Check out the karenbarbee.com site for more information about Karen.

Dance Experience

• 1998-2004  - featured performer at Sands and Al Diwan nightclubs, Houston, TX
• 1999   – featured performer at Houston Ballet Ball.
• 1998   – appeared in production of Peer Gynt with San Antonio Symphony, Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, Tx. – opening act for Lebanese singer Najwa Karam, and Egyptian singer Amr Diab, Houston, Tx.
• 1996   – featured performer at Houston Grand Opera Ball.
• 1990-2000  – featured performer at Cleopatra Arabic restaurant, Houston, Tx.
• 1992  - featured performer at Lebanese Independence day celebration, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
• 1990   – featured performer at Arab American Television Network awards, Los Angeles, Ca.
• 1989  - featured performer at Byblos Arabic restaurant, Los Angeles, Ca. – featured performer at Middle Eastern restaurant, Philadelphia, Pa.
• 1979  - present – local restaurants including Paletta-Sharma Indian restaurant, Beirut Gardens, Al-Arz Lebanese restaurant, Nona’s, Dolores del Rio, Aladdin Persian restaurant, Sina Persian restaurant, Mina and Dimi’s, Turquoise Turkish Restaurant, Gypsy Café.
• 1976  - present – countless community events including neighborhood festivals, parades, Texas Folklife Festival, and Renaissance festivals.

Teaching Experience

• 1988  - present – owner, principal instructor/choreographer, Karavan Studio, San Antonio, Tx. -seminar instructor throughout the United States, Mexico, and South America
• 1988  - present – community education instructor for NEISD, Schertz/Cibolo ISD, Judson ISD, Our Lady of the Lake University, NW Vista College
• 1986-1988  - instructor for Dillard’s Special Events.

Dance/Cultural Training

• 1998-2001  – student at the University of Texas at Austin, Middle Eastern Studies
• 1998   – Summer Intensive study of Arabic Language and Culture, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
• 1990  - present – “study trips” to the Middle East (specifically Egypt, Lebanon, West Bank/Gaza Strip – 8 total, so far)
• 1978-present  - attendance at dance seminars/workshops taught by the masters including Jamila Salimpour, Mahmoud Reda (choreographer for the Folkloric troupe of Cairo, Egypt), Ibrahim Farrah, and Mona Said.
• 1972-1979  - Hawaiian and Middle Eastern Dance, taught by Barbara Edwards.
• 1967-1979  - Ballet, Modern Jazz, taught by Dorothy Keck.

Other

• 1999-2003  - producer of “KONNECT” and “ReKonnect”, a traditional/contemporary dance concert exploring the American perspective of Middle Eastern dance, Jump Start Theater, San Antonio, TX.
• 1994-2007   – producer of “Give Belly Dance a Chance” student recital
• 1992-present  - producer “Beginning Middle Eastern Dance” public access TV show
• 1997-1999  - selected, along with Karavan students, to perform in San Antonio Dance showcase at the Carver Cultural Center.
• 1997  - nominated “Best Choreographer” by International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance, Los Angeles, Ca.
• 1997-1998  - judge, National Middle Eastern Dance competition, Los Angeles, CA
• 1995-present  - producer of annual “Give Belly Dance a Chance” recital, showcasing dance students and featuring the Layali band from Houston.
• 1991   – featured guest on “Middle East Monitor”, hosted by American-Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee
• 1990  - producer of “Kollection for Karen”, a CD/cassette of Middle Eastern dance music.
• 1989   – featured in Arabic music video with Arab singer Ziad Ansari.

Personal

• BBA, Accounting and Computer Information Systems, SWTSU.
• Former Systems Analyst, Management Accountant, at USAA Financial Services Corporation.
• Native San Antonian!
• Born June 27, 1962 at Wilford Hall Hospital.
• Married to Thomas Adkisson (since October 29, 1994)
• Former Member, Cultural Arts Board for the city of San Antonio.
• Member, San Antonio Dance Umbrella
• Member, Austin Belly Dance Association
• Member, Houston Belly Dance Association
• Member, North Texas Belly Dance Association
• Certified Personal Fitness Instructor (WITS)