About Pacita Prasarn

Pacita Prasarn has always danced. Always. But it wasn’t until around 1996 that her dancing found a voice and language in the form of Middle Eastern Belly Dance. Since then she has been learning, teaching, and performing all in pursuit of perfecting her art. She draws influences from many cultures and genres (Indian, Persian, Egyptian, Turkish, Hip Hop, Modern, and more) and fuses them in an attempt to explore the most important aspects of all dance; the Soul and Humanity.

Her travels have taken her across the country and around the globe. She can often be seen dancing and teaching workshops at events along the East Coast of the United States and occasionally in Asia where she is sometimes featured on television. Pacita’s passion brings an enthusiasm to her teaching that is infectious. She specializes in Turkish Romani / Romany dance (a style that is usually done to a 9/8 rhythm commonly known as karsilama). And her ability to break down moves and reach every student make her workshops highly sought after by other dancers.

Pacita Prasarn is a dancer’s dancer. Her combination of grace, technique, and expression will take you on a journey through her soul and yours. And her greatest hope is that you will not only watch her dance, but find that voice in you and dance yourself.

Dance Tradition

Pacita has traveled across the country and around the world and is lucky to have studied with some amazing mentors. Below is a partial list of her inspirations and people she has studied and/or performed with (in no particular order :) :

• Reyhan Tusuz
• Artemis Mourat
• Morocco
• Elitha/Zaleh
• Reyhan Tsuzuz
• Kamille Hitz of Rockabelly
• Carolena Nericcio
• Sahra Saeeda
• Faten Salama
• Amel Tafsout
• Jill Parker
• Khafif and Neefa bint Durr
• Zafira Dance Company (Olivia Kissel, Maria Hamer, Christine Andrews)
• Elizabeth Strong
• Mira Betz
• Kajira Djoumana
• Laurel Victoria Grey
• Kaeshi Chai
• Dalia Carella
• Karim Nagi of Turbo Tabla
• Tayar Akdeniz
• Ziah Ali and Awalim
• Onca and Baraka Mundi
• Alia Thabit
• Gina Caposella
• Anahid Sofian
• Eva Cernik
• Aisha Ali
• Kathy Barnes
• Rena Milhorn
• Seido and Kazuki Salifoski
• Carmine Guida and Djinn
• Greg Fisher
• Kevin “Nevik” Hartnell

   Where She’s Been

This section is in constant construction. 14+ years of dancing is a lot to try and remember!

   (Some) Past Classes and workshops taught by Pacita

• Pennsic University, workshops; Slippery Rock, PA 2006-present
• Smart Workout (New York City, NY) 2007 – present
• Fairfield Public Library (Fairfield, CT) 2008
• Temple Night at Bliss Studios (Rutland, VT) 2008
• The Common Ground/Troupe Sahibat/Cyndal Ellis (Brattleboro, VT) 2007
• Scotch Plains-Fanwood Adult School (Scotch Plains, NJ) 2007
• Empowerment Arts Initiative Workshops (Brattleboro, VT) 2006-2007
• Pennsic University workshops (Slippery Rock, PA) 2006
• Austine School for the Deaf (Brattleboro, VT) 2006
• Gulf Wars (Lumberton, MS) 2006, 2008, 2009
• Peak Performance workshops (Manila, Philippines) 2004-2006
• Flow Studios (Brattleboro, VT) 2003-2006

   (Some) Past Performances by Pacita

• Belly Dance for Change with Bastet Bellydance (NYC) 2009
• HyperGender Burlesque Arabian Nights (NYC) 2009
• Arisia Con Bellydance show (Boston, MA) 2009
• Djam under JeBon with Kaeshi Chai, Carmine Guida, Djinn (NYC) 2009
• Djam under JeBon with Kaeshi Chai, Carmine Guida, Djinn (NYC) 2008
• Dalia Carella and Mariyah’s Holiday Salon (NYC) 2008
• Unmata workshop hafla (Mystic, CT) 2008
• Tribal Pura with Carolena Nericcio and Megha Devyani (New Orleans) 2008
• Gulf Wars SCA event Middle Eastern Dance Expo (Lumberton, MS) 2008
• Pennsic “Cure Salee”, (Slippery Rock, PA) 2008
• “Pulse” cd release party (NYC) 2008
• Lafayette Grill (NYC) 2007
• Pennsic Middle Eastern Dance Exhibition, performance; (Slippery Rock, PA) 2006-Present
• Unang Hirit, performance and instruction on TV morning show; (Manila, Philippines) 2005-2006
• Philam Life Inc., performance for corporate party; (Manila, Philippines) 2005
• The Connecticut Renaissance Festival (Hebron, CT) 2006-1007
• The Common Ground Hafla (Brattleboro, VT) 2007
• Salem Pirate Faire (Salem, MA) 2006
• Temple Night at Bliss Studios (Rutland, VT) 2006, 2008
• NBDA VT Belly Dance Hafla (Montpelier, VT) 2006
• Moving Company Annual Belly Dance Gala (Keene, NH) 2005
• Flow Studios @ Gallery Walk (Brattleboro, VT) 2003-2006

   These are (some) other events and places you might have seen her at. For more of the      vending events she has been to, go to www.Materialis.com .

• Dances of Vice (NYC) 2008-Present
• Arisia Con (Boston, MA) 2008-Present
• I-Con (Long Island, NY) 2005 (?) - Present
• Wicked Faire (Edison, NJ) 2007-Present
• Connecticut Renaissance Faire (Hebron, CT) 2006-Present
• Jalsah (Providence, RI) 2008
• Tribal Con (Atlanta, GA) 2008
• Raquy and the Cavemen concert (Cumberland, RI) 2008
• Herdeljezi (D.C. / MD) 2007-2008
• Southern Connecticut Renaissance Faire (Ansonia, CT) 2008
• King Arthur Faire (Gloucester, MA) 2006
• Vermont Renaissance Festival 2000-2006 
• Market Day at Birka (Manchester, NH) 2004-present
• Folk Tours Middle Eastern Dance Camp (Green Lane, PA) 2005-2006
• Al-Hafla (Clifton Heights, PA) 2007
• Pennsic War (Slippery Rock, PA) 1996-2008