Fusion Fridays

Posted on by Thor

Fusion Fridays at a Magi Temple Belly Dance School, (3589 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32806) is hosted by Serafina Schiano. I have seen Serafina perform many times with Phantasmagoria and other productions in town.

A Magi is teaming up to promote all sorts of workshops and cultural affairs
in the Central Florida area, so there is always something fun and
different to inspire your creative side! In an effort to
make the arts accessible to everyone, this class session was donation-based.

The session began with a review of Zil Rhythms and musicality. Everyone sat on the floor in a circle and Serafina explained the Zil Rhythms. They each pt on finer cymbals on each hand and then started with 3 triple gallops Which had the simple pattern of 123, 123, 123. The 3, 3, 7 combination went, 123, 123, 1234567. There was also a 3,5,5 combination and a 3,1,3,1,3 combination. Some of these are more difficult to maintain and some got lost in the midst of their pattern. Rhythm is something that is felt intuitively not necessarily learned.

I was amazed that the students picked up a routine in just 15 minutes in the second half of class. Serafina picked a piece of music by Fifth Harmony called Work from Home (Ty Dolla $ign.) Moves taught included head circles, chest circles, and hip circles and rib combos. Written on sheet of paper, the choreography looked incredibly complex. Yet by the end of class everyone had mastered the entire routine. I have a deep respect for everyone who mastered this lesson which resulted in a hip and contemporary Belly dance routine. There was a well deserved shot of pleasure when they completed their run through.


Should you want to explore Belly Dancing you can study with Serafina every Fusion Friday at Magi Temple Belly Dance School. Class runs from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. It is an opportunity to train your body, Cultivate your unique style, and  ignite your passion.

Serafina’s belly dance at Fringe.

Posted on by Thor

Although Phantasmagoria didn’t have a stage show, they were listed in the Fringe program as Bring Your Own Venue. On the first day of my Sketch Tour they seemed to be everywhere at once. While we were waiting in line for Grim and Fisher at the Rep Theater, Phantasmagoria swept into the lobby to entertain everyone waiting in line. For those who don’t know, (where have you been) Phantasmagoria is a Gothic Steampunk storytelling group that blends dance, aerial work, fire performance and combat into the mix as they weave their horrific tales.

Serafina Schiano began an exotic belly dance. I agonized about how much time I might need to catch the dance. The line started to inch forward and I kept adding watercolor washes to the sketch as we moved towards the entrance. When Serafina was done, I followed her with my eyes to try and catch details of her costume. This is why some sketches can seem rushed and unfinished, because life and performance rushes by. It is a challenge to catch the flash of a moment. That is what makes sketching on location fun, exciting and challenging. Even if unfinished in my mind, I have to accept what I can accomplish in the time that I have and move on. That is a fair analogy to life in general.

The lobby of the Rep is always full of art by school children during Fringe. Most of the work is tight and struggling towards realism. None of the art seems rushed or hurried. This is the problem I have when painting digitally. Since it is all new to me I’m far to cautious and what results has too much polish. I’ve started carrying my tablet out on location with me but it is seldom used. In a dark theater, its glow would distract others and outside in the Florida sun the screen isn’t bright enough.  I wish the screen were larger but the market trend it towards smaller tablets. It is like carrying a hot brick.

Drip’s Prison Party

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Drip’s Prison Party was held in a top floor of a downtown Orlando business sky rise. The floor to ceiling windows had a magnificent view of the new Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center construction site as well as an amazing view of Lake Eola where a splash water skiing event was taking place. The idea of the prison themed fundraiser was that “prisoners” could not leave until they raised enough money so they could post bail. Of course “prisoners” were having so much fun, they wouldn’t want to leave. There were live performances through out the day along with food, drinks and massages.

Serafina Shiano, who was the actress who brought Lollybot to life in this years Dog Powered Robot show at the Fringe, performed a sensuous belly dance for the prisoners. Brandon Roberts, dressed as an 0fficer would set of a siren and announce a “Prison Break” about every hour. “Prison Breaks” were a time to stretch legs, grab a drink and enjoy a performance. The walls of the prison were covered with doodles all in a prison theme.

Each team of prisoners sat at a table and artistic thermometers gauged their fundraising progress.  The first team to raise $50 would be celebrated with confetti blasts. A young woman wandered the room in bright orange stilts.

I heard that Drip Dance has finally been granted all their city ordinances, so they will be going live on International Drive soon. The Drip bar will offer brightly colored brews as guests explore the dark and hip space. Drip is sure to become a hit among Orlando tourists who want to escape down a dark back alley to find some of this town’s most edgy, sexy and colorful dance. Watch art come alive!