi'Ru, Sasha, Ahsa World, Les Petite Bonbon, Anahid Sofian, April Rose, Aubre, and more! (We need help with names!)
4-9-13 The Third Annual San Jose Showcase for Gothic Dance, The Third Annual Lumen Obscura, April 5-6, 2013, Hoover Theater, San Jose, California photo by Alisha Westerfeld
Here are some of my favorites from both the Mayhem Matinee (afternoon show) and the Shiver N Shake Showcase (evening show). "Lumen Obscura is a NorCal annual Dark Fusion & Theatrical belly dance event that showcases some of the best in the genre". Produced by Deidre Anaid.
3-5-12 High Concept – High Style “Dangerous Beauties”, February 18, 2012, A Show Review by Davina, Photos by Alisha “Zemira” Westerfeld
The entire production was moody, dark and intense; just the way a Dangerous Beauty would like it.
4-18-11 Fashion Trend Report 2011 What's New This Year at Rakkasah? by Dawn Davina Devine, photos by Alisha "Zemira" Westerfeld
What I noticed, first and foremost, was not the costuming, but rather, a change in the sellers themselves. The seller demographic has radically altered, creating a new vendor landscape. Without a doubt, this is a response to the on-going sluggish economy and the need for companies to reduce expenses. The reduction in costumes and products coming out of Egypt also affected the merchandise. Many small factories had a gap in production, and shipping has become even more problematic. .