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"There is no real mystery to finding reliable resources, quality merchandise, qualified and experienced teachers, and great performers. But you need to know where to start." ~Nicola

General Information

"Dance is the hidden language of the soul." ~ Martha Graham (1893-1991)

General Information

• All About Middle Eastern Dance, Movement, Styles and Costumes
  
• Bhuz.com
  
• classicalarabicmusic.com
  
• Gilded Serpent, Online Newsletter
  
• International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (IAMED)
  
• Arabic Maqam World
  
• Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association (MECDA)
  
• Middle Eastern Dance Association (MEDA)
  
• MidBits magazine
  
• Northern Ontario Middle Eastern Dance Association (NOMEDA)
  
• Ontario Middle Eastern Dance Association (OMEDA)
  
• Oriental dancer.net (information hub)
  
• Raqs Sharqi.Net (information hub)
  
• Regina Association of Middle Eastern Dance (RAMED)
  
• The Art of Middle Eastern Dance (by Shira)
  
• The Belly Dance Museum Photos, film clips, and information about famous-name dancers, as well as fantasy and Orientalist images.
  
• Zaghareet Magazine
  
• Oasis Dance Camps

Performance / Instruction

"The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word " ~ Mata Hari (1876-1917)

• Abir's Casbah - Jamilee Abir is a Calgary-based teacher, performer and vendor of belly dance supplies. Always bubbly and a very entertaining dancer.
  
• Aiewa school of cultural dances
  
• Aisha Ali
  
• Al Amar Dance Theatre ~ Gina is a gorgeous dancer, Based in Saskatoon
  
• Angelika Nemeth
  
• Arabia Adorned Academy & Troupe - Fellow Hadia Teacher Training Level 3 graduate, the fabulous Dafne runs this school and performance group. 
  
• Arabesque Dance (Company & Academy) - directed by Yasmina Ramzy, located in Toronto. Known for its power-house stage productions, arabesque offers classes of all levels, as well as instruction in drumming, music, language, and more. Yasmina’s troupe choreographies and theme-based shows are some of the best Orientale dance theatre there is. 
  
• Ashera Rose - Regina-based Aschera-Rose offers classes in bellydance as well as fitness.
  
• Atlanta Danse Orientale Society Egyptian Nights
  
• Aziza - super-cute Aziza splits her time between the U.S. west coast and Montreal. She has revived old-school American belly dance to its betterment.
  
• Azura - Regina-based dancer and teacher.
  
• Cassandra - and Jawaahir dance company, at the Cassandra School. Minneapolis-based Cassandra is a queen in our dance world, a true trailblazer and very gifted teacher
  
• Celebrations Bellydance
  
• DancEgypt - Saskatoon's long-standing performance troupe, directed by Elaine and Monica. They offer all levels of Egyptian technique classes and their troupe has won respect in western Canada for its presentation of authentic Egyptian choreographies. They also host a bi-annual workshop.
  
• Denise Enan - Denise is truly a gem. Egyptian-born and trained with the Khomeyya troupe, Mdm. Enan came to Ottawa, Canada in the 70's with her husband, also a dancer. Denise no longer performs, but is a superb teacher of Egyptian dance and an amazing storehouse of dance lore and technique.
  
• Desert Rose Dance Studio - Edmonton's Zahra and Yasmeen opened this studio recently, offering bellydance and much more.
  
• Egyptian Academy of Oriental dance (Nourhan and Yousry Sharif)
  
• Fahtiem
  
• Hadia - Canada's own master teacher and dancer, Hadia has established a well-deserved reputation as a true dancer's dancer. Her excellent teacher training courses are in high demand around the world. Her dancing is incredibly sublime and divinely musical. I am blessed to call her a mentor and a friend.She offers the best Teacher Training program and is delivering on a promise to offer a method that is based on authentic Egyptian movement, in a way that respects the way our bodies work.
  
• Hannan's Dance Studio - Nada el Masriya, new director of Hannan's dance studio in Toronto. Nada comes widely recommended as one of Canada's best-kept secrets.
  
• Jalilah - Zamora, based in Ottawa. Producer of the Jalilah's Raks Sharqi cds, which I would take with me on a desert island, as well as dance ethnographer and performer extraordinaire.
  
• Jillina - Jillina is a great dancer, has a superb troupe, and has a number of very good instructional dvd�s.
  
• Jamiila Al Badawia - Winnipeg ex-patriot, now residing in Vancouver, BC. Jamilla has trademark dynamism and sauciness to her dancing, and is a respected teacher. 
  
• Jocelyne Khan - Ottawa-area teacher and performer and colleague of Denise Enan.
  
• Julie Tierney
  
• Lac La Blanche Poterie, (Lisa-Marie Serafin, aka Sha'vega)
  
• Lala Hakim
  
• Lapis Productions (Sarita) - the super-sexy Vancouver dancer, formerly of the Portland / Seattle scene, has been a pillar of the west-coast dance community. She regularly performs and has a studio offering all levels of classes.
  
• Leila Haddad
  
• Little Egypt Productions - Deedee and family vend Egyptian imports and host big-name workshops with Cairo�s hottest dancers across North America.
  
• Lotus Productions (Ariellah) - Calgary's Ariellah is a veteran of the western Canadian dance community and offers classes in all levels.
  
• Mayada
  
• Raqia Hassan - Egypt's premier dance coach, former member of Reda troupe, and organizer of the Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival each June in Cairo, Egypt. Raqia has influenced the dancing of many upper-level dancers, including Randa Kamel, Hadia and Cassandra.
  
• Ranya Renee - New York-based Ranya has a series of wonderful instructional dvds including baladi, taksim and Orientale, totally worth the hype and price!Love them!Ranya is well respected by all my favourite dancers!Ranya also organizes an annual conference on theatrical bellydance.
  
• Roula Said - Toronto-based Roula has graced Winnipeg as an instructor several times.Roula's alternative and innovative teaching method of Seven Waves offers a full-body approach to feeling dance, and her zills instruction is superb.
  
• Sahra Saeeda Kent - The lovely, talented, and gracious Sahra isteacher who shows a unique talent for explaining the more esoteric aspects of Egyptian dance and its sub-styles.Her Journey Through Egypt courses help document and explain the regional and historical variations of raks sharqi and folkloric dances. 
  
• Suzy
  
• C.I.D./U.N.E.S.C.O. - site dedicated to supporting the international dance community
  
• Zahra Zuhair

Shopping

"It's also helpful to realize that this very body that we have, that's sitting right here, right now... with its aches and its pleasures... is exactly what we need to be fully human, fully awake, fully alive"
~ Pema Chodron

• Artemis Imports
  
• Bab's Designs
  
• Bellydance Shop
  
• Bellydance Shoppe
  
• Cicek Pasaj
  
• Cleopatra's Bazaar
  
• Dahlal Internationale - Popular as ever, St. Louis' one-stop online shop and warehouse for almost everything bellydance. Good prices on music and video, hipscarves, zills, and more.I do not recommend their custom options for costumes, and make sure you triple-check measurements (yours and theirs!) before you order off the rack.
  
• Hossam Ramzy
  
• Little Egypt - Merchants and organisers of workshops with Egyptian stars such as Lucy and Dina.
  
• King of the Nile - Soooooooo nice hipscarves, each handmade and unique, even their "seconds" are nicer than most anything out there on the market.Occasional eBay auctions help you save, but you can also order in your size and colour choices from the current stock.
  
• Maqam music - A super helpful site where you can buy sheet music, cds, mp3s, dvds, and more. The bellydance dvds are not the greatest, but you can buy Arabic language movies and mp3s by theme (e.g. wedding music).
  
• Neckelmanns Costumes
  
• PE-KO records/Hollywood music
  
• Pyramid Imports
  
• Saroyan Mastercrafts - The best finger cymbals out there!
  
• Scheherezade Imports
  
• Shibori Borealis Veils - Dar's hand-painted, totally unique silk veils are worth every penny! Dance with the divine in one of her off the rack or completely custom designs.Silks are a lovely feel and weight and are not flimsy as many are.
  
• Son of the Pharoah
  
• The Greater Good Network Store
  
• Horus and Isis Company - My favourite place for ordering accessories, props, costume separates, beaded fringe, and more!Kamal has great prices and great customer service.
  
• Turkish Emporium
  
• Turquoise International
  
• Yadawee Egyptian Arts and Crafts

Local Business

"All we actually have is our body and its muscles that allow us to be under our own power "
~ Allegra Kent

For Canadian and Manitoba-area dancers, here are some contacts for services and products related to Middle Eastern dance.

• Asra - a charming and engaging performer and budding instructor, Asra is earning her place among Winnipeg's best dancers.As one of Nicola's long-term students and a founding member of Spice Road Belly Dance, Asra has been pivotal in building Winnipeg's reputation. 
  
• AuSet Bellydance Emporium - Ready-to-wear costume pieces. Music, finger cymbals, fabrics, trims, jewellery. 
  
• Bolero Dance Theatre - Directed by Pedro Aurelio. BDT is a Winnipeg-based dance company committed to the artistry, beauty, and drama of Spanish dance. The company's repertoire ranges from dances featuring the passion of flamenco and spirit of folkdance to the grace of Escuela Bolera. The company's objective is to present dances in their authentic forms and also to showcase Spanish dance as an evolving art form.Pedro and Nicola collaborated for the 2009 show, Alhambra and are preparing Cleopatra for May 2012.
  
• Manohar Dance - Manohar Performing Arts Of Canada, Inc. Is a Winnipeg-based dance theatre company that integrates classical Bharatanatyam and Kathak into the contemporary Canadian dance scene. It comprises the first generation of dancers trained entirely in Canada. Manohar explores both traditional and modern aspects of Indian and Canadian culture through the media of classical dance and drama. All of Manohar's dance productions have been wholly created, choreographed, designed and produced by the artists of the company.
  
• Rising Star Dance Academy - Allison Banman's award-winning and long-established studio offers adult and children's classes in a supportive atmosphere, with all the amenities. Tap, jazz, ballet, Latin, hip hop, break dance, modern, Irish, highland, and of course, belly dance with Nicola.One of the best studio floors in Winnipeg!
  
• Sameerah's Costumes - lovely and unique designs created for you by a dancer. Sameerah can work with your ideas or create something one-of-a-kind. Sameerah's designs are in demand internationally and are known for their figure-flattering shapes and attention to detail.
  
• Saramaga - Saramaga Middle Eastern Dance Costumes and Accessories, the belly dance costume site. Cheryllynn Saramaga-Martai's site offers Egyptian, Turkish and Asian imports for dance as well as groovy collectibles.
  
• Theatre Flamenco - Claire Marchand's school and company, known for powerful stage presentations and collaborations with local and visiting artists.
  
• Za'ina Dilshad - dynamic local teacher and performer, whose class content and techniques are compatible with Nicola's.
  

Information

Below are a collection of articles that Nicola has prepared for students in her regular classes. They are intended for individual users. Fellow dancers are welcome to share them with their students, so long as credit is given.

• How to choose the best class type for you (html)
  
• Private Instruction (html)
  
• Choosing a Teacher (coming soon)
  
• What to Expect from a Bellydance Class
  
• How to Practice Bellydance from the Comfort of your Chair
  
• Recommended Books, Music and Videos - Beginners
  
• Recommended Books, Music and Videos - Intermediate (coming soon)
  
• Basic Zills
  
• Dance Class Protocol & Etiquette
  
• About Charging Standard Rates
  
• What Should You Expect from a Professional Performer? (Are you ready to call yourself a Professional?)
  
• Golden Guidelines for Performing
  
• Costume Care
  
• About Formal Stage Shows
  
• About informal recitals and Haflas
  
• About Resturant Dancing
  
• Belly Dance Problem Solver
  
• Recital Performance Pointers
  
• About Busking and Festivals
  
• Dance Costume Checklist for Performers
  
• How to Tip a Dancer
  
• What you Need To Know Prior to Booking
  
• About Blessing Ways (html)
  
• Ideas for the Blessing Way