Remember your Roots…
Of Mediterranean and Latin descent, dance was something that was ingrained in JeniViva’s genes. She began dancing as soon as she could walk and by the age of 3, JeniViva was enrolled in creative movement classes at the Second Avenue School in Lower Manhattan. JeniViva’s dance training continued over the years: classical ballet with the Rabovsky family, dancing competitively in Jazz and Modern dance, and exploring her roots by studying Salsa, Flamenco, and Sicilian Folkdance. JeniViva comes from a long line of performance artists and her Grandmother claims that performing was imprinted upon JeniViva’s spirit from lifetimes ago. Surrounded by artists her whole life, some how it was inevitable that JeniViva follow in the footsteps of those who came before her.
The Journey Begins…
Although she has studied and performed various genres of dance, JeniViva felt most “at home” with the genre of Bellydance. She states “there is nothing more natural, more organically based than the sensuous and earthy movements in Bellydance. Its as if the movements were always a part of me, of every woman…our birthright, and all we ever had to do was remember.”
JeniViva’s passion for Bellydancing was founded within the form of Classic Cabaret Bellydance. She began her training in Egyptian Bellydance with such Master teachers as Rayhana, Jehan, and the late great Serena. Some years later JeniViva found a deeper connection to Turkish Oriental Cabaret Bellydance and also in the basics of Romani (Gypsy) dance having been heavily influenced by taking repeated workshops with Artemis Mourat, Eva Cernik, and Tayar Akdeniz.
All Things Change…
JeniViva has the distinct pleasure of being one of the pioneers of a new genre of dance: Gothic Bellydance. This genre blends the old with the new, adding a dark twist of Gothic elements to classic genres of Bellydance. The fruits of JeniViva’s efforts can be seen in numerous Gothic subculture magazines and websites. She also has been featured on the first ever Gothic Bellydance Dvd by World Dance New York and recently performed in and appeared on the cover of the Gothic Bellydance 2: Revelations Dvd. Gothic Bellydance is an aesthetic, it is an expressive emotional form, and it is an alternative movement that is sweeping the globe.
“Where Y’at?”
Over the last few years JeniViva’s focus has shifted towards Gothic and Fusion Bellydance, which essentially blends all the Bellydance styles she’s had the privilege of studying over the years. In 2004, JeniViva had the great honor of studying with Kajira Djoumahna of BlackSheep Bellydance. Kajira introduced JeniViva to another incarnation of Bellydance: Tribal Bellydance. JeniViva has been hooked ever since that day and has since studied with Sarah Locke of Gypsy Caravan.
Today JeniViva performs and teaches both Classical Cabaret and Gothic Bellydance in New York City and does shows & workshops all over the United States. She has appeared on The Conan O’Brien Show, the WB 11, at the House of Blues, the Rainbow Room, and numerous nightclubs in NYC. JeniViva has performed for such clients as Jay-Z, Marc Jacobs, and Esquire Magazine. JeniViva also is an advocate for P.K.D. Awareness, as well as a dedicated contributor to the rebuilding of her favorite city in the world, New Orleans.