Alla -- The original "baby" of the troupe, Alla is truly our Gypsy Princess. She was born in the city of Kiev, capitol of the Ukraine, a rich center of tradional culture, art, music, dance, and beauty. In the Ukraine, Alla's talent was identified at an early age, where she was trained by the State to be a singer and performer. Emigrating to the USA, Alla came to Gypsy Dance Theatre at the tender age of 14, a gift we consider to be heaven-sent. It has been a joy to see her grow and mature, both in her art, and as a woman of the world. Here in the USA, she dances with the Uzori Russian Dance Troupe, and also performs as a soloist in clubs and private performances. Alla receives private coaching from Mary Eichnor, who also produces many of Alla's ornately beautiful costumes. Also an accomplished guitarist and vocalist, Alla graces our gypsy camp with authentic gypsy ballads and free form dances at prestissimo tempos. When not living the gypsy life, Alla is a student at University of Houston and, we are pleased to report, recently gained her American citizenship. Alla's Photo Gallery

Bella Florita -- Bella Florita initially joined forces with Gypsy Dance Theatre to be featured in our evening fire shows, but she has continued on to become an exceptionally valuable and beloved member of our ensemble. In addition to traditional and tribal-styles of belly dance, Florita performs magnificently with sword, fire fans, poi, staff, and hand torches. Further to her skill as a dancer and performer, Florita is a talented chorographer. She quickly learned our group pieces, and is now adding her special touch in the development of new GDT routines. Beyond her considerable dance experience and technical proficiency, it is Bella Florita's playful personality that makes her a standout on our stage. So come to see the fire show, but stay to be captivated by Bella Florita's style...and smile! Bella Florita's Photo Gallery

Farasha -- Within Gypsy Dance Theatre we call her "Fiery Farasha" for a very good reason. Farasha's intense passion for belly dancing has taken her to Morocco and Egypt, where she studied dance and lived with an Egyptian family in Cairo. Farasha is an excellent choreographer, and maintains a constant performance schedule in night clubs, restaurants, and private parties around Houston. Formerly a principal in Sirrom School of Belly Dance, Farasha teaches classes and dance workshops through the Spring Branch ISD Dance Program, and is active in the Houston Area Belly Dance Association (HABDA). In her "normal life" she is a Licensed Dietitian, and can always be counted on to keep our gypsy camp healthy and well fed. Farasha and her husband Roger live on a farm with horses and a menagerie of other wild animals that keep her well prepared for dealing with the boisterous crowds at "the midnight show." Always living life to the fullest, Farasha is a vital part of the core of Gypsy Dance Theatre. Farasha's Photo Gallery

Kareena -- Kareena is a cherished member of Gypsy Dance Theatre. She first fell in love with the gypsy life when she was only five years old, watching Paul Phillips's original Gypsy Camp Troupe perform at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Emboldened with that musical spark, Kareena's early dance studies included Ballet, Salsa, ChaCha, Meringue, Waltz and Polka. More recently she has been studying and performing American Tribal Style belly, along with West African, Tunisian, and North African dance styles. Kareena was a member of Gypsy Sister, part of Houston's Urban Gypsy ensemble. In 2006, she became a founding member of Gypsy Magic, a performance troupe specializing in American Tribal and cabaret-style belly dance. A talented drummer as well as a dancer, Kareena has also taught American tribal-style belly dance at the Danmar School of Dance in Katy, Texas. Now a student at the University of Houston, Kareena is continuing her study of the dance with Sylvia Salamanca of the Shunyata Dance Troupe. Kareena's Photo Gallery

Katia -- Katia is the "new baby" of Gypsy Dance Theatre, bringing fresh energy and enthusiasm to the troupe. Schooled as a fine lady in the court of King Henry VIII, Katia was destined to be a queen. As part of her educational world-tour, the King sent her to an exclusive finishing school in Sevilla, Spain. Unfortunately, when she should have been studying, Katia was more often to be found out drinking, dancing the Flamenco, and cavorting with the powerful Marquis de Villa Sierra. Then one moonless night, the gypsies spied her royal caravan passing through the darkest part of the forest, and they quickly devised some plans of their own for the lovely Princess. Though she was guarded by a phalanx of enormous, scimitar-wielding eunuchs, the gypsies had stealth and wile on their side. They cunningly stole Katia away from her royal life and now are teaching her the ancient and venerable Gypsy ways. Unfortunately, in that process we've discovered that Katia is just so terribly shy! Our only hope is that someday she will grow out of her bashful, restrained demeanor…and when that happens, she's gonna be one heck of money-maker for us! Katia's Photo Gallery

Kira -- A core, founding member of Gypsy Dance Theatre, Kira is a consummate professional entertainer. Dancer, singer, drummer, and guitarist, performing either solo or in groups, Kira always adds a special flair to the mix. Her beautiful smile comes straight from the heart, and from her love of the dance in all its myriad forms. In addition to performance as a professional belly dancer and hula dancer, Kira is an instructor at the Sirrom School of Dance, conducts belly dance classes, workshops on veil and sword, and is also an accomplished choreographer. Kira also serves as President of the Houston Area Belly Dance Association (HABDA). Her years of experience and positive attitude have provided a grounding force for Gypsy Dance Theatre from the start, and have enabled us to grow in a healthy and positive fashion. When not in Texas, Kira and her husband Buck enjoy making their home in the mountains of Colorado. Kira's Photo Gallery

Neyzen -- Jay Kruse is a multi-instrumentalist born, raised and based in Houston, Texas. Originally a much in demand professional jazz bassist, Jay's career path took a sharp turn in 1990 when he began to study Middle Eastern Sufi music, culminating in an odyssey journey to Turkey. Over the years Jay's focus has further broadened to include various reed and bamboo flutes, and an eclectic assortment of hand drums. Always growing in his art, over the last decade Jay has studied a variety of musical styles and techniques in the United States and abroad. As is expected of a ney player, Jay personally builds many of the instruments on which he performs. In Gypsy Dance Theatre, Jay's specialties include the oriental reed flute, the ney, Indian bansouri, and a wide variety of Middle Eastern percussion including frame drums. Neyzen also wishes to express his appreciation to Mary Eichnor for her superb assistance with his Uzbek costuming. Neyzen's Photo Gallery

Soraya -- Soraya comes to us from the country of Colombia. Growing up in a South American culture, rhythm and dance have always been a natural part of her life. As a child she took classes in jazz, ballet, hip hop and modern dance. At the age of seventeen, Soraya joined the Colombian Folkloric Ballet where she trains in Salsa, Cumbia, Samba, Bambuco, Mapale, Vallenato, indigenous tribal dances, and various other Latin/African styles. Keeping her own rich ethnic traditions alive, she now serves as a director of, and featured performer with, the Colombian Folkloric Ballet of Houston. She will next begin Capoeira training to further broaden her dance horizons. With Gypsy Dance Theatre, Soraya creates a unique fusion between Latin and middle eastern dance. She often performs with her pet snake, a balled python named Khaliji. The audience never fails to gasp with excitement when Khaliji rises from her finely woven basket to join in the dance with her mistress Soraya. When not dancing, Soraya is a school teacher, pursues her advanced education to become an audiologist, and is working on a program to teach creative movement to children. Soraya's Photo Gallery

Taras -- Terrence Karn has been playing music for dancers and composing for a wide variety of theatrical venues for more than 25 years. His training as a dancer and musician came from the Ali Akbar College, Royal Winnepeg Ballet, Teatro Rue Canada, Childrens Theater of Minneapolis, and through studies with master teachers from around the world. Terrence has performed internationally and most recently composed a piece for Travesty Dance Company in New York. Terrence will again be teaching at Bates Dance Festival and creating new music for internationally acclaimed Artists. He has taught Character dance at the Houston Ballet Academy, the American Russian Cultural Exchange, and was the music director for the University of Houston dance department and the Rice Dance Theatre. Terrence is currently teaching percussion and working in the dance department of Carlton College in Ohio. He has released three CDs with another on the way. Terrence has worked as a featured musician with a variety of ethnic bands including Houston's own very popular Moodafaruka. Terrence is a featured performer, dancer and musician, as well as, with collaborator Ken Knezick, the co-Director of Gypsy Dance Theater. Taras' Photo Gallery

Tsura --Originally from Central New York State, Tsura began her violin studies at the tender age of four. She graduated Suma Cum Laude from Ithaca College with a degree in Violin Performance and Music Education. Since her college days,Tsura has pursued a wide range of musical genres including Celtic, jazz, Brazilian, blues, pop, Kirtan, and R&B. She has collaborated and performed with many musicians in the Houston area and is frequently featured on local recordings. Her addition to the musical mix of Gypsy Dance Theatre has come as a gift to our performers and audiences alike. Her unique talents and strong sense of harmony are enabling us to venture farther afield with our music. Tsura is currently collaborating with Tulo on his compositions, and composing some new music of her own for Gypsy Dance Theatre, including the poly-rhythmic "Patagonia." Tsura is also a trained dancer and an accomplished yogini and has been teaching yoga in Houston for several years. Beyond all of her other talents and activities, Tsura also is a wife, and mother to lovely young Eleanore. Tsura's Photo Gallery

Tulo -- Kenneth Knezick began his musical career in adolescence, training as a boy soprano in a program with Westminster Choir College. During his own college years he performed with the Rutgers Glee Club and the Rutgers Symphony Chorale, singing on multiple occasions in Carnegie Hall. Running parallel with his classical training, Ken learned the mandolin from his father, Thomas Knezick, and performed in bluegrass and folk music ensembles. Coming to Houston in 1977, Ken began to sing with the Houston Symphony Chorale, and to perform upon the mando-cello with the Houston Balalaika Society, Greg Harbar's Gypsies, and the Ukrainian Dancers of Houston. In 1978, Ken began a prized position as Master of Ceremonies and lead drummer for the Carol Shannon Professional Belly Dance Troupe. A performer at the Texas Renaissance Festival for 30 years and counting, Ken represents one of that event's longest-running performer engagements. In 1999, Ken Knezick and Terrance Karn began to assemble the musicians, dancers, and repertoire of Gypsy Dance Theatre. Now already having exceeded ten years of enlivening performances, Ken, Terrence, and Gypsy Dance Theatre continue to explore an amalgam of ancient and contemporary rhythms, music, and dance. Tulo's Photo Gallery

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