Petitefleur Productions is committed to sponsoring local, national and international dancers and teachers. In turn providing education and inspiration to those in pursuit of the Middle Eastern dance form in San Antonio, Texas.

Internationally-renowned Superstar of Bellydance, Ansuya, is one of the most talented and accomplished performers, choreographers and instructors in the bellydance world today. Her style is unique, blending the best aspects of bellydance with Indian, Spanish and African moves. Energetic, sensual and innovative, Ansuya is a master of improvisation, musical interpretation, emotional expression, original moves and costume design. Students are captivated by Ansuya's unparalleled skill as an instructor. With 25 years experience, she remains accessible and fun, having a great time with students while helping them to achieve their best.

Ansuya is a multi award winner and has been seen on television shows, music videos and commercials as both a bellydancer and an actress. She has performed for countless celebrities and her top selling instructional videos are some of the best reviewed on the market. She is a second generation bellydancer with secrets handed down from mother to daughter, adding mystic and legend to her soulful performances and devoted instruction.

A sought after choreographer, she worked for CBS and for her own dance company, "Yaleil," which was now under her directorship. Yaleil was nominated for Best Troupe by the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance. Ansuya herself was voted Best Cabaret Dancer of the Year 2001 and received the Golden Belly Award for Best Cabaret Dancer in 2003, 2005, and 2007. She also continues to appear with the Bellydance Superstars with a recent tour of the U.S. and recent television appearances on Mexican TV Show, Otro Rollo and the Regis and Kelly Live Show. Ansuya will be coming to San Antonio to perform and teach both fusion & drum choreographies.

Middle-Eastern drumming sensation Raquy and the Cavemen are a duo of virtuoso drummers / multi-instrumentalists who bring hard rock energy to the mystical rhythms of the Middle East.

Raquy Danziger and Liron Peled, a former couple, started the band when they were married - Raquy is a world renowned virtuoso on the dumbek (Middle-Eastern hand drum), expressing her love of Middle Eastern music with the inspiration she absorbed in her travels. Liron has had a rich background as an incredible, world-touring hard rock drummer. Together they've created a fresh new sound, bringing out the best of both genres.

Raquy and the Cavemen switch between energetic drumming compositions and intoxicating melodic pieces. Utilizing a variety of unusual instruments including the Kemenche (an ancestor of the violin), Dumset (Middle Eastern drumset) and Mongolian Throat singing (see full instrument descriptions below), Raquy and the Cavemen's huge sound and mind-blowing show leaves listeners transported, uplifted and full of joy.

Raquy and the Cavemen have released Six CD's (See discography below). They have performed at Central Park SummerStage, LollaPalooza and PASIC, and have collaborated with some of the biggest names in Middle-Eastern music, including Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Saiid El-Artist. They have also shared the stage with Mickey Hart.

Their music has received radio airplay (reaching the top 20 in the CMJ Radio Airplay chart) and has been licensed in movie soundtracks and dance performances worldwide.

Their show features several exotic instruments:

Dumbek - Raquy specializes in the dumbek, the Middle Eastern goblet drum. She has shared the stage with some of the greatest drummers in the Middle East. Her style combines techniques that she learned in various countries, but especially features the amazing new Turkish Split Hand Technique that she has been studying in Istanbul. In Raquy's original drumming compositions, the dumbek, usually used as accompaniment in ensemble pieces, becomes a shining solo instrument. Audiences are amazed by the speed, dexterity and finesse of Raquy's playing.

Kemenche Tarhu - Raquy's other instrument, the Kemenche Tarhu, is a haunting 12 stringed spiked fiddle designed after the Persian kemenche (spikefiddle.com). Raquy plays original compositions on the Kemenche, based on the Middle Eastern tonal modes, as well as a selection of favorite traditional tunes.

Dumset - Liron combined his hard rock drum set background with Middle Eastern traditional drums by inventing the Dum Set. The Dum Set consists of Liron's "Baboombeck" (big copper dumbek), a bass dumbek played with one foot, a Riq (tambourine) played with the other foot, and cymbals played with his hands.

11 String Guitar - Liron took a beautiful 12-String guitar, and restrung it with 11 thin strings to sound like a cross between a guitar, a sitar and a saz, bringing the instrument a new exotic character.

Throat Singing - Liron learned how to throat sing from his friend Nezih, who figured out how to do it himself while he was on mushrooms. Now Liron uses this incredible sound to entrance listeners and add a synth bass-like sound to Raquy and the Cavemen.

Leith comes to bellydancing from a background in elite level athletics. For twelve years she fenced both nationally and internationalyy with her crowning glory being a team gold medal at the USFA 1992 Nationals in Women's Epee. She is also both state Champion in Texas as well as Maryland and the East Coast Circuit Champion in Women's Epee from 1991-94. She also did a brief stint in Modern Pentathlon from 94-95 placing third Nationally and 8th in the San Antonio March World Cup.

Married eight years ago to an avid hunter she needed something to keep her sane during hunting season. She tried belly dancing once and was hooked! She now dances all the time during all seasons! Leith received all her formative belly dance training with Karavan Sudio in San Antonio, TX. Starting a couple of years ago Leith starting studying and training with teachers across the United States. Most notably, Ansuya Rathor of Belly Dance Super Stars fame.

Petite Fleur Productions, Leith's production company is the outcome of that student/teacher relationship. When Leith hosted Ansuya at Jump Start Theater in the fall of 2010 Petite Fleur Productions was created as an artistic entity to host Ansuya in San Antonio. Leith is also helping to create the San Antonio Belly Dance Association. She looks forward to hosting more dancers, musicians, and teachers through her production company and in conjunction with the newly formed San Antonio Belly Dance Association.

She can be seen performing at restaurants, festivals, theaters, and special occasions both in San Antonio and across the U.S.

Leith loves dance and only wishes she had come to it earlier in life. But better late than never!