Teacher/Facilitator,Performance and Visual Artist,Author,Scholar
Biographies are quite the journey...what is relevant about one's life when
presented as credentials?With that in mind, here are the relevant formal and personal experiences
that have brought about the desire to teach, perform and share the
glorious Art of Belly Dance, or as I call it, Goddessdance.
THE PASSION
My love of dance began more than 25 years ago with the lifetime formal
study of jazz, modern, ballet, tap and musical theatre/ performance arts.
Being an avid admirer of World Music drew me to study various world
dance styles, but in 1998, the discovery of the inherent femininity of
belly dance felt like coming home.
WHY I TEACH BELLY DANCE The beautiful and passionate art of Belly Dance is the most profound and
direct way I've found to connect with an essence of the soul that
embodies the divine feminine, the goddess within. Belly Dance is a journey of discovery, acceptance and
appreciation for the wonderful gifts of being alive: feeling, moving, creating and connecting.
One of my greatest joys is to share it's message with others,
which I primarily do through teaching/ facilitation.
I feel I've succeeded when the women I teach appreciate who they are, as
they are, and let out the dancer within!
Creating beautiful and inspiring space for this beautiful art
form led to the creation of World Tree Studio in 2007, a
collaboratively created place for dance, yoga, wellness and connection.
The formal training and experiences that support my teaching and philosophy include:
DANCE and MOVEMENT Over 25 years dance training in various disciplines including Jazz,
Ballet, Tap, Modern, Oriental Dance, Authentic Movement, Hatha Yoga, Creative Movement, Dance Anatomy,
and study of Folk Dances from Turkey, Egypt, India, North Africa, West
Africa and Spain.
BELLY DANCE Since 1998, I have been an avid explorer of the
varied styles, techniques and music that are considered " Belly Dance",
studying with many wonderful teachers in Calgary and beyond.
Fortunately, I was able to study Oriental Dance Instruction with
Hadia, completing a Teacher's Course in 2004.
TEACHING I have taught Dance, English and Performance Arts and Movement to both Youth and
Adults for about 8 years, and taught Belly Dance for about 5.
RECENT PERFORMANCE and DIRECTING
Goddessdance Bellydance
Throughout the year, Goddessdance Bellydance can be found performing at various haflas, student shows and non- profit fundraisers.
World Tree Studio
Opened January 2007
February, 2008- SOJOURN: An Odyssey of World Dance and Music
at The Epcor Centre's Engineered Air Theatre
Directed and Produced by Zenya as a collective presentation with talented choreographers and musicians from World Tree Studio (see links)
POST SECONDARY DEGREES BA Humanities with a Fine Arts Minor Fine Arts:
Developmental Drama, Performance Arts, Studio Art
Contemporary
Dance, Design for Dance Humanities:
Art History, Classical Studies, World Literature, Philosophy,
Women's Studies, Religious Studies and languages.
BEd- Master of Teaching
My second degree officially
recognized me as a professional teacher, although I had already been
teaching dance and volunteering in the field of Adult Education.
About
POST SECONDARY DEGREES
