Male bellydancer shaking things up

April 23, 2009 — Nath Keo & Sacred Centre Dance - Walla Marra

Nath Keo is a male bellydancer performing at triPOD dance's Bounce cabaret. (Photograph by: Handout, timescolonist.com)

Born in a refugee camp, performer will help launch Bounce cabaret

June 4, 2010
By Grania Litwin
Times Colonist

ON STAGE

• What: Bounce Dance Cabaret
• Where: Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad St.
• When: 8 p.m. Sunday
• Tickets: $11/$9 at the door

The triPOD dance collective is kicking off its seventh Bounce Dance Cabaret with a sensational male bellydancer called Nath Keo.

The performer, who was born in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and Cambodia, came to Canada at age nine and began shaking it up. Today he is a writer, singer, songwriter, model and dancer known for an exciting fusion of East Asian and Middle Eastern styles.

"We are really excited about this evening because Nath is an absolutely thrilling mover," said Treena Stubel, who founded Bounce and is organizing this event.

"To my knowledge he is the only guy doing what he does. He lives here, tours a lot and is bringing his Sacred Dance Centre Company to the cabaret as well. He is a unique and inspiring artist, and he does this fantastic Asian bellydance fusion."

Keo, a Buddhist monk, was a featured instructor in 2008 and performed at the International Bellydance Conference of Canada. He was also a judge at the World Bellydance Championships in Seoul, South Korea.

Bounce cabaret was founded to promote new work by independent dance and physical theatre artists.

"We're into our second year and the audience is building," said Stubel, who notes they frequently focused on contemporary dance in the first year, but are branching out now.

Sunday's event will also include hip hop by Jesse Nordwall and Danielle O'Reilly, contemporary moves by Kelly Tyerman, plus other dancers and styles. It is being hosted by actor Ingrid Hansen.

"She's working on a new show and bringing this new character to the cabaret. Ingrid is a real mover, too, a very physical performer who always brings an electrifying physical presence to the stage." Performers range in age from early 20s to late 30s.

"Our mission is to create a place where professional, dedicated, serious dancers can do their new work in front of an audience," said Stubel, who noted dancers have fewer performance opportunities than actors.

"It's a chance to cultivate an idea for five or 10 minutes in front of an audience, and get some feedback. And the cabaret has a nice, casual atmosphere where you can buy a drink and relax. Dancers typically have large gaps between performances, but at Bounce we aim to increase the momentum and the creativity."

glitwin@tc.canwest.com

Nath Keo, a Cambodian-Canadian male bellydancer and teacher

Nath Keo: Profile of a Cambodian Bellydancer

Nath Keo performs with some of the participants from his Saturday workshop during a performance at the Gibraltar Room Saturday evening. Keo, a Cambodian bellydancer based out of Victoria, was in the lakecity teaching workshops on Saturday and Sunday. (Photo: Alison Shepherd)

Bellydancer enjoys teaching workshops

April 01, 2008
By Alison Shepherd
Williams Lake Tribune (British Columbia, USA)

If the whistling and applause from the crowd Saturday night and the smiles from participants Sunday after the workshop are any indication, bellydancer Nath Keo made quite the impression on the lakecity.

Keo spent the weekend teaching workshops and performing Saturday night before a crowd of more than 60 people at the Gibraltar Room.

Some of Keo’s original choreography was performed Saturday night.

“It’s so flattering to return to a town and see your choreography performed,” he says.

Keo was last teaching and performing here more than four years ago and he says he is happy to be back.

“I love coming to smaller towns because it feels like half work and half visit,” he says.

Keo spends most weekends traveling around the world teaching and performing and he says when he wants a weekend to himself, he has to schedule it well in advance.

“I’m booked through to fall 2009,” he says.

Keo will be performing in Seattle this weekend, then he is the featured performer at the International Bellydance Conference of Canada held in Toronto a week later.

He will also spend three months touring, teaching and, performing in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

Keo spends approximately half of his weekends teaching and performing and says if people put in time to put on an event to further dancers’ skills, he is always happy to be a part of it.

When he is not teaching, performing or traveling, Keo works at a senior’s residence in Victoria and he laughs that the seniors keep him sane.

“Where I come from [Cambodia] we keep our family so it’s part of my culture to be with seniors. They’re great and I really enjoy working with them,” Keo says.

In addition to his work with the seniors, his teaching and performing, Keo is also a writer, having recently completed his first novel, and a musician.

He has produced an album and one of the songs he danced to Saturday night was written and performed by him.

Local bellydance instructor Faith Andre says the weekend workshops went well.

“It’s always fun, informative and interesting when Nath comes to town. I think the women in the workshops learned a lot and I’m looking forward to having him return again,” she says.

Keo says he would like to return to the lakecity and will be talking to Andre about his next visit.

“She was saying something about a weekend retreat. I’m always open to new ways to teach so this could be a lot of fun,” he says.