This month we are supporting 'Women's Aid'
Performers this month are
Ozgen
Ozgen is an internationally acclaimed Turkish dancer, teacher, choreographer and director.
Specialising in Turkish Oriental and Romany (Gypsy) dance, Ozgen is keen to promote the Turkish form of Belly dancing to global audiences, and to further establish himself as one of the best Oriental performers in the world. He is regularly invited to give workshops in Britain and abroad, and to perform at international dance events and Belly dance festivals across Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Ozgen also offers private tuition to people of all levels, from beginners to professional dancers, as well as choreographing dance routines for events and music videos.
Please buy tickets to see his new community theatre show 'Ask (Love)' on May 18th 2014.
www.losttheatre.co.uk
Specialising in Turkish Oriental and Romany (Gypsy) dance, Ozgen is keen to promote the Turkish form of Belly dancing to global audiences, and to further establish himself as one of the best Oriental performers in the world. He is regularly invited to give workshops in Britain and abroad, and to perform at international dance events and Belly dance festivals across Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Ozgen also offers private tuition to people of all levels, from beginners to professional dancers, as well as choreographing dance routines for events and music videos.
Please buy tickets to see his new community theatre show 'Ask (Love)' on May 18th 2014.
www.losttheatre.co.uk
Aicha
From early age I've always loved to dance so I tried so many kind of dances : Dance Contemporary, Modern Jazz, Hip-pop, Salsa, African dance. Tunisian dance is my first Arabic dance, I've learnt it since I was young from dancing with family as I'm half Tunisian and from attending Tunisian weddings. I used to watch Egyptian films featuring belly dancers star like Sohair Zaki, my favourite, Nahed Sabri, Naima Akef, Samia Gamal, and Nagwa Fouad with my mum and I was fascinated by their dancing that I wanted to learn oriental dance. I seriously started to learn in my early 20's oriental dance by myself from watching videos of belly dancers stars on the internet and due to prior commitment which are to study and work, I couldn't take any classes, not until I arrived in London, I found the time to take classes and to improve myself in techniques and routines. I took my first Oriental dance classes with Josephine Wise for some period and I’ve done many workshops with master belly dancers such as Aleya of Cairo, Suzannah Hassan, Yael Zarka, Suhaila Salimpour, Leila Haddad, Ozgen, Anna Borisova, Bozenka and now I'm part of London Algerian Ballet which is a group dance based on folkloric traditional dances of Algeria country directed by Farah Nasri. Also I'm part of Ozgen bellydance project “Ask”, Turkish community show, to be performed soon in May.
Helen Rad
Helen found her passion of dance at a very young age; coming from the Middle East was the greatest inspiration for her to follow belly dancing where this exotic dance has got a root in. Helen is a talented and a professional belly dancer. She taught gymnastics and belly dancing in the Middle East when she was 14. She obtained gymnastic medals and won belly dancing star competition. She performed on stage from school age, and became a gymnastic instructor, and teaching tutorial belly dance afterwards. Helens interest in language and culture culminated in her obtaining both BA English and a MA Linguistics Degrees from The University Of East Anglia.
After a long time gap in belly dancing she is now back on track. She started to teach belly dancing at Hawi Belly Dancing school in july 2013 and has performed in London and Essex several times recently.
Helens’ main style is rakse sharghi with a twist of Persian and other Middle Eastern dance styles. Helen says “studying dance is a life-time process, it frees the spirit, giving health and fitness”.
After a long time gap in belly dancing she is now back on track. She started to teach belly dancing at Hawi Belly Dancing school in july 2013 and has performed in London and Essex several times recently.
Helens’ main style is rakse sharghi with a twist of Persian and other Middle Eastern dance styles. Helen says “studying dance is a life-time process, it frees the spirit, giving health and fitness”.
Sofeya
Predominantly trained in Egyptian-style oriental dance, Sofeya's journey began in 2008,when working as a TV researcher in the very competitive media industry, she needed something obscure enough to make her CV stand out. 5 years on & thanks to her amazing teachers, bellydance has become Sofeya's favourite obsession. She has also recently joined the esteemed cast of Aladdin (a theatrical dance show of the classic tale of Aladdin directed by award-winning dancer Delilah) & will be portraying The Sorcerer.
Miwako
Miwako is originally from Japan, has been performing in London for the last few years.
Saeeda
Saeeda is an instructor and choreographer at Shall We Bellydance School. She teaches weekly group bellydance classes in London. Saeeda went to dance school when she was 6. There, she learnt ballet, contemporary dance and different dances of the world’s peoples – from the fiery Spanish to the lyrical Persian. Later on, she has studied at the world renowned Drumzy School of Music and Dance of the world famous musician, composer and music arranger Hossam Ramzy . She is actively supported, encouraged and mentored by famous dancers, great masters, choreographers and teachers, such as Hossam and Serena Ramzy, Fifi Abdou, Randa Kamel, Jillina, Aziza, Sadie, Ansuya, Leyla Jouvana.
Aqila Farashah
Aqila Farashah/Stine Olsen has always loved moving to music, has danced since childhood and fell in love with belly-dance many years ago. For nearly ten years she has trained regularly in various Middle Eastern styles and for the past couple of years has focused on learning the intricacies of classical Egyptian style; to this end she travelled to Egypt and attended the Farida Farha Festival in May 2012. She is a trained actor and presenter and has presented the Arab Quarterly show several times, plus other haflahs and shows. She trains regularly with Josephine Wise and Charlotte Desorgher, and attends workshops with visiting teachers when able. Based in London, Aqila Farashah has danced at Hafla on the Hill, Arabic Night and Arabesque Nights several times, also the 4th Hayaam Bellydance Showcase, at Arab Quarterly show and at Hossam Ramzy's Club Baklava. She is currently working on the latest performance project by Ozgen, to be performed in London on 18th May.
Belly Dance Belles
The Belly Dance Belles, Yana and Caroline are part of the student troupe of host Rosy Summerbell. This month they are performing their own choreography. The Belly Dance Belles perform at charity corporate events, community festivals and haflas.
Love the Beat
Lovethebeat (LtB) is a community-driven dance, fitness and entertainment organisation based in North-West London. LtB provide a variety of dance and fitness classes including Belly dancing, Bollywood dancing, Street dancing, BollyBhangra Fitness, Samba Fitness and lots more. Their classes are for women and they are currently based in Edgware. They have a Belly Dancing Party happening on Sunday 4th May in Finchley, and would love all of you to come along and enjoy with them. Tonight, some Belly dance Reggaeton students / Sexy Street Dance students will be putting on a special show just for you – hope you enjoy! www.lovethebeat.co.uk