Middle Eastern Dance:
Dancers' Directory

International (Non-USA) Listings

**Note**: If you're interested in sending a dance photo and writing a little bit about yourself to a budding 13 year old dancer who's going through some tough family times, read this.

Australia

Academy of Middle Eastern Dance
Brisbane, Australia
phone: 3365 2922
Amera's Palace
Website: http://www.ameraspalace.com.au
Aziza
Sydney, Australia
Website: http://www.home.aone.net.au/aziza/: Bellydance performer and teacher of both cabaret and folkloric styles. She also designs and makes bellydance costumes. She teaches bellydance classes at four locations in Sydney; further info and a class schedule can be found at her Website. She also includes info on upcoming Sydney bellydance events.
Belyssa Academy of Danse Orientale
66 Wimbledon St.
Beckenham, 6107
Perth, Western Australia
phone: 458.4326 or
mobile 015 985 751: Belyssa has been dancing for 19 years, in Australia and the USA--mainly in NYC with Ibrahim Farrah and others.
The Camel's Armpit Bellydance Site: Western Australia's first bellydance website. Includes an image gallery, costuming, makeup and jewelry ideas, in addition to local events and teachers/performers.
Melbourne Belly Dance Homepage: Web site with info on upcoming Middle Eastern Dance events, ongoing events and class schedules, for Melbourne Australia.
Traken Temple Dancers
Contact: Lea-anne Martin
41 Nundah St.
Kedron, Queensland 4031
Australia
email: Barbarella
Website: http://smople.thehub.com.au/~leewin/dancer.htm: "...a duo based in Brisbane, Queensland consisting of Barbarella and Mala Karim, perform a range of styles from Egyptian folk to outrageous performances at science fiction conventions, and medieval banquets. Private lessons available by negotiation, available for parties, conventions, and restaurants." Contact by writing Lea-anne Martin or email Barbarella at the addresses above.

Austria

Studio Al Ahram
Palmgasse 8
A-1150 Vienna/Austria
Europe
web site: http://www.tbi.univie.ac.at/~ronke/Bauchtanz/bauchtanz.html: The original web site is in German, an English version should be available soon.

Belgium

Feyrouz!
Antwerpen, Belgium
phone/fax: 0032-3-22 66 212
email: swaab@net4all.be

"FEYROUZ! of Europe Since 1975, a true pioneer of the Middle Eastern Dance in Germany. Founder of the Oasis Ensemble in Berlin and EAMED. Through numerous appearances on television and radio talkshows, she has become the most well known performer of the Art. Her three year tour with 'Traumtheater Salome' (lit., Dream Theater Salome, - a non-animal circus with a plot and cast of arists) seminars, lectures, international performances for political figures, UNICEF, royalty, as well as the Nobel Prize fests for Nagib Mafuz in 1988 in Stockholm and performances in Morocco, Greece and Egypt.

"Feyrouz! - Dancer with heart, soul and humour. First class personal instruction based on a wide repertoire as well as her own individual dance styling, encompassing almost 25 years of experience. She has re-located (previously of Germany) with her new husband to Antwerpen, Belgium - diamond center of the world. Antwerpen has gained a new jewel!"

Vera Van Den Berghe
Amana Dance Theatre
Vaart 10
B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Email: a@skynet.be

Oriental belly dance.

Brazil

Estrela
Sao Paulo City /SP
phone: 55 11 2558731
Email: estrela@mtecnetsp.com.br
Website: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/5398: A professional Belly Dancer and Gypsy Dancer.

Canada

Arabesque Academy
625 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M4Y 1Z5
phone: 416-920-5593
fax: 416-944-0997
Website: http://www.interlog.com/~dancenet/

The Arabesque Academy began in 1987 under the artistic direction of Yasmina Ramzy with the goal of providing the Toronto area with a high standard of Middle Eastern dance training in primarily Egyptian style. Dance forms offered include Raks Sharqi, Beledhi, Zar, Ghawazi, Sword, Shamadan, Kaleegy and much more including experimental fusion with Modern. Yasmina trained in Egypt and Syria under the tutelage of many instructors including Ida Nour and Mohamed Khalil, Director of the National Folklore Troupe of Egypt. Arabesque Academy offers classes at all levels, six days a week. It is the home of internationally acclaimed Arabesque Dance Co. and an agency for most of Toronto's top professional soloists who perform for the Arab community. Yasmina has been teaching, performing and choreographing since 1981 in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Greece, England, Mexico and across the United States and Canada sometimes for royalty and heads of state in many of these countries and often accompanied by the Arabesque Dance Co.

The Arabesque Academy hosts many guest teachers in all forms of ethnic dance... Arabic singing and Dumbek classes are also available with Dr. George Sawa.

Asmira
624 Cornwall St.
Victoria, B.C.
V8V 4L1
Canada

ASMIRA has been performing and teaching the dance in Victoria and surrounding areas for over 12 years. She has danced in countries like Spain, Egypt and the States. She teaches and performs a variety of styles from cabaret to folkloric egyptian gawazee, sword and cane dances. She does yearly shows in Victoria, and brings in accomplished dancers to teach workshops. She will be putting on an Egyptian Tour this [1997] year. She may also be reached through Jahara's email: sucastle@uvic.ca.

Belly Dance: Ottawa-Hull

Ottawa Canada belly dance events, shopping, etc. No teacher/performer listing last time I checked, but it would be worth a look again to see if any have been added.

Bernadette Dawson
Halifax-Dartmouth area, Canada
phone: 902-462-0007

I have been dancing for 20 years and teaching for 7 in the Halifax-Dartmouth area at the Halifax Y, Dartmouth Continuing Ed. and Halifax Dance. My style represents the best mix of ethnic, tribal and cabaret.

Freddy's Dance Academy
Toronto, Canada
Toronto Central: 416-368-1797
Toronto West: 416-533-4849
Mississauga: 905-897-8927
North York: 416-224-8080

" Professor Eddy Manneh received his own personal knowledge of Arabic Dancing through the tutelage of the late Vlademeer, the famous Arabic Dance Professor of the Middle East. Manneh has been a teacher for over 40 years starting at the Freddy's Dance Academy in Beirut Lebanon founded by his late brother Freddy Manneh. Eddy Manneh established a Canadian school in Toronto in 1975. There are now four branches of Freddy's Dance Academy in Toronto.

Manneh has taught many of the best dancers throughout the world including Nadia Gamal. He has travelled extensively around the word, giving lectures and seminars and, in his capacity as a renowned choreograoher, has arranged many routine performances for Belly Dancers in the Middle East and the Western World. He was also involved in many festivals such as the famous Ba'alback festival. In 1976, he founded the Arabian Sahara Company in Toronto, Canada which has since performed around the world. In 1996 he opened the Al Khaima Dinner Theatre in Toronto, Canada. Eddy Manneh is also a professional ballroom dance instructor, a member of the French Academy of Dance Teachers, a member of the Dance Educators of America in both ballroom dancing and The Performaing arts, and an official examiner of the International Society of Dance Masters Association. Professor Manneh teaches many styles of dancing including classical belly dancing, cabaret, baladi, ghawazzi, pharaonic, and other folkloric dances."

Middle Eastern Dance Association (MEDA) of Vancouver
Contact: Marilee Nugent
3458 Garden Drive
Vancouver, British Columbia
V5N-4Y5
fax: 604-876-9969

"MEDA provides a monthly newsletter, workshops, seminars, bazaars, a dance library, among other things to support the dance cummunity in this area. If...anyone is interested in becoming a member or advertising in our newsletter or finding out more about MEDA, please feel free to contact Marilee Nugent (at the address above). Also if there are any instructors that would like to send a promotional package regarding seminars/workshops, please contact Marilee at the same address."

Regina Association of Middle Eastern Dancers
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Contact: Keziah 306-757-7048

Two performing groups; classes in fall & winter.

Denmark

Louise Frevert's School of Belly Dance
Gasvaerksvej 15 Baghuset
1656 Kobenhavn V
phone: 31 22 06 22
fax: 35 43 70 78: (Copenhagen; ad excerpted from their email) "The best show in town - professional dancers! - Do YOU want to dance? - classes all week except friday and sunday - Are you a dancer? - join the union! for only DKR 75 a year you receive the magazine 'Maverysteren' with the latest and greatest from Danish belly dancing!"
Ninna Holbek
Denmark: "You can contact [her] through Pia Wetterholm, Strandgaden 49 B, DK-3000 Helsingor, Denmark." --Ulla
School for Oriental Dance
Susanne Potempa
Århusgade 108 E, 5
2100 Kųbenhavn Ų
Denmark
phone: (0045) 35 43 73 83
Email: sfod@vip.cybercity.dk
Website: http://users.cybercity.dk/~dko5826/home.htm: Website has both English and Danish language versions. Susanne Potempa is the manager of the school; she works as a teacher, choreographer and performer in Oriental Dance, as well as lecturing and organizing festivals in Denmark like the Oriental Festival 1992 & 1993 and the World Music & Dance festival, 1994 & 1995. She brings an extra dimension to her work in the world of dance, via her background in nursing and physiological body massage. Her website contains a calendar, info on workshops and shows, her newsletter, listings of her favorite restaurants, info on where to buy Oriental music and more.
Maria Torstensson
Denmark: "You can contact [her] through Pia Wetterholm, Strandgaden 49 B, DK-3000 Helsingor, Denmark. Maria...is a very good dancer and a good teacher. She used to teach at the Falun Folk Music Festival in Sweden." --Ulla
Liz True
Denmark

Egypt

Nadia Hamdi
Cairo, Egypt
phone: (202) 3918163: Oriental and Folkloric; instructor and choreographer.
Mona El Said
Harmony Health Club
76, Gameet Al-Douwal Al-Arabia St.
Al-Mohandseen, Giza
Cairo, Egypt
phone: (202) 3614136 or 3494192
fax: 3028346 or 48: Instructor and choreographer.
Samasen
Marita Fahlen
1 Gezira El Wosta St., Block B
10th Floor, Apt. 4
Zamalek
Cairo, Egypt
phone: (202) 3417743
fax: 340038: Instructor and performer.

Finland

Afifa Studio
Nahkurinkatu 8
20100 Turku, Finland
phone: +358-2-7661 501
fax: +358-2-7661 504
email: Virpi@vaygar.pp.fi
Website (in Finnish and English): http://www.afifa.fi/: "School of Raqs Sharqi - weekly classes from beginners to advanced levels - also courses of request. Organizes seminars and workshops and is also one of [the] organizers of [the] annual "Oriental Dance Festival of Finland" (12-14 January 1996). Performing dance troupe Nefer - solo and group performances for different occasions. The studio publishes the dance magazine Afsana."

France

Ottilie Eucher
103 Rue de Chevaleret
75013 Paris, France
phone: 01 45 70 71 61
fax: 01 45 86 36 58: A professional belly dancer, she has been teaching and performing for 10 years in Paris (Maison des Cultures, UNESCO, Institut du Monde Arabe, Centre Mandapa...) and around the world (Egypt, India, Morocco, Tunisia, Singapore...). She teaches a variety of styles: Sharki, Baladi, Saidi.
Leila Haddad
Centre de Danse du Marais
41 Rue de Temple
75003 Paris France
phone/fax: (1) 43 56 61 64

Germany

Greece

Nelly Mazloum
International Dance Center
31 Ioulianou Str.
Athens 104-34, Greece
phone: 30-1-822 22 00
fax: 30-1-822 66 46
Rhea
Deanna Rose Likouri
Vironos #9, Plaka
Athens 10558, Greece

Ireland

Valerie Larkin Belly Dance Magic
Ireland
Email: larkin@intex.ie
Website: http://www.intex.ie/bellydance.html: Professional bellydance performer, teacher and choreographer. "...specializing in Belly Dance (Baladi, Saidi), Tunisian dance and Flamenco."

Japan

Inako
Japan
phone: 03-3636-7888: "Stunning dancer!" --Mona N'wal
Japan Arabian Dance Association
JADA
1-11-6 Nishiazabu Minato-Ku
Tokyo, Japan 106
phone: +81 3-5410-2365: JADA aims to fully deepen understanding of Oriental Dance and Arts in Japan through publishing, doing workshops, inviting professional teachers & dancers, and holding Oriental Dance festivals and contests.
Karima
7-45-1102 Sakuragicho Nishiku
Yokohamashi Kanagawaken 220
Japan
045-320-0162: "I used to see her in classes in NYC and she's a lovely dancer and a great lady. Worked in Egypt befor returning to Japan." --Mona N'wal

Jordan

[In response to a request for info on the dance scene, etc. in Jordan...] "To date, I've *never* heard of any teacher of Oriental dance in Jordan. `Courses', classes & seminars are OUR invention. (Dr. Paul Monty, R.I.P., started the large-scale seminar in the U.S. in NYC in '72).

"...Also, unless I'm mistaken, most archaeological digs that I know of are in the boonies & not near any big cities....

"The good news is that if there's a chance to go to a local wedding or women's party, they just might get up & get down. At the very least, she should see some hot debke dancing. Each village & extended family has their own version....

"Word of caution: DON'T & I mean *DON'T* get up & dance Oriental unless other family women at the occasion have already done so themselves. Use them as a measure to judge the appropriateness & how long to dance/how far to go with that dance. In the wrong situation, it can be dangerous. 'Nuff said."

--Morocco

New Zealand

Middle Eastern Dance Association of New Zealand (MEDANZ)
Auckland, New Zealand: "They'll know who is the closest teacher [in New Zealand] to you...In Auckland there is a teacher who trained with Suraya Hilal and several who had workshops in the US from Jamila Salimpour. In Wellington there are at least 3-4 teachers. If you're in the South Island, there is a group in Nelson, and a teacher in Christchurch who has just been to Egypt. When I lived in NZ I bought most of my videos from "Amera's Palace" here in Sydney - they have a couple of instruction videos done by the owner. The Flowers of the Desert in Melbourne have the Sharifa instructional video - I'd recommend that one. You could try Diane James in Auckland she has some instructional videos- phone 817 5711. There is a dancer in Auckland who brings in videos of the Lebanese dancers if you want to learn by watching performances." --Aziza

Sweden

as-Sayf Sweden Web Site: Homepage for belly dance troupe as-Sayf, discusses their troupe as well as providing links to other relevant sites.

Switzerland

Aischa
Barbara Luescher
Wassergrabenstr, 13
CH-4102 Binningen, Switzerland
phone: 061-421-0802
fax: 061-421-6381: (Courtesy of James Janner) "She co-produced The Stars of Egypt (tm) video series with Hossam Ramzy, and is an excellent dancer and teacher of danse orientale, as well as one of the very few with legitimate academic credentials on the history of this dance." He also mentions that she has good contacts in Germany, if you're looking for a performer/instructor there.
The Swiss Bellydance Homepage
Website: http://www.centralnet.ch/userpages/baratte/front_e.htm: A really nice website (in English and, I believe, German) which lists classes, workshops and pictures of shows.
Tanz Raum Claudia Heinle
Freihofstrasse 3
CH-8280 Kreuzlingen
Switzerland
Phone/Fax ++41-71-6729251: Weekly classes in Kreuzlingen, regular workshops in Zurich and regular workshops with senior teachers of the Suraya Hilal School at the University of Konstanz. "[She] is an enthusiastic young woman, who received her education at the Hilal School in England... She manages public performances, workshops and tours for Suraya Hilal and Liza Wedgwood." --Inge Labudda

Turkey

Eserzade
c/o Stefan Landvogt
Handjerystr. 72
12159 Berlin, Germany
phone: 00141 30 851 23 39: "Would you like to be carried away... by an oriental artist? This time by a man? For this reason I“d like to present you the Turkish artist Eserzade. He lives in Istanbul and Berlin and his performances are quite extraordinary. Yet above all he is popular in Turkey and Germany, he had many appearances on TV and at festivals and likes to spread his kind of oriental dance-style into other countries. The artist Eserzade offers various entertainment programs. You can choose between Artistic belly-dancing, Show belly-dancing, Sworddance, Chandelier dance, Dance theatre performances, stories from '1001 Nights', and Choreographies which combine Yoga- and oriental dance elements. If you “d like to know more about the artist and his dance style I would be happy to send you a video that shows some convincing cuts of his programs." --Stefan
Burcin Orhon
Turkey: (From medance list) "...daughter of a famous Turkish composer, initially studied to become a ballerina. Unfortunately she [did]n't make the cut to join the only dance company which is run by the government and supported financially by the government as well. Burcin Orhon is more famous for her affair with Eurovizyon winner singer and her nude photos in Turkish playboy. ...I really don't think one can learn a thing from her dancing nor does she move you with her feel for the music or expressions. Her dance is this weird leg lifts... with a skimmpy outfit... that has nothing to do with Dance Oriental." "I couldn't recommend anybody to go to take any lessons from Burcin Orhon even if she is very famous in Turkey. I believe teacher should know how to dance herself...and that dance Burcin dances is NOT bellydance, it's cute though and somehow good with her own unique way...but i've never seen her doing any shimmies and even her hip-moves can be counted with fingers...so if you're looking for a good bellydancer/teacher I wouldn't vote for her... I've got a new video of her and it's really hilarious with funny leg-throws and dancing always one step before music ;-)" Note: she was the cover story/interview in the winter 1996 issue of Habibi magazine (see Magazines), Vol. 14, No. 4.
Nesrine Topkapi
Studio Topkapi
Yanarsu Sokak no: 36
Etiler - Istanbul, Turkey
phone: 163 16 33: (From medance list) "Nesrin Topkapi had been the best dancer/performer in Turkey as long as I can remember back. She studied this dance form in Egypt and also with a famous Turkish male dancer who is now a devout muslim and does not teach anymore. I forgot his name but he trained many famous and well-trained, authentic dancers in Turkey." Note: phone numbers are subject to frequent changes.

United Arab Emirates

Lydia Meyboom
PO Box 25920
Sharjah, UAE
phone/fax: 971 6 358 416
Email: gmhayes@emirates.net.ae
Nuria Tahan
PO Box 2174
Dubai, UAE
phone/fax: 9714 517520
email: tara@emirates.net.ae: Gypsy tailoring. Dancer, costumer, dance tours.

United Kingdom

Maggie Caffrey
7 South Hall
Maids Moreton
Buckingham MK18 1QB

"Just returned from a great hafla and workshop in Newcastle [England] held by Jo Wise. Good fun and great workout with feedback [always important] Jo, together with teacher Maggie Caffrey run a recognised teacher training course. It consists of 4 components including teacher support workshops, attendance of workshops or summer residential school, intensive teacher training and private tuition. For further info send a self addressed[and stamped]envelope to Josephine Wise or Maggie Caffrey." --Ruth

Suraya Hilal
Hilal School of Raqs Sharqi
9 Ravenstone Road
Hornsey
London N8 0JT, UK
phone: 0181 881 3376

"The class sizes are no more than 30 and usually they try to limit them to 25 people. During the summer school they put 2 classes together for the live music section of the workshop which occured 3 times. Once during the weekend workshop and twice during the 5 day workshop. We had the privilage of working with improvisation with Moustafa Samie (accordian), Takht Emile Bassili (violin) Samir Khalil (Riq) Ibrahim El Minyawi (Tablah), Haggag Metqal (Tablah) Essam El Matrawi (Doff). There are four groups at the summer school from A to D. D are the advanced students.

"There were also lectures on the following: Suraya Hilal 'Ashra Baladi and the Mawwal', Karen Van Nieuwerk author of 'Female Singers and Dancers in Egypt', Ibrahim El Minyawi - Lecture on Rhythm, Judy Hammond Bodywork, Dance and the Alexander Technique, Juliana Brustik, Relaxation and stretch leading into dance based on Feldencrais technique." --Jeroen Lapre

"On receipt of a cheque for 3, they will put you on their mailing list, which I believe publishes quarterly. The contact address is [given above]." --Clair Thrower

Medea Mahdavi
7 Stackpool Road
Southville
Bristol BS3 1NG
England
phone: 0117 963 3029
email: footwork@telecall.co.uk

Medea is a performer, teacher and choreographer of Middle Eastern Dance. She was born in Iran and moved to England as a teenager. She runs regular weekly classes in Bristol and takes workshops throughout the UK. In her current show 'Doves', Medea uses her dance, the emotive poetry of Bob Walton and dramatic live music by Will Menter to tell stories of love, passion, greed and power.

Cathy Selford (Vashti)
56 Wymering Rd.
London W92ND, England
071-286-7059

Hilary Thacker
8 Bellevue Terrance
Edinburgh EH74DT, UK
Phone: 0131 5567976
Email: jds@cocoon.co.uk
Website: http://www.electricfrog.co.uk/pages/bellyd.htm

Hillary is a professional Egyptian style Belly Dancer. She performs throughout Britain as well as the Middle East, dancing at parties, weddings, balls, cabarets, folk festivals, and restaurants. She runs regular classes for women in which she gives instruction on different styles of dance--folk, classical, night-club, etc. The regular weekly classes are held in Scotland, while workshops are both national and international. Women of any age from 12 years upwards, and any size are welcome. She also has two instructional videotapes out (Beginner and Intermediate), and runs a Bazaar selling music, costumes, accessories etc.

Liza Wedgewood
1 Holly Cottages
Ley Green, Kings Walden
Hitchen
Herts., SG4 8LX, England
phone: 01462 768668

Liza is a Dance/Choreographer/Teacher of the Hilal School. "I have just attended a Raqs Sharqi workshop with [her...she] has a lovely way of teaching, trying to bring out in each of us the basic 'key' to the dance." --Kate P.

Josephine Wise
11 Dumont Rd.
London N16 0NR
phone: 10276 507251

Josephine runs the Josephine Wise Academy of Arabic Dance (JWAAD), dedicated to raising awareness of raqs sharqi in Britain. JWAAD runs classes, workshops, performances, teacher training and a highly successful annual summer school. For further information please telephone Margaret Krause at the number above.

Last Modified: 1 Feb 1998

Middle Eastern Dance: Dancers' Directory

International (Non-USA) Listings

Last Modified: 1 Feb 1998

Middle Eastern Dance:
Dancers' Directory