Brittney Laleh Banael

Brittney Laleh calls her style "bellydance Infusion" as it calls upon her training, education, and heritage to create one-of-a-kind choreographies. You might see her perform a classical Egyptian piece one month, and then a sassy jazz-influenced dance using a chair and hat the next. She might dance to traditional Arabic or Persian music, or choose hip-hop or rock. Though bellydance is her "home base," she is constantly pushing the boundaries of this artform, discovering and re-discovering its amazing potential. It is from this mindset that Brittney Laleh and her dance partner Karen Elizabeth Culp have now developed Springfield Bellydance Academy and the Evolution Dance Company. The academy asks dancers to push their physical limits and train their bodies to master the intricacies of dance. Evolution Dance Company, a group of four seasoned dancers, fuses influences from Western dance styles such as ballet, jazz, hip hop and modern dance, as well as traditional Oriental style dances and newer style Tribal and Gothic fusion bellydance.	Brittney Laleh Banaei soloist, instructor and founder of Springfield Bellydance Academy and the Evolution Dance Company Innovative and captivating, Brittney Laleh Banaei is breaking down barriers and surprising audiences with her thought-provoking bellydance. Of Persian heritage, Brittney Laleh Banaei grew up surrounded by the rich history of the Fertile Crescent and its beautiful culture, arts and music. At an early age, Brittney Laleh immersed herself in the study of piano, bass guitar and a variety of percussion instruments, including Persian-style hand drums. She developed a thorough understanding and appreciation for Middle Eastern rhythms and that early devotion continues to inform her bellydance style. At age 4, she began studying classical ballet and a lifelong love affair began for dance. This passion also merged from her cultural heritage, and by the age of 14, she was publicly performing Persian and Arabic style dance. She studied with local teachers in her hometown of Springfield, Missouri, and was invited to dance in several area arts festivals, as well as at a variety of dance festivals in the Midwest. She was then able to study with the famous Yasmina Ramzy of Toronto, Canada; and, at age 17, completed Ramzy's prestigious Professional Course which honed Brittney Laleh's innate ability to respond to live music – since, Brittney has become a true master of interacting with live musicians. By 18, Brittney Laleh was teaching classes of her own, and soon after, she developed her first dance studio, Beledi Bellydance and Ancient Arts in Springfield. Although, being a lifelong student of dance and related arts, Brittney was still seeking the training that would take her dancing to the next level. She found that training with master dancer Suhaila Salimpour of Northern California. Suhaila, also of Persian heritage, and Brittney formed an immediate bond, and Suhaila's legendary format was the perfect vehicle to advance Brittney Laleh's dance skill. Brittney is currently seeking her Level III certification in the Salimpour format, and Suhaila has become Brittney Laleh's mentor, teacher and friend. She makes frequent trips to northern California to further her study with Suhaila. Brittney Laleh has been invited to teach in the Midwest as well as on the West Coast. She was the festival manager for Gothla: the Conjuring, the first ever gothic belly dance festival in the United States. She has also been invited to participate in several prestigious shows including the revival of Bal Anat, Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour's well-known stage show, for the show's first performance in the Midwestern United States. She has also been invited several times to perform at the Velvet Rope in Kansas City and successfully produced a full stage show called Nefertiti's Night Out showcasing dances from all over the Middle East through a unique, storytelling format. Presently, Brittney Laleh is working toward a degree in dance ethnology with a shared focus on physiology in order to further assist her students and herself in dance development.
Brittney Laleh Banaei

Brittney Laleh Banaei

Brittney Laleh calls her style "bellydance Infusion" as it calls upon her training, education, and heritage to create one-of-a-kind choreographies. You might see her perform a classical Egyptian piece one month, and then a sassy jazz-influenced dance using a chair and hat the next. She might dance to traditional Arabic or Persian music, or choose hip-hop or rock. Though bellydance is her "home base," she is constantly pushing the boundaries of this artform, discovering and re-discovering its amazing potential.

It is from this mindset that Brittney Laleh and her dance partner Karen Elizabeth Culp have now developed Springfield Bellydance Academy and the Evolution Dance Company. The academy asks dancers to push their physical limits and train their bodies to master the intricacies of dance. Evolution Dance Company, a group of four seasoned dancers, fuses influences from Western dance styles such as ballet, jazz, hip hop and modern dance, as well as traditional Oriental style dances and newer style Tribal and Gothic fusion bellydance.

Brittney Laleh Banaei
soloist, instructor and founder of Springfield Bellydance Academy and the Evolution Dance Company

Innovative and captivating, Brittney Laleh Banaei is breaking down barriers and surprising audiences with her thought-provoking bellydance.

Of Persian heritage, Brittney Laleh Banaei grew up surrounded by the rich history of the Fertile Crescent and its beautiful culture, arts and music. At an early age, Brittney Laleh immersed herself in the study of piano, bass guitar and a variety of percussion instruments, including Persian-style hand drums. She developed a thorough understanding and appreciation for Middle Eastern rhythms and that early devotion continues to inform her bellydance style.

At age 4, she began studying classical ballet and a lifelong love affair began for dance. This passion also merged from her cultural heritage, and by the age of 14, she was publicly performing Persian and Arabic style dance. She studied with local teachers in her hometown of Springfield, Missouri, and was invited to dance in several area arts festivals, as well as at a variety of dance festivals in the Midwest. She was then able to study with the famous Yasmina Ramzy of Toronto, Canada; and, at age 17, completed Ramzy's prestigious Professional Course which honed Brittney Laleh's innate ability to respond to live music – since, Brittney has become a true master of interacting with live musicians.

By 18, Brittney Laleh was teaching classes of her own, and soon after, she developed her first dance studio, Beledi Bellydance and Ancient Arts in Springfield. Although, being a lifelong student of dance and related arts, Brittney was still seeking the training that would take her dancing to the next level. She found that training with master dancer Suhaila Salimpour of Northern California. Suhaila, also of Persian heritage, and Brittney formed an immediate bond, and Suhaila's legendary format was the perfect vehicle to advance Brittney Laleh's dance skill. Brittney is currently seeking her Level III certification in the Salimpour format, and Suhaila has become Brittney Laleh's mentor, teacher and friend. She makes frequent trips to northern California to further her study with Suhaila.

Brittney Laleh has been invited to teach in the Midwest as well as on the West Coast. She was the festival manager for Gothla: the Conjuring, the first ever gothic belly dance festival in the United States. She has also been invited to participate in several prestigious shows including the revival of Bal Anat, Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour's well-known stage show, for the show's first performance in the Midwestern United States. She has also been invited several times to perform at the Velvet Rope in Kansas City and successfully produced a full stage show called Nefertiti's Night Out showcasing dances from all over the Middle East through a unique, storytelling format.

Presently, Brittney Laleh is working toward a degree in dance ethnology with a shared focus on physiology in order to further assist her students and herself in dance development.

Brittney Laleh Banaei