"Thank you so much for your amazing work shop. I loved the energy and the style that you portray. I hope you come back to America soon, I'd like to take real classes with you even if it's just for a short time. =)."
- Victoria, Long Island, NY, USA
T"Paola is so inspiring!!!!! I love the way you teach and all this knowledge you share is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!! The whole weekend has been like an initiation for me!!!!!!!!!! The dance ritual was so powerful ... I just feel we were transported in a magical place and time. I still feel away with the fairies!"
- Fiora Touliatou, Cardiff, Wales
"Que decirte el curso con Paola está siendo inolvidable que energía, elegancia, ... es increible como me hizo sentir aye."
- Natalia Car, Madrid, Spain
"opino lo mismo es fenomenal , la elegancia y al mismo tiempo fuerza la dan ese magnetismo que la hace ser grande aun siendo menuda , me encantaria verla en un escenario. PAOLA gracias por tu buen hacer y por tu simpatia."
- Isabel Sanchez Tapia, Madrid, Spain
"Está siendo INCREIBLE, GENIAL...Muchas gracias!"
- Raquel Rabadán Carrasco, Madrid, Spain
Paola Featured at Ethno Square Festival 2010Berovo, MacedoniaAugust 26-28
Paola returns to her hometown of Berovo for the 2nd annual Ethno Square Festival to promote the rich heritage of unique Balkan dance and music of eastern Macedonia.
Paola was instrumental in helping to revive an annual festival in Berovo through her efforts of her NME Shockwave award-winning documentary "Raqin' in the Roots with Malesh-Roma," produced in the summer of 2007.
Upcoming Ethno Festival in Berovo Opportunity For Tourism Promotion
August 7th, 2010
(English translation of article)
Under the artistic direction of world renowned dancer and choreographer, Paola Blanton, young girls at the Berovo School of Ethnic Dances learn the secrets of characteristic dances from the Balkans and the Orient. With Blanton's choreographical and instructional support, the girls prepare intensively for performances af the second annual Ethnic Square Festival in Berovo.
As a member of UNESCO and a researcher of traditional dances of the world, Paola stresses that the awareness of Balkan music and dance is on the rise, and that the time is ripe now for promoting Macedonian folklore. She is happy to be staging this art to the world this summer in her native hometown of Berovo.
Paola travels the world year-round, but the choreographer says, "I'm very glad to be back. Here today we have 12 girls and they will demonstrate several styles of dance."
Berovo is intensively preparing for a spectacular event this year, exhibiting blends of folkloric music and dance with stylish modern traditions, whose aim is to promote tourism.
"Promoting Berovo to Macedonia and to the world," says Marin Demirovska, adviser to the Municipality of Berovo.
The festival is held on the eve of a Christian holiday (by the Old Calendar) - the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary" - and from August 26-28, Berovo expects over 200 worldwide participants and 30,000 visitors. This represents the culmination of the summer tourist season bringing in an estimated 1,000 foreign tourists.
Earth & Sky:
Paola Blanton Reclaims the Realms of Dance
by Ioanna Malandrenias
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"Nothing is left but lyrical naturalness. Paola Blanton ... propels herself and her pupils into the heavens with a sensual purr of the Gypsy Minx."
Lo que Isadora Duncan puede darle a la Danza Oriental
por Paola Blanton
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"No es que yo quiera negar la naturaleza sensual de nuestro baile. Muy al contrario, la celebro. Adoro la manera como nuestro baile ama el cuerpo de la mujer, sus curvas, su fuerza, su suavidad."
2010 Schedule
Paola is on tour in South America February/March, North AmericaApril-June,AsiaJuly, EuropeJuly/August, South AmericaSeptember, AfricaOctober, and AustraliaNovember.
Contact Paola at houseofyumm@yahoo.com to book an available date.
August 27-29
Berovo, Macedonia
Ethno Square Festival - Turbo Gypsy, Celestial Celebration.
August 23-26
Split, Croatia
Split Tribal Fest - Balkan Gypsy Fusion Solo "The Minx", Turbo Gypsy, and Black Steppe Tribal. Contact Dunja at dunja@orijentalni-ples.com
August 13-22
Guca, Serbia
The Woodstock of Gypsy Brass Music, The Guca Festival. www.guca.rs
July 24-25
Madrid, Spain
Balkan Gypsy Fusion, Isadora Duncan for Oriental. Contact Debora Castano at www.danzaorientalqamar.com
July 16-18
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Balkan Gypsy Fusion, Drum Solo, Isadora Duncan for Oriental. Contact Guinevere Clark at guinevere@baubo.co.uk
July 10-11
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Isadora Duncan Technique for Oriental.Contact Pink at ypsiew@yahoo.com.
June 25
Long Island, New York
The Gypsy Road - Balkan and Mediterranean Styling for Choreography.Contact Aviva Khadra at harembellydance@optonline.net
June 16-20
Rochester, New York
The Four Elements - Isadora Duncan Technique for Oriental Dancers. Contact Pamela Sant Allen at rallen007@rochester.rr.com
June 5-6
Grand Junction, Colorado
Contact Mary or Natasha Krasnow at mary.krasnow39@gmail.com, or natasha.krasnow@gmail.com
May 29-30
Manhattan, New York
Balkan Gypsy Fusion; Lyrical Duncan Fusion. Contact Ioanna Malandrenias at ioannaraqs@gmail.com.
May 16
Hoboken, New Jersey
New choreography to "Inta Lissa Fakir Halim" for Intermediate to Advanced.Contact Birnur Siren at birnurdance@yahoo.com.
May 15
Long Island, New York
Maleshevski Zurli - Percussive Balkan Fusion.Contact Aviva Khadra at harembellydance@optonline.net.
May 8-9
Madison, Wisconsin
Contact Mona N'Wal at mona_nwal@yahoo.com
May 1-2
Chicago, Illinois
Contact Laila Aziz at bellydancechicago@yahoo.com
April 20-23
Toronto, Ontario
IBCC
April 16-18
Rochester, New York
Contact Pamela Sant Allen at rallen007@rochester.rr.com
March 12-14
Iquique, Chile
A to Z Intensive. Contact Rebecca Jeffery on Facebook:
February 20 & 28, March 7 & 21
São Paulo, Brazil
A to Z Original Brazil. Four intensive Sundays - learn the entirety of A to Z Original. Quatro domingos intensivos para aprender a famosa sistema A to Z da Keti Sharif. Tenda das Estrelas, Cerqueira César, SP Capital. Contact Estrela at estrelass@uol.com.br
