The Caravan Dance Collective represents a community of gifted, accomplished, and dynamic tribal belly dancers who share a vision for the feminine energy and power their dance creates. The splendor of their improvisational tribal dance style draws on artistic and cultural traditions from the Middle East, Spain, Africa, and India. The performing troupe embraces various contemporary influences for their fresh, elegant, and ever-changing vision of feminine artistry and the community aspect this style of dance revels in. The troupe honors women of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds with the diversity of its dancers and the global audiences they perform for!
Under the direction of Carol Vance, with Paulette Rees-Denis, both of Gypsy Caravan Dance Company, the Caravan Dance Collective has created a unique style through dance, music, and costuming that celebrates joy, spontaneity, wisdom, beauty, and grace. Its members include Carol and Gina from Gypsy Caravan Dance Company, along with Bonnie, Karen, Kristi, Lydia, Pamela, and Peggy.
PERFORMANCES:
The Caravan Dance Collective is a sister troupe to the internationally acclaimed Gypsy Caravan Dance Company. Based in Portland, Oregon, they have traveled up and down the west coast to perform at a variety of events.
The troupe is available to honor and dance for your celebration, party, festival, wedding, street fair. There are many reasons to dance!
Email with inquiries.
see
for a listing of upcoming and past shows!
Photos by www.kaizennw.com
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What people are saying about the dancer's performances!
"My whole family was enthralled by the performance. All of the women were just beautiful and graceful. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon!"
Claudia
Colton, Oregon
"CDC was terrific at the pirate festival Sunday. I thought I had seen "belly-dancing" before, didn't think too much of it, and wasn't really paying that much attention. But then something must have caught my attention. Perhaps the music or some movement. But once I looked, I was transfixed! I never realized that such slow,rhythmic motion could be so sensual and mesmerizing. And the more contemporary music added to the appeal for me. Thanks ladies!"
**See some footage from the Caravan Dance Collective's show at Portland's International Women's Day performance at PSU!
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I have had a long and varied career, which has included; fashion & runway model in NYC, seeker of higher truths (which continues to evolve), waitress (what a wonderful way to get to know human nature, and pay the bills), aspiring ballet dancer, seamstress, mother (also happily evolving ), restaurant manager, tailor, personal secretary, graphic artist, restaurant owner, and, finally(!), tribal bellydance instructor and member of the esteemed Gypsy Caravan Dance Company. 
I have studied dance and movement in many forms all my life, from ballet, modern dance, jazz, African, Flamenco, Tango, Salsa and ballroom, to yoga, Tai Chi & Soaring Crane qigong. I say studied, but what I really mean is 'revitalized myself with', because throughout my other endeavors, dance is always what brought me back 'to my senses'. When my grown daughter, Cammi, introduced me to bellydance, it seemed beautiful but somehow inappropriate for someone of my age and experience. What I have had the good fortune to discover (thank you, Cammi, and I forgive you for every birth pain and teen rebellion) is that it is the MOST appropriate, re-aligning, life-affirming, community-connecting activity I have ever, in my long life, been a part of. 
 For several years, Paulette gave me the opportunity to direct our third student troupe, Caravan Daughters,(which evolved into the Urban Berbers) and what a joy that weekly adventure brought, as those dancers got up on their performing feet to dance! And now our Caravan has once more evolved, and revolved, into new configurations, as some members form different groups, using their years of experience with Gypsy Caravan to give them the common language, strength and connection; growing different shoots of the "Tree of Tribal". I have chosen to stay with the trunk (if I may continue with the tree analogy), as well as the newest branch and re-grouping, Caravan Dance Collective. I love Gypsy Caravan, and Paulette, and the dancers and musicians I have had the pleasure and honor to dance with and come to know, as family. I LOVE this dance and how it touches and empowers any and all who are open to it! It is the coming home. |
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Life is full of strange and wonderful twists and turns. One of those was my discovery of Tribal Bellydance in the fall of 2000. Thank you, Paulette, for being the first teacher to call me back and letting me start class that very night! I fell in love with this dance from the very first class and the joy of it still resounds within me. What an incredible journey since that night! I never dreamed I would be become a performer but in the spring of 2004, I was invited into the student troupe, Caravan Daughters. Later, we merged with Sister Caravan to become Urban Berbers. In December of 2005, I was honored to be invited into Gypsy Caravan Dance Company. In late 2008, I also joined the Caravan Collective, a lovely collaboration of sister dancers from the studio who wanted to stay connected and keep dancing and performing together. It has and continues to be an incredible and fulfilling experience for me. The power of this dance is joyful, strong, soulful, grounding and at times meditative. When I see Gypsy Caravan and the Collective perform I see all these qualities imbued in their dance and I am entranced and so amazed to think that I’m a part of that sisterhood. Through this dance, I’ve met an incredible community, local and worldwide, of wonderful dancers, artists and musicians, whom I’ve come to know, admire and learn from. I’ve also met many lovely people for whom we have been their first exposure to Tribal bellydance and are struck by the same sense of wonder that I had when I first saw it performed. To share that wonder and joy about this dance is a great delight and privilege and to teach it has been even more rewarding. |
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My personal dance history has taken me through modern dance, sacred dance forms, Authentic Movement, Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rthythms, and Soul Motion. Encountering Gypsy Caravan for the first time at a performance I was mesmerized, in a state of awe, because I knew in that moment that this dance form was what I have been looking for my whole life. Drawn by a desire to discover the hidden messages within the dance, I found healing and strength within as my sensuality expressed in the sway of hips. At times it was like touching into a vein that ran deep through women and unveiled our ancient roots. I find myself now a part of this amazing community of women as part of Urban Berbers and also through teaching which I have done for four years. When I am not dancing I work as a Manager of a conference/retreat center in Clackamas, Oregon. |
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Since I was a little girl, who danced in front of the bay window in various forms of costumes, putting on "shows" for the neighbors, I have always loved to dance. When I was young, I studied modern dance and later simply danced free form at any opportunity for many years. I came to Tribal Belly Dance when I was 50, feeling fat and old. I studied hard and took as many classes as I could squeeze into my week for sometime. Somewhere along the way I began to feel fabulous! In 2001 I was invited into Sister Caravan, which was a great honor for me. I adored dancing with Sister Caravan for the years that followed. Later, I was a part of the Urban Berbers. Currently, I am a member of the Caravan Dance Collective. I am also a member of Gemini Project and have begun to study Flamenco, as well. Performing has become an integral part of my life, being in two performance troupes! Dance for me is simply, JOY!! May I dance the joy of life every day I can, rather than fear its loss. May the joy of life - dance me. |
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The first time I saw Tribal Bellydance was at TribalQuest Northwest in the summer of 2002. I had never seen anything so beautiful in all my life! Shortly thereafter, I enrolled my 12 year old daughter in Kiddie Caravan. I would sit in the lounge and watch these young girls learn to dance. Paulette started encouraging me to take a class. But as a mom over 40 and overweight, I thought she must be kidding! Well – I finally took a class, and little did I know how much it would change my life. I used to have no confidence, no self esteem, and I was ashamed of my body. This dance has completely transformed me. I have discovered the beauty and strength in myself and in all women. In March of 2007, I was invited to join Urban Berbers. It was one of the happiest days of my life! I never dreamed I’d ever be performing this dance. I was truly blessed to share this dance with such an amazing group of women. The love and energy we shared together was so powerful and beautiful. In November of 2008, I was invited to join the Caravan Dance Collective. I’ve also joined the newly formed Portland Chapter of P U R E. I still take tribal bellydance classes from Paulette, who continues to teach me to be the best that I can be. I am proud to say that I am a dancer, and I belong to a community of women who love and support each other, who have the pleasure of dancing together. |
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In 1996, my teenage daughter saw Gypsy Caravan perform and immediately suggested that we take Tribal Belly Dance classes together. When your teenage daughter wants to do anything with you (if it isn't prohibited by law), of course, you agree! Now all these years later, I realize the wisdom of my daughter's suggestion. I have danced with both Caravan Daughters and Urban Berbers. When I'm not dancing, I write, teach, garden, and cook. My daughter and I still dance together, and over the years have created lasting friendships among the community of dancers and musicians Caravan Studio has brought together. Our dance celebrates the strength, joy and beauty of life and the divine feminine within us all. |
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In May of 2005, with no dance background and a long unanswered urge to do something creative, I took my first Tribal Bellydance class at Caravan studio. I was immediately hooked on this beautiful, powerful, spiritual dance and found myself warmly welcomed in to an amazing dance community. I began taking several classes each week, busying myself with learning the tribal language of cues and moves and reveling in those moments of pure connection with other dancers. After several years of studying with the wonderful Caravan teachers, I was absolutely thrilled and honored when I was invited to join the Urban Berbers in April of 2008. I performed with this talented group of women through the summer until their time as a troupe came to an end. Not wanting to stop dancing, I am now excited to continue performing with Paulette and the Caravan Dance Collective. I look forward to the new experiences this Collective will bring and I hope with every performance to spread the energy and joy that I feel when dancing with my beautiful sisters. |
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I met Paulette in spring of 1992. My husband, Robbie McClaran, introduced us at a photographers gathering and Paulette invited me to come to Bellydance classes. Having enjoyed Jazz, Ballet and Gymnastics in my early years, I thought “why not?”…..16 years later, 2 pregnancies (with a bit of maternity leave thrown in there) and I am still as excited about dancing under Paulette’s guidance as I ever was. In 2001, after my second daughter was born, I found myself back in Caravan Studios again, determined and recommitted to advancing my skills. I was excited and honored with the invitation to join Caravan Daughters on its inception. Dancing under the direction of Carol Vance and Dulcinea Myers-Newcome, in Sister Caravan, then performing in Urban Berbers with Michele Gila directing, these experiences have challenged my growth as a dancer and troupe member. The newest inception of Caravan Collection is inspiring and exhilarating. I find the women, my sisters, I share this dance with, beautiful (inside and out) and a powerful inspiration. Our lives are joined not only through the performance experience, but also in wonderful gatherings of our families and the tribal community at large. I am truly blessed to have found this dance and this community here in Portland. |
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2006-2008 The UB's, a skillful and artistic group of student dancers, desired to use their sensuous and powerful tribal dance style to highlight their passion for life. Dressed in the varied costuming from the ancient nomadic cultures mixed liberally with avant-garde creativity, their dance emphasizes spontaneous improvisation within a common tribal dance language. They were directed by Gypsy Caravan dancer, Michele Gila. |
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Photos by Lyndsey Bell, Larry Gee, Bruce, and Jeff |
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With many incarnations, Sister Caravan, was first started by Paulette in 1996, when Gypsy was in such demand and she needed more dancers. Her advanced students were thrilled to oblige! Later directed by Jennette Keinholz and Dawn Stearns, then by Diana Bright and Dulcinea Meyers-Newcomb, then just Duclinea, the Sisters' became a semi-pro troupe, constantly performing around the Pacific Northwest. through 2006... |
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Photos by kaizennw.com
© Gypsy Caravan