performers
Professional dancers and student troupes will be performing, sharing their love of dance.
I am very honoured to have Arabesque Dance Company perform at HIPnosis this year among all the very many, many talented dancers at the show. Yasmina Ramzy and her Dance Company have changed the face of Bellydance in Canada; promoting awareness, respect and furthering the artistry of this ancient dance form and of all Middle Eastern dance and music.
Feature Performance by Arabesque Dance Company
Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra has emerged as Canada ’s leading Middle Eastern dance and music ensemble. The company consists of 17 male and female dance artists trained in 14 different styles of Middle Eastern dance led by Yasmina Ramzy and 9 acoustic musicians led by Bassam Bishara and Dr. George Sawa. The company tours internationally and has staged 6 major full-scale productions. It performs in such theatres as the Hummingbird Centre for the Arts, Premiere Dance Theatre and Madison Square Gardens.
The innovative choreographies and rich acoustic music has the ability to move an audience to tears or on their feet dancing with joy. The company has garnered rave reviews in all mainstream media and sold out audiences are always enriched by making the emotional connection with timeless and profound Arabic art.
“Has taken Bellydance to another level” Bravo TV
“Arresting imagery…seduces completely” The Globe and Mail
“Hypnotic…Artistry & Passion” Dance International
“Extraordinary…..Evocative tapestry” CBC Radio
“Will go down in history has having redeemed Bellydance” Toronto Star
Denise Mireau
Middle Eastern Dance Performer-Instructor
www.dmbellydance.com
Denise Mireau is a Middle Eastern dance performer, teacher and choreographer based in Toronto, Canada. Denise Mireau has 20 years of experience in Middle Eastern Dance. She is also a certified Alexander Technique Teacher and is currently in Pilates Teacher Training.
Kaharamana - كهرما نة
HIPnosis Producer
Kahramana has a fitness background, teaching aerobics and recreational boxing. She has found bellydancing not only to be a great workout but also an outlet for self expression and emotional healing and trained locally with Denise Mireau, Roula Said, Tahira Badre. She has also continued her studies with Hadia, Suhaila Salimpour, Ansuya, Aida Nour, Amaya, Jim Boz, & Aziza. Kaharamana performs at charity, corporate and community events in the GTA. Kahramana teaches at the Dance Centre for Adults in downtown Burlington and for Burlington Parks and Recreation.
Valizan
www.shadesofaraby.valizan.com
Shades of Araby is the first American Tribal Style (ATS) dance troupe based in Toronto. Sharing a love of this group improvisational style, Maral, Sofia and Valizan united to form the troupe in early 2006. Since then, they have appeared at Tribally Yours in Montreal, the International Bellydance Conference Of Canada, Tribal: PURA in Milwaukee, Mish Mash Belly Bash in Guelph, Dark Fire in London, ON, Cabin Fever in Buffalo and a variety of shows in Toronto. Valizan also teaches at the Arabesque Dance Academy in Toronto. He is now the only FatChance BellyDance Certified teacher in Southern Ontario, and the first male to graduate from the program.
Audra
www.thedarksidestudio.com
www.cleopatrasbazaar.com
Audra Simmons is a Toronto based dancer, choreographer and teacher of modern belly dance & is an innovative force within Canadian belly dance. She is the founder & artistic director of Lavish Dance Company and The Dark Side Studio (Toronto) which specializes in non-traditional belly dance and is the first of its kind in Canada.
Jacquie Pullar
Wild Orchid Bellydance Studio, Hamilton
Jacqueline’s love of bellydance began nearly 6 years ago when she started taking classes with Patricia Savage at Awalim Studio in Hamilton. While at Awalim, Jacqueline had the opportunity to study with many wonderful teachers including Audra Simmons of The Dark Side Studio (Toronto) and Denise Mireau of Arabesque Academy (Toronto). After teaching for almost 3 years at Awalim, Jacqueline took the plunge and opened her own studio, Wild Orchid Bellydance, in April 2007.
Ishra
Temple Dance – Guelph, Ontario
www.templestudios.ca
Ishra has studied and taught dance in Toronto and the west coast, where she has trained with many inspiring teachers from around the world, and has performed with innovative dance troupes including the internationally acclaimed “Arabesque Dance Company” (directed by renowned Yasmina Ramzy).Her unique classes help you connect powerfully with mind and body, integrating chakra exploration with a variety of styles from the Middle East.
Emilia Moon-de Kemp
Emilia is a Faculty Member at Hannan Bellydance Studio in Toronto (www.hannandance.com) and is under the tutelage of Hannan Sultan. She was first exposed to Middle Eastern dance in Abu Dhabi and has studied with various master instructors including Aziza, Hadia, Delilah, Cassandra, Amer Thaleb and Randa Kamel. Her local instructors over the years include Nath Keo, Mayada, Denise, Mary, Saba and Emese.
Karima Helou
Ancient Moves Dance Company
www.karimahelou.com
The Bahlam Raks Ensemble has been dancing together since 2002. Karima Helou is the choreographer for the group, who owns and operates her own studio out of her home town of Brantford. Karima has been learning, performing and teaching for over 15 years.
Tahira Badre
Troupe Shevine
www.tahirabadre.com
Talented dancers from Tahira’s Bellydance Studio of Burlington. They performed at the International Bellydance Conference of Canada in Toronto, and entertain regularly at the Lebanese Mr. Tarboosh Restaurant in Burlington.
Special Guests from Toronto
Mayada
www.mayada.ca
Since discovering Middle Eastern dance in 1994 when she was fifteen years old, Mayada has become a dynamic teacher, a popular performer, a creative choreographer, and creator and editor of Canada’s first bellydance magazine: MID-BITS!
Banat El Shareq, Toronto
www.mayada.ca
Banat El Sharq Dance Troupe, founded in June 2006 by Mayada, is a group of women who love Egyptian Folkloric dance and performing it together! Performance highlights have included International Bellydance Conference of Canada (IBCC), Rak ‘n’ Roll, various bellydance gala shows, and Festivals throughout Toronto. Check out www.mayada.ca/folkpage.htm for more info!
Maha is presently a full time faculty member at Hannan’s Bellydance Studio (www.hannandance.com), student troupe director for the Sultanettes and part time member of Rhythm of the Nile dance company produced by Nada Krysko and Hannan Sultan. Building an impressive resume, Maha has hundreds of performances under her belt in addition to a gold medal in the 2007 AQDO competition, a performance for the Turkish Ambassador, and Egyptian Super star Dina.
The Sultanettes, Toronto
www.hannandance.com
From Toronto, The Sultanettes are from Hannan’s Bellydance Studio. These talented dancers have each been bellydancing between six months and two years. They perform at festivals, community events, and dance shows throughout Ontario.