her new kitty , Papa Floof , and told me , “ I want to take Sahlala to the next level – I am working with international choreographers , training in new styles , and trying to create opportunities that didn ’ t exist when I was starting my career .”
Jill has followed this mission . By the time you ’ re reading this , the Sahlala Dancers will have completed a tour of Egypt , trained with one of Michael Jackson ’ s original dancers , appeared on Telemundo and performed in several prominent dance showcases that have never featured belly dance before , all while still maintaining their ongoing gigs in L . A .
I have found that aligning myself with organizations that are led by mission is just something that works . Jill has made a point to define the mission of the Sahlala Dancers and cultivate a company that values respect , education , and community connection . The mission of the Sahlala Dancers is to uphold the legacies of cultural dance and use innovative creativity to carry these traditions into the future . The vast number of dances and styles in the Sahlala repertoire isn ’ t something that is for show – rehearsals include history , strict adherence to cultural movement quality , and guest choreographers at the top of their game . During a rehearsal featuring an incredible Bollywood star , Jill told us about how she would practice eye movements every time traffic came
Fire Fan dance of Jill Collins in downtown Los Angeles . Photo by Aleks Malczewski
Photo by Aleks Malczewski