Welcome to Barefoot Muse Productions


Melissa Wanamaker is a barefoot world dance nut focusing on the movements and rhythms of the Middle East, North Africa and the Silk Road.  Certified in Robyn Avalon's "Living in the Body, Level 1" and Sahra Saiida's "Journey Through Egypt, Level 1" with over 900 hours of documented study in a variety of styles, Melissa combines information on using your body according to its most efficient design with the cultural, historical, musical and kinesthetic experience of belly dance and the dances from which it was derived.  A warm, versatile, generous and dynamic performer, researcher, choreographer, writer, coach, producer, and instructor based in Anchorage Alaska, Melissa discovered American Belly Dance in the mid-1990's.  Since that time, she has invested her time money and energy researching and studying the roots and shoots of this art form with many of the finest Middle Eastern Dance master instructors of the United States and Egypt.  She'd like to share their stories and tips with you inside this supple, serpentine, modern celebratory folk dance form.
 




As a belly dance generalist, her efforts to integrate, understand and appreciate this organic and beautiful dance form in it's many facets are ongoing.  As a coach and mentor, Melissa wants to create versatile, artistic, dignified and respectful dancers with excellent, broad-based foundations.  As  a choreographer and consumnate showman, Melissa says, "I am happiest dancing at the intersection where sacred meets sensual meets circus. I want to be an anthropologist and an artist... honoring the past and anticipating the future. I want to create performance that feels relevant here and now.  I am interested in fusing various dance styles from throughout the Middle East, North and West Africa, Central Asia, North & East India, the Silk Road, the Romani (Gypsy) Trail and American Belly Dance and creating original, interesting, evocative modern choreographies and shows. My goal is to continue studying dance and music styles from various cultures, collaborate with excellent like-minded souls and, with respect and love, to share this ancient, artistic, athletic expression of a woman's power with students and audience members."


Melissa continues an extended professional sabbatical from teaching ongoing classes in 2012 but stays active in the community coaching, mentoring, studying, conducting workshops and taking on select project work and performances.