Saqarah Bellydance Hafla- November 14th 2009  

Line-up

Aurora

Aurora is a London-based performer for events such as weddings, hen nights, etc…

She is part of the Belly Dancers Delight with her friend and teacher Akaysha.

Dancing has become her true passion over the last two and a half years, and she constantly tries to enrich her performances with moves taken from different styles (Egyptian, Turkish, Tribal…) and new techniques, including poi dancing.

Poi dancing originates from the Maori in New Zealand. They are colourful balls (sometimes fire balls) placed at the ends of ropes which can be swung through rhythmical patterns.

Bonita

A Sussex based teacher and performer, Bonita has always been a great lover of music and dance. Her enthusiasm eventually led her to  take  a particular interest in the elegant movements and infectious rhythms of Egyptian Dance.

Since then, Bonita has had the good fortune to be accepted as one of Hossam and Serena Ramzy’s students and has studied with them for the past 2  years, developing her dancing and appreciation of Egyptian music and rhythm.

Byzantika

“Byzantika” oriental dance troupe created by Kristyna Kashvili eleven years ago for the purpose of giving students “a chance to dance”.  Byzantika has performed at numerous festivals as well as Saqarah and the style is Turkish with a Twist!!

The home of Byzantika is Jacksons Lane Arts Centre in North London where Kristyna teaches. 

Enquiries:   Byzantika@aol.com  /  0207 619 3534

Emaya

With a conventional background of tap and ballet as a child her love of dance was ingrained and once she discovered Belly Dancing there was no going back, her true love had been found.

Mentored by Razia and taught by Charlotte Desorgher of Hipsinc, her journey has now bought her here where she is proud to be dancing for her friends Eshta and Nafiseh.

Ewa Horsfield

“Ewa doesn’t dance to music, she lives! the music” – Sheik Taha

A performer influenced by the Egyptian masters in Cairo she studied with and by a lifetime’s involvement with World Music. Ewa collaborates internationally in film, photography and sound with the artist Craigie Horsfield. Ewa specialises in improvisation, expression and the relation to the audience. She is based at her dance studio in London where she works with professional dancers on focussed questions of technique.

Photo courtesy of Dave Halley

Itziar

Itziar has been a passionate dancer for the past 6 years. She lives and understands belly dancing as a strong tool for evolving, self expression and joy.

She learnt the art of bellydancing both in Spain, her country of origin and the UK, with a wide range of teachers and mentors from around the world, but specially Maria Perez in Spain and Charlotte Desorgher and Hossam in Serena Ramzy and their Advanced Dancers Course in the UK.

Itziar won an award at the latest Bellydance Congress Competition and she is a member of the HIPSINC Bellydance school and she teaches regular classes at Wandsworth, Wimbledon and Battersea.

She also performs in different events and restaurants in London and Surrey and she can be booked for special parties and events.

For more information email itziar@hipsinc.com / 07900833359

Rachel

Rachel is a much sought after bellydancer, known for interpreting the music to the max!  Presenting sound waves in movement is one of the most delightful things that Rachel’s audiences enjoy with each captivating performance.

Rachel is a member of international stars Hossam & Serena Ramzy’s dance troupe & has featured with them as a solo artist in concerts. She is also in the original cohort of students on the Drumzy certified course.  She is a resident dancer at Il Gusto restaurant in Reading and teaches regular classes in Crowthorne, East Berkshire.

Saqarah Bellydance Hafla -October 17th 2009  Line-up

Alimah Angels 

Definition: Angels skilled in music and dance.

This amazing double act has been together for less than a year but has already created a very distinct style of its own. Former Fleur Estelle students Eleanor and Rana present their own choreographed dances combining the best of belly pop and traditional moves with subtle Persian twist.

Atesh

Atesh is a JWAAD qualified teacher in Egyptian dance and Keti Sharif’s A-Z Original and Advance,  She is also trained in Turkish for a number of years and has recently been studying American Cabaret. A well loved and respected teacher in the Medway area of Kent especially for her sound knowledge, quality of teaching and wonderful sense of fun. Over the past few years she has taught at the JWAAD Fantasia and Summer School. Her face is known all over Kent where she is in great demand as both a performer and speaker at WI groups, Active Retirement and after dinner speaker which has enabled her to enlighten many people to the joy, truths and myths surrounding the dance.

She regularly travels to Egypt to study both dance and the culture of the country as she feels it is extremely important to be able to impart both the knowledge and emotion of the dance to her students.

Béatrice Curtis

Béatrice has been involved in the Bellydance world since 1991, as a student, performer and teacher. Resolutely Egyptian in her dance style, Béatrice conveys a strong feeling for the intricacy, the drama, the emotion of Arabic music. She has been described as “the Queen of Raqs Sassy” and as “Slinky, with Class”!

Béatrice has trained with top teachers in the U.K., and international Master Teachers. She is a qualified JWAAD teacher, and a tutor on the JWAAD Foundation Course. She teaches regular classes in Surrey, and workshops throughout the UK and overseas.

Imajica

Imajica have been dancing ‘Tribal style’ bellydance together for the past year and have been receiving rave reviews at every performance.

Horizon’s choreographies are designed to capture the essence of bellydance but also to
appeal to a modern western audience. The choice of music, dance and costuming creates a
vibrant spectacle that has audiences tapping their feet and itching to get up and start dancing.

Leila

Born in London, into a mixed British and Iranian family, Leila started dancing from a young age, observing the graceful and sensual dance of her elder female relatives, family friends and belly dancers.  She started teaching and performing in 2005.

She left the corporate world over one year ago, which has allowed her to realise her dream and push herself to a much higher level of teaching and performance.  Leila holds around 15 weekly classes in Central, North and West London, as well as Surrey. She performs weekly at private events, restaurants and parties, as well as charity and corporate events.

She also holds her own monthly bellydance showcase in Ealing, The Night of Shahrzad, on the first Saturday of each month.

Medina

Medina is the stage name of Medway Middle Eastern Dance that was formed in 2002. The group performed at MADN platform and Fantasia shows last year. They cover a wide range of styles including Egyptian and Folkloric, Turkish Cabaret and Folkloric, American Cabaret and can often be seen using a wide selection of props.

Performing not only at Haflas and ethic events but charity events, school fetes, WI functions, retirement and nursing homes. Medina  pride themselves on supporting the  wide range of ages within the group which enables them have something to offer to all audiences.

Roxanna

Roxanna has been dancing all her life.  Her mother says that, even as a toddler, she just had to switch the radio on and Roxanna would start to sway to the music.  She started taking ballet classes at 4.  

She discovered belly dancing  at the age of 26, when she walked into the wrong dance studio at a dance school. and found herself  in a class with dancers wearing hip belts in all colours, and with the most beautiful music.

While I enjoy all music and all dancing, Oriental music is like a narcotic/drug/opium that I simply cannot resist.