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Over a decade ago, I took my first belly dance class for exercise. Little did I know at the time the impact that studying and performing this wonderful and much misunderstood dance form would have on my life. As a means of creative self-expression, it has brought me benefits beyond what I could have imagined. Special areas of interest include North African dance (Guedra, Moroccan Shikkat, Algerian Ouled Nail, and Tunisian), Turkish Roma and Oryantal dance, and Central Asian dance. Several years ago, as a result of my dance studies, I became interested in drumming. My first drum was the dumbek, which I enjoy playing in drum and drum/dance circles. Later, I became attracted to the resonance and richness of sound of the tar and riqq and am currently studying these instruments, most recently with Layne Redmond. In addition to dancing and drumming, I also enjoy traveling and have been to Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt.
I
perform at family, community, corporate, and educational events in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in nightclub/cabaret (Raqs
Sharqi) and/or folkloric styles. Examples are:
My show is elegant, expressive, playful, FUN, and enjoyed by the whole family! Often when I dance, I play finger cymbals or Turkish wooden spoons. My show can be custom designed to meet your needs regarding length, use of specialized props such as cane, sword, or veil, live music versus taped, and number of dancers. A combination of performance and instruction or just instruction is also available (see BellyDance for EveryBODY). Sorry guys, but I don't dance at bachelor parties or other “men only events!” Please click here for pricing options. I have extensive performing experience in a wide variety of venues. To see some of the many places I have performed, please click here. In 1998 and 2003, I initiated the current Middle Eastern Dance instructional program offered by the City of Gaithersburg and the City of Rockville. This program offers 3 levels of instruction with a student age range of teens to senior citizens. I also teach beginning dumbek classes and workshops in specialized ethnic dance forms (Guedra, Raqs al Assaya or cane, Tunisian, Ouled Nail), Arabic rhythms, “Costuming on the Cheap”, “ Egyptian Stage Makeup”, and “BellyDance for EveryBODY”. To learn about the benefits of studying belly dance, click here.
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