Paved with Good Intentions features 6 separate works Smiling Lune’s signature theatrical bellydance style. Presented with humor and grace, with subjects as far flung as Dante’s Inferno and the raw sexuality of succubi, Paved with Good Intentions isn’t afraid to go “there”, whether “there” is dancing one’s personal demons, concepts of summoning or hell, or even the darker side of Shakespeare. All music is performed by local musicians performance artists: the DTs, Al Amarja featuring Hanakia Zedek, Keith Spears, Scott Keever, andBeth Kinderman & the Player Characters. Smiling Lune is the Twin Cities’ premier theatrical fusion bellydance company. Led by director Kalila Indivar, Smiling Lune Dance blends the isolations of Middle Eastern dance with a variety of influences to produce a performance that is uniquely ours. We strive to push the boundaries of belly dance and challenge modern perceptions of this beautiful art form. This is not your mama’s belly dance.

Cast + crew

Kalila Indivar
Role: Choreographer, Director, Dancer
Kalila Indivar discovered belly dance as an adult while searching for a way to become more active. She has never looked back. Beginning with local Oriental and folkloric classes, Kalila quickly developed a love for the richness of the vocabulary of dance. Later, as a choreographer, Kalila began to draw from her additional study of dance forms such as jazz and modern to add new words and phrases. Kalila founded Smiling Lune (originally Basimah Kamar) in 2005 to create accessible dance for a variety of audiences, expressing the full range of human experience through movement. Kalila and Smiling Lune have performed at venues around the Midwest, as well as locally at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, John Munger’s Rabbit Show, and at Patrick’s Cabaret. Kalila’s style has continued to evolve since discovering the technique of Suhaila Salimpour. She has achieved level 1 certification in Suhaila’s technique. In addition, Kalila has been fortunate enough to study intensively with Heather Stants, Margo Abdo Odell, Deb Rubin, Ariellah, and Mira Betz. Kalila currently teaches Bellydance Bootcamp at Smiling Lune Studio.

Shannon (Shanza Bahara) Townsend
Role: Choreographer, Assistant Director, Dancer
Shanaz Bahara has been studying Belly Dance in numerous forms and styles since 2004, but she has had a life long relationship with the stage. Her Belly Dance studies began with Tunisian and Egyptian styles, and over the years she has embraced numerous other forms of Belly Dance from all over the world including Turkish and numerous styles of Fusion. She is thrilled to be a part of Smiling Lune and Kalila Indivar’s unique, theatrical approach to Belly Dance. Shanaz currently Theatrical Bellydance at Smiling Lune Studio.

Bonnie (Bon Joony) Berquam
Role: Dancer
Bon Joony, a Minnesota native, has been dancing all her life. She has studied Middle-Eastern dance at the Cassandra School for more than ten years and performs monthly in Twin Cities dance festivals, shows and parties. She prefers improvisational dance as she blends her various creative explorations with dance and causes audiences to wonder what she is up to next.

Velvet (Zingara Velluta) Caponi
Role: Dancer, costumer
Zingara began dancing at the age of 5 at Monique's School of Dance where she studied ballet, tap and jazz for 10 years. After a long hiatus in 2005 she rediscovered her love of dance during a brief stint at Cassandra's school. Life took a few more turns delaying further study till 2010. Since then she has studied American Tribal Style ® with Tasha Rose dancing as a member of Kamala Chaand, and taken workshops given by Tamarind Tribal and Fat Chance Belly Dance, Tribal Fusion with Lesley Inman, and most recently Suhaila style belly dance with Kalila Indivar.

Jen Cowitz
Role: Dancer

Elizabeth (Lishan Ge) Greenberg
Role: Dancer
Lishan started learning belly dance at Grinnell College in 2004, and much to her utter confusion, she found herself teaching intermediate classes there two years later. Since then, she’s been somewhat nomadic: she has studied at the Cassandra School and at Bohemian Underground Workshop, has taught Jewish-themed tribal-style dance at Mount Zion Temple, and dances wherever she can. She also thinks you should take Kalila Indivar’s technique class. Yes, you.

Dara Grimmer
Role: Dancer, costumer
Dara has been inspired to dance since a very early age. She brings a unique perspective while harmonizing body movement and spirit to the stage. Her experience with the performance dance troupe Cigany will always resonate in her heart. Her education of dance has touched upon jazz, ballet, modern, and Middle Eastern styles. It is her continued love of expressive dance that brought her to Smiling Lune, January 2012.

Avian Jangula
Role: Dancer
Avian started belly dance in 2010 under the tutelage of Shanaz Bahara, but she has always had a love for the theatre. She works with a variety of theatres around the Twin Cities area both onstage and off, and she is currently serving on the board of The Chameleon Theatre Circle. Her first Smiling Lune show was Dancing With Death for Fringe 2011 as a zombie. There’s really no way to beat that, but she looks forward to trying.

Susan Knutson
Role: Dancer
After some early training in modern dance, Susan spent years dancing in salsa clubs and performing with the Houston International Folk Dancers, especially Balkan and Turkish. Having now transferred her energy wholeheartedly to belly dance, both traditional and tribal, Susan has performed with the Bourgeois Bohemians and with Smiling Lune in the 2011 Fringe Festival. She is currently a member of both Smiling Lune and Dans Askina.

Cynthia (Aquilah Benazir) Lee
Role: Dancer
Aquilah started dancing early, but rarely had the opportunity of classes. She has a background in tumbling, gymnastics and a little modern dance, and took ballroom dancing in college. After college, she did English Country dancing for several years, and took classes from Maya Christina. Maya introduced her to the Cassandra School, as well. Life interluded, and Aquilah tried her hand at Bollywood dance, then ran into Kalila Indivar just as her studio started offering classes in the Suhaila Salimpour muscular style of bellydance. Life interrupted, and when it settled down again Aquilah went back to Smiling Lune, taking classes from Shanaz Bahara and Kalila Indivar.

Nancy Mikrut
Role: Dancer

Ashley Nave
Role: Dancer

Faron Burke
Role: Stage manager

Michelle Clark
Role: Costumer

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User reviews

Captivating.
by Feba Hauer
Rating 3 stars
The music selection was at times perfect (moreso near the beginning, such as when the devil/snake battles knowledge) and at times very wrong (such as the seven virtues/sins at the end). When the music wasn't right, it distracted from the dance. Some dancers had excellent technique; some could have improved. BUT. There were times--many times--when the dancers would stop seeming to consciously perform and instead just lose themselves in the dance, completely falling into the flow of the music and the heartbeat of that particular moment. At these times, this became surreal, even spiritual. And how refreshing to see women so sexy because of their confidence and grace rather than because of an idealized body type. Beautiful message.

Enchanting
by Paul Brutscher
Rating 4 stars
Wikipedia tells me gothic bellydance is actually a thing! That existed before this show!
I might otherwise find the music cheesy, but if there is a time and place for everything, this would be the time and place for electronica punctuated by otherworldly voices and catchy Lilith fair-esque folk songs about how Dante's Inferno burns in every woman.

I am no expert on the subject, but it seemed that some dancers were not as synced up as they could have been, which took me out of it a bit.
Still enjoyable and transporting, especially if you don't mind the wide variety in the female form on display here.

Macabre belly dancing
by Andrew Troth
Rating 3 stars
Smiling Lune continues on the path blazed by last year's Dancing With Death, placing their dances in a macabre/occult/supernatural context while performing traditional belly dancing techniques. There are moments of humor, some flashes of character and storytelling, and plenty of skill on display.

Variety and story without words
by Chris Nelson
Rating 4 stars
Dancing, music and costuming bring you into and through a storyline, enhanced by sound and light, and punctuated with drama and humor at times. Several scenes offer shifting moods, techniques and visual pleasures. It is an enjoyable and engaged experience for audience and performers alike... look forward to more from these talented women.

Not as dark as I was expecting
by Robert Rayfield
Rating 5 stars
I actually think its a good thing that it wasn't as dark as I was expecting. Having seen Dancing With Death last year, I thought this seemed to follow the same formula. Kalila Indivar does a dance by herself, it ends with a dance with the entire company, it has an interesting variety based on the same theme. I thought the theme wasn't a theme that you could easily do as much with, and this one didn't have some of the more playful aspects, but the final dance was very moving. The music was also wonderful. The dancing was also well done. I'm saying all of this as someone who really isn't much of a fan of belly dancing.

Not your father's dancing...
by Roger Rosvold
Rating 3 stars
Non-traditional in every sense; definitely fun! Enjoyable presentation of belly dance/ contemporary fusion work heavy on the sensuality and physical beauty. Good work, dealing with the limits of a smaller space. Ensemble presentation fairly even though Smiling Lune's choreographer is a standout dancer.

Overall, small groups are well done but the large group choreography needs some development and polish. This dance company has much potential.

Nice to see women having fun
by Kris Sieg
Rating 3 stars
I do not know much about belly dancing. I liked that there was a wide variety of women who obviously enjoy this genre. I applaud the effort, but this show seemed more fun for the performers than for me.

...
by Emily Almos
Rating 2 stars
The show left something to be desired.

The only highlight was the witch dance, where they balanced baskets on their head... Great stage presence by the red head in that one!!!

Some other peformers, for example the girl in red pants, and a few others were fun at times...

The overall show was over acted, under dance trained and, to be frank, with choreography that was terrible.

It seems to me that you should see this show if you're looking for something 'alternitive' or 'different.' Stay clear if you're looking for something resembling technical dance...

I can tell these women are using this as an outlet for self confidence, but maybe it should be done in a different setting.

Enjoyed the ride immensely
by Mark Roemer
Rating 5 stars
Smiling Lune once again delivers an admirable and layered performance. Displaying humor and pathos, sensuality and grandeur, these highly emotive and expressive ladies take you on a journey filled with demons both internal and external. Visually sumptuous costumes, skilled and entertaining dancers and evocative themes all make this show well worth adding to your Fringe schedule

Such a Unique Show
by Megan Petersen
Rating 5 stars
I loved the belly dancing, the way everything fit and flowed together was awesome! I really enjoyed watching the entire show. The costumes were incredibly beautiful and fit really well with the music and the show. I would say go see this show, these women are talented performers and are fun to watch.

Enticing! Brilliant at times!
by August Snow
Rating 4 stars
Smiling Lune delivers again a unique performance, with its tribal belly dance fusion dances. From exorcised demons to scimitar duels, the dancers interpret well their choreography, most of them with great stage presence. highlights are a sensual piece danced at the sounds of "Fever" (The song Elvis immortalized) and a remarkable solo by the company's director, where the use of 2 hand fans creates a quite spectacular visual. A little disappointing was the finale's song, which felt somewhat amateurish, long and uninteresting for such an important timing of the show. Smiling Lune's music selection is usually spot-on, so this choice was a little bit of a let down. Nevertheless, a very refreshing performance that is definitely worth seeing.

A Good Effort
by Dean Hatton
Rating 3 stars
This looks like a nice try at fusing belly dancing with interpretive dance.
That may not be what they were trying to do but that's what it looked like to me.

I felt that sometimes it worked but other times it didn't.

Overall a nice try and I was entertained thru most of it.

Interesting!
by Raven McCloud
Rating 5 stars
The show was MUCH BETTER than I expected! Some of these women were fab to watch! The girl in flame pants, with veils, had great presence! Cool concept for show. Maybe a bit more rehearsal could have been used for the overall cast... But, it was definitely worth my time! I suggest to all dance lovers as an interesting show :) THANKS SMILING LUNE!

Evil never looked so good
by Richard Townsend
Rating 5 stars
I thought this years production was very well put together. The choreography is amazing, the costumes look fantastic, and the music was spot on for the feel of the show. Lastly, and most importantly, the dancers themselves showed great emotion as the moved through each piece. I have seen this show twice this year, and will see it once more at least!

great show
by lynn rose
Rating 5 stars
I wasn't sure what a belly dance fusion show was going to be but I really enjoyed it.