Thread: Anyone familiar with these teachers in the Great Lakes area?

I'm thinking of going to the "Great Lakes Belly Dance Convention" in Nov. I've heard of Ruby Jazayre and Leila Gamal because of their videos, but am not familiar with the other 19 teachers. Hiba from Canada's youtubes look very good.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Here is a link to the main website: The Belly Dance Divas - Michigan Belly Dance Troupe
Or see below
-----------------------------
OUR 21 GUEST INSTRUCTORS

MICHIGAN MINNESOTA
Sharifa - Bay City, MI
The Belly Dance Divas - Michigan Belly Dance Troupe Julianna
Julianna Belly Dance
Yasmina Amal - Lansing, MI
The Habibi Dancers | Dedicated to the study and performance of Middle Eastern Dance
Aliyah Sahar
Belly Dance, Minneapolis, Mpls, St. Paul with Aliyah Sahar
Zahra & Ghalia - Ann Arbor, MI
Lynese Hoogerhyde - Grand Rapids, MI
Shahira - Jackson, MI
Amirah - Habibi Dancers
Zahava - Daughters of Peace Middle Eastern Dancers
Hiba Al-Kinani - Guelph, Ont., CA
Ruby Jazayre - South Bend, IN
Leile Gamal - South Bend, IN
Katya Faris
Ziva -www.msziva.com
Donna Katjsa -www.divaventures.net
Jawhara of Dancing Benefits
Jeannette
Susan Warner -www.twoleftfeet.net

Donna Katjsa -www.divaventures.net

This is Bhuz's own DonnaDiva! She's an amazing instructor, dancer and human being with oodles of experience; her zilling is off the hook and she does a mean veil poi too. I think of her as our local version of Morocco. Not to be missed!


Jawhara of Dancing Benefits

Jawhara is one of my BD heroes and inspirations . She teaches a full credit course on Middle Eastern Dance and Culture at Elmhurst College, and is insanely knowledgeable about both folkloric and oriental dance. She also has many years of dancing and teaching experience, and understands the heart and soul of the dance like few others do. Also very highly recommended.

There are a couple of other names on there that are familiar to me, but without a website or location I'm not sure if they're the same person I'm thinking of.

Thank you so much Laura!!! Here is the main website with all the instructor info.

The Belly Dance Divas - Michigan Belly Dance Troupe

Ahhh, one more person I know: Jeanette of Gypsy Moon Dance.

She does many different styles of BD, but I'm most familiar with her Tribal/Tribal Fusion work (which is awesome!). Another great instructor and dancer who is very well respected and admired in my local community.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Donna Katjsa -www.divaventures.net

This is Bhuz's own DonnaDiva! She's an amazing instructor, dancer and human being with oodles of experience; her zilling is off the hook and she does a mean veil poi too. I think of her as our local version of Morocco. Not to be missed!


Jawhara of Dancing Benefits

Jawhara is one of my BD heroes and inspirations . She teaches a full credit course on Middle Eastern Dance and Culture at Elmhurst College, and is insanely knowledgeable about both folkloric and oriental dance. She also has many years of dancing and teaching experience, and understands the heart and soul of the dance like few others do. Also very highly recommended.

Katya Faris is a fabulous dancer and very devoted to the integrity of the dance. You will like her a lot too.

Oh I didn't see this before - Susan Warner is a fantastic tribal dancer and instructor! Not to mention that she is also a really nice person.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Donna Katjsa -www.divaventures.net

This is Bhuz's own DonnaDiva! She's an amazing instructor, dancer and human being with oodles of experience; her zilling is off the hook and she does a mean veil poi too. I think of her as our local version of Morocco. Not to be missed!


Jawhara of Dancing Benefits

Jawhara is one of my BD heroes and inspirations . She teaches a full credit course on Middle Eastern Dance and Culture at Elmhurst College, and is insanely knowledgeable about both folkloric and oriental dance. She also has many years of dancing and teaching experience, and understands the heart and soul of the dance like few others do. Also very highly recommended.

There are a couple of other names on there that are familiar to me, but without a website or location I'm not sure if they're the same person I'm thinking of.

This is EXACTLY what I would have said!

Aliyah Sahar
Belly Dance, Minneapolis, Mpls, St. Paul with Aliyah Sahar

Love Aliyah! I've taken a couple workshops from her. Excellent dancer and teacher. Aliyah and my teacher Kristina are Sirens of the Sahara and co-directors of Sisters of the Sahara.

I only recognize a few names. Ruby of course. Personally, I don't care for her style but she has been around a long time.

Yasmina Amal is the director of the Habibi Dancers in Lansing. She's very good. Her personal style is American Caberet /Egyptian but she also does a lot of folkloric. She's very good.

Zahava with the Daughters of Peace. Mostly folkloric. Beginner level.

Katya Faris is good too. She studied a lot with Mohammed Shahin. She's got several youtube postings.

Originally Posted by rscramer

Aliyah Sahar
Belly Dance, Minneapolis, Mpls, St. Paul with Aliyah Sahar

Love Aliyah! I've taken a couple workshops from her. Excellent dancer and teacher. Aliyah and my teacher Kristina are Sirens of the Sahara and co-directors of Sisters of the Sahara.

Another vote for Aliyah Sahar! She raqs the house.

Anyone famliar with Leile Gamal - South Bend, IN (I think that is supposed to be Leila Gamal), or Hiba from Canada??? Thanks you guys!

Leila Gamal? Oh man, she is only one of the best in the entire country! And her workshops are fun in addition to being really creative and educational. You will not regret going to one of her workshops!

Originally Posted by Fotia

Leila Gamal? Oh man, she is only one of the best in the entire country! And her workshops are fun in addition to being really creative and educational. You will not regret going to one of her workshops!

What she said!!

Zahra & Ghalia - Ann Arbor, MI

I used to dance with their troupe. They were both excellent teachers and fun. All kinds of folkloric is their specialty.

OMG! I hope this isn't the same Odessa teaching at the convention. This is so nasty I'm sure it had to be mentioned on Bhuz before now...:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbIyBnB8LLU]YouTube - Odessa Belly Dancing BEST EVER and single[/ame]

I think that video appears to be from the Ukraine and the Odessa they're referring to is the city.

That's definitely NOT the Odessa who is a dancer from Ohio. I had a workshop wtih her last year.

Originally Posted by rachelw

I think that video appears to be from the Ukraine and the Odessa they're referring to is the city.

That's definitely NOT the Odessa who is a dancer from Ohio. I had a workshop wtih her last year.

Ha, ha! Thank God!

I want to thank everyone for all the feedback! I'm really looking forward to going to this event, and maybe bringing some of Georgia girl-friends along with me. ;O) It looks like it is going to be a wonderful event, and the price couldn't be better.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Donna Katjsa -www.divaventures.net

This is Bhuz's own DonnaDiva! She's an amazing instructor, dancer and human being with oodles of experience; her zilling is off the hook and she does a mean veil poi too. I think of her as our local version of Morocco. Not to be missed!


Jawhara of Dancing Benefits

Jawhara is one of my BD heroes and inspirations . She teaches a full credit course on Middle Eastern Dance and Culture at Elmhurst College, and is insanely knowledgeable about both folkloric and oriental dance. She also has many years of dancing and teaching experience, and understands the heart and soul of the dance like few others do. Also very highly recommended.

There are a couple of other names on there that are familiar to me, but without a website or location I'm not sure if they're the same person I'm thinking of.

Wow, thanks so much Laura!! I am so honored to have my name mentioned in the same paragraph with one of my BD heroes, Morocco!

I can add that I never miss one of Leila Gamal's workshops. She's another BD hero, and a super-wonderful lady, too. And Jawhara is a fountain of BD knowledge and a fantastic dancer and instructor.

Jawhara and I are riding to the convention together, and we're roomies, too. She and I are going to have plenty to talk about on the way to Ann Arbor! I hope she's driving, I've got to practice my zills!!

(Hey Laura, how much do I owe you for the kudos? I already owe you a drink! See ya Saturday with flask in hand.)

Originally Posted by vron

I want to thank everyone for all the feedback! I'm really looking forward to going to this event, and maybe bringing some of Georgia girl-friends along with me. ;O) It looks like it is going to be a wonderful event, and the price couldn't be better.

I can guarantee you will have a great time at the convention! The Belly Dance Divas who are hostessing the convention are a truly WICKED group of women. We had a LOT of fun last year, and I told Sharifa that if I wasn't invited back to teach this year, I was still going to find a way to sneak in and crash her par-tay! Be prepared to learn a lot, laugh a lot, eat a lot, and drink a lot!!

Originally Posted by laura 2

Donna Katjsa -www.divaventures.net

This is Bhuz's own DonnaDiva! She's an amazing instructor, dancer and human being with oodles of experience; her zilling is off the hook and she does a mean veil poi too. I think of her as our local version of Morocco. Not to be missed!


Jawhara of Dancing Benefits

Jawhara is one of my BD heroes and inspirations . She teaches a full credit course on Middle Eastern Dance and Culture at Elmhurst College, and is insanely knowledgeable about both folkloric and oriental dance. She also has many years of dancing and teaching experience, and understands the heart and soul of the dance like few others do. Also very highly recommended.

There are a couple of other names on there that are familiar to me, but without a website or location I'm not sure if they're the same person I'm thinking of.

You said it best girlfriend----
but I may proudly add that DonnaDiva was my longtime instructor and mentor---so I can personally attest to the fact that she's a great instructor---definitely the way to learn zills! (I don't think I've done too bad anyways .w.:)

Originally Posted by donnadiva

(Hey Laura, how much do I owe you for the kudos? I already owe you a drink! See ya Saturday with flask in hand.)

Now, there's never any debt when it comes to giving credit where credit is due!

I may have to borrow your flask before I go on though - I'm starting to get all freaked out about presenting my first shaabi piece!

Originally Posted by ANISAHDANCER

You said it best girlfriend----
but I may proudly add that DonnaDiva was my longtime instructor and mentor---so I can personally attest to the fact that she's a great instructor---definitely the way to learn zills! (I don't think I've done too bad anyways .w.:)

You make me PROUD, Dahlink!!

Originally Posted by laura 2

Now, there's never any debt when it comes to giving credit where credit is due!

I may have to borrow your flask before I go on though - I'm starting to get all freaked out about presenting my first shaabi piece!

I'll see your Shaabi and raise you a double voi with zills! ..c::

Pass the flask!!

I'll be at the Great Lakes Bellydance Convention as well. There will be a few of us coming from the Sarnia, Ontario, area. We had such a good time last year and all of us wanted to return again this year.

Originally Posted by donnadiva

You make me PROUD, Dahlink!!

Donna, I wish to complain. I loved the veil poi on Saturday but wanted MORE ZILLING.

Originally Posted by donnadiva

You make me PROUD, Dahlink!!

....................................

Originally Posted by tigerb

Donna, I wish to complain. I loved the veil poi on Saturday but wanted MORE ZILLING.

Um, yeah, so did I. We are working on it. (Note to self: next time pack the right zills!! ..cr.:) Glad you liked the double poi veil - the Extreme Taqsim men called my veils green fire! Love it. (BTW, Nilaja made those veils for me, they're awesome!)

BTW, I will be teaching zills, poi veil, fan veil, and tambourine at the Convention. I'm the PROPS girl!! Or should I perhaps say the "enhancements" girl? Props is not really the appropriate word.

Now if I could just figure out how to do them all in the same dance . . .

That's it - I'm going next year.

Hiba Al-Kinani (Guelph, Ont., CA) performed at the IBC in Canada last year and her performance knocked our socks off!