Driana's passion for bellydance started in California circa 1997 with the renowned Jamila Salimpour. When Driana moved to Baltimore, she began rigorous technique classes with the eminent dancer, Piper, whose mother, Rhea, is a world famous dancer from Greece and one of Jamila's original students. Thus, Driana was able to stay in the same bellydance lineage. This lineage emphasizes proper dance technique to bring optimal beauty out of each move while protecting the dancer for a lifetime of dance.
Driana is extremely involved with Baltimore's bellydance community as a teacher and performer but also behind the scenes as an entrepreneur, show organizer and troupe leader. In 2004 Driana became the program and vendor organizer for the Daughters of Rhea Belly Dance Festival: Baltimore BellyPalooza. In addition to teaching intro-
ductory BellyPower® Workshops as part of this exciting annual event she appeared as a dancer in the BellyMagic Show.
Photo left by Dr. Robin Aguilar: Driana at BSF 2005.
Driana was one of the initial bellydance instructors to be certified to teach the Piper Method™ of American Bellydance. She has been teaching Piper Method™ Level 1, 2 and choreography regularly at Meadow Mill Athletic Club.
In 2005 her teaching duties expanded to include directing the Daughters of Rhea Student Dance Ensemble, leading them through a host of spring/summer of performances that included a recital, Hon Fest, Friday Night Live on the Avenue in Hampden, Mayfaire, Meadow Mill Asthma & Allergy Benefit, Yalla: A Celebration of Women in Dance Benefit Concert near Washington D.C., and several opening shows at the Meadow at Evergreen House during the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival.
The Daughters of Rhea Student Dance Ensemble performance schedule culminated with an eleven dancer strong troupe performance at Rakkasah East.
Photo right by Kaoru Kimora: Driana performing at Meadow Mill Asthma & Allergy Benefit 2005.
In 2005, she also began acting as the bellydance show organizer with the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, creating many performance opportunities for local solo and troupe dancers which she hopes to continue in the future.
If you or your troupe are interested in performing in fundraisers for the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival or as part of the opening show to their outdoor summer performance series, please send an audition tape to Driana or contact her to audition in person.
Photo left: Driana at the Meadow at Evergreen House during the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival.
Since 2002, Driana has added to the dance community as co-owner and operator of Amazing Spiral (formerly Comics Kingdom and The Oasis), allowing her to share her love and knowledge of costuming with the community.
She often provides mini-lessons in everything from shimmies to zil basics to inquiring customers. She is generous in promoting area teachers, dancers and perfor-
mances in her store. Please, send Driana flyers if you want your class or event posted.
Mailing address:
AMAZING SPIRAL
Attn: Driana Kai Avilla Pearlman
ROTUNDA MALL
711 W. 40th Street
Baltimore, Md. 21211
Photo right: Driana performing at Friday Night Live on the Avenue in Hampden
Driana's dance schedule always includes charity work.
She has wholeheartedly partici-
pated in such fund raisers as Yalla: A Celebration of Women in Dance Benefit, Mayfaire, Meadow Mill Asthma & Allergy Benefit, ALS Foundation Benefit in Boston, Dance Baltimore!
Driana was also the bellydance choreographer/consultant and one of the solo performers for Baltimore based nonprofit Fluid Movement show 1001 Freudian Nights: A Biography in Bellydance.
Photos left and below right by Timothy Nohe: Driana performing with a most unusual cane and doing a back bend during 1001 Freudian Nights: A Biography in Bellydance.
In 2006 Driana took a break from teaching regular classes to develop more BellyPower® workshops.
BellyPower® incorporates theories of dance, pilates, yoga and weight lifting into a physical fitness instruction that involves movements and exercises designed to help find and strengthen muscle groups needed for articulated hip and torso movements, good posture, and ergonomic ankle-knee-hip alignment. The posture, strength and alignment encouraged in BellyPower® benefit the participant's everyday life but also help the dancer to isolate and speed up that shimmy, finally get control of that bellyroll, etc.
Previous workshops have included the 2004 introductory BellyPower® workshops as part of Baltimore BellyPalooza and several development workshops at Meadow Mill Athletic Club. In 2005 Driana introduced BellyPower® Spontaneous Movement Workshop inviting the student to uncover new ways of moving and being in her/his body, encouraging and informing her/his improvisational side.
While her passion lies in teaching bellydance, Driana also performs for private all female functions such as bridal showers, moms clubs events, women's organizations etc. At these events she is available to dance with veil, double veil, zils and tambourine. Her specialty combines traditional and modern Middle Eastern moves in a Bellydance Party where everyone at the party learns to let their inner bellydancer free.
Photo above by Kaoru Kimora: Driana performing a
veil solo at Meadow Mill Asthma & Allergy Benefit 2005.
Driana has a great love of comics.
She enjoys reading everything Marvel and DC, Vertigo, WildStorm, IDW, most Dark Horse, most ONI, the Image books that don't suck :-), and as many Indie books as she can find time for.
Talking comics with customers is a real treat for her each time she goes into the comic book store.
Photo left taken during Amazing Spiral's Annual Halloween Sale 2005: Driana appeared as the character Mazikeen from THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS DC/Vertigo comic.
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