This blog is a thank you to the awesome people in the belly dance world who have taught and inspired me. Firstly I must thank Chris Elwell who introduced me to belly dance almost 30 years ago, prior to that I had done Ballroom, Latin and Jazz but discovering Belly Dance was like coming home - it felt so right for my body. In my twenties I was too busy getting married, and having children to devote myself to dance however I did do some classes in Salsa and Mambo. I got back into BD when Maureen Pemberton started teaching monthly workshops, I was amazed by how much had changed since I had Belly Danced before - but have come to realise that Belly Dance constantly evolves. I then found a weekly class with Linda Spittle, Linda was an inspiration to me because she neither thin or young but she was fabulous and I thought "if she can do it so can I" Heidi Scott took over her class and invited me to dance in her troupe Turkish Delight. I learnt a lot from Heidi and am very sad that she is no longer teaching, she was an a fabulous dancer, teacher and friend. At this point I started teaching (I took over Heidi's class when she got pregnant). My life quickly changed, I started with just one class then 3 then 5, I achieved the JWAAD foundation certificate and the City and Guilds teaching certificate and I formed my troupe Shikidim.
Sadly I no longer had time to attend weekly classes plus it was hard to find good teachers within easy reach so I started attending workshops and I would like to say a thank you to the following fabulous teachers for helping me develop as a dancer. They are in no order but I will start with Pauline Qu and her husband Asif (drumming)who taught me how to tackle a drum solo (still have not yet had the courage to dance to a live drum in public but I will one day) JULIANA BRUSTIK-Baladi veil, NAWARRA-Shaabi and Khaleegy,LOPA SARKAR-Bollywood, KATIE HOLLAND-Bollywood, TAMALLYN DALLAL-Double veil, ISHTAR-dancing in shoes, FULYA-Burlesque, HAZEL KEYES-Latin fusion, WARDA, TINA HOBIN-Egyptian Cabaret,LORRAINE FREW-choreography, OSLAN-Turkish Cabaret, JANE VASS-Ghawazee, NICOLA FAIREY-Choreography, DAWN O'BRIEN-ATS, VASHTI-North African,JO WISE-choreography SEMRA-choreography, TRACEY JONES-zills, TRACEY GIBBS-Shimmies, GALIT MERSAND-choreography and jazz fusion, KHALED- choreography,AMAL TAFSOUT-Andalusian scarf dance, CHRISTING EMERY-performance skills, HEATHER BURBY-choreography, GWEN BOOTH-Classical Egyptian style, HELEN ROBERTS-Choreography, NIKKI LIVERMORE-ATS, Gypsy, Ghawazee, DI COX-Saiidi, VAL RAINBOW-veils, DEIDRE MC.DONALD-ATS and Bollywood, ANN ASHCROFT-Baladi, DONNA GARDNER-ATS and choreography,AMY SIGIL (UNMATA)-Tribal Fusion, JAN PIGGOT-Haghalla GENEVA BYBEE-Tribal Fusion, WENDY MARLETT-ATS, Flamenco fusion, ROSE HARDEN (ULTRA GYPSY)-Tribal Fusion, KIMBERLEY MC. COY-Tribal Fusion RAHEESHA-Gypsy, YASMIN ASER-Gypsy, RANDA KAMAL-Egyptian Cabaret, SHAFEEK-Egyptian Cabaret, , KISMET-ATS, ANGELA WOOI-Bollywood, EVA GREEN - Choreography, CAROLE HOWARD-steampunk, MARHARET-Dark Cabaret, MIHRIMAH - Indian Dance, HARRIET GERVASIO-Melaya Lef, SIRI (NORWAY)-Khaleegy SERKAN TUTAR-choreography The UZUME-Tribal Fusion, JILLINA-choreography, AMAR GAMAL-Travelling combinations, SONIA/ISSAM-drum solo and Odissi temple dancing, RACHEL BRICE-Tribal Fusion, SHARON KIHARA-Tribal Fusion, SAMANTHA EMANUEL-Tribal Fusion and zills, MANCA PAVLI-Tribal Fusion, MORIA-Tribal Fusion and stage make-up, KAMI LIDDLE-Tribal Fusion and classical Indian, SUHAILA SAMUILPOUR-Tribal Fusion, BEX PRIEST- attended a term in her Tribal Fusion classes, ANSUYA-Bollywood, WENDY BONAVENTURA-Tango and arms, Gypsy and Tribal Fusion and OZGEN -Romany Gypsy (3 times), Drum Solo and Turkish Cabaret choreography, AMIRA SHAZADI - Latin Belly Dance, HER ROYAL HELLNESS LUCRETIA - Vamp it up, AJSA SAMIA - Balkan Triba Fusion, Daphne Pena - Beat the Belly Dance Backache. The diversity of my personal dancing style is a reflection of the diversity of the aforementioned teachers and I feel I should acknowledge the contribution they have made to my career.
More workshops coming up as I strive to update my skills and introduce more styles to my students and develop new choreographies for my troupe..
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