PANGIA: Bio

PAT OLSON

Pat Olson began studying the ‘oud with John Bilezikjian in 1992 and has been performing World & Middle Eastern music ever since. He has been involved in the World of Belly Dance since 1990 performing at private and public engagements all over Northern California & the West Coast accompanying his wife Denise & more recently as the group “PANGIA”. He has performed at all of the RAKASSAH East Festivals & in New York City. For the last 7 years, over the New Years’ holidays, Pangia has performed shows in Mexico City, Mazatlan & Acapulco, Mexico. Pangia has performed on a regular basis at RAKASSAH West Festivals in California and Summer Caravan in Oakland, CA in July. “PANGIA” has been the featured band for six years at the El Morocco Restaurant in Pleasant Hill for the annual “After Party” following the nationally recognized “Belly Dancer of the Year Competition. Pangia has been the featured entertainment at the Mt Shasta Fourth of July Race/Walk for several years; the largest small town foot race in North America.
Pat is an accomplished vocalist , guitarist, sound & lighting tech , having performed in many musicals, vocal jazz groups as well as toured all over the world with a performing group demonstrating his many talents. He collects, builds , repairs and plays many instruments and has written several pieces of original music for Belly Dancing . In addition to his First CD: released in 2002, his second CD: PANGIA, VOL 2 was released in March 2003,Volume 3 in March 2005 ,DREAMS-VOL 4 released in March 06. WEST of EAST, vol 5 was released March 16, 2007.

DENISE

Denise, is the Keyboard & Zil player for “PANGIA” and was the co-founder of the original Troupe Mandala. Currently, the Director of Troupe Mandala, California, she has danced, taught workshops & played keyboards & zils all over the West Coast, as well as the East coast and for the past seven winters, performed in Mexico, along with her OUD player Pat Olson.
She has presented quality Shows & Workshops in both Shasta & Siskiyous Counties, sponsored by the Arts Councils & teaches classes locally at College of the Siskiyous. Denise also teaches workshops along with Pat for the Rakkassah Festivals West, East & Spring Caravan.
The co-producer and artistic director of PANGIA’s 5 CDs., in her “spare” time, she designs & creates costumes ,grows prize winning herbs in her organic garden, and likes to cook and SCUBA dive.

PANGIA

Pangia
Pronunciation: pan-‘jE-&
Usage: geographical name
Hypothetical land area believed to have once connected the landmasses of the southern hemisphere with those of the northern hemisphere. The name expresses our desire to play music from all around the world for everyone!