Thread: Detroit, MI area instructor recommendation needed

Hi Bhuzzers:

One of my awesome dance friends is moving to the Detroit area (Northville) and needs to find a good instructor, and possibly hook up with a performing group.

She is a very serious dance student who has been studying M.E. dance about 5 years or so, plus ballet all her life. She's interested most of all in Egyptian, also other traditional forms. Most of her performing experience is as a troupe dancer, and she'd like to find a teacher who will help her develop as a soloist. She's a fast learner with respect to dance, and is also musically and artistically inclined. All around a joy to interact with in every way.

Who is a special teacher that I can recommend to her?

Originally Posted by ssipes

Hi Bhuzzers:

One of my awesome dance friends is moving to the Detroit area (Northville) and needs to find a good instructor, and possibly hook up with a performing group.

She is a very serious dance student who has been studying M.E. dance about 5 years or so, plus ballet all her life. She's interested most of all in Egyptian, also other traditional forms. Most of her performing experience is as a troupe dancer, and she'd like to find a teacher who will help her develop as a soloist. She's a fast learner with respect to dance, and is also musically and artistically inclined. All around a joy to interact with in every way.

Who is a special teacher that I can recommend to her?

My teacher, Princess Madiha is in Northville. She is THE teacher to go to if you want to become professional. If she is still teaching. I'm no longer in touch with her so I'm not sure. I noticed her website isn't active. But there is a phone number on her FB page. http://www.facebook.com/princess.madiha.395

She doesn't do troupes though so she would have to go somewhere else for that. The Habibi Dancers are based out of Lansing. I believe there is also a group in Ann Arbor. There is a MI Belly Dance Group on FB.

I'm across the bridge in Canada but know several of the Detroit area instructors, troupes and performers.

She should definitely look up Lana Mini of Detroit Bellydance I've taken several of her workshops and highly recommend her.

and for troupe... Unveiled Bellydance

Is Aida Al Adawi still teaching in metro Detroit? If your student is looking for a troupe that's like Jillina's or Yasmina Ramzy's, Aida probably won't be a good fit, but Aida is an outstanding teacher in other areas of training a good performer, and she's probably still worth looking into, even if she isn't an obvious stylistic match. Aida of San Francisco

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

Is Aida Al Adawi still teaching in metro Detroit? If your student is looking for a troupe that's like Jillina's or Yasmina Ramzy's, Aida probably won't be a good fit, but Aida is an outstanding teacher in other areas of training a good performer, and she's probably still worth looking into, even if she isn't an obvious stylistic match. Aida of San Francisco

Yes. She teaches out of Pontiac, MI.

Sigh. I need to get back into teaching.

My favorite Egyptian-style belly dancer/teacher, Nadira, is moving away from Detroit in a few weeks, otherwise she would have been perfect.

Sigh. I need to get back into teaching.

Norma, I've wanted to study with you for awhile - if you start teaching again let me know :)

My teacher, Princess Madiha is in Northville. She is THE teacher to go to if you want to become professional. If she is still teaching. I'm no longer in touch with her so I'm not sure. I noticed her website isn't active. But there is a phone number on her FB page. http://www.facebook.com/princess.madiha.395

Is Aida Al Adawi still teaching in metro Detroit? If your student is looking for a troupe that's like Jillina's or Yasmina Ramzy's, Aida probably won't be a good fit, but Aida is an outstanding teacher in other areas of training a good performer, and she's probably still worth looking into, even if she isn't an obvious stylistic match. Aida of San Francisco

Princess Madiha and Aida Al Adawi are both still teaching in the area. Aida teaches more Vintage Oriental and Egyptian folkloric but I think even if someone is mostly interested in Egyptian she's still worth studying from since she's shown me and told me things I've never heard from anyone else that I found valuable.
aidaofsf - YouTube
aida

and for troupe... Unveiled Bellydance

I've also taken classes with Unveiled - they usually teach a level 1 & 2 technique and a choreography class. Their technique classes are mostly drills and some combos. This troupe's repertoire is vast - they perform and teach everything from tribal to more traditional (they're a large troupe and different members have different interests). They are based out of Ann Arbor and are very involved in the Detroit/Ann Arbor belly dance scene. They offer their students a lot of opportunities to perform. They are also super, super nice and fun - no drama :)
unveiledbellydance's channel - YouTube
UnveiledDanceCompa - YouTube
Unveiled Ann Arbor

continued...

She should definitely look up Lana Mini of Detroit Bellydance I've taken several of her workshops and highly recommend her.

I haven't taken classes with Lana, but she is HUGE in the Detroit belly dance scene and has a lot of experience with Arab audiences. From what I hear, she seems like a good person to go to for coaching to become a soloist/professional. I did take a workshop with her and she was also very nice and I liked her teaching style. Lana has a teaching DVD too: Amazon.com: Authentic Bellydance with Lana - Level One: Lana Mini, Sean Blackman, Liron Peled, Ana Berna: Movies & TV
Detroit Belly Dance, Lana Mini - YouTube

I also want to recommend Kendra who is part of Unveiled. I don't think Kendra is teaching a regular class right now, but from what I hear she will be soon possibly (and I will be there! ;) ). She's a beautiful dancer! She does teach private lessons. Kendra dances regularly at Arab danceclubs/restaurants. I've seen her perform a variety of styles and in my (amateur) opinion I would say that her more traditional performances are very Egyptian style. I've taken workshops with her, and again, very, very nice and I liked her teaching style as well. Kendra Ray - Bellydancer
Kendra's youtube channel: bailarose - YouTube

And because I love Kendra's dancing:

Originally Posted by Cassidhe

My favorite Egyptian-style belly dancer/teacher, Nadira, is moving away from Detroit in a few weeks, otherwise she would have been perfect.



Norma, I've wanted to study with you for awhile - if you start teaching again let me know :)





Princess Madiha and Aida Al Adawi are both still teaching in the area. Aida teaches more Vintage Oriental and Egyptian folkloric but I think even if someone is mostly interested in Egyptian she's still worth studying from since she's shown me and told me things I've never heard from anyone else that I found valuable.
aidaofsf - YouTube
aida



I've also taken classes with Unveiled - they usually teach a level 1 & 2 technique and a choreography class. Their technique classes are mostly drills and some combos. This troupe's repertoire is vast - they perform and teach everything from tribal to more traditional (they're a large troupe and different members have different interests). They are based out of Ann Arbor and are very involved in the Detroit/Ann Arbor belly dance scene. They offer their students a lot of opportunities to perform. They are also super, super nice and fun - no drama :)
unveiledbellydance's channel - YouTube
UnveiledDanceCompa - YouTube
Unveiled Ann Arbor

Thanks! Cassidhe! I plan on hitting the BD scene again soon. My work commitments required too much of my time with traveling, licensing and certifications. However, things will ease up after this year when I finish all my classes.

Aida is a fabulous resource as she is a musician as well as a belly dancer.

I hadn't hear that Nadira was leaving town.

Azziza Salem is also very good, however she is based in the Flint area.

Sad news! I just found out that Princess Madiha's son died suddenly. There is a fundraiser for his family later this month.


Omar - Fundraiser August 21st (6-9PM) | Facebook

Originally Posted by Cassidhe

continued...



I haven't taken classes with Lana, but she is HUGE in the Detroit belly dance scene and has a lot of experience with Arab audiences. From what I hear, she seems like a good person to go to for coaching to become a soloist/professional. I did take a workshop with her and she was also very nice and I liked her teaching style. Lana has a teaching DVD too: Amazon.com: Authentic Bellydance with Lana - Level One: Lana Mini, Sean Blackman, Liron Peled, Ana Berna: Movies & TV
Detroit Belly Dance, Lana Mini - YouTube

I also want to recommend Kendra who is part of Unveiled. I don't think Kendra is teaching a regular class right now, but from what I hear she will be soon possibly (and I will be there! ;) ). She's a beautiful dancer! She does teach private lessons. Kendra dances regularly at Arab danceclubs/restaurants. I've seen her perform a variety of styles and in my (amateur) opinion I would say that her more traditional performances are very Egyptian style. I've taken workshops with her, and again, very, very nice and I liked her teaching style as well. Kendra Ray - Bellydancer
Kendra's youtube channel: bailarose - YouTube

And because I love Kendra's dancing:

I've been hearing through the grapevine that Kendra is indeed a good dancer. However, although she has been aligned with Unveiled Belly Dance. Her main teacher has been Aziza Ammar who is a student of Princess Madiha.

Aida is Fantastic!!

Aziza Amar! She is my instructor. She teaches Cabaret and what I really like about her is that she is a true dancer. She not only teaches us the art of Raks she also teaches us history, performance do's and donts and in her class all of her students have a true passion for the dance.

I've been hearing through the grapevine that Kendra is indeed a good dancer. However, although she has been aligned with Unveiled Belly Dance. Her main teacher has been Aziza Ammar who is a student of Princess Madiha.

I knew that Kendra had studied with Aziza Ammar but I didn't realize Aziza Ammar studied with Princess Madiha. A lot of great dancers seem to come out of her classes :) Mia from Unveiled also studied with Princess Madiha.

Aziza Amar! She is my instructor. She teaches Cabaret and what I really like about her is that she is a true dancer. She not only teaches us the art of Raks she also teaches us history, performance do's and donts and in her class all of her students have a true passion for the dance.

I've heard a lot of great things about Aziza Amar - she is also on my list of dancers to study with :)

My picks for teaching depends on what you want:

For learning to dance to a LIVE band: Shadiah. Shadiah danced for 20 years overseas with all the great musicians. She is the BEST at controlling and mesmerizing a crowd. She makes most of my costumes (if I'm not wearing Bella) and is the nicest, sweetest person around.

For old school technical skills: Norma. She's a dancer of perfection and one of the Detroit greats.

For layers and fusion: Kendra. She's a beauty.

I don't know the others teaching styles well enough to comment but they are all lovely dancers for sure. Azziza is also great and fun but she is rather north.

I teach a kids troupe which is super fun, but only private lessons for adults. The kids make me smile. : )