Opening Night Gala
Wednesday May 2, 2012
We are pleased to present the Opening Night Gala performance held on the first night of the 4th International Bellydance Conference of Canada at the Lithuanian House! The following artists have performed on the Main Stage and Gala Stage of previous IBCCs and are returning to blow you away! Meet and greet all your favourite stars and idols at the Opening Night Gala and at the Closing Night Party!
So sit back and enjoy the fabulous show, renew old friendships and make new friends at the Opening Night Gala - what a great way to kick off the the 4th IBCC!
Tickets: $25/Adv, $30/Door - on sale now: 416.920.5593
Order Tickets online here
Mahmoud Reda
Egypt
Mahmoud Reda is the pioneer of theatre dance in Egypt. In 1959 he founded the world renowned Reda Troupe. By the mid 60s the troupe had over 150 members including, dancers and musicians. As soloist, choreographer, and artistic director, he was instrumental in creating a legitimate theatrical dance genre that embraced many styles. He has choreographed more than 300 dances including for many Egyptian feature films, and has starred in three musicals directed by his late brother Ali Reda, two of which are major productions and are regarded as mile stones in the history of Egyptian cinema. With the troupe he has performed in prestigious theatres in more than 60 countries such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, The Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York and Stanislavski in Moscow.
Akimi
France/Canada
International Tribal Fusion bellydancer and instructor, Akimi initially studied classical, modern jazz, tap dance, and explored many different styles of bellydance. She spent two years of dedicated study in the traditional Egyptian style before finding her true love in tribal fusion bellydance. Akimi has been trained by world renowned bellydancers such as Suhaila Salimpour, Zoe Jakes, Rachel Brice, Moria Chappell, Kami Liddle, Amar Gamal, and the percussionist issam Houshan among others. Vinyasa yoga is part of her weekly routine for flexibility and strength. Akimi is now performing as a tribal fusion bellydancer as a soloist and also collaborates with music artists of the electronic scene. Her style is clearly defined by the putting into contract fluid movements with sharp and sudden lock movement on the beat of the music. She is very interested in exploring and understanding the dark side of women and harmonizing it the feelings all together through fun and creativity.
Akimi is also an instructor and passionate about helping women with their self esteem and freedom of expression through creativity as well as the externalization and transformation of emotions through dance.
YouTube: Akimibellydancer
Facebook Fan page: Akimi.bellydance
Arabesque Allspice
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
This wonderful troupe was created in order to celebrate the female spirit at its most glorious. All women who have grey roots, who have been around the block a few times and for whom gravity has taken its course are welcome to join providing they have accomplished Beginner 2 Level and are continuing their training. Wherever this high spirited group performs, audiences walk away with a warm glow and a new zest for life.
Banat El Sharq
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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! We perform many different styles of Egyptian dance including milaya, Saiidi, ghawazee, assaya, and we continue to expand our repertoire! Performance highlights have included International Bellydance Conference of Canada (IBCC), Run for the Cure,, various bellydance gala shows, and Festivals throughout Toronto.
Performance Description: Nubian
Cabaret Serpentine
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Laura Selenzi and Monique Ryan are Cabaret Serpentine, a dynamic and hypnotic duo interested in the traditional roots as well as the evolving modern potential of bellydance. Laura's experience in classic Egyptian style as a lead dancer in Arabesque Dance Company and Monique's training in Circus Arts and Tribal Fusion result in a theatrical and compelling style.
Performing together since 2003 and producing popular bi-annual shows in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the dancers have recently opened Serpentine Studios, providing instruction in Egyptian, Tribal Fusion and ATS bellydance as well as Hula Hoop and acrobatics.
Dahab
Nevada/Canada
She was born and raised in Colombia where she grew up dancing to the beats of Latin American Music.
After obtaining her degree in Mathematics, unexpected cirsumstaces took her to Las Vegas where she lived, studied dance and performed for three years. She had the opportunity to perform in all the major casinos and in many important events in the city. Since then Dahab has expanded her repertoire to include many folkloric dances from the Middle East and the Romani culture, as well as Bhangra and Bollywood.
Performance Description:
Denais Dancers
Wisconsin, U.S.A.
The Denais dancers are a lively troupe of women led by Denise Lukasik-Sedmak of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For over 25 years, Denise had been a member of a professional dance troupe, the Trisha Mid-East Dancers, which are members of the International Institute of Wisconsin. Denise has been active with her own troupe “Denai’s Dancers” and continues to choreograph and perform throughout the Midwest. Denise and the Denais Dancers are well known instructors and performers, teaching throughout the mid west and performing at such illustrious events as the International Bellydance Conference of Canada.
Flor Coelho
Portugal
Flor was born in Lisbon, Portugal. She started her ballet studies at the age of nine and since then dance has pretty much been the centre of her life although she does have a parallel career as a Psychologist. Besides ballet Flor has also experimented, trained and performed many different kinds of dancing. Nevertheless, when Oriental Dance came into her life she knew she had discovered the way to truly express her soul and body through dance. Flor presently teaches and performs in the north of Portugal and has developed her own project, called Oriente-Luso.
George Sawa
Egypt/Canada
George Sawa was born in Alexandria , Egypt in 1947. He studied Classical Arabic music at the Higher Institute of Arabic Music specializing in qanoon, voice and theory. After immigrating to Canada in 1970, he studied ethno-musicology and obtained his doctorate in Historical Arabic Musicology at the University of Toronto.
He has taught medieval, modern and religious Middle Eastern Music at York University and the University of Toronto, and is the author of "Music Performance in Early Abbasid Era 750-932AD" published in 1989. George Sawa has given numerous concerts and lecture demonstrations at universities, museums and art galleries in Europe and North America He has been teaching at Arabesque Academy, School of Middle Eastern Dance and Music Arts since 1995 and regularly teaches alongside Yasmina Ramzy in many dance workshops.
He was awarded the 1990 Ontario Folk Arts Recognition Fellowship for his performances and lecture demonstrations on the qanoon. George served as a performer, composer and music coach in R. Murray Schafer's RA in Toronto (1983) and Holland (1985). As well as serving as the Musical Director for the Egyptian exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, George has arranged music for and directed the musicians of the Arabesque Dance Company Orchestra from 1996 - 2004..
Habeeba Hobeika Egyptian Dance Company
Egypt/Canada
The Habeeba Hobeika Egyptian Folklore Dance Company (founded in 1990) provides colourful and lively entertainment for all occations. Our spectacular shows take you on a journey to the mysterious ancient Egyptian temples, to the modern streets of Cairo, from the grandeur of the royal palaces to exotic Nile villages.
Egyptian born Habeeba Hobeika is the Choreographer and Artistic Director of the Habeeba Hobeika Egyptian Dance Ensemble, and Director of Habeeba's Dance Studio.
An accomplished soloist herself, Habeeba is a much celebrated Egyptian dancer and choreographer throughout North America and the Middle East. Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, Habeeba Hobeika spent much of her childhood traveling throughout Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.
Her experiences have given her a lifelong appreciation of Middle Eastern culture and dance, and have instilled in her a deep pride in her heritage. It has led to a desire to perfect the art of Raks Sharki (belly dancing) and Egyptian Folklore dance and bring it to the stage for the world to appreciate.
Performance Description: Fi Yom wi Leyla/In a day and a Night
Music composed by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, well known for the European influences in his music.
The choreography is based on the Reda Troupe’s dance steps, influenced by their famous Andalusian-style Dance “Ya Gharib El Dar” (He is Living Far Away), starring Farida Fahmy
Maki Natori
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
A lifelong dancer, Maki teaches and performs internationally, captivating audiences with her style, grace and engaging stage presence. As a featured performer for the 2010 International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Maki is honoured to be invited to return to dance in this year's Opening Night Gala. In addition to being featured in the film "Almost a Turkish Soap Opera", Maki won the world-wide casting competition for Jillina's Bellydance Evolution show in LA. Maki was also the main choreographer for the first ever Shimmy Mob, which was danced by over 300 dancers in over 30 cities around the world! This year, with over 9 countries signed up for the Shimmy Mob, dancers all over the world are experiencing Maki's effective teaching techniques. In addition to her regular classes, Maki is currently the folkloric instructor at Ammara Dance Company for the award-winning Raks Devas advanced/competitive group.
Performance Description:
Ranya Renee
New York, U.S.A.
RANYA RENÉE, of New York City, began her performing career in theater, and has been dancing since 1990. Specializing in holistic Egyptian-style dance and performance coaching, Ranya tours internationally, has created popular instructional DVDs, and co-directs the NY Theatrical Bellydance Conference. A longtime student of Arabic music, she produces regular concerts in New York City featuring live music and dance. She has conducted research in the Middle East, published articles, and given talks at universities. Ranya holds a BA from Yale University in Linguistics and Theater Studies, and speaks several languages, including Arabic.
Ranya Renee Dance Company
New York, U.S.A.
RANYA RENÉE, of New York City, began her performing career in theater, and has been dancing since 1990. Specializing in holistic Egyptian-style dance and performance coaching, Ranya tours internationally, and has created popular instructional DVDs. She is the co-director of the New York Theatrical Bellydance Conference. Ranya’s company has presented theatrical and folkloric work at the IBCC in 2009 and 2010, and at numerous events in the Northeast US. Ranya received a 2009 New York State grant to support her “Palace Footprints” project, of original work in the Andalusi-muwashahat tradition, based on her studies with Mahmoud Reda. Company members performing: Joanie, Leela, Sabbi, Nisreen.
Performance Description:
Roula Said
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Roula said is a Middle eastern dancer, musician and actor. She dances, sings and plays percussion in Gypsy funk band Nomadica, produces the hippest global grooves party in town, Funkabelly, and teaches her unique system of Bellydance based movement, rhythm and vocalization, the Om Laila System. Roula has toured extensively with Maza Meze which she co-founded and has appeared a s a guest performer with world music acts Maryem Tollar, Jesse Cook, Samba Squad, Toronto table Ensemble, the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band and Levon Ichkhanian. She often collaborates with her husband, trumpeter and composer, David Buchbider.
Saba
Ethiopia/Canada
Hailing from Ethiopia, Saba is a versatile and innovative dancer, choreographer and teacher. She is known for her uniqueness in both traditional and fusion styles of African, Middle Eastern and related dance forms. Her background being Ethiopian dance, Saba has further training and performing experience in styles such as Congolese Soukous, West African, Hip Hop and Belly Dance. Other than spending ample time teaching herself and practicing on her own, Saba studied and performed West African dance with Franklin & Marshall College African Dance Group (USA) and Imani Edu-tainers (USA). She studied Belly Dance with Yasmina Ramzy and Denise Mireau of Arabesque Academy as well as numerous workshops with Egyptian artists like Randa Kamal, Tito, Aida Nour, Momo Kodus, etc. Teachers of DLM, National Dance of Canada, and DoDat have shaped her Hip Hop skills. She is a teacher, dancer and choreographer with her African dance troupe Jaivah a.k.a Nouvel Expose. Saba has been teaching Belly Dance and Belly Dance Fusion at Arabesque Academy for a number of years and is a lead dancer with Arabesque Dance Company. She can also be seen performing solo and collaborations on many stages and music videos.
Sofia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
At the very young age of twelve, Sofia performed her solo debut at the International Bellydance Conference of Canada in 2007 to an Oriental choreography by Yasmina Ramzy. She began formal Middle Esatern dance training at ten and performed in the Arabesque Junior Troupe under the guidance of Arabesque Teachers Mary, Yasmina Ramzy and Laura Selenzi. Combined wiith a background in Ballet and Hip Hop, her virtuoso ease of technique is a wonder to all who witness her dance artistry.
Performance Description: Oriental with Veil
Tribe Maya Fire
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Tribe MayaFire is an American Tribal Style® (ATS®) bellydance performance troupe based in Southern Ontario. Troupe members met at BellyUp Bellydance studio in Oakville while studying the dance movement with Valizan, a certified ATS® instructor and brother studio to FatChanceBellyDance®. Tribe MayaFire began performing together in 2008 and appear regularly throughout the region at multicultural festivals, community events, fundraisers and private functions. Performances include the International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Burlington Sound of Music, Take Back the Night, Halton Multicultural Fair, Love of the Arts Oakville, Oakville Holistic Fair, Big Beautiful Wellness Expo, Canada Day festivals, Hamilton Arts Super Crawl, Milwaukee’ ATS Tribal Union, and Buffalo’ Infringement Festival.
Tribe MayaFire exclusively performs the FatChanceBellyDance® ATS® bellydance format.