Learning about her own cultural roots prompted Silvia
to study other cultures and how they are incorporated into
tribal fusion. “Studying other cultures has always been one of
my favorite things to do,” she said. “I dabbled in Odissi, for
starters, thanks to Moria Chappell. Human beings and the
worlds and the civilizations that we create are so complex.
There is nothing like traveling, and studying how other
people are different from me, and seeing the world, to realize
that richness [of the world and its cultures], to open my mind,
to learn what is relative and what is common to all of us.”
B ranching out and finding inspiration
Silvia’s fascination with, and study of, cultures goes beyond
her own heritage, she said, and she spends “as much time as
I can” studying other cultures and their forms of dance.
“Any and all chances I get my hands onto to learn as
many modalities of dance, I will take,” she said. “But I will
say that when I offer a class, I make sure I know more than
enough to teach THAT class.
“In other words, my Indian fusion is Bollywood-inspired,
with a sprinkle of Baratyanayam — just the moves and the
right mudras to be passed onto other dancers. No more,
no less,” Silvia said. “It’s the same with the Latin/Brazilian
workshops — enough knowledge of tango and samba. I
make a point of making sure my students understand that
those classes are fusion, and the fusion is, ‘Silvia was very
inspired by this or by that.’ I do not at all say that I am a true
representative of tango or samba or Indian dance in their
classical forms,” she continued. “I have too deep a respect for
any dance tradition, and I have seen my own people’s dance
destroyed too many times, not to make that clear.”
For Silvia, there is always more to learn, more cultures
to explore, more inspiration to discover. But, she declared, “I
would say that inspiration finds me!”
Sometimes that inspiration comes in the form of other
dancers. “As artists, there are a plethora of well-established
stars in all styles of dance [that inspire me],” Silvia said.
“Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Michelle Sorenson, April Rose,
Mardi Love, Sharon Kihara, Kami Liddle, Amy Sigil,
Jillina), Aziza, Sadie — etc. etc. etc. Belladonna Boheme
obviously played a role for me, inspiring me in dancing with
swords. She still inspires me; that woman is pure magic.”
Those who have inspired her as mentors and “people
that I almost worship,” include Donna Mejia, Karin
Jensen, Mira Betz and Artemis. And, she added, “The one
and only Amaya, mother figure for the Zambra, holds a