Diamonds in the Rough & Polished Perfection
2012 Berlin SomerFestival-Thursday Competition
Produced by Beata and Horacio Cifuentes
Held in September, 2012
photos and text by Ma*Shuqa and Carl Sermon
posted January 15, 2013
“Diamonds in the Rough and Polished Perfection" – a perfect title that sums up the array of dancer style and talent at the 2012 Berlin SomerFestival produced by Beata and Horacio Cifuentes of Oriental Fantasy. As you can see from the image highlights of dancers and troupes who competed – this is one amazing weekend of competitive performances. The performances were innovative including toe shoes and ballet movements and dance lines that were seamlessly well-integrated into the troupe show – one of the hallmarks of those who study with Horacio Cifuentes. The costumes were innovative and personalized with many of the competitors from the Ukraine, Russia, and Asia. Many of whom are also ballroom competitors. As a result, the costumes were visually striking and elegant. The trend in costuming is floral with tribal going towards more colorful stylized burlesque (ala Chicago musical). This competition is extremely high level – thus the "diamonds in the rough" in this competition would be top notch performers here in the U.S.; however, in this competition the audience is thrilled to see “polished perfection” from dancers who incorporate ballet and/or ballroom expertise and conditioning into dazzling performances.
Categories included: Oriental Semi-Professional, Oriental duo-trio, Tribal solo, Tribal Due-trio, Oriental Solo Professional. Judges were the festival celebrity workshop teachers and performers: Horacio and Beata Cifuentes, Ilhan, Turkey; Patricia Zarnaovican, Germany; Mercedes Nieto, Hungary; Samantha Emanuel, UK, Rachel Brice, USA
Photos of many of the
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Rebecca Firestone shines! We need help with names for the other dancers in these lovely photos!
Stasha
Feb 20, 2013 - 11:02:13
Dear Ma*Shuqa and Carl: great job capturing luscious “habibi” moments!
with love, Stasha