Company

Smiling Lune is the Twin Cities’ premier theatrical fusion belly dance 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 bellydance.

Based in Minneapolis, Smiling Lune is available for performances, events, and instruction. We can design a unique experience just for you! For more information and pricing, contact info_AT_smilinglune_DOT_com.

Kalila Indivar

Director, Instructor
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 Fusion Belly Dance at Smiling Lune Studio.

Bon Joony

Company member
Bon Joony (Bonnie Berquam), 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.

Saffron

Company member
Saffron (Susan Knutson) had a brief start in modern and liturgical dance in and after college, then spent years dancing in salsa clubs in Houston, TX and performing International Folk Dance, especially Balkan and Turkish. She is relatively new to belly dance but has embraced it wholeheartedly, taking classes several times a week and attending workshops in order to learn as much and as quickly as she can. In addition to dancing with Smiling Lune, she is a proud member of Dans Askina.

Mama Via

Company member
Mama Via (Dara Grimmer) 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.