Essence of Bellydance

"Learning the technique of Belly Dance allowed me to develop deeper body awareness and to further awaken my feminine energy."

Interview from February 2nd 2017.

Ann-Marie is a dancer from Dublin, Ireland. Her initial styles included Jazz & Musical Theatre. In 2011, Ann-Marie traveled to Egypt. It was here that she was introduced and became fully engrossed in Egyptian Folkloric Dance. She was based in Nuweiba, Sinai and performed with the Sphinx Company Dancers – delivering performances true to the style of Mahmoud Reda.

How did you get in touch with belly dance and what does it give you?

I came in touch with belly dance as soon as I arrived in Egypt. It was here that I saw Belly Dance being performed and heard Arabic music for the first time. Learning the technique of Belly Dance allowed me to develop deeper body awareness and to further awaken my feminine energy.

How did you start and what were the important turning points in your career?

When I was younger my Mom brought me to see Grease and Miss Saigon at the Point Theatre in Dublin. From this time I have felt the stage calling me. I also fell in love with pop music and was really inspired by the dancers’ of Britney Spear’s Onyx & Femme Fatale Tour.

Yoga & Pilates have really complemented my dancing. My yoga practice prepares my body and mind for movement and the demands of the industry. Pilates strengthens and conditions my body, which helps in injury prevention. Learning how to enhance my strengths and dedicating time to work on my limitations have allowed me to get the most out of my training regime.

What was the best moment in your dance life so far?

One of my favourite dancing moments was a performance at the RDS – Royal Dublin Society – Ireland. I had just returned from living in Egypt and was invited to perform with the Rumi Theatre – as part of Conscious Concert Ireland. I performed Sufi Dance – The Whirling Dervish Dance of Turkey. Another was performing at NADA – Nothern Arabic Dance Association – and being featured in and on the cover of their quarterly magazine.

You have lived some years in Egypt, tell us about your experience.

I lived in Egypt from 2011 – 2013. Falling in love with folkloric dance and then being able to fully immerse myself amongst the people, the music and the food was a wonderful experience. I lived in Sharm El Sheikh first which many people know as a tourist destination. After some time I moved to Nuweiba, which is mostly desert. I was more isolated and it was here that I dedicated my time to learning the art of Tanoura dance.

Why did you decide to come back to Ireland and how is dance and your life different in both countries?

Most of my experience is Egypt were positive but there were times after the revolution and during the elections where I felt unsafe. This was a main factor in my returning to live in Ireland. Once I returned to Ireland I entered the World of Oriental Dance Festivals. I performed Egyptian Folklore Dances, Tanoura and delivered workshops in these styles. The festivals allowed me to combine my love of dance and travel. I have performed in the UK, Germany, Vienna, France and Spain. I also returned to my training in ballet and contemporary dance and began teaching Egyptian Folklore dance 3 times a week.

How does a day in your life look like?

A day in my life is currently very exciting. After completing my ESSENCE OF BELLYDANCE teacher training I decided to travel. I have been traveling in India for the last three months. I am currently based in Pushkar, where I am studying Indian Classical Dance. The schedule includes a morning yoga class, two stepping classes and a theory class. Around the schedule I dedicate 30 minutes a day to repeating, cleaning and altering my Egyptian Dance Repertoire and drinking lot’s of chai! I have also rediscovered my love of reading.

What 3 tips would you like to share with women who want to pursue a similar dream?

1. Find a teacher who motivates, inspires and challenges you. Make sure you get the most out of your classes and practice drills at home – and not just the ones you like. I also encourage students to attend many teacher's classes and workshops to continue learning and to help in developing and discovering their own personal style.

2. Build your musical library. Become familiar with Arabic music, find translations where possible and know which style of music represents Raks Sharki or a Folkloric Style such as Sha3bi, El Haggala, Saidi etc.

3. Invest in a costume! For me investing in my Tanoura costume was my biggest incentive to perform this dance. It took me many many months before I performed but knowing I had paid a lot of money for it and having the desire to really want to wear it on stage was my motivation for daily practice.

What is your vision for the future?

My vision for the future is to continue dancing. I want to keep training and developing my personal style. I would like to add more folkloric styles to my repertoire and I would love to be based in Egypt again!

Thank you so much for the interview Ann-Marie! You are an inspiration.

Do you love to dance and want to inspire other women? Then join our international community of excellent dance teachers and start teaching your own ESSENCE OF BELLYDANCE classes. You can do it!

Do you love to dance and want to inspire other women? Then join our international community of excellent dance teachers and start teaching your own ESSENCE OF BELLYDANCE™ classes. You can do it!