Chantelle Gomes
*** Shanti Devi ***
Chantelle Gomes was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Her passion for the performing arts began with her portuguese family. Music, dance and Fado were part of her daily routine and made her passionate about life and the performing arts.
She began her training in dance at an early age with Ballet and Modern Dance.
Her passion for the performing arts began with her portuguese family. Music, dance and Fado were part of her daily routine and made her passionate about life and the performing arts.
She began her training in dance at an early age with Ballet and Modern Dance.
It was the year of 1994 and the reality of South Africa was becoming more difficult day by day. Safety was a priority and her family decided to leave their home and move to Portugal.
Living in the city of Lisbon were the diversity of arabic, african and european cultures are all blended together made her want to explore the dances of these cultures. In 2006, she immersed into the mystical rhythms of the middle east and began to study classical bellydance with Prisca Diedrich, the first women to bring this art to Portugal.
Studding the intricate movementes of the dance and its rhythms made her immerse into its mystic culture. The practice awakened the feminine within her and the desire to explore more of the eastern cultures.
After completing her BA in Marketing, she decided to leave her life in Lisbon and travel to India in search of sacred dance and a new purpose in life...
After completing her BA in Marketing, she decided to leave her life in Lisbon and travel to India in search of sacred dance and a new purpose in life...
" I arrived in India and will never forget the first rickshaw drive threw Bombay, as tears rolled down my face for I knew within my heart that I was back at home.
The path leaded me to Guru Padma Charan Dehury, from Orissa. He introduced me to Odissi, Devotional Temple Dance.
I instantly feel in love with the beauty and history of Odissi Dance.
I instantly feel in love with the beauty and history of Odissi Dance.
The dance practice challenged me as it brought in a whole new language and approach to life. The spiritual aspect was moving my soul in deep ways... Gratitude and profound happiness invaded my heart as I completed my first training in dance, but the desire to go deeper was boiling within me."
Since then Chantelle has been coming to India to study Odissi and emmerse into Indian Culture. She is now under the guidance of Guru Smt. Kasturi Pattanaik.
" Odissi has made me fall in love with India and the culture. My soul walks the path and my heart becomes one with it all. The practice has become my Sadhana, the dance my expression of love to creation and profound gratitude to my Guru's for guiding me on this path."
In 2009, Chantelle travelled to San Fransisco to study Tribal BellyDance and Persian Classical Dance.
Since then she has returned every year to continue the study and collaborate with artists, like FannaFi Allah, The Diwan Project and OmShanTea.
Chantelle now lives in Goa, India.
She divides her time travelling between India, California and Europe to study, teach and perform.
Extended BIOGRAPHY:
2004: Chantelle finishes her BA in Marketing and Advertising at the International College of Comunication and Design
2005:Participates in extended workshops of TranceDance with Wilbert Alix and Injoy Portugal
-Studies Reiki and Pranic Healing with Amala Shakti Devi and recieves qualification of Master Healing Practitioner
-Studies Tui Na, Chinese Massage at The Chinese Medicine Institute of Lisbon and completes the 1st degree.
2006: Begins her study with Prisca Diedrich in Classical Bellydance
2007: Chantelle leaves Portugal and travels to India
- In India, she studies Yoga at the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh
2008: Chantelle/Shanti is introduced to Odissi, Classical Indian Dance and begins her study with Padma Charan Dehury and Nirod Kumar Dehury in Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
- She decides to establish herself in India and focus on the dance study.
2009: She travels to San Fransisco and is introduced to Tribal Bellydance with Airikah Bottlesfon and Jill Parker and, Persian Classical Dance with Miriam Peretz
- She then travels between India and San Fransisco and focuses intensely on the dance study
2010: Starts studing Odissi with Guru Smt. Kasturi Pattanaik
2011: Is Introduced to Bhagavan Shanmuka and begins her study of Tantra Yoga at Shri Kali Ashram. She lives in the ashram for 3 months and completes the 300H Tantra Yoga Teacher Training Course.
- Bhagavan Shanmuka invites Chantelle to teach a one month yoga/dance retreat at Shri Kali Ashram in 2012.
- Participates in a 5 day Intensive Bellydance workshop with Jill Parker and Sahar Saeeda. CA. USA
- Participates in a 3 day Intensive Sufi Dance workshop with Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam, CA. USA
2012: Teaches her First Odissi Dance Retreat in association with Shri Kali Ashram
- Lives in Portugal for 6 months: teaching dance, performing and training in Kathak at the Hindu Community centre in Lisbon
- Initiates "Ecstatic Dance Lisboa" with Diogo Ruivo (Boom Festival) and Rute Novais
- Visits California and does a one month training with Miriam Peretz
2013: Teaches workshop's of Odissi Dance and Indian Fusion Bellydance in Goa and Jaisalmer with Queeny Harish.
- Initiates 2 projects: 'Sinaya' and 'Saheliyas'.
- Visits California and trains persian dance with Shahrzad, bellydance with Ziva and Souhail Kaspar, and Turkish Romani Dance with Zadiel.
- Participates in a 3 day retreat with Miriam Peretz
- Produces a show in Grass Valley:
Performances
2008: Odissi Dance at the Temple Dance Festival in Bhagsu, Dharamsala. India
2009: Odissi Dance at the Temple Dance Festival in Bhagsu, Dharamsala. India
-Odissi Dance at Synergia Festival. Portugal
-Odissi Dance with Jenna Anjali at the Temple Dance Festival, Grass Valley. CA
2010: Odissi Dance at the Temple Dance Festival in Pushkar, Rajasthan. India -Odissi Dance celebrating Shivaratri for the Oriya Television, Orissa. India
-Fusion Dance with Tjak at Boom Festival, Portugal
-Odissi Dance with Jenna Anjali at the Global Summit in San Fransisco, CA. USA
-Odissi Dance and Bellydance at the Temple Dance Festival, Grass Valley. CA.
2011: Odissi Dance for the Temple Dance Festival in Goa, India
-Odissi Dance and Bellydance Fusion at the Haven, Nevada City. CA. USA
-Indian Fusion with Jenna Anjali at OmShanTea, San Franisco. CA.USA
-Sufi Dance with FannaFi Allah at Wanderlast Festival. CA.USA
-Sufi Dance with FannaFi Allah at Bhakti Fest,LA. CA.USA
-Odissi Dance with Colleena Shakti and Jenna Anjali for Krishna Janmastami, Merin. CA.USA
-Sufi Dance with FannaFi Allah at the Casbah, Nevada City. CA.USA
-Arabic Fusion with Diwan Project at the Casbah, Nevada City.CA. USA
2012: Indian Tribal Fusion Bellydance at the Tribal Fest in Goa, India
-Odissi Dance at the Tribal Fest, Lisbon. Portugal
In 2009, Chantelle travelled to San Fransisco to study Tribal BellyDance and Persian Classical Dance.
Since then she has returned every year to continue the study and collaborate with artists, like FannaFi Allah, The Diwan Project and OmShanTea.
Chantelle now lives in Goa, India.
She divides her time travelling between India, California and Europe to study, teach and perform.
Extended BIOGRAPHY:
2004: Chantelle finishes her BA in Marketing and Advertising at the International College of Comunication and Design
2005:Participates in extended workshops of TranceDance with Wilbert Alix and Injoy Portugal
-Studies Reiki and Pranic Healing with Amala Shakti Devi and recieves qualification of Master Healing Practitioner
-Studies Tui Na, Chinese Massage at The Chinese Medicine Institute of Lisbon and completes the 1st degree.
2006: Begins her study with Prisca Diedrich in Classical Bellydance
2007: Chantelle leaves Portugal and travels to India
- In India, she studies Yoga at the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh
2008: Chantelle/Shanti is introduced to Odissi, Classical Indian Dance and begins her study with Padma Charan Dehury and Nirod Kumar Dehury in Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
- She decides to establish herself in India and focus on the dance study.
2009: She travels to San Fransisco and is introduced to Tribal Bellydance with Airikah Bottlesfon and Jill Parker and, Persian Classical Dance with Miriam Peretz
- She then travels between India and San Fransisco and focuses intensely on the dance study
2010: Starts studing Odissi with Guru Smt. Kasturi Pattanaik
2011: Is Introduced to Bhagavan Shanmuka and begins her study of Tantra Yoga at Shri Kali Ashram. She lives in the ashram for 3 months and completes the 300H Tantra Yoga Teacher Training Course.
- Bhagavan Shanmuka invites Chantelle to teach a one month yoga/dance retreat at Shri Kali Ashram in 2012.
- Participates in a 5 day Intensive Bellydance workshop with Jill Parker and Sahar Saeeda. CA. USA
- Participates in a 3 day Intensive Sufi Dance workshop with Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam, CA. USA
2012: Teaches her First Odissi Dance Retreat in association with Shri Kali Ashram
- Lives in Portugal for 6 months: teaching dance, performing and training in Kathak at the Hindu Community centre in Lisbon
- Initiates "Ecstatic Dance Lisboa" with Diogo Ruivo (Boom Festival) and Rute Novais
- Visits California and does a one month training with Miriam Peretz
2013: Teaches workshop's of Odissi Dance and Indian Fusion Bellydance in Goa and Jaisalmer with Queeny Harish.
- Initiates 2 projects: 'Sinaya' and 'Saheliyas'.
- Visits California and trains persian dance with Shahrzad, bellydance with Ziva and Souhail Kaspar, and Turkish Romani Dance with Zadiel.
- Participates in a 3 day retreat with Miriam Peretz
- Produces a show in Grass Valley:
Performances
2008: Odissi Dance at the Temple Dance Festival in Bhagsu, Dharamsala. India
2009: Odissi Dance at the Temple Dance Festival in Bhagsu, Dharamsala. India
-Odissi Dance at Synergia Festival. Portugal
-Odissi Dance with Jenna Anjali at the Temple Dance Festival, Grass Valley. CA
2010: Odissi Dance at the Temple Dance Festival in Pushkar, Rajasthan. India -Odissi Dance celebrating Shivaratri for the Oriya Television, Orissa. India
-Fusion Dance with Tjak at Boom Festival, Portugal
-Odissi Dance with Jenna Anjali at the Global Summit in San Fransisco, CA. USA
-Odissi Dance and Bellydance at the Temple Dance Festival, Grass Valley. CA.
2011: Odissi Dance for the Temple Dance Festival in Goa, India
-Odissi Dance and Bellydance Fusion at the Haven, Nevada City. CA. USA
-Indian Fusion with Jenna Anjali at OmShanTea, San Franisco. CA.USA
-Sufi Dance with FannaFi Allah at Wanderlast Festival. CA.USA
-Sufi Dance with FannaFi Allah at Bhakti Fest,LA. CA.USA
-Odissi Dance with Colleena Shakti and Jenna Anjali for Krishna Janmastami, Merin. CA.USA
-Sufi Dance with FannaFi Allah at the Casbah, Nevada City. CA.USA
-Arabic Fusion with Diwan Project at the Casbah, Nevada City.CA. USA
2012: Indian Tribal Fusion Bellydance at the Tribal Fest in Goa, India
-Odissi Dance at the Tribal Fest, Lisbon. Portugal
