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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

Canadian eh!

General Information

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

• 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)
• Shanmonster - Omphalo-Stepses
• 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
• 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 are truly a wonder.
• Ashera Rose - Regina-based Aschera-Rose offers classes and is an active member of RAMED.
• Atlanta Danse Orientale Society Egyptian Nights
• Aziza - super-cute Aziza splits her time between the west coast and Montréal. 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, conducting herself with regal
• 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.
• Dance Info (Winnipeg) - Listings of various dance events, primarily swing and other ballroom varieties.
• 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.
• Egyptian Academy of Oriental dance (Nourhan and Yousry Sharif)
• Fahtiem
• Go Belly Dance
• Gypsy Caravan Dance Company
• 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.
• 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.
• Isis Dance Productions (Anemone)
• Jalilah Zamora, based in Ottawa. Producer of the Jalilah’s Raks Sharq cd’s, which I would take with me on a desert island, as well as dance ethnographer and performer extraordinaire.
• Jillina self-described “superstar” status aside, 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. she has classes at Sarita’s studio and at UBC.
• 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.
• Roula Said
• Sahra Saeeda Kent
• Suzanna Del Vecchio
• Suzy
• 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
• Audrena's International Bazaar - The bellydance Store
• Bab's Designs
• Bellydance Shop
• Bellydance Shoppe
• Cicek Pasaj
• Cleopatra's Bazaar
• Dahlal Internationale
• Enchantress of Egypt
• Hossam Ramzy
• Isis and the Star Dancers
• Little Egypt Merchants and organisers of workshops with Egyptian stars such as Lucy and Dina.
• King of the Nile
• Maqam music
• Neckelmanns Costumes
• PE-KO records/Hollywood music
• Pyramid Imports
• Saroyan Mastercrafts
• Scheherezade Imports
• Senitza
• Shibori Borealis Veils
• Samara's Bazaar
• Son of the Pharoah
• Bellydance Shop
• The Greater Good Network Store
• Horus and Isis Company
• Turkish Emporium
• Turquoise International
• Yadawee Egyptian Arts and Crafts

Support 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.
• AuSet Bellydance Emporium - Ready to wear and custom made, hand-sewn, locally made costume pieces. Music, finger cymbals, fabrics, trims, jewellery, and more. Studio space available. Classes offered by multiple instructors.
• Bolero Dance Theatre -, directed by Pedro Aurilio. Formerly known as Hispanice Dance Theater, 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.
  
• Essential Motion Inc. Fitness Studio - Fitness studio located in oakbank, this studio offers a variety of wellness and fitness classes in a friendly, small-town atmosphere.
• Habibi Imports - Katherine Hlady’s imports are custom-designed by her out of an atelier in Egypt. Coin scarves, costumes, and more.
• 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 -  Korinne Hewitt and 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.
• 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.
  

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