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Hahbi 'Ru has been dancing together since 1991... Hahbi 'Ru Dance Ensemble Hahbi'Ru: an early term for the Bedouin tribes who wandered the Arabian deserts enriching themselves by taking what they pleased from the many countries they traversed. Like these Bedouins, the Hahbi'Ru Dance Ensemble's performance style has been influenced by the folkloric dances and music of many regions of North Africa and the Middle East. John Compton and Rita Alderucci, the CO-directors of Hahbi'Ru Dance Ensemble, were students of Jamila Salimpour, founder and director of the Bal-Anat Troupe. Jamila's Bal-Anat was the first to bring the tribal performance style to the American Public in the late 1960's and 1970's. Both John and Rita appeared as soloists in Bal-Anat during these years. In 1991, John and Rita reunited and brought together the group of seasoned dancers and musicians that became Hahbi'Ru, including Paula Oxman, Hahbi'Ru's costume designer. Their goal was to recreate the tribal ensemble style of performance begun by Jamila Salimpour, and to utilize the skills they acquired over the last 30 years as professional entertainers. Under their direction, the group built a repertoire based on Arabian folkloric music, dances, songs, and customs. These traditional dances have been fused with modern day technique and performance skills thereby creating a style which is unique to Hahbi'Ru. Hahbi'Ru captures the tribal spirit of a bye-gone era while entertaining audiences with polished performance pieces that combine humor with precision ensemble dancing, and dazzling costumes. |
Northern
CA Renaissance Pleasure Faire 2003
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About the members of Hahbi
'Ru:
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Each of our members is unique
in their style and experience, but we have come together to
form a beautiful whole. Select a name to the right to learn
a little about each dancer in our troupe. Paula
Sequeira Oxman was
born and raised in "Baghdad by the Bay" in the heart
of North Beach. Her Training includes modern, jazz, Polynesian
and flamenco dance; she studied Oriental dance with Jamila Salimpour
and was a member of Bal Anat. She has been performing for over
two decades as a soloist and ensemble dancer locally, and in Los
Angles, New York, and Hawaii. Paula has traveled through Egypt,
Israel, Turkey, and Tunisia researching folkloric dances and costuming.
Paula has been with Hahbi'Ru since it first formed in 1991; she
has contributed to many of the groups choreographies and has helped
design our unique costuming.
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Heather first became interested in Oriental dance after seeing
Hahbi'Ru perform atAmanda
Baer 
Amanda has been studying Middle
Eastern dance since 1991. From 1992 to 1996, she performed with
the Folkloric Dancers for the UC Santa Barbara Middle East Ensemble,
under the direction of Alexandra King. In addition to extensive
classical ballet training, she has learned a wide range of dance
styles, including Egyptian raks sharki, Lebanese Debke, Turkish
Rom, and Persian classical dance. She began studying with John
and Rita in 1998, and joined Habhi'Ru in Fall, 1999.. |
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Photo by Matthew Reyes |
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As
a child Heidi took ballet and modern dance until she was ten.
Next came the "sports" years -- in high school Heidi
went to the WA State Track Championships running the 200m relay
and the high hurdles. She was known for her killer spike in
Volleyball and her endurance on the basketball court. While
in college her interest in Middle-Eastern dancing was sparked
by watching Hahbi'Ru perform at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire.
She studied cabaret and Egyptian style with Beth Youngdoff (Baraka)
for five years, dabbled in "American Tribal" with
Fat Chance Belly Dance, and also experienced Nana Canderlario's
distinctive style.Lyn
Harton  Lyn
joined Hahbi'Ru in the fall of 2001 performing as a student dancer
in two of our dances.. She has since become one of the full time
members of the group developing her skills in many of the Hahbi
'Ru dances. |
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Peter
White 
"Peter White first caught the dance bug as an undergrad at UC
Berkeley, where he was transformed into an avid ballroom dancer.
He competed as a member of the
UC Ballroom Dancers in college, and with the Dancing Illini while at grad school in Illinois. Upon his return to the Bay Area, Peter was inspired to pursue a new dance form when he saw Hahbi'Ru perform at Rakkasah 1998. He became an enthusiastic student of John and Rita in spring of 1998, and joined Hahbi'Ru in the summer of 1999. In his spare time, Peter plays soccer, West Coast Swings and swirls on the ballroom with friends, and Tangos with his Honey." |
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Barbara
Towner  Barbara
joined Hahbi'Ru in the summer of 1999."I'm a dancer and a singer and a musician. I'm a thinker and a writer, a philosopher. I'm a seeker, a traveler, an explorer, and an adventurous lover of life" |
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Jill spent childhood years surrounded by music
and dance. Nights were spent dancing and singing with Grandfather
on fiddle, Grandmother on guitar, Mother on piano, and Father
& siblings singing. Jill studied tap and ballet as a child,
until moving to San Jose at age 12. Although she kept her interest
in the arts, particularly drama and dance, her inspiration to
pursue Middle Eastern dance came in 1996 when a friend suggested
that she catch one of Hahbi'Ru's shows at the Northern California
Renaissance Faire. "Watching the troupe brought back clear memories
of my grandmother's stories of biblical history-particularly
the tales of the desert tribes, their life-styles and travels-and
it all spoke to my childhood fascination with the Magi. When
I first saw Hahbi'Ru, I thought to myself, 'Now THIS is the
how the music is supposed to be danced!' Hahbi'Ru made a whole
cultural heritage available to me in a way that made sense to
my body and soul." Jill joined the troupe in the autumn of 2001.
Hector
Bezanis  Hector
joined Hahbi'Ru in 1998 and brought with him his many years as
an accomplished wind instrument musician, and his great love of
playing the Mizmar. .He is well known for his Balkan folk tunes
on the Gydah, and can often be heard throughout the Renaissance
faire site after hours playing the folk dance melodies. |
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Frank
Aviles  Frank
has been with Hahbi'Ru since the first season at the Renaissance
Pleasure Faire in 1991. His dumbek playing dates back to the early
1970's when he played for his wife, and many of the Bay area belly
dancers and groups performing at the time. He is also well know
for his unique and exciting Conga drumming. |
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Jon
Michael Caxton "Jon
Michael started playing mizmar with Hahbi Ru in2001 after many years of behind the scenes work. Prior to performing with Hahbi Ru, Jon Michael spent over a decade as a live sound engineer, working with artist such as Lyle Lovette and David Sanbourne. He currently holds a B.A. in Sound Arts, recording musical styles that range from Ethnic Folk to Blues, as well as recording natural ambiences for sound design in film. |
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"Sandy joined Hahbi'Ru
in 2002 ... You may recognize her as one of the featured drummers
from Amira's in San Francisco.
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Jorden is our most dedicated helper and stage
hand.
You can contact Hahbi 'Ru by calling John at (619)
697-5602
or via e-mail: hahbiru@earthlink.net
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