Post by myaisha.com on May 26, 2004 11:03:42 GMT -5
Amira, owner of "Amira's Dance Productions" the studio where Raks Araby dances, died last Monday. She had been very sick with cancer for a long time so her death was not a suprise.
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Castilow, Alice Pearl Amira, 65, Amira Dance Productions teacher and artistic director, died Monday, May 24, 2004. Memorial service 6 p.m. Friday, Hillside Funeral Home West, 2929 W. 13th St. Born Aug. 25, 1938 in Winfield, KS, she was one of the three children born to Pauline and Kenneth Bursack. Alice and her family traveled quite a bit but eventually settled in West Virginia, where she met the love of her life, Donald Castilow. The Castilow's moved to the Wichita area around 1959 and had five children. Alice had been a dancer as a child and she rekindled her love of the dance in Wichita. Alice began teaching ballet and was co-founder of Wichita Civic Balley in 1970, which she later reorganized into Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita. In 1974 on a whim she and two other ballet dancers performed as belly dancers. The music and style of dance was very popular in the 70's and Alice took the dance form to heart. She traveled to New York City to study with the Master of Middle Eastern Dance and started teaching and performing in Wichita under the name Amira. During the past 30 years, Amira and her dancers have brought an appreciation and respect for Middle Eastern Dance in the Wichita area. Amira has touched the fortunate people that have seen her dance with her style and bright smile. She has inspired and enriched the lives of hundreds of women who have studied dance with her. Amira and her company of dancers also entertained and enlightened audiences with Mediterranean folk dances, Spanish Flamenco, Polynesian and the dances of India. In addition to her life as a dance leader, Alice was proud to be employed by Spurrier Chemical, where she has been a dedicated member of the team for over 25 years. Alice is survived by her brother, Fred Bursack of Oxford, KS; children, Lettie Abdelaziz of Bayonne, NJ, Donald Castilow Jr., Paula Kyle, Kenneth Castilow all of Wichita, Colleen Jones of Lee's Summit, MO; stepgrandchildren, Whitney, Ashley and Robert Jones Jr. all of Lee's Summit, MO; grandchildren, Nora and Sara Abdelaziz of Bayonne, NJ. The family would appreciate memorial donations to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202. Service arrangements by Hillside Funeral Home West. 943-2929.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 5/26/2004.
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Castilow, Alice Pearl Amira, 65, Amira Dance Productions teacher and artistic director, died Monday, May 24, 2004. Memorial service 6 p.m. Friday, Hillside Funeral Home West, 2929 W. 13th St. Born Aug. 25, 1938 in Winfield, KS, she was one of the three children born to Pauline and Kenneth Bursack. Alice and her family traveled quite a bit but eventually settled in West Virginia, where she met the love of her life, Donald Castilow. The Castilow's moved to the Wichita area around 1959 and had five children. Alice had been a dancer as a child and she rekindled her love of the dance in Wichita. Alice began teaching ballet and was co-founder of Wichita Civic Balley in 1970, which she later reorganized into Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita. In 1974 on a whim she and two other ballet dancers performed as belly dancers. The music and style of dance was very popular in the 70's and Alice took the dance form to heart. She traveled to New York City to study with the Master of Middle Eastern Dance and started teaching and performing in Wichita under the name Amira. During the past 30 years, Amira and her dancers have brought an appreciation and respect for Middle Eastern Dance in the Wichita area. Amira has touched the fortunate people that have seen her dance with her style and bright smile. She has inspired and enriched the lives of hundreds of women who have studied dance with her. Amira and her company of dancers also entertained and enlightened audiences with Mediterranean folk dances, Spanish Flamenco, Polynesian and the dances of India. In addition to her life as a dance leader, Alice was proud to be employed by Spurrier Chemical, where she has been a dedicated member of the team for over 25 years. Alice is survived by her brother, Fred Bursack of Oxford, KS; children, Lettie Abdelaziz of Bayonne, NJ, Donald Castilow Jr., Paula Kyle, Kenneth Castilow all of Wichita, Colleen Jones of Lee's Summit, MO; stepgrandchildren, Whitney, Ashley and Robert Jones Jr. all of Lee's Summit, MO; grandchildren, Nora and Sara Abdelaziz of Bayonne, NJ. The family would appreciate memorial donations to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202. Service arrangements by Hillside Funeral Home West. 943-2929.
Published in the Wichita Eagle on 5/26/2004.
