Aradia Sunseri Bio

Short Bio

Aradia Julia Sunseri is a professional performance and belly dance artist, ritual movement arts instructor, and costume designer. She has over 13 years of experience in the movement arts and performance in theater, on film and stage.

Expressing the anatomy of the soul through ritual dance and original handmade costumes, her visual and energetic presence and choreography embody the magic of storytelling. Aradia performs with veils, fans, a balancing bowl, the scimitar sword, and the element of fire with the staff, fans, fingers, sword, and palm torches.

Her constantly evolving style incorporates tribal fusion belly dance, modern dance, fire dance, ballet and butoh. Aradia’s art is rooted in yoga, dance therapy modalities and theatrical improvisation.

Aradia has performed worldwide as a soloist and has also shared the stage with artists and renowned musicians including: Shpongle, Faith & the Muse (as Serpentine), Lucent Dossier, Cheb i Sabbah, Zen Arts, David Starfire, Andrew Jones, Random Rab and many more. Aradia has also performed in music videos that have appeared on MTV and in independent films. She has been invited for repeat performances at music, art, and yoga festivals in the U.S. and internationally, including: Coachella, Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, Wanderlust, Source, Harmony, Symbiosis, and Electric Picnic.

Extended Dance Bio

Aradia is an interdisciplinary artist, lifelong yogini, and dancer who has studied diverse forms of dance, including butoh, sufi, odissi, flamenco, ballet, modern, cabaret & tribal fusion belly dance, fire dance, & ritual performance. Her first memory of dance is as a toddler attending a Sufi dance ceremony, where she watched in awe, the whirling fabrics & community of people joyously dancing. She started dancing ballet at age five and continued at various dance and art academies for the rest of childhood.

In 2001 she discovered the art of fire dancing and creating fire tools & props. From 2001-2008, she performed with the Black Rock City Fire Conclave troupes in Oregon, Nevada & California.

In 2004 she discovered the art of belly dance in Portland, Oregon. She instantly fell in love with the rich community of belly dancers & like-minded artists. She studied with Paulette Denis Tribal Fusion Belly dance at the Gypsy Caravan & Jane Archer Neo tribal fusion Belly dance at Euphoria Studios. Her life long love for dance was reinvented within this new artistic exploration. She was deeply fascinated and resonated with this art form. She begin working at Euphoria Studios and her dedication to belly dance begin to set roots. From 2005-2008 she passionately studied, taught & performed in Portland Oregon.

In winter of 2008, she moved back to SF to study with some of the pioneers & original creators of the tribal belly dance movement.

From 2005-2010, Aradia was Co-founder & Co-artistic director of Serpentine temple dancers of the serpent mythos, Dance Troupe, a dark tribal/butoh/fire belly dance performance group. Serpentine was founded in 2005 by Aradia and Lucretia*Renee together they merged their passions of art and dark tribal belly dance in a unique exploration of self-expression and goddess devotion. Serpentine explored the ancient art of belly dance through spectacle and ritual. In creative collaboration, each artist created their own costumes, stage props, and fire dancing tools. In 2008 Serpentine welcomed Nagasita for the triple goddess rites unfolding with divine synchronicity.

One of Serpentine’s missions from conception was to collaborate with different musicians, dancers, and artists. Through the creative expression and rituals we became stronger. Supporting one another’s visions and pushing the envelope to create spectacular performances. Serpentine has performed with talented artists & musicians such as Faith & The Muse, Cheb i Sabbah, Soriah, Azphodel, Jill Tracy, Paul Mercer, March Fourth, and more.

From 2005-2008, Serpentine Co-produced & was Co-creative director of East Meets West, a community celebration festival of dark fusion belly dance. Each year this event grew creating an avenue for like-minded dancers and artists to share their passion from around the world.

From 2009-2010: Aradia was Dancer & back up singer for Faith & the Muse (as part of Serpentine). She toured Europe & the U.S with Faith & The Muse – Launching their latest album Ankoku Butoh. The amazing collaboration was inspired by Shinto mythology, butoh, gothic & tribal culture. The rites of Serpentine open into a new aeon, joining creative forces with Faith & The Muse.

http://www.mercyground.com

Links to Magazine Articles

http://www.gothicbellydanceitalia.com/gothic-belly-dance/serpentine
http://www.gothicbeauty.com/back-issues.html
http://www.mercyground.com/press/Top_40_Charts_release_pickup_40710.pdf
http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2009/12/faith_and_the_muse_dragoncon_b.php

2008-Present: Founder of Ritual Movement Arts (RMA), San Francisco, CA. Workshops, Retreats, Classes devoted to Hatha yoga & Tribal Fusion Belly dance.

Inspiration

Aradia draws inspiration from her mentors, other dancers and artists, all brave individuals who live their passion, and the feminine divine. Aradia’s influences include: Sha Sha Higsby, St. Ruth Denis, Tatsumi Hijikata, Mata Hari, Martha Graham, Cleopatra, Jeanne D’Arc, Isis, & priestesses of the sacred path.

Aradia has studied various styles of belly dance, including: A.T.S tribal, tribal fusion, and cabaret, with teachers including the pioneering: Jill Parker, Suhaila Salimpour, Zoe Jakes, Caroleena Shakti, Jane Archer, Paulette Denis, Miriam Peretz, Rachel Brice and many more.

Aradia actively studies several forms of yoga, as well as sacred temple dance, tribal fusion belly dance, Feldenkrais method, somatic healing and Integrated Movement Therapy.