Amara (Laura Osweiler) has performed as a soloist and in Middle Eastern Dance Companies all over the United States. She is versatile dancer whose repertory includes improvisations and choreographies in a number of styles. Amara teaches a course on Middle Eastern Dance at UCLA, workshops at a number of colleges and universities, and at several dance studios. She holds a degree in Music History and Literature and a Certificate in Ethnomusicology from The Florida State University. Having finished her M.A. degree in dance at UCLA she is now pursuing a PhD in Dance History and Theory at UCRiverside. There she continues performing and researching the social, historical, and political positions of Middle Eastern Dance in the United States. 

Academic Education-

2001 - present UCR, pursuing a PhD in Dance History and Theory
1997 - 2001 UCLA, M.A. in Dance Ethnology
1992 - 1995 The Florida State University, B.A. in Music History and Literature, certificate in World Music, cum laude, thesis: Nalini Vinayak: Sitarist, Teacher, and Woman Connecting Three Cultures
1991 - 1992 Ithaca College, pursued a B.A. in Music Education


Dance Education-

Egyptian - Jiliana, Los Angeles, CA
Staged Egyptian Folk Dance - Viviane Hamamdjian, Los Angeles, CA
Middle Eastern Folk Dance - Aisha Ali, Los Angeles, CA; Najia El-Mouzayen, Berkeley, CA
American-Middle Eastern Dance - Fatiem, Los Angeles, CA; Aegela, Atlanta, GA; Marliza Pons, Las Vegas, NV; Lynette at Snake Skin Studio, Berkeley, CA; Nancy Redig, Tallahassee, FL; Sally Rubenstein, Tallahassee, FL

Bharata Natyam - Vigi Prakash, UCLA
West African Dance - Ama Aduonum, FSU
Western Improvisation - Simone Forti, UCLA; Tim Miller, UCLA
Ballet - Ballet Hysell, New Orleans, LA; FSU

University Teaching-

In my classes I stress a strong foundational technique through combinations of choreography, improvisation, solo, and group work. Students are encouraged to create their own style and are taught to embellish their performances with props such as veil, zils (finger cymbals), cane, and saber. Besides movements, I also discuss the history of Middle Eastern dance, the differences between various genres, and the issues facing dancers today.

1999 - 2000 Dance of a Selected Culture: Middle Eastern. At the Department of World Arts and Cultures, UCLA - Designed and teach an introduction to Middle Eastern dance for both dance and non-dance majors.
2000 - present Belly Dance. At the Learning Tree University, Thousand Oaks - Designed and teach an introduction to Middle Eastern dance for non-dancers.


Dance Studio Teaching –

1998 - present Amara's Dance Studio, Los Angeles, CA
1999 - present Judy Gantz Siegel's Dance Studio, Los Angeles, CA
1998 Mason Artists Institute, Los Angeles, CA
1997-1998 UCLA Recreational Middle Eastern dance class.

Dance Master Classes -

My introductory master classes have three main purposes. Mainly I want students to experience basic technique and styling. Secondly, I want them to gain insight into the culture and challenge any preconceived ideas of the dance form. Lastly, I want them to create a community feeling through dancing for and watching others.

2000 Belly Dance Buffet, Van Nuys, Workshop Teacher
1999-2000 Scripps College, Guest Teacher
1999 University of California, Long Beach, Guest Teacher
1999 UCLA WAC: Dancing of Selected Cultures, Guest Teacher
1998 Mason Artists Institute, Middle Eastern Dance, Guest Teacher
1996 Nancy Redig's Studio, Tallahassee, FL, Guest Teacher

1994 - 1995 After School Strings Program, Bethelemy Elementary, Tallahassee, FL
1992 Private Viola Lessons, Ithaca, NY
1991 - 1992 Private Violin Lessons, New Orleans, LA

Middle Eastern Dance - Solo

Depending on the venue, my soloist performances include a variety of genres such as cabaret (American, Egyptian, and Turkish), folk, and experimental with additional special sections of either saber, veil, double veil, floor work, tray and candles, candelabras, cane, or zils. They are typically twenty to thirty minutes shows to either live or taped music.

San Francisco, CA:
2000 Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance Festival

Los Angeles, CA:
2001 Pars Restaurant; Cafe Beledy; Parties
2000 An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance; Sea Side Palace; Belly Dance Buffet; Regardless, an M.A. dance concert, UCLA; Cafe Beledy; Moun of Tunis; Parties
1999 Athena's; It's Greek To Me; Cairo Carnival; Serendipity on the Sidewalk; Women's International Symposium, UCLA; Cafe Beledy; Best of Friday Nights Live, UCLA; Weddings; Parties
1998 Cafe Beledy; Music and Dance on the Grass, UCLA; Dance Motion and Madness, UCLA; Parties
1997 Marrakesh Restaurant; Luna Park; Parties

Atlanta, GA:
1997 Parties

Las Vegas, NV:
1997 Mamounia Moroccan Restaurant Performed 1-4 shows, 6-7 nights a week; Luxor Hotel and Casino Portrayed an Amon Temple Dancer for the Nile Tour; Caesar Hotel and Casino; Clubs; Parties
1996 Mamounia Moroccan Restaurant; Tom and Jerry's; Clubs; Parties
1995 Mamounia Moroccan Restaurant; Marrakesh Moroccan Restaurant; Parties

Tallahassee , FL:
1994 - 1995 Haflas; Galas



Middle Easter Dance - Group

Los Angeles, CA:
2000 Jilliana and the Sahlala Dancers - A professional Middle Eastern dance company which dances regularly at Mid East Connection and Carousel.
1999 Pau Hana, UCLA - My UCLA Middle Eastern Dance class performed for this end of the quarter production.
1998-1999 Perfumes of Araby - Work with dancers at a variety of functions.
1998 Viviane's Arabic Dance Theater - Performed several Staged Egyptian Folkloric performances; Enchantment Entertainment – Worked with dancers at a variety of functions.

Las Vegas, NV:
1996 Marliza's Dance Company

Tallahassee, FL:
1994 - 1995 Troupe Arabesque, Tallahassee, FL - Performed at numerous festivals such as The Winter Festival, Springtime Tallahassee, and the Children's Festival and in educational programs for the WILDerness Coast Public Library.
1993 Rubenstein's Dance Company, Tallahassee, FL

Choreography

2000 The Lighthouse of Alexandria; The Jelly; Volatile Bodies; Instant Review; Untitled #1, performed at An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance, Los Angeles, CA
1999 A Cold Place, performed at Cafe Beledy, Los Angeles, CA
1999 Instant Review, Cafe Beledy, Los Angeles, CA
1999 Class work, performed at Pau Hana, UCLA
1994 - present Choreograph or improvise all of my solo and troupe's performances (See Middle Eastern Dance - Solo and Director.)

Director

Director of Ya Helewa!, a Middle Eastern dance troupe designed for pre-professional students to perform in amateur and semi-professional venues. Members are taught to work with each other, to participate in decision making, and learn performance skills.

Los Angeles, CA:
2001 SawDust Festival; Cairo Carnival; Cafe Beledy
2000 An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance; Saw Dust Festival; Cairo Carnival; Market at the Casbah; Moun of Tunis; Cafe Beledy; Belly Dance Buffet; Perfumes of Araby's Middle Eastern Dance Swap Meet

Los Angeles, CA:
2001 Pars Restaurant Showcase - This is a monthly showcase which gives Middle Eastern dancers of various levels and styles an opportunity to perform.
2000 An Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern Dance – This performance was created a venue where dancers could present pieces which they were unable to do elsewhere due to their controversial nature. Creator, Producer, Artistic Director, Performer.
2000 Belly Dance Buffet - This day of performances and workshops was created to give the Middle Eastern dance community alternative ways to approach the dance form. Co-creator; Co-producer, Performer, Teacher.

Public Speaking

2000 Two Representations of American-Middle Eastern Dance - Presented at the Second International Middle Eastern Dance Conference
2000 Women in Contemporary American Middle Eastern Dance - Presented at the Cultural Dance Studies Conference, UCR
1999 Contemporary Images of the Middle Eastern Dancer in the United States - Presented at the Cultural Dance Studies Conference, UCLA
1998 Karin Van Nieuwkerk's 'Trade Like Any other' and the Positions of Middle Eastern Dance in the United States UCLA WAC: Dance Ethnography, Guest Lecture

2000 Cymbal, "Central Coast Chapter" article by Natasya Katsikaris; Cymbal, A Dancer's Feast" article by Melissa Crandall
1998 "Banish Your Belly, Butt and Thighs" by Judy Lin Eftekhar
1998 Kalangan, "untuk" article by Rachmi Diyah Larasati
1995, July 28 Franklin Chronicle, "Gypsy Rhythms Educate and Entertain" article
1995, July 13 Wakulla News, "Dancers Performed at Manor" article

Scholarly Activity