<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> Bio - Belly Dancer of the Universe - Heather Shoopman - Tribal Fusion Belly Dance

Heather is an LA based dancer, teacher and choreographer. She defines her bellydance as an organic movement integrating classic dance form with pure, heart rooted creativity. Heather is inspired by life’s many sources. She believes dance has the power to heal, awaken and delight body and spirit.

Heather’s work has included educating and performing in private schools, retirement homes, private parties, children’s birthday parties, corporate environments, film and TV sets, farmer’s markets, street fairs and other community events. Other venues include:

Beverly Hills Country Club
2006 Moroccan Night

Pagan Pride Festival Whittier, CA
2005/6 with Kali's Lotus

Atwater Village Street Festival
2005 with students
2006 with Kali's Lotus

Tribal Cafe
2006 with Kali's Lotus
2007 solo

Roosevelt Hotel
2006 Raven Simone 21st birthday party

San Luis Obispo, CA
2006 Tribal Fusion Faire with Kali's Lotus
2007 Summer of Love

Tribal Throwdown, Berkeley, CA
2007

Tribal Caravan
2007

BELLY DANCER OF THE UNIVERSE COMPETITION
2007 Champion and People's Choice for Tribal Fusion Solo

Cairo Carnival
2004 with Mesmera and Sacred Serpent
2005-7 Solo performances

Ford Amphitheatre
2004-IAMED’s This is Bellydance
with Mesmera and Sacred Serpent

Henry Fonda Music Box Theatre
2004 Leela’s Arabia Exotica with Mesmera and Sacred Serpent
2005 with Mesmera and with the trio "CooKie"

Temple Bar/Santa Monica
2004 with DJ Cheb I Sabbah

24th Street Theatre
2004-The Midnight Hour with Shoop’s Troupe
This was Heather’s directorial debut!
2005-A Bellydance Rainbow/Saturday Explorer Series
A bellydance show created for kids, directed by Heather and including many of her friends and peers.

Cama’i Dance Festival—Bethel, Alaska
2005 with the tribal trio MANAT.

Cannibal Flower/Hangar18
2005—Solo Performance: A Ritual for World Peace

Heather has been studying movement since she can remember. Her path started early in gymnastics, cheerleading, jazz, modern and hip-hop dance. She also dabbles in ballet, classical Indian, African dance and tai-chi. She has studied bellydance in Egyptian, Pharonic, Turkish and American Tribal styles.

Choreography has been a love and present in Heather’s life for many years, from shows for mom and dad, to high-school half-times, to a short independent film, to stage/theatre productions.

Heather’s path took a side-step from dance to study acting. She has an active career including many short films, commercials, 2 TV co-starring roles and a handful of theatre productions.

She also has a very powerful connection with healing and has been involved in bodywork since 1998. Heather maintains a private healing practice in which she utilizes knowledge of massage, Reiki, aromatherapy, herbology, movement and diet to facilitate optimum health. She encourages self-healing.