Sadie Adair (Director)
Sadie is the Co-Founder/Director/Manager of Desert Darlings Belly Dance, co-director of Wicked Muse Dance Project with Lorena, and owner/instructor at Sirena World Dance Studio. She studied Raqs Sharqi with Diane Eger in 2003 and went on to learn Tribal Style Belly Dance at Pomegranate Studios in 2006. Other dance teachers/inspirations include Lorena, Adriana Sandoval, Frank Farinaro, Mira Betz, and Zoe Jakes. Sadie has a BA in Media Arts from the University of New Mexico and also had the pleasure of studying Flamenco for two years through the dance department.
She is an award winning choreographer (Yellow Rose of Texas 2017) with partner in crime, Lorena, and has recently co-founded Raqzia Belly Dance Company with Adriana Sandoval, as well as D'jnun Dance Project with Lorena, Brian Pacheco, and Frank Farinaro. In addition to dancing and choreographing, Sadie also enjoys producing shows and sewing costumes.
She is an award winning choreographer (Yellow Rose of Texas 2017) with partner in crime, Lorena, and has recently co-founded Raqzia Belly Dance Company with Adriana Sandoval, as well as D'jnun Dance Project with Lorena, Brian Pacheco, and Frank Farinaro. In addition to dancing and choreographing, Sadie also enjoys producing shows and sewing costumes.
Lorena Martinez-Burr (Artistic Director)
Lauren (Lorena) Martínez Burr is an Artistic Director of Desert Darlings Belly Dance, co-director of student company Wicked Muse Dance Project with Sadie, and an instructor at Sirena World Dance Studio. She a member of D’jnun Dance Project with Sadie, Frank Farinaro and Brian Pacheco, and is an honorary member of Raqzia Belly Dance Co., directed by Adriana Sandoval. Along side her right-hand-man Sadie, she is an award winning choreographer (Yaa Halla Y’all, Desert Rose of Texas 2017) as well as 2nd place winner in the Pro Fusion Solo category.
Lorena’s dance studies began in 2009 with Eric Salazar where she learned Middle Eastern, North African, Turkish and fusion belly dance fundamentals, history and technique. Over the years, she has had the pleasure to study with many well renowned dancers including Zoe Jakes, Mira Betz, and more. She regularly trains and collaborates with Sadie Adair and Adriana Sandoval, who she considers to be some of her main inspirations. Lorena is Key of Diamonds certified in DanceCraft® format by Zoe Jakes, and has a BA in Dance with a concentration in Flamenco from the University of New Mexico where she studied with several master Flamenco artists from Spain.
When she’s not choreographing, training, teaching or performing, Lorena loves to create goodies for her dance accessory line, Banshee Cat.
Lorena’s dance studies began in 2009 with Eric Salazar where she learned Middle Eastern, North African, Turkish and fusion belly dance fundamentals, history and technique. Over the years, she has had the pleasure to study with many well renowned dancers including Zoe Jakes, Mira Betz, and more. She regularly trains and collaborates with Sadie Adair and Adriana Sandoval, who she considers to be some of her main inspirations. Lorena is Key of Diamonds certified in DanceCraft® format by Zoe Jakes, and has a BA in Dance with a concentration in Flamenco from the University of New Mexico where she studied with several master Flamenco artists from Spain.
When she’s not choreographing, training, teaching or performing, Lorena loves to create goodies for her dance accessory line, Banshee Cat.
Ally Lowry
Ally began dancing at a very early age, when her parents exposed her to the Eastern European and Israeli folk dances of her heritage. She developed a taste for cultural, world music and when she was introduced to the music and dance of North Africa and the Middle East at age fifteen, she was instantly entranced. Her belly dance education began in Santa Fe, NM under the instruction of Christine Siegrist and Myra Krien of Pomegranate Studios.
Ally was originally introduced to the group improvisational style referred to as Tribal Style, for its basis in group interaction. She eventually branched out into more traditional styles of belly dance, typically referred to as Oriental, Egyptian, or Cabaret. She was a member of the Mosaic Dance Company at Pomegranate Studios and at age eighteen began teaching the “Little Seeds” dance classes for girls aged 8-12.
In order to expand her dance knowledge and fluency, Ally has also dabbled in many other dance traditions, including Ballet, Hip Hop, Classical Indian (Baratnatyam), Bhangra and Bollywood, as well as Swing, Blues, and Salsa.
Ally joined the Desert Darlings in 2012 when she relocated to Albuquerque, NM. With the Darlings, Ally choreographs, performs extensively, and instructs.
Ally was originally introduced to the group improvisational style referred to as Tribal Style, for its basis in group interaction. She eventually branched out into more traditional styles of belly dance, typically referred to as Oriental, Egyptian, or Cabaret. She was a member of the Mosaic Dance Company at Pomegranate Studios and at age eighteen began teaching the “Little Seeds” dance classes for girls aged 8-12.
In order to expand her dance knowledge and fluency, Ally has also dabbled in many other dance traditions, including Ballet, Hip Hop, Classical Indian (Baratnatyam), Bhangra and Bollywood, as well as Swing, Blues, and Salsa.
Ally joined the Desert Darlings in 2012 when she relocated to Albuquerque, NM. With the Darlings, Ally choreographs, performs extensively, and instructs.
Shannon Sweet
Known for her innovative style and skill with Tribal Fusion Fan Veils, Shannon is an award-winning dancer and choreographer (1st Place Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice in the Yaa Halla Ya’ll Yellow Rose of Texas Tribal Fusion Professional Solo Category 2017), and enjoys teaching workshops out of Sirena World Dance Studio.
Shannon stepped into the world of Belly Dance in 2002 by learning and performing Folkloric and Egyptian Cabaret style Belly Dance from Shadiya in her home state of Hawaii. From there, she has taken workshops and inspiration from International teachers such as Silvia Salamanca, Kalae Kaina, Frank Farinaro, and Rachel Brice. Shannon has taught various workshops and performed on college campuses, theatres, and hotels around the country. In July 2015, Shannon delightfully accepted an invitation to join the Desert Darlings, and enjoys taking classes taught by the other amazing Darlings as often as she can!
Shannon has a Bachelor’s of Art from Ithaca College, and fabricates jewelry for sale out of Sirena World Dance Studio Boutique under the name Desert Moonshine Jewelry.
Shannon stepped into the world of Belly Dance in 2002 by learning and performing Folkloric and Egyptian Cabaret style Belly Dance from Shadiya in her home state of Hawaii. From there, she has taken workshops and inspiration from International teachers such as Silvia Salamanca, Kalae Kaina, Frank Farinaro, and Rachel Brice. Shannon has taught various workshops and performed on college campuses, theatres, and hotels around the country. In July 2015, Shannon delightfully accepted an invitation to join the Desert Darlings, and enjoys taking classes taught by the other amazing Darlings as often as she can!
Shannon has a Bachelor’s of Art from Ithaca College, and fabricates jewelry for sale out of Sirena World Dance Studio Boutique under the name Desert Moonshine Jewelry.
Caitlin Prince
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Caitlin Prince first fell in love with Belly Dance in 2007 when she saw her friends performing around Santa Fe. She started taking classes in 2008 at the community College with Diana Felton and later joined a local dance company, Mosaic. While there, Caitlin learned both Oriental and Tribal styles of Belly Dance.
Being more drawn to Tribal style dance, she continued her dance practice by starting the 8 Elements Program with Rachel Brice in 2013 and is now an 8 Elements Practitioner AND Certified Instructor! After 6 years in Santa fe, Caitlin was honored to join Albuquerque troupe, The Desert Darlings! She’s had the pleasure of joining them at the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive and will have the pleasure of joining them at Jamballah NW this year. She’s honored to be teaching at Sirena World Dance Studio; please check website for class times. |