Welcome to Bellydance in Bali

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About the teachers

SAMRA, of Brazilian origin but living and working in the USA, considers dancing a form of communication and a way to experience other cultures. After many years of intensive study she is a performer of dances from Latin America, Middle East, Polynesia, Turkey, and other parts of the world. She has also studied with masters of North African, Armenian, Balinese, and Central Asian dances. Her interpretive dances include fire, sword, balancing, and other exquisite dances. Samra is a popular performer at cultural and traditional events such as weddings, birthdays, banquets and festivals. She teaches dance workshops regularly across the USA and around the world. She has produced several dance instruction DVDs and has written for academic and artistic publications. Samra won an Excellence in Education award for her educational program to integrate all arts with academics. In Bali, Samra will teach dancing with fire (including info on safety), a taste of Turkey, double veil, and left side right side of brain-dancing (choreo vs improv). www.samrasexpressions.com

SIRI YDSTIE is a professional belly dancer and instructor based in Oslo , Norway . She runs Oslo Bellydance Studio, with 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, organize "1001 Nights" - Oslo Bellydance Festival, an annual event that has been drawing crowds since 2001. 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, saiidi technique and choreography (both choreographies available on DVDs).   www.oslomagedans.com

IMAN HAUST is a professional Egyptian 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 the following workshops: Sword-dance, Shaaby (Egyptian pop) technique and choreography, zagat. www.magedansen.no