The Dark Side Studios

The Dark Side Studios
“Modern belly dance for modern women”

Artistic Director: Audra Simmons

Location: Spadina and Bathurst (355A College Street)

Website:  www.cleopatrasbazaar.com

Services: Classes, Performances, Private Instruction, Workshops, Studio Rental

Troupes: Lavish Dance Company

Background (ALL the other school profiles feature bios available via their website, since this Studio does not have an official bio, I wrote a brief piece from the perspective of a fangirl of Bellydance):

Audra Simmons describes her studio as focusing on Modern Dance.  While her background in dance has been in Egyptian Cabaret Bellydance, Audra has since moved onto elements of Tribal bellydance such as the Suhaila format.  As Audra continues to grow as a teacher and choreographer through her study of a multitude of dance forms she is constantly evolving.

While you may find many  elements to be reminiscent of Tribal bellydance, her formal arts education in sculpture can been seen to influence the movement and the lines she creates for Lavish Dance Company.  Needless to say The Dark Side, Audra and Lavish are hard to explain to someone who has not seen them live.  They are more modern dance then bellydance but yet the essence is there and it has evolved to become something unique, hypnotic and hard to describe.

Audra’s choreographies are like living, breathing organisms with their own flow and lines … she gently takes your breath away while giving you a new perspective to movement and music.

The Art of Dancing with Dark Side Studio:

Audra Simmon’s on inspiration behind latest Lavish Dance Company production Affogato: