Bio
UNMATA is a professional, multi-award-winning, bellydance
fusion troupe based in Sacramento, CA . Formed in 2003 by
Hot Pot Studio’s artistic director Amy Sigil, UNMATA’s current
members are Shelly DeCant, Luna Taylor, Casey Staub, and
Kari VanderZwaag. The high-energy teamforce of UNMATA
is known for extreme choreography, inventive Tribal
improvisation, and for tapping into an unmistakable divine
inebriation on and off stage. UNMATA’s 2007 agenda
includes teaching and performing their distinct “Tough Love”
style nationally and internationally, tri-hosting the first annual
Tribal Throwdown in March, and producing the Seventh
Annual Blood Moon Regale in Sacramento on Halloween
weekend. UNMATA holds the 2007 title “Tribal Fusion Group
of the Universe.”
Awards
Tribal Fusion Group of the Universe 2007
Ensemble of the Year 2005
Bellydance Troupe U.S.A. 2004
Bellydance Troupe of the Year 2004
Amy Sigil Bio
Amy Sigil is owner and director of Hot Pot Studio in
Sacramento , CA , home of UNMATA. For the past decade,
Amy has been developing, teaching, and performing modern
bellydance fusion and her distinct vocabulary of
Improvisational Tribal Style. She danced as half of Haruspicy
Dancecraft for several years, and then formed the
professional fusion troupe UNMATA in 2003. UNMATA has
brought home awards such as Bellydance Troupe of the Year
2004, Bellydance Troupe USA 2004, Ensemble of the Year
2005, and Tribal Fusion Group of the Universe 2007.
Amy and UNMATA teach workshops and perform nationally
and internationally at events such as The Spirit of the Tribes,
Northern Migration, Tribal Fest, Tribal Quest Northwest,
TribalCon, and Tribal Café. Amy has judged for various
pageant competitions such as Belly Dancer of the Year and
Enchanted Camelot.
Each October Amy Sigil, UNMATA, and Hot Pot Studio host
The Blood Moon Regale, a themed weekend of workshops,
dance fellowship, and a fully produced showcase of student
and professional dancers.
Workshops
Sigil School NEW!
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the teaching format of Amy
Sigil in this interactive split session with UNMATA. In the first
half of class, Amy will share her experience, ideas, and dance
doctrine—as well as answer your questions. In the second
half of class, you will get on your feet for a Sigil School
whirlwind demonstration. Tag words: warm-ups, transitions,
music, mixes, tempo, choreography, common vocab, work,
craft, drill, team, time, counting, working backwards, notes,
repetition, fellowship, and yes, you will sweat!
“UNMATA, 110%” NEW!
Featured 2007 Workshop
No bellydance fusion enthusiast ever drowned from sweat,
and to train like the UNMATA grrrls, you’ve got to be willing to
get down and get wet. After this rigorous workshop you’ll walk
away with two of Amy Sigil’s signature combos—broken down
into movement components, bootlaced together, and drilled
‘til you’re ready to drop.
Be prepared to tap into your hidden reserves of strength and
sass as you take on this class. Warning: 110% is not for
paper dolls. And yes, the music will be very, very loud.
“HOTPOTTURBOTRIBALTRICKS” NEW!
Strap-on your jet-packs. In this workshop you’ll get the skinny
on what happens when you let off a lot of steam while dancing
really good, really fast. You’ll learn and drill two original
combos snatched directly from the Hot Pot Studio tribal
vocabulary, both equipped for improv and ready for show.
You will have fun. You will sweat. You will be inspired. And
after class when you’re sore and on the floor, remember,
“Horsepower” is defined as work done over time. We just
teach you the tricks.
“UNMATA au naturel”
Featured 2006 Workshop
This multi-level workshop will outline two tribal fusion
combinations emphasizing technique and isolation. The first
combination will incorporate the building blocks of UNMATA’s
modern bellydance style. The second combination will focus
primarily on the Hula Fusion nuance.
Each movement will be outlined within a tribal cueing system
so that it may be added to any troupe’s choreography or
tribal vocabulary. Amy will describe and drill each individual
movement, then fasten them together into an accessible tribal
combo that will be practiced in useful group and duet
formations.
This workshop will be fun, fast, and furious. UNMATA believes
in beat-your-butt technical practice, so bring water and come
prepared to sweat.
“UNMATA, The Fast & The Furious”
This intense workshop focuses on fast! Amy will lay down the
stylistic foundation and technical breakdown for UNMATA’s
awe-inspiring omis, ferocious shimmies, and bad-ass body
pops.
Each movement will include “transition-training” so it can be
used alone or linked with other movements to create a short
choreography. UNMATA is known for beat-your-butt drilling
and technical obsession, so bring lots of water and come
prepared to sweat!
“Hot Pot Tribal Fusion”
This workshop presents two original tribal style combinations
developed by Amy Sigil at Hot Pot Studio in Sacramento ,
home of UNMATA. Both combinations will include a complete
movement and timing breakdown, guidance to nuance
development, and ample drilling to engage
muscle memory.
Geared for improvisational dancers and troupes who depend
on a cueing system when performing live, this course will
include “transition-training” and lead-change practice. Each
combo will begin and end in a tribal-friendly position so that it
may be added to your preexisting vocabulary.
“Moves You’ve Hopefully Never Thought of Before”
This fresh-approach workshop will reveal the secrets of
UNMATA’s modern bellydance fusion. Amy will describe,
demonstrate, and drill some of the striking stuff you’ve only
seen the girls whip out on stage.
Each movement will emphasize specific technique and
capture the nuance of UNMATA’s popular style. Because this
class is designed for the intermediate to advanced dancer, a
sufficient understanding of balance, timing, and isolation skill
is prerequisite. Curriculum can easily be adapted for cabaret
or tribal disciplines.
“Overlaying Isolations, Amy Sigil Style”
Amy’s Art of Overlay is at the heart of this intermediate to
advanced bellydance workshop aimed to add expressive
layers and distinction to your dance style. Although
controlled simultaneous movement is a complex idea, this
class provides a simple approach certain to bring impressive
results.
Beginning with a thorough breakdown of basic isolation
technique, Amy will expand such elements as core strength
and relaxed tension, and then demonstrate helpful exercises
that are necessary to develop an awareness needed to
isolate key muscle groups. Then she will teach and drill an
isolation combo that incorporates the artistic flare unique to
Amy Sigil and UNMATA.
Because this class is designed for the intermediate to
advanced dancer, a sufficient understanding of balance and
timing is prerequisite.
UNMATA is a professional, multi-award-winning, bellydance
fusion troupe based in Sacramento, CA . Formed in 2003 by
Hot Pot Studio’s artistic director Amy Sigil, UNMATA’s current
members are Shelly DeCant, Luna Taylor, Casey Staub, and
Kari VanderZwaag. The high-energy teamforce of UNMATA
is known for extreme choreography, inventive Tribal
improvisation, and for tapping into an unmistakable divine
inebriation on and off stage. UNMATA’s 2007 agenda
includes teaching and performing their distinct “Tough Love”
style nationally and internationally, tri-hosting the first annual
Tribal Throwdown in March, and producing the Seventh
Annual Blood Moon Regale in Sacramento on Halloween
weekend. UNMATA holds the 2007 title “Tribal Fusion Group
of the Universe.”
Awards
Tribal Fusion Group of the Universe 2007
Ensemble of the Year 2005
Bellydance Troupe U.S.A. 2004
Bellydance Troupe of the Year 2004
Amy Sigil Bio
Amy Sigil is owner and director of Hot Pot Studio in
Sacramento , CA , home of UNMATA. For the past decade,
Amy has been developing, teaching, and performing modern
bellydance fusion and her distinct vocabulary of
Improvisational Tribal Style. She danced as half of Haruspicy
Dancecraft for several years, and then formed the
professional fusion troupe UNMATA in 2003. UNMATA has
brought home awards such as Bellydance Troupe of the Year
2004, Bellydance Troupe USA 2004, Ensemble of the Year
2005, and Tribal Fusion Group of the Universe 2007.
Amy and UNMATA teach workshops and perform nationally
and internationally at events such as The Spirit of the Tribes,
Northern Migration, Tribal Fest, Tribal Quest Northwest,
TribalCon, and Tribal Café. Amy has judged for various
pageant competitions such as Belly Dancer of the Year and
Enchanted Camelot.
Each October Amy Sigil, UNMATA, and Hot Pot Studio host
The Blood Moon Regale, a themed weekend of workshops,
dance fellowship, and a fully produced showcase of student
and professional dancers.
Workshops
Sigil School NEW!
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the teaching format of Amy
Sigil in this interactive split session with UNMATA. In the first
half of class, Amy will share her experience, ideas, and dance
doctrine—as well as answer your questions. In the second
half of class, you will get on your feet for a Sigil School
whirlwind demonstration. Tag words: warm-ups, transitions,
music, mixes, tempo, choreography, common vocab, work,
craft, drill, team, time, counting, working backwards, notes,
repetition, fellowship, and yes, you will sweat!
“UNMATA, 110%” NEW!
Featured 2007 Workshop
No bellydance fusion enthusiast ever drowned from sweat,
and to train like the UNMATA grrrls, you’ve got to be willing to
get down and get wet. After this rigorous workshop you’ll walk
away with two of Amy Sigil’s signature combos—broken down
into movement components, bootlaced together, and drilled
‘til you’re ready to drop.
Be prepared to tap into your hidden reserves of strength and
sass as you take on this class. Warning: 110% is not for
paper dolls. And yes, the music will be very, very loud.
“HOTPOTTURBOTRIBALTRICKS” NEW!
Strap-on your jet-packs. In this workshop you’ll get the skinny
on what happens when you let off a lot of steam while dancing
really good, really fast. You’ll learn and drill two original
combos snatched directly from the Hot Pot Studio tribal
vocabulary, both equipped for improv and ready for show.
You will have fun. You will sweat. You will be inspired. And
after class when you’re sore and on the floor, remember,
“Horsepower” is defined as work done over time. We just
teach you the tricks.
“UNMATA au naturel”
Featured 2006 Workshop
This multi-level workshop will outline two tribal fusion
combinations emphasizing technique and isolation. The first
combination will incorporate the building blocks of UNMATA’s
modern bellydance style. The second combination will focus
primarily on the Hula Fusion nuance.
Each movement will be outlined within a tribal cueing system
so that it may be added to any troupe’s choreography or
tribal vocabulary. Amy will describe and drill each individual
movement, then fasten them together into an accessible tribal
combo that will be practiced in useful group and duet
formations.
This workshop will be fun, fast, and furious. UNMATA believes
in beat-your-butt technical practice, so bring water and come
prepared to sweat.
“UNMATA, The Fast & The Furious”
This intense workshop focuses on fast! Amy will lay down the
stylistic foundation and technical breakdown for UNMATA’s
awe-inspiring omis, ferocious shimmies, and bad-ass body
pops.
Each movement will include “transition-training” so it can be
used alone or linked with other movements to create a short
choreography. UNMATA is known for beat-your-butt drilling
and technical obsession, so bring lots of water and come
prepared to sweat!
“Hot Pot Tribal Fusion”
This workshop presents two original tribal style combinations
developed by Amy Sigil at Hot Pot Studio in Sacramento ,
home of UNMATA. Both combinations will include a complete
movement and timing breakdown, guidance to nuance
development, and ample drilling to engage
muscle memory.
Geared for improvisational dancers and troupes who depend
on a cueing system when performing live, this course will
include “transition-training” and lead-change practice. Each
combo will begin and end in a tribal-friendly position so that it
may be added to your preexisting vocabulary.
“Moves You’ve Hopefully Never Thought of Before”
This fresh-approach workshop will reveal the secrets of
UNMATA’s modern bellydance fusion. Amy will describe,
demonstrate, and drill some of the striking stuff you’ve only
seen the girls whip out on stage.
Each movement will emphasize specific technique and
capture the nuance of UNMATA’s popular style. Because this
class is designed for the intermediate to advanced dancer, a
sufficient understanding of balance, timing, and isolation skill
is prerequisite. Curriculum can easily be adapted for cabaret
or tribal disciplines.
“Overlaying Isolations, Amy Sigil Style”
Amy’s Art of Overlay is at the heart of this intermediate to
advanced bellydance workshop aimed to add expressive
layers and distinction to your dance style. Although
controlled simultaneous movement is a complex idea, this
class provides a simple approach certain to bring impressive
results.
Beginning with a thorough breakdown of basic isolation
technique, Amy will expand such elements as core strength
and relaxed tension, and then demonstrate helpful exercises
that are necessary to develop an awareness needed to
isolate key muscle groups. Then she will teach and drill an
isolation combo that incorporates the artistic flare unique to
Amy Sigil and UNMATA.
Because this class is designed for the intermediate to
advanced dancer, a sufficient understanding of balance and
timing is prerequisite.
