Earth's Gemz

A Professional Singer/Songwriter/Spoken Word Artist/Laureate and Dancer, she fine-tuned her theatrical skills in Professional Musical Theater productions such as "Little Shop of Horrors", "Ain't Misbehavin", "Showboat" and was primed by the top choreographers and musical conductors through her schooling and experiences at Show Choir Camps of America. In 2006 she opened for an Off-Broadway production in an original Egyptian dance for the first time choreographed by Janis Jenkins, who with an illustrious career as a dancer, choreographer and vocalist, was one of the first artists to come through the Alvin Ailey school of dance. The daughter of a professional dancer, choreographer, majorette and fashion designer, Zanora's passionate artistic expression comes naturally.  With previous background in Contemporary, Jazz, Latin and West African dance the return to the North African style of her roots is a much welcomed homecoming. 

"For such a long time I had not danced. Frustrated by the lack of time and resources to dedicate to the art, and disheartened by negative sentiments of choice viewers that my movements no matter how subtle were too sensual, I withdrew from my Love. This is what I internatlized instead of the embracing the truth that I am annointed by God through dance to heal.  In turning away from my gift, my joy, I lacked an essential tool to heal myself and others as well. As my passionate Scorpion nature began to ascend, drawing me towards my highest spiritual truth in all respects, my desire to dance was reborn in a dream. I sat in the comfort of my mother's home in "my room".  Cloaked only in a red and gold embroidered veil around my waist as I sat "Indian Style" with a gold coin belt over lain, I starred at myself in amazement tracing the henna that streched from the nape of my neck to the core of my spine. I cried. I awoke full of excitement.  "Is this to be I asked knowing at the same time I could hardly await the moment to should come to pass. I kept the thought close to my heart. 

A week later a Sister and fellow dancer gave me a flyer for a "Belly Dance" class...it was meant to be.  That is wher eI encoutered Mama Asantewaa and Khalidah Kali and I knew I was home.  I now own that  veil, it's my favorite as well as the belt, it was my first. So many lessons I have learned in these past two years. I desired to know the inmost reaches of my being and through dance was taught I must slow down...deeply feel...grow in my awareness...regain my strength...and light the path for others.  I realize that I was unfulfilled, not merely because I was not dancing, but because I was not honoring my own Voice...my own Soul and blaming others for not allowing me to be who I Am.  And I AM a loving, sensual being and so much more.  To be otherwise is not to be Woman (Wombman) Divine!"

Zanora holds workshops and community based programs on the restorative aspects, phsiological benefits, spiritual roots and Kemetic (Egyptian) origins of the Oriental Dance ("Belly dance") and honoring the Sacred Feminine through this ancient art-form which found it's genesis in Ancient Kemet in worship to the Goddess Au Set ("Isis") whose healing ensures everlasting life, Reneutet (the Nourishing Cobra) and the Divine Feminie principle.  As one famous modern practicioner explains, "Isis is the Universal Mother who guides women in childbirth and comforts them in bereavement, a reminder to women of their connection to the all-goddess and to each other".  Through the undulating motions of the sinuous body temple we raise the Kundalini energy, nourishing the life-giving Wombs (that of the reproductive organs and of the mind) healing ourselves, our families and communities by the flickering of our hand mudras, restoring balance, returning to the Cosmic Flow of all things, where there is peace, enlightenment, love in abundance and light!   

      For Full Bio -  http://www.earthsgemz.com/zenaura.htm   

                                    Belly Dancers of Color Association