BIO
Cammi Vance is a dance instructor, performer, coach, personal trainer, and massage therapist dedicated to helping develop a physical practice including dance which enhances lives and strengthens bodies. Her many years of study in ethnic, modern, and interpretive dance and other modes of movement including yoga, martial arts, theater and healing movement, are just the beginning of her research on dance and the body. Her teaching style is genuine, articulate, expressive, original and stylish and introduces cutting edge fitness and kinesiology information that can be easily incorporated into everyday life as well as intensive dance practice. Her performances are dynamic and strong and leave audiences feeling satisfied, nourished, and inspired. She is in demand nationally and internationally as an instructor as well as a private coach and trainer for dancers young and old, first lesson to professionals and teachers, and she always tries to offer something that will be of value to the individual, helping them to find inspiration and motivation.
The Long Story...
Darshan aka Cammi Vance chose the dancer's path in 1991 as she began the avid study and practice of bellydance. Oh, there had always been dance in her life: music, dance, and spirituality were key elements in her family. Growing up, her movement studies included ballet, jazz, gymnastics, martial arts. As with many on the path, her soul ran off with bellydance and left no return address. Her first teacher, Aurelia, (trained by Badawia), was strong and sincere, and taught her the foundations of the dance, rhythms, and connections in the body, and prepared her to perform and improvise. Her first performances were with lively Greek bands in the clubs of Portland, OR.
In her second year of bellydance, she discovered tribal style and became ensconced in the mysterious and delicious culture of Gypsy Caravan. Over the next decade, her dance studies telescoped to include Folkloric and trance, Flamenco and Salsa, Gypsy/Rom, Capoeira and Samba, aerial and more, and her challenge was to integrate what she learned while keeping performance styles appropriately distinct. She traveled with Gyspy Caravan, playing festivals around the country, including Peter Gabriel's WOMAD; New Orleans Lazarus Project, Halloween Parade and Gospel Brunch; Seattle Folklife and Bumbershoot; Maja's Spirit of the Tribes (FL), Tribal Fests and Rakkassah and much more.
In 2003, Darshan moved to NYC to further pursue the depths of dance and art. She joined the Dalia Carella Dance Collective for several off-Broadway productions including 'In Search of a Goddess,' a tribute to Ruth St Denis at the Duke Theater on 42nd St. She produced a few DVDs through World Dance New York, traveled and taught nationally and internationally, co-founded global dance activism network PURE (www.pureglobe.org) with Kaeshi Chai, and continued her studies including modern/Horton, and modern Egyptian style. Her own style is a continually evolving blend of her dreams and her studies, always inspired by her students, always embracing a challenge. Her performances are lauded as dynamic, often athletic, and creative. Her teaching style is active, clear, fun, informed: a nice challenge for all levels.
Also a Bikram Yoga Instructor, Massage Therapist (OR), and Personal Trainer, Darshan teaches and performs with a passion for body mechanics and character of movement, and believes the gift of dance should be a pleasure in the body and, with practice, can approach transcendence of mind to spirit.
In her second year of bellydance, she discovered tribal style and became ensconced in the mysterious and delicious culture of Gypsy Caravan. Over the next decade, her dance studies telescoped to include Folkloric and trance, Flamenco and Salsa, Gypsy/Rom, Capoeira and Samba, aerial and more, and her challenge was to integrate what she learned while keeping performance styles appropriately distinct. She traveled with Gyspy Caravan, playing festivals around the country, including Peter Gabriel's WOMAD; New Orleans Lazarus Project, Halloween Parade and Gospel Brunch; Seattle Folklife and Bumbershoot; Maja's Spirit of the Tribes (FL), Tribal Fests and Rakkassah and much more.
In 2003, Darshan moved to NYC to further pursue the depths of dance and art. She joined the Dalia Carella Dance Collective for several off-Broadway productions including 'In Search of a Goddess,' a tribute to Ruth St Denis at the Duke Theater on 42nd St. She produced a few DVDs through World Dance New York, traveled and taught nationally and internationally, co-founded global dance activism network PURE (www.pureglobe.org) with Kaeshi Chai, and continued her studies including modern/Horton, and modern Egyptian style. Her own style is a continually evolving blend of her dreams and her studies, always inspired by her students, always embracing a challenge. Her performances are lauded as dynamic, often athletic, and creative. Her teaching style is active, clear, fun, informed: a nice challenge for all levels.
Also a Bikram Yoga Instructor, Massage Therapist (OR), and Personal Trainer, Darshan teaches and performs with a passion for body mechanics and character of movement, and believes the gift of dance should be a pleasure in the body and, with practice, can approach transcendence of mind to spirit.
Certifications and Degrees
Bikram Yoga Teacher Certification
Associate’s Degree in Premed from Portland Community College
Massage License #6420
from Oregon School of Massage
Personal Training Certification from American Fitness Institute
CPR Certified
Fitness Insurance K & K
Provider, Rhythm Entrainment Institute
Other training:
Dalia Carella (NYC) 1996-present
www.daliacarella.com
Gypsy Caravan and Paulette Rees-Denis (Portland, OR) 1991-2002
www.gypsycaravan.us
Aurelia (Portland) 1991-1997
Bikram Yoga practice 2000-present
www.bikramyoga.com
Personal Trainer with
Manhattan Sports Medicine
Rehab, Performance, Injury Prevention
Plus workshops and classes with: Yousry Sharif (Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance, NYC), Elena Lentini (Middle Eastern interpretive), Lampreia/Tiba/Pedrolima Cruz/Edna Lima (Capoeira), Andrew Clauer (Chi Gong), Danielle/Michelle/Donna Oefinger/Nyota Nayo/Quenia/Richard Gonzales (Samba and Afro-Brazilian, -Haitian, -Caribbean dance including Orixa dances), Amel Tafsout (Andalusian and Sufi Trance dance), Tayyar Akdeniz/Artemis Mourat (Turkish Rom and Turkish Oriental dance), Hassan Harfouche/Yasser Darwish (Lebanese and Egyptian debke), Raqia Hassan (Egyptian
Associate’s Degree in Premed from Portland Community College
Massage License #6420
from Oregon School of Massage
Personal Training Certification from American Fitness Institute
CPR Certified
Fitness Insurance K & K
Provider, Rhythm Entrainment Institute
Other training:
Dalia Carella (NYC) 1996-present
www.daliacarella.com
Gypsy Caravan and Paulette Rees-Denis (Portland, OR) 1991-2002
www.gypsycaravan.us
Aurelia (Portland) 1991-1997
Bikram Yoga practice 2000-present
www.bikramyoga.com
Personal Trainer with
Manhattan Sports Medicine
Rehab, Performance, Injury Prevention
Plus workshops and classes with: Yousry Sharif (Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance, NYC), Elena Lentini (Middle Eastern interpretive), Lampreia/Tiba/Pedrolima Cruz/Edna Lima (Capoeira), Andrew Clauer (Chi Gong), Danielle/Michelle/Donna Oefinger/Nyota Nayo/Quenia/Richard Gonzales (Samba and Afro-Brazilian, -Haitian, -Caribbean dance including Orixa dances), Amel Tafsout (Andalusian and Sufi Trance dance), Tayyar Akdeniz/Artemis Mourat (Turkish Rom and Turkish Oriental dance), Hassan Harfouche/Yasser Darwish (Lebanese and Egyptian debke), Raqia Hassan (Egyptian
