Meet Cris! Basimah
Cris! Basimah is an award-winning belly dancer from Santa Barbara, California specializing in dance styles of the Middle East (including Raqs sharqi) and Latin cultures. Trained in classic and modern ballet, Latin dance styles, Egyptian, Turkish, American Cabaret and Folkloric dance from numerous oriental regions, Cris! mixes a wide variety of techniques for dance to produce entertaining, educating and often innovative performances.
Cris! is the owner and founder of BellyDance Land (aka BDL) and has been performing, teaching and choreographing belly dance/raqs sharqi for over 15 years.
She teaches group and private belly dance classes and workshops, in-person or online, via membership/subscription platform.
Cris! can also be booked for privates parties (birthdays, weddings, dinners, graduations, holiday parties, anniversaries, etc.), corporate events, festivals and wellness seminars.
The Beginning
Originally from Porto Alegre and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Cris! began her Middle Eastern training with Marcia from Studio Gaia while in Rio. After moving to the United States, she started classes with the amazing Alexandra King and was immediately invited to join her dance troupe with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble. Cris! has also studied with the fabulous Judeen Esau and performed with her dance company.
The Choreographer
An accomplished Choreographer, Cris! Basimah’s work has entertained thousands at Santa Barbara’s Fiesta celebrations in the sunken garden, at the Summer Solstice Parade on State Street, as well as graced the stages of numerous concerts, fundraisers, and performances such as Bassh, Colors of Love and the UCSB Middle East Ensemble.
The Teacher, Performer & Director
As a teacher she has coached students ranging from newcomers to more advanced dancers and artists.
As a soloist and group performer, Cris! has danced throughout the United States, Egypt and Brazil for societies, foundations, corporations and Universities. She was the principal house dancer at Santa Barbara’s Middle Eastern restaurant Zaytoon from its opening (2005) until 2020, when entertainment was canceled in this venue.
Cris! is the former Dance/Artistic Director for the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Middle East Ensemble, where she was a Director for 12 years and a member for 23. She currently directs her own company, The BDL Team.
Cris! Basimah (the smiling one) has the unique combination of technical skill and talent as an entertainer that allows her to connect with audiences who feed off her infectious basmah (smile) and rhythmic movements.
Cris! can fascinate, invigorate and charm audiences both large and small, on stage or up close. Offering performance pieces from Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Persia, Greece and Latin America, see how you can book Cris! Basimah for an event.
Let's Connect!
Find out about new classes and performances first-hand when you join our mailing list! Also follow Cris! & BellyDance Land in most social media platforms.
Gallery of Photos & Videos
Work Highlights, Press & More
Cris! Basimah has been performing belly dance and Folkloric Dances from the Middle East since 1998.
Throughout her dance life and career, she was featured in the news and TV, grew her work as a teacher and choreographer, as well as continued her studies with renowned dancers and teachers around the world.
- Became a certified instructor in Bellyfit (2020)
- Choreography work and performance for Santa Barbara’s Summer Solstice Parade starts in 2016
Performances in Bollywood style with Lisa Beck’s dance company- Choreography work and performance for Santa Barbara’s Bassh starts in 2015
Performances in Bollywood style with Lisa Beck’s dance company- Invited to perform, teach a workshop in San Luis Obispo, CA. (2014)
- Invited to teach a workshop for the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive Festival. (2014)
- Invited to perform, teach a workshop and also judge several competitions at Mercado Persa Festival in São Paulo, Brazil. (2013)
- Became the Belly Dance Instructor for the UCSB’s Recreation Department in 2013.
- Invited by the UCSB Lebanese Club and UCSB The Hub to teach a 3-week beginner belly dance session at UCSB’s University Center (UCEN). (2012)
- Produced her first showcase at the India House Restaurant in Santa Barbara, CA, bringing Belly Dance, Bollywood, Flamenco and other dance styles together. (2011)
- After being a dancer with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble since 1999, Cris! became the new Dance/Artistic Director in the Fall of 2010.
- Cris! traveled to Egypt with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and performed at the Cairo Opera House! The Ensemble was invited by the Egyptian Government to give a series of concerts in Egypt in July 2010. The highlight of the extended concert series were four performances at the Cairo Opera House, the premier performance venue in the country. As guests of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the ensemble also performed at the Cairo University, Cairo Library, as well as in the cities of Ismailia, Helwan and Beni Suef.
- Cris! started teaching weekly belly dance classes in the Santa Barbara area. (2009)
- Cris! has been a house dancer at Restaurant Zaytoon since 2005, performing regularly on Fridays & Saturdays
- Became a certified instructor in Bellyfit (2020)
- Completed the full Journey through Egypt (JtE) Program with Sahra Saeeda (October 2019)
- Featured on EdHat for the French Festival (2017)
- Featured on EdHat for the Summer Solstice Parade (2017)
- Cris!’ performances at Restaurant Zaytoon get a review on the Santa Barbara Independent (October 2015)
- Cris! presented an exciting solo finale at UCSB Middle East Ensemble’s Winter concert. Pictures here and on Facebook. (2013)
- Cris! and her dancers were featured on the TV show Programa de Visao Multicultural at Santa Barbara’s local channel 17 (2011). Check on YouTube.
- Featured Teacher of the Month by LaRaqs.com (August 2010)
- Cris! traveled to Egypt with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and performed at the Cairo Opera House, the Cairo University, Cairo Library, as well as in the cities of Ismailia, Helwan and Beni Suef. (July of 2010)
- Belly Dancer of the Year in 2006 (5th Runner-up)
- Belly Dancer of the Universe (Fusion category) in 2006 (1st Runner-up)
More wonderful dancers/teachers from whom Cris! has taken classes or currently studies with:
- Ahmet Luleci
- Amel Tafsout
- Ansuya
- Bozenka
- Colleena Shakti
- Dalia Carella
- DaVid from Scandinavia
- Fahtiem Guta
- Hannah Romanowsky
- Helena Vlahos
- Jillina Carlano
- Ju Marconato
- Kay Campbell
- Karim Nagi
- Laurel Victoria Gray
- Lisa Beck
- Maria Sokolova
- Meera Varma
- Morocco
- Nashwa Cahill
- Randa Kamel
- Ranya Renee
- Robyn Friend
- Sahra Saeeda
- Shahrzad Khorsandi
- Shareen El Safi
- Shoshanna
- Sonia Ochoa
- Tom Bozigian
- Vanessa Isaac
and the list goes on!
- Work Highlights
- Achievements & News
- Dance Teachers
Work Highlights
- Became a certified instructor in Bellyfit (2020)
- Choreography work and performance for Santa Barbara’s Summer Solstice Parade starts in 2016
- Performances in Bollywood style with Lisa Beck’s dance company
- Choreography work and performance for Santa Barbara’s Bassh starts in 2015
- Invited to perform, teach a workshop in San Luis Obispo, CA. (2014)
- Invited to teach a workshop for the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive Festival. (2014)
- Invited to perform, teach a workshop and also judge several competitions at Mercado Persa Festival in São Paulo, Brazil. (2013)
- Became the Belly Dance Instructor for the UCSB’s Recreation Department in 2013.
- Invited by the UCSB Lebanese Club and UCSB The Hub to teach a 3-week beginner belly dance session at UCSB’s University Center (UCEN). (2012)
- Produced her first showcase at the India House Restaurant in Santa Barbara, CA, bringing Belly Dance, Bollywood, Flamenco and other dance styles together. (2011)
- After being a dancer with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble since 1999, Cris! became the new Dance/Artistic Director in the Fall of 2010.
- Cris! traveled to Egypt with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and performed at the Cairo Opera House! The Ensemble was invited by the Egyptian Government to give a series of concerts in Egypt in July 2010. The highlight of the extended concert series were four performances at the Cairo Opera House, the premier performance venue in the country. As guests of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the ensemble also performed at the Cairo University, Cairo Library, as well as in the cities of Ismailia, Helwan and Beni Suef.
- Cris! started teaching weekly belly dance classes in the Santa Barbara area. (2009)
- Cris! has been a house dancer at Restaurant Zaytoon since 2005, performing regularly on Fridays & Saturdays
Achievements & News
- Became a certified instructor in Bellyfit (2020)
- Completed the full Journey through Egypt (JtE) Program with Sahra Saeeda (October 2019)
- Featured on EdHat for the French Festival (2017)
- Featured on EdHat for the Summer Solstice Parade (2017)
- Cris!’ performances at Restaurant Zaytoon get a review on the Santa Barbara Independent (October 2015)
- Cris! presented an exciting solo finale at UCSB Middle East Ensemble’s Winter concert. Pictures here and on Facebook. (2013)
- Cris! and her dancers were featured on the TV show Programa de Visao Multicultural at Santa Barbara’s local channel 17 (2011). Check on YouTube.
- Featured Teacher of the Month by LaRaqs.com (August 2010)
- Cris! traveled to Egypt with the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and performed at the Cairo Opera House, the Cairo University, Cairo Library, as well as in the cities of Ismailia, Helwan and Beni Suef. (July of 2010)
- Belly Dancer of the Year in 2006 (5th Runner-up)
- Belly Dancer of the Universe (Fusion category) in 2006 (1st Runner-up)
Dance Teachers
More wonderful dancers/teachers from whom Cris! has taken classes or currently studies with:
- Ahmet Luleci
- Amel Tafsout
- Ansuya
- Bozenka
- Colleena Shakti
- Dalia Carella
- DaVid from Scandinavia
- Fahtiem Guta
- Hannah Romanowsky
- Helena Vlahos
- Jillina Carlano
- Ju Marconato
- Kay Campbell
- Karim Nagi
- Laurel Victoria Gray
- Lisa Beck
- Maria Sokolova
- Meera Varma
- Morocco
- Nashwa Cahill
- Randa Kamel
- Ranya Renee
- Robyn Friend
- Sahra Saeeda
- Shahrzad Khorsandi,
- Shareen El Safi
- Shoshanna
- Sonia Ochoa
- Tom Bozigian
- Vanessa Isaac
and the list goes on!