’08 Miss Bellydance USA
Sedona tours, makes home in Oswego’s Kolbeh

by Kurt Johnson

Mystery. Allure. Enchantment. All these things and more come to mind when you see the world-class bellydancing of Sedona Ruiz.

Sedona
(Photo by Kurt "Swingcat" Johnson)

Ruiz is a national bellydance performer who was awarded the 2008 Miss Bellydance USA title and numerous other trophies in national level competitions. She makes both national appearances and tours extensively on the west coast, bellydancing anywhere from large nightclubs and private events to local venues and even Karaoke bars. Additionally, Ruiz produces and manages events that can include her own Middle-Eastern live band bellydancing troupe Soulfire. She may appear with multiple dancers, a live snake, shawls and capes and can include any combination of the above, whatever is required for the performance.

Ruiz has danced from an early age. She performed her first ballet dance at age four. She then attended many years of strict dance studies and eventually graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. From there, she discovered yoga and became a certified Hatha Yoga instructor. She then elevated herself further by discovering Middle-Eastern music and bellydancing and consequently devoted her body and soul to its mastery as performance art.

On this visit, Ruiz performed with her live band at Kolbeh in Lake Oswego. Kolbeh is an upscale Middle Eastern restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere that perfectly captures and recreates the Middle Eastern feel and atmosphere.

To see Ruiz dance in person is to be caught up in the movement, sound and power of her performance. With the flow of her costumes, the hypnotic effect of her dance moves and the rhythm of the Middle Eastern music, the audience is alternatively teased, flirted with, invited and captivated, if not by her dance and costume, then simply by her smile and fiery eyes.

In each of her performances, Ruiz tries to reach and connect with her audience. She explains, "It all depends on the music I'm dancing to. No matter what, as a dancer, I'm always trying to send positive vibrations of love in each performance I do, whether it's a joyful, happy song or an emotional Taxim (Middle Eastern music where there's only one instrument solo).”

She talks about how she became interested in bellydancing; "I was gifted a coin belt at a music festival. When I put it on, I was transformed into a bellydancer and then came home and took lessons.” Ruiz mentions her role as a show producer; "I'm a director of a bellydance troupe. The shows that I produce, I'm basically trying to share the beauty and magic of Middle Eastern dance and music with the general public with high-quality professional performances." Ruiz also mentions that all her dance costumes are custom-made to her specifications by two suppliers, one in Cairo, Egypt and two in Jordan.

Ruiz performs at numerous local venues in Portland including Santorini, Marrakesh, Greek Cusina, Kolbeh and Yazzi's. You can see more of Sedona at her website, www.sedonaraks.com.