Dominika Keller
Dominika's dance and teaching style, like her artwork (please see http://www.dominikakellergoddessart.zoomshare.com/) is individual and creative. Her heartfelt and hypnotic performances are inspired by her study of various belly dance styles and her love of teaching is reflected in joyful and dynamic choreographies. Dominika encourages students to have fun with their dancing. Her teaching style is designed to encourage students' individual self-expression through dance and to give dancers of all levels the opportunity to perform at regular events. Dominika's belly dance journey began in 1999. Since then she has developed expertise in styles including Turkish, Classical Egyptian, Cabaret, and the use of props such as veils, zills and cane. Dominika is currently studying American Tribal Style and Tribal Fusion and performs regularly with tribal troupe Red Earth Ghawazee. Dominika is available for workshops encompassing all age groups (including children and adolescents) as well as community performances and corporate health and wellbeing days. Please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXV4yh8eF-E to see Dominika dancing.
Leanne Freedman
Leanne entertains audiences with her cheeky, Turkish style Cabaret improvisations and choreographies. Leanne's experience includes teaching workshops and classes at community centres, corporate wellbeing programs, parties and festivals. Her passion for belly dance began at a workshop in 1996 and continues to grow as she explores various styles, attending workshops presented by local and international teachers. Leanne is inspired by Middle Eastern music where 'old meets new' as well as contemporary western music with funky beats and high energy, hard dance. Leanne has been teaching since 2001 and encourages students to release the innate creative dancer within and to challenge stumbling blocks to freedom of expression. A special interest in ritual and spirituality has moved Leanne to explore how the movements and tools of belly dance can be utilised to create a sacred space and improve wellbeing and spiritual balance.
Ma'isah
The founder and director of Raqs Gothique: Dark Fusion Dance Art, Ma'isah began oriental dance classes in 1999 in New York and has never looked back. She dances both solo and with her troupe SerpentSkirt, and teaches workshops all over Victoria, interstate as well as overseas. Ma'isah is a featured workshop presenter and performer at the annual WAMED festival in Perth as well as the Victorian OMEDA festival and several other events, including the Melbourne Fringe Festival, opening act for Jeff Martin and the Armada, pre show entertainment for Rachel Brice and the Sugar Kitten Cabaret. In 2010 Ma'isah will be the International Guest Star at Gothla 2010 in the USA. Ma'isah creates dark dance art with gothic, tribalesque and steam punk inspired performances all using a middle eastern dance foundation, and she is highly experienced in dancing with veils, zills, swords, and parasols. In 2009, Ma'isah is exploring and creating dynamic dance art with veil fans, super-long veils and veil poi, as well as presenting regular classes in Elysium, her tribal-esque format for Gothic Belly Dance. For more information please visit her website www.raqsgothique.com or see her perform http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=CUl5VC_DgKA.
Caroline Whitlock
With experience in Jazz Ballet and Native American dancing, Caroline is inspired by the traditionally earthy Egyptian belly dance. Caroline engages her audience with a fusion of traditional technique performed to the compositions of Soul, Jazz and Blues artists. Caroline brings a wealth of experience and a focus not only on the technical side of the dance, but one embracing the holistic aspects including colour healing, chakra cleansing, meditation, and Angel and Goddess invocation. Caroline is the face of Goddess Bellydance, our event organiser and 'Mistress of Ceremony'.
Jacinta Crosse
Jacinta has enjoyed a life-long love of dance. Her graceful dancing style originally evolved during her years studying and teaching ballet. Her discovery of belly dance in 1997 offered a new dance direction for Jacinta which she fully embraced. Jacinta found belly dance to be a style that increased her sense of freedom of expression and provided the opportunity for a new creative exploration of her individual dance style. Jacinta's belly dance repertoire now includes both teaching and performance (particularly with experience in the Middle Eastern community). Jacinta enjoys an Egyptian Cabaret style and her skills extend to the use of props such as veil and zills. A special feature of Jacinta's repertoire is the provision of workshops for the special needs of pre-natal and post-natal mums and women undergoing fertility treatments such as IVF.
Amanda Heinze
Amanda has been bellydancing for more than 12 years, and exploring the many aspects of Middle Eastern Dance. In 2001 Amanda formed Charm Bellydance and began teaching. One of Amanda's passions is American Tribal Style bellydance which she was first introduced to in 1999. Since then she has undertaken many workshops and classes in American Tribal Style and Tribal Fusion. She is a founding member of the American Tribal Dance troupe, Red Earth Ghawazee and performs at many festivals and functions across Australia. Amanda continues to explore many dance styles, including Egyptian, American Tribal Style as well as venturing into Burlesque dance. She brings a warm sense of fun to class with a nurturing caring approach to the growth and development of her students. For more information on Red Earth Ghawazee including upcoming performances please visit www.redearthghawazee.com.au.
Caroline Miller
Caroline has been performing belly dance for 12 years. She has devoted herself for the past 6 years to American Tribal Style belly dance. To further enhance her skills in this style, Caroline has undertaken workshops with both local and overseas teachers, in 2008 having completed General Skills Certification with Carolena Nerricio (founder of American Tribal Style bellydance, and director Fat Change Bellydance) and in 2009 receiving her ATS Teacher Certification. Caroline's love of ATS, and her desire to ensure this style of dance continues to develop for others to perform and enjoy, is evident through her teaching style . She brings to her classes not only her extensive performance and ATS dance experience and sense of humour, but clear patient teaching that allows students to develop into this style of dance with confidence. Caroline is also one of the founding members of tribal belly dance troupe Red Earth Ghawazee (www.redearthghawazee.com.au), whom she continues to dance and perform with.
