Gallery 3 of Photos

"THE NAVEL ACADEMY"

Gallery 3 - "Navels" Then

THE NAVEL ACADEMY - THEN

The Navel Academy...2000-2005

THE NAVEL ACADEMY 2000

OUR FIRST SHOW!

Five of the seven original members of The Navel Academy -

Alixe, Cindy, Tammy Lynn, Yours Truly, and Kimmie performed our very first show for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's 4th Annual Picnic & Winter Olympics. Our members certainly had "butterflies in their stomachs" but the show went beautifully!

THE NAVEL ACADEMY 2001

BACKSTAGE - KISMET DANCERS MIAMI 15th SPRING GALA

(Back Row L-R) Kimmie, Cindy, Tammy Lynn, and Julieann

(Front Row L-R) Shannon and Raina

The Navel Academy did a fantastic performance at Kahreen & Kira's show in Miami Shores. This is one of the few times in my life that I did not dance with my sisters. However, I wanted to support them in any way I could. I had gone through abdominal cancer surgery the month before. It only took me 2 months to get back to performing again. Dance is a powerful healer for me!

THE NAVEL ACADEMY 2002

NAVELS "USKUDARAH GIDERIKEN" - KISMET's 16th SPRING GALA

-- Shannon, Melissa, Raina, and Tammy Lynn --

The music used for this dance is a traditional folk song from Istanbul whose translation is buried in my library! We concentrated on Turkish style in the early days of our troupe.

THE NAVEL ACADEMY 2003

Raina, Czara, Bella dance to "The Gypsy Dancers" live music at RenFest

This was our first appearance at the South Florida Renaissance Festival in Deerfield at Quiet Waters Park. We had choreographed the dance but never practiced with the ensemble "The Gypsy Dancers" (actually Bailes Ferrer of Miami, FL). What an honor and a thrill for us to work with such a talented group of musicians and dancers......

THE NAVEL ACADEMY 2004

Bint al Azar ~ Czara ~ Raina at RenFest

Yes, the Navel Academy members also danced Polynesian! Here, we are doing a traditional Hawaiian Hula called "Hii Lawe" or "Legend of the Waterfall."

RAINA 2005

"Illumination" Show solo at Mykonos Greek Taverna

I produced the first Navel Academy workshop and show on January 22, 2005. Attendance at both events were sellouts! I give great thanks to Bill Duffy, Susanna del Vecchio (her "Illumination" choreography), Gary, Jerry, Terris, Heather, Jeanne, Leticia, Katherine, Julia, Delilah, Chandani, Abu & Mykonos Greek Taverna, Joharah (for my beautiful costume), our fantastic audience, our enthusiastic workshop attendees, and God for this blessed event!

Maureen Pulignano Photography

~ CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF "ILLUMINATION" ~

THE NAVEL ACADEMY 2005

Performing "Inti Malakeh" (You are a Queen) - Kahreen & Kira's 19th Spring Gala (photo by Joan Swan)

This was our troupe at its largest membership. We performed to the classic Egyptian song, "Inti Malakeh" (Arabic meaning "You are a Queen"). This was our most challenging endeavor... five months of rehearsals, the seamstress ran off with our costumes, Kathy and Tess performed with injuries...whew....WE DID IT! Many thanks go to Enrico at Center Stage for remaking our costumes one week before showtime!

I'm so proud of you, fellow "Navels"!