Home :: About Nicola

Nicola's Education, Teaching & Experience

:: Nicola's Education, Training & Experience::
:: Créme de la Créme - Eshta Ya Amar ::

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Nicola's CV

DANCE TRAINING & WORKSHOPS

• Apprenticed with local dancer, Shayera.
  
• Workshop training with:
  
• Jasmin Jahal (2009)
  
• Jasmina Ramzy (2002, 2008),
  
• Hadia (1998, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2008),
  
• Suzy (2004, 2007),
  
• Dina of Cairo (Minneapolis, 2006)
  
• Suzy, Jamilee Abir, & Ariellah (2006)
  
• Jalilah (2006 ),
  
• Nath Keo (2005 ),
  
• Sarita (2005),
  
• Denise Enan (2000, 2003),
  
• Susanna Del Vecchio (2002),
  
• Cassandra (2002),
  
• Sabah (2002),
  
• Nourhan Sharif (2001),
  
• Jamilee Abir and Ariellah (2001),
  
• Sahra Saeeda Kent (2000),
  
• Scherazade (1997, 1999),
  
• Yousry Sharif (1999),
  
• Delilah (1998),
  
• Hadia Teacher Training Level 1 (2007) and Level 2 (2008) plus Orientale workshops
  (2007 & 2008)--host, producer, performer and participant
  
• Regular collaboration with local dancers Asra, Zafirah, Za'ina Dilshad & Shayera,
  
• Independent research & training in various styles & regional dances of the Middle East & North
  Africa including Tunisian, Turkish, and Moroccan styles.
  
• Private instruction with Cassandra (2005), Sabah (2002), Hadia (2007 & 2008).

DEGREES AND RELATED EDUCATION

• B. Ed. , University of Manitoba (1999-2001)
  
• Graduate Program (Ph.D), University of Alberta (1994-1998)
  
• B.A.H. (Anthropology), University of Winnipeg (1989-1993)
  
• 1999-2001: University of Manitoba, Faculty of Education--Curriculum and Instruction in Music and Movement, Curriculum and Instruction in Art and Drama (two year-long core courses)
  
• Music training and performance in:
  
• Classical, jazz and big band saxophone (6 years)
  
• Classical piano (Royal Conservatory method), completed grade 6 practical and grade 2 theory exams (11 years)
  

MEMBERSHIPS, LICENSES & CERTIFICATES

• Member of Dance Manitoba, (2000-present).
  
• Founding member of now-defunct Eastern Dance Circle of Manitoba , Manitoba's Middle Eastern Dance Association, since its inception in 1999. Nicola was Executive Secretary (2005-2006) and regularly contributed the Belly Button Bulletin (EDCOM's quarterly newsletter).
  
• Gamaal Rawhany, co-founder and co-director (1999-2002)
  
• Ahlan Dance Company, co-founder and co-director (2002-2006)
  
• Spice Road Belly Dance, founder and artistic director (2008-present)
  
• Current CPR/First Aid;
  
• City of Winnipeg Instructor Safety Training
  
• Level 1 (2007) and Level 2 (2008) Teacher Training with Hadia of Canada
  

AWARDS

• Silver, Gold & Gold Honours for solo, duet, and troupe dances, Dance Manitoba's annual Dance Festival (1998, 2000-2005), in the National Dance category.

TEACHING E XPERIENCE

• Bellydance instruction contracts with:
  
• City of Winnipeg (1999-2006);
  
• CFB 17th Wing;
  
• Bravado Dance Studio/ Institute of Dance Manitoba (1999-2008)
  
• University of Manitoba;
  
• Jobworks;
  
• Independent/freelance classes and workshops, including:
  
• Au Set Bellydance Emporium (2006+)
  
• Rising Star Dance Academy (2005+)
  
• Nelson MacIntyre Collegiate Student Wellness Expo (2008)
  
• Cancer Care MB (2006),
  
• CFB 17th Wing, (2006)
  
• Teen Warehouse (Portage la Prairie 2005, 2006),
  
• Norquay School Multiple Intelligences Week (2003),
  
• Women's Retreat, Misty Lake Lodge (2003),
  
• Nicola’s Navel Academy Dance Intensives (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009)
  
• Wellington Fitness Centre (1999-2000),
  
• Wellington Fitness Centre/Hudson Bay Company Workshop for Teen Girls (1999),
  
• Currently instructs and performs Egyptian raks sharqi (Orientale, or “Belly Dance”), raks shaabi, raks beledi, Saiidi, raks al assaya, Meleyya Leff, Ghawazee, Khaleegi and American cabaret styles as well as prop techniques with finger cymbals, veil, cane and sword.
  
• Is known for her clear, supportive teaching techniques, collaborative atmosphere, excellent
  resource materials and her fun, diverse choreographies.
  

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE

• Dance Manitoba Galas (2000-present), and was a feature instructor in 2001.
  
• Feature performer at the former Fat Angel Bistro, Winnipeg. (1999-2003)
  
• Wolseley Street Fest, with Za'ina Dilshad, with Gamaal Rawhany
  
• Forks, Tut Exhibit Demos (2005)
  
• Embassy Grill (2002)
  
• Forks, busking (2000-2001)
  
• Appeared, with Shayera, on the cover of Mid-Bits , published out of Toronto by Mayada
  (2001)
  
• Shimmy Train social, West End Cultural Centre (co-organizer) (2000)
  
• Opened, with Za'ina Dilshad, Hummers' 1999 Halloween bash at the Pyramid Cabaret.
  
• Has performed in stage shows with:
  
• Jasmin Jahal (Chisholm, MN 2009)
  
• Paola Blanton (Winnipeg 20089 with Spice Road Belly Dance)
  
• Hadia (Winnipeg 1998, Regina 2001, Winnipeg 2007 & 2008, ),
  
• Suzy (Winnipeg 2004 & 2007),
  
• Suzy, Ariellah, and Jamilee Abir ("If Elvis Could Belly Dance" (Winnipeg, 2006),
  
• Jalilah (Winnipeg 2006 ).
  
• Nath Keo (Winnipeg 2005 ),
  
• Sarita (Winnipeg 2005),
  
• Ahlan Dance Company Fundraiser (Winnipeg 2004)
  
• Denise Enan (Winnipeg 2000, Saskatoon 2003),
  
• Cassandra (Winnipeg 2003),
  
• Ariellah and Jamilee Abir (Winnipeg 2002),
  
• Suzanna Del Vecchio (Regina 2002),
  
• Shayera (Regina 1999),
  
• Yousry Sharif (Saskatoon 1999),
  
• Scherazade (Winnipeg 1999),
  
• Performs at restaurants, festivals, private parties, fundraisers, community events, and cultural
  demonstrations in Winnipeg and the surrounding area.
  
• Hosted, produced & performed in Orient Express Gala Show w/ Hadia (Winnipeg, 2007 &
  2008).
  
• Hosted, produced and performed in "Leylet Hob/Night of Love: Belly Dance for the Cure",
  a fundraising show for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.( Winnipeg 2006)
  
• Competed in a 10-dancer "fun" competition for Dina of Cairo at the Little Egypt-hosted
  workshop (Minneapolis, 2006).
  

OTHER DANCE RELATED TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

• Assisted in hosting master workshops with Cassandra, Hadia, Jamilee Abir & Ariellah,
  Denise Enan.
• Has been featured multiple times on "Cityscape", "Big Breakfast" and "A Channel News at
  Night" local news and information programs, and in the Canstar community newspaper.
  

 

“The dance is a poem of which each movement is a world.” Mata Hari