ASTRYD FARAH DE MICHELE
(USA/Egypt) Astryd
Farah deMichele splits her time living between Egypt and the United States,
performing and teaching Oriental dance professionally. In Cairo she has been
showcased at the JW Mariott and Sheraton Royal Gardens Hotels, as well as in
weddings and parties, and in past years she's worked at other locations in both
Cairo and Sharm el Sheik, Egypt. Astryd Farah travels internationally
instructing workshops and giving performances, and in the US she keeps a
homebase and dance school in Eugene, Oregon.
Astryd Farah's powerful
technique and stunning interpretation of Arabic music delights audiences East to
West -- her extended time the Middle East having integrated into her body a
profound understanding of this beautiful art form. She is one of the featured
dancers in top Egyptian choreographer Raqia Hassan's technique videos, Raqia is
one of Astryd Farah's main instructors of the dance form. She has also had the
pleasure of studying under Mahmoud Reda, Diana Tarkhan, Randa Kamel, Faten
Salama, Mona el Saied, Aida Nour, Shalaby, Mervat Mongui, and Medhat Fahmy,
amongst many others -- developing her dance technique as well as her
understanding of the music she loves. She has toured throughout Jordan, Syria,
Lebanon, Morocco and Turkey for additional dance study and cultural research, as
well as having pursued cross training in classical dance and yoga in India.
When in the United States, Astryd Farah deMichele is adjunct faculty for The
University of Oregon, instructing Middle Eastern dance with an emphasis on
Egyptian styling. In addition, she holds independent classes for the Astryd
Farah deMichele School of Middle Eastern dance, instructing all levels of
dancers --from beginners to professionals. She teaches precise, defined
technique as the vehicle to express the emotional aspects of the music, and her
warmth and clarity in teaching has inspired hundreds of students. Astryd Farah
infuses her classes with more than just the mechanics of the dance: she draws on
her wealth of cultural knowledge to bring the movements to life.
www.danceastryd.com
IMAN HAUST (Egypt) is a professional bellydancer, living and working in
Norway. She started her dancing career at the age of 14 in her native Egypt,
performing as a soloist in the local dance ensemble, one of many troops
following the Mahmoud Reda tradition. At the age of 22 and 23 she won first
prize in the Egyptian contest for soloists of such troops, and was sent to
Morocco and Tunisia to compete on an international level. In 2003 Iman moved to
Norway, where she now runs two bellydance schools on the outskirts of the
capitol Oslo. She is also a much sought after performer, both in local events
such as weddings and birthday parties, as well as in international festivals.
Her main influences have been Mahomoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Nagua Fuad, Dina and
Fifi Abdou, and her dance style has been described as similar to that of
Egyptian bellydance legend Soheir Zaki. In addition to the dance, Iman also
teaches her students about the culture of her native Egypt, and is known to be a
very warm and generous instructor. Iman will be teaching Shaaby (Egyptian pop)
technique and choreography. www.magedansen.no
SIRI YDSTIE
(Norway) is a professional belly dancer and instructor based in Oslo. She runs
Oslo Bellydance Studio, with its four branches. Her style is Egyptian raqs
sharqi, having studied with the world famous Raqia Hassan of Cairo as well as
with other Egyptian stars. In addition to regular classes in her own dance
studios, Siri also teaches weekend workshops during festivals and similar events
in Norway and around the world. Siri is in charge of the Norwegian teacher
training and certification program for bellydance instructors. She is also a
much sought after performer, doing both private events such as weddings and
birthday parties, as well as bellydance festivals and other cultural events.
Siri, and her good helpers at Oslo Bellydance Studio, are the ones organizing
the "1001
Nights" - Oslo
Bellydance Festival. Siri has produced one instructional bellydance DVD for
beginners, and two DVDs of choreographies for intermediate to advanced students.
She will be teaching a drumsolo choreography (available on DVD; "Siri's
Choreographies vol 1").
www.oslomagedans.com
ADRYANNA SHAMSA (Brazil)
has a background as a classical, modern dance and jazz professional instructor
and dancer recognized by the London Royal Classical Ballet Academy, also
Afro-Brazilian dances and flamenco which she took up in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her
Belly Dance masters are from Brazil and Egypt; Randa Camel, Mahmoud Rheda, Aida
Nour, Medhat Fahmy, Raqia Hassan,Ahmed Fekry, Soraya Zayed, Lulu Sabongi
among others. She`s been an instructor at ELIXIA since 2001 with
Afro-Brazilian Rhythms, Oriental Rhythms, Stretching, FLOW ( mix of yoga-pilates
on a big ball ) and Belly Dance courses. Adryanna is a graduated Lymphatic
Drainage masseuse and is about to graduate from her 2 years of education as an
ear aculpucture therapist and reflexologist. www.adryannashamsa.multiply.com
www.adryannashamsa.com
JIMU (Zimbabwe) will be teaching an introduction to AfroXplosion. You don't
want to miss this fun and energetic class with a true master of the art of dance.
More info on Jimu here
EVA LOUNE (Norway)
dancer, choreographer and teacher running her own bellydance school in
Sandefjord, Norway the last 13 years. She started her carreer as a member of the
group "Al Amirat" in Finland in 1993, and established her own school
when she moved back to Norway in 1995. She teaches all levels from beginers to
advanced, and also organizes student shows. Eva is continously developing as a
dancer and teacher, drawing inspiration from master techrs from around the
world, and travelling on a regular basis to Cifuentes in Berlin to participate
in their courses for proffesionals. Her main focus as a teacher is to make her
students enjoy the dance form. Eva will be teaching an oriental choreography for
intermediate to advanced students. www.evalone.no
MARI SLETTEN (Norway).
This wonderful and versatile dancer is known for her enormous power on stage and
the fun atmosphere in her classes. She will be teaching an introduction to Hula.
This class
was a huge success when she taught it during festival light in October, so it is
essential to sign up well in advance to secure your spot.
KARINA (Brazil) is the co-owner of Salsa Site Studio in Oslo, teaching
both Salsa and Samba on a regular basis She
has been dancing/
performing from age 5 (since 1981), and teaching dance from age 13 (since 1989).
She dances, teaches and performs Samba no Pé (solo), Samba de Gafieira (in
couple), Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha Cha Cha, Forró, Bolero, Lamba-Zouk. She
has been also dancing Tango, Swing, Biodanza and Jazz-Ballet. Karina's
main Samba instructors have been Jaime Arôxa & Carlinhos de Jesus, the most
requested samba instructors in Brazil, who are the creators of many popular
samba moves. In
addition to good techniques, Karina has a feminine, sensual and spontaneous way
of moving. She dances the latin rhythms with typical latin motions, and she has
fabulous techniques for transmiting them to you in every class. Her dance
classes are known to be very fun & dynamic! She
will teach an introductory class in Samba, open to all levels. This class was a
huge success last year, so it is essential to sign up well in advance to secure
your spot. www.salsasite.com
Synnøve
Ask (Norway) - bellydancer and physioteraphist, working in Norway and Turkey.
Long experience with bellydancing in connection with pregnancy. More info on www.serbest.no
Solvor Søråsen (Norway) - bellydance and Pilates teacher at Oslo Bellydance Studio. More info (Norwegian only) on www.oslomagedans.com
Catherine Ydstie (Norway) - bellydance teacher at Oslo Bellydance Studio. More info (Norwegian only) on www.oslomagedans.com