Willow Chang

About me:

..Classically trained in voice, Willow Chang is noted for her musicality, bell-like tone and clarity. She is sophisticated, emotive and expressive, singing not only the lyrics, but also the story each song tells. Willow’s versatility embraces such genres as Broadway show tunes, French Melodie, art songs, madrigals, choral works, R&B, funk and ’80s pop. For example, she has been the lead vocalist for Swingwood Revue (neo and classic Big Band), Plush Nugget (funk and R&B) and Paradise Sisters and Co. (Top 40). In 2008, Willow was featured with The Hot Club of Hulaville, sharing the best of Django gyspy inspired Jazz and cabaret. With her period perfect flair, on-spot French and undeniable musicality, she helped create the buzz about the band! Since 2003,Willow has been with The Forbidden World of Don Tiki (Hawai‘i Exotica), and is intregal to their theatrical shows as featured vocal soloist and dance artist, selecting her music, and creating both her own unique costumes and choreography. Together, they’ve played the Hawaii Theater, Hawaiian Hut, The Turtle Bay Jazz festival, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, The Elks Club, The Pacific Beach Hotel, The Honolulu Design Center, the Hawaii State Art Museum, the Hawaii Convention Center, Aloha Tower Marketplace, Night time with Andy Bumatai, Honolulu City 150’s birthday Gala, with the Honolulu Symphony, for countless conventions, the Las Vegas opening of the Hawaiian Tropic Zone Restaurant in the Planet Hollywood Hotel, were featured in Hanahou- Hawaiian Airlines’ inflight magazine, on German television and in Berlin, Germany for the Wassermusik Festival in 2008. For the past 16 years, Willow has specialized in jazz standards and contemporary cabaret. Audiences find her mesmerizing and memorable through her great song choices, vibrant delivery, engaging rapport and impeccable, elegant stage presence. Willow has been singing for audiences since she was 7 and has been studying voice since she was 13. Among her early vocal achievements, she was invited into the exclusive Punahou Chorale and select honor choir, which performed in Japan, and was a representative for the Hawai‘i State Honor Choir. At Sarah Lawrence College, she studied vocal literature, sight singing, composition and music theory. Willow graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa with a minor in music. Her excellent pitch translates into ease of singing in numerous languages, including German, Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Latin, Russian, Spanish, French, Turkish and Arabic, to name a few. Since her teen years, Willow has studied voice with Julianne Cross, Erik Haines, Eddye Pierce-Young, Jean Wentworth, Vicky Gorman, Annette Johansson, Larry Paxton and Theresa Bomberger. Currently (since 2002), she studies the Bel Canto technique with renowned Maestra Neva Rego, of the famed La Scala Opera. Willow has sung internationally at the Club Piano Piano, in the Cairo World Trade Center and the Cairo Jazz Club in Mohandessen, Egypt. In the Islands, she has had steady engagements at Michel’s at the Colony Surf, the Ship’s Tavern at the historic Sheraton Moana Surfrider, O‘ahu Country Club, MidPacific Country Club and Café Che Pasta. Willow is frequently booked to sing at the Sheraton Waikiki’s famed Hanohano room. She sings for exclusive events, ranging from wine tastings and art openings to conventions, and is much in demand for gala and fundraising events (Hawaiian Humane Society, Juvenile Diabetes, Diamond Head Theater, Hawai‘i Theater for Youth, Honolulu Academy of Arts and opening celebrations for the Waikiki Tiffany & Co. store) Willow is now producing her own events, including the World dance concert series PUJA, and music concerts at Hawaii Public Radio. In Decemeber 2008, she made her debut with the Willow Sings Songs of the Season. Willow placed in the top three in the juried 2006 Hapa Haole Song & Dance Contest by performing an original composition. Her original music was featured on the Discover Recycling soundtrack CD, alongside cuts from Henry Kapono and Jack Johnson. In 2008, she was a finalist in the Hawaii Public Radio Art Song Contest, singing literature by Aaron Copeland. Willow has written and composed original songs, and recently completed her first demo of jazz standards. NEW DANCE CLASS! Voted 2009 Best of Honolulu! Hooray for Bollywood! Discovey the fun and challenge of Bollywood dance: a masal of classical Indian, Bhagara, Belly Dance, hip hop, modern and free form dance! All style and ages welcome. No experience necessary. Jai Ho! WEDNESDAYS 7-8 pm Heaven on earth Fit Studio, corner of King and Isenberg, at the Old Hula Supply Center store. ..==>Saturday 10 and 11am classes at Heaven on Earth Fit Studio, in Moiliili, in the Old Hula Supply Center ( corner of King and Isenberg streets) and are now combined as One Class in a two hour format..<== .. VEILS! VEILS! VEILS! a special 2 hours workshop at Queen's Women's center! May 28th, Thursday, $20. Come and discover the feminine, flowing and magical energy of dancing with a veil. A wealth of information and techniques explored, no experiece necessary and veils provided. Valet and validated parking available.

Tues: Queen's classes 4:30-5:30 pm
Weds and Friday; Weekday Warrior at 11-12 noon - Call Willow for location BOLLYWOOD! Heaven on Earth Fit Studio 7-8pm no experience necessary Kapiolani Community College- Maile Dance Studio Tuesdays 6-8 pm Intro and continuing technique
Thurs: 6-8 pm Intermediate BRING YOUR FINGER CYMBALS!!!
Sat: Kapiolani Women's Center 8:15 -9:15 am, Heaven on Earth Fit Studio 10-12 Noon
Private and Semi-Private classes by appointment for YOUR schedule, time needs, artistic goals, plan your course of study!!!

Bio
Willow Chang is a multi-disciplined artist, trained in voice, dance, music, costume design and visuals arts. Willow holds a degree in Dance, with a minor in music, from the University of Hawai‘i. She studied Hawaiian hula for 10 years, and was employed in Egypt in a Hawaiian Show (1994). She has also studied Classical Indian dance (Kuchipudi and Odissi), Bollywood, Balinese, Flamenco, Argentinean Tango, Ballet and Modern dance.
For the past 15 years, she has focused her studies on Middle Eastern and Northern African dance and related forms and is recognized as Hawai‘i’s premier Middle Eastern Dance artist. Annually, she travels to study with master teachers and perform.
Recognized for her emotive, innovative and elegant performances at cultural and educational events, festivals and corporate fundraisers, dancing locally and at invitationals abroad. As founder and artistic director of SANGHA Dance Theater, Willow has developed a following as a choreographer for her own contemporary solo dance performances, as well as ensemble works for her dancers. Other dance projects include annual PUJA tm Dance Concert and workshops series, DEVADASI and her modern dance works. In demand as an instructor and performer, she presents a disciplined, methodical and impassioned understanding of movement, sequencing and performance dynamics. She always emphasizes the musical and cultural context of the art. Her company, Passport Productions, produces national and international instructor’s workshops and events.
Willow has been featured extensively in all forms of media, including magazines ( Jareeda, Raks Sharqi: A Belly Dance Magazine, Gilded Serpent, Belly Dance Japan, Hanahou Hawaiian Airlines Inflight magazine, Los Angeles Magazine, Bastet ,Orient magazine and Honolulu Magazine), print (( Midweek, The Honolulu Advertiser, The Honolulu Weekly and The Honolulu Star Bulletin),radio and TV both locally, nationally and internationally,in books (Belly dance: A Photographic Journey by Martha Elena Burns 2008,) and on DVDs by IAMEDS and Pe-Ko Hollywood Music Center. Performance highlights include invited guest artist for both Tito Seif Gala shows (Honolulu), LCC Dance Inviatational artist (2009) , Solo and SANGHA performers at the Honolulu concert for Rachel Brice and The Indigo (2009),Guest artist for the NATCMED's Hawaii Dance Competition with Mahmoud Reda (2007), guest dancer for famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass's visit to Honolulu, repeat guest artist with the Georges Lammam Ensemble at Pene Pasha Mama in San Francisco, co-teaching drum and rhythm dance workshops with Carmine Guida in Greece, Honolulu and Rakassah West (2006, 2007 & 2008) and with master percussionist Souhail Kaspar (2004 and 2008), performing and teaching at UNESCO’s 20th International Dance Congress (Athens, Greece, 2006), The Music Medicine Concert (Cairo, Egypt, 2005), The International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (IAMEDS) Belly Dance Reloaded concert and DVD (2004), Layali al Saif Dance concert at Santa Monica Performance Space (2005), Hollywood Music performance DVD series (2006), Leela’s Arabia Exotica Concert, LA (2006) and actress Margaret Cho’s Sensuous Woman Concert (2006). Willow’ has also had teaching and performance engagements, with both Oriental dance and Hawaiian Hula, in Germany and Switzerland Fall 2007 (sponsored by Naheda, Ennussah and Meissoun) as well as in summer of 2008 (Berlin and Zurich). She's on teaching staff at both Rakkasah West and East 2008, and is currently planning the second PUJA: An Offering In Dance Concert for June 6th and 7th, 2009, titled GODS + MONSTERS .
PUJA ; GODS + MONSTERS Dance Concert and workshops series! JUNE 6TH SATURDAY, 7:30PM AND JUNE 7TH, SUNDAY 2PM WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE PALIKU THEATER With Guest artists ANASMA =FRANCE MEISSOUN=SWITZERLAND AND EDUARDO RODRIGUES= ARGENTINA/CIRQUE DU SOLEIL INCLUDING : Willow Chang, SANGHA Dance Theater, Shakti Dance Movement, Andrea Torres- Samadhi Hawaii, Adela Chu, Samantha Tavares, Samba Axe, George Garcia, Michael Hamiliton, Guillerme Alves, Intrepid, the Breakatears, The Maloholoho Ensemble, Convergence Dance Theater, Naomi Brown, Diane Lam and Pure Pilates...NOT TO BE MISSED! pre-sale tix are $20/25...at the door $25/30 (discounts for seniors and students). FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF CURRENT DANCE CLASSES, PLEASE VISIT www.willowchang.com and the MYSPACE CALENDAR! THANK YOU! data="http://widget-5e.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf"> ..

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Willow Chang is a dance artist based in Hawai'i trained in both traditional and modern dances, from dance disciplines spanning the Middle East, Northern Africa, Hawaiian Hula, East Indian, modern, Ballet, Argentine Tango, Flamenco and yoga... She creates all her own costumes and choreographies, with the intent to honor the sacred divine.

New York and Rakkasah East Fall 2008

A beautiful journey to the east Coast to revisit old stomping grounds, get inspired, reconnect with old friends, make new ones, take classes, tango , teach hula and belly dance and perform!

dakini willow and gypsy angie, halloween 2008
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