When thinking of a belly dancer you imagine a dancer with a shimmy belt, shaking those hips - well I did, but soon learnt it is so much more!
I started belly dancing in 2005 with Natasha Kruger in Pretoria North at the Oriental Belly Dance School. My sister was in love with belly dancing and she wanted to start and suggested that my mom and I join her. My mom, my sister and I grew up loving dancing – we had previously done Latin American / Ballroom dancing (we completed all the levels) and therefore we decided to start belly dancing for exercise, fun and well, just for ourselves.
I started a new job moved and house and therefore could not travel to Pretoria North for lessons anymore and had to stop belly dancing. But realized that something was missing, I couldn’t live without belly dancing. I found Natalie’s number and with her warm personality over the phone I knew I wanted to start dancing at Dancing Divinity - and have not stopped since!
Natalie saw potential in me and pushed me further and further, requesting that I do extra lessons. In a couple of months I improved so much, even surprising myself! I gained so much experience and soon my confidence grew and my technique just got better and better the more I focused on my dancing.
At the moment I specialize in Modern Egyptian style belly dancing, but am learning a variety of styles with Dancing Divinity such as Classical Oriental Style; Folkloric Styles such as Beledi, Saidi, Zar, Khaleegy; Pharonic Style; Belly Funk; Indian Fusion; Tribal Style; etc
I recently attended workshops with Rania – a Bellydance SuperStar from the USA (attended Saidi with Cane and a Combinations Workshop) and also attend the SA Bellydance Festival in Cape Town in April and did an Isolations workshop with BellyAfricaine, a musicality workshop with Belyssa from Australia and a Hula Workshop with Senta Seele.
I saw Beverley Joffe from the UK perform at the festival in Cape Town and was amazed by her, I love her style - she is unique in her own way, her performance will leave you speechless – and her costumes speak for themselves.
Currently I perform for Dancing Divinity at The Sphinx Dine & Dance Restaurant in Ruimsig, Roodepoort. It is a lovely Egyptian restaurant where we perform every weekend and some times during the week too. I also dance at other shows that come up like year-end functions, bridal showers, birthday parties, gala dinners, launches, etc
Since being with Dancing Divinity, I have learned to dance with props like fire sticks, short veils, single and double veils, candles, saggats (finger cymbals), cane stick, Wings of Isis, and am busy learning to dance with the sword - yes I do hit myself with the sword!
I am also a substitute teacher for Dancing Divinity teachers when they cannot make class and also give a fun belly dancing class at a gym in Brackenhurst, Alberton (Yours in Health Gym).
I attend as many classes as I can with Dancing Divinity, and Natalie also encourages us to do as many workshops as we can. My goal is to grow my own individual style with my own unique qualities. At the moment I love Lebanese belly dancing, floor work and body isolations. I try to use as much body isolation and work hard to improve them! Those belly rolls and body waves are a lot of work! I also love drumming - working with the lower body - using crazy hips!
I do believe you need to feel the music when you dance, express yourself in your own way and enjoy every minute - do it for yourself.
I would like to thank Natalie for being a great teacher, she is not only a teacher but an ear that listens, a mouth with loads of advice, a heart that believes in you and hands always clapping with support for you.
And yes hips don’t lie!