Belly Dance Salt Spring

I began dancing early in life and it became clear that it would be a life long passion. From early days of ballet and character dance I studied Highland Dance at Marie Lavoie's Academy, winning medals and a trophy. I continued her studies with Mary Isdale in Vancouver until I attended UBC for an Education degree. At UBC I took Ballroom Dance classes and joined the Campus Cavaliers Square and Round Dance Club where I met my life and dance partner, Ron. After graduation I studied at Cumbrae School of Dance with Marion Harvie in Kincardine, Ontario earning Highly Recommended Silver Medallion from BATD in Stage Dance. It was at this time, while participating in Square and Round dancing that I began Middle Eastern Dance, training with Lala Hakim and Denise Enan of the Egyptian Folkloric Dance Troupe. My affinity for this ancient dance form led to training at the Eddy Manneh Dance Centre in Toronto and many workshops with Dahlena, Morocco, Ibrahim Farrah, Ahmed Hussien and others. I began teaching Middle Eastern Dance in Kincardine, Port Elgin and Goderich. I directed a Dance Troupe in Kincardine, developed choreography and taught and performed throughout southern Ontario. Upon my move to Salt Spring Island I began an Adult Fitness class, volunteered a class at Greenwoods and taught and performed Middle Eastern Dance. I directed the Salt Spring Mid East Dance Troupe using my own and other choreography and also continued teaching Elementary school. Ron and I remained active in Square and Round dancing and then Country and Western Line dancing. We studied Ballroom Dance with the Victoria Ballroom Dance Society and began Sequence dancing and Ballroom Line dancing. We have had Ballroom and Line Dance training in BC, Shiremoor UK and Believe Ballroom, Bradford UK. We have taught Ballroom and Line Dance classes on Salt Spring and are currently enjoying many styles of Ballroom dance, including Line Dance. We had fun taking part in the local production of Hard Times Hit Parade as well as other performances of Ballroom Dance in Victoria. With the new studio I am looking forward to reconnecting with and sharing my love of the Middle Eastern Dance style. Some of my most fulfilling dance moments have been taking part in powerful performances of this time honoured art form.