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Dance Highlights...
- Dancing since 1988.
- Teaching since 2000. including Classes, Private lessons & Courses for all levels.
- JWAAD Intensive Teacher Training completed in 2004.
- Specialised workshop instruction with Khaled Mahmoud, Aida Noor, Hosam Ramzy & Serena, Galit Mersand, Keti Sharif, Jilina,Vashti, Maggie Caffrey, Josephine Wise, Yvette Cowles, Maria d’ Silva, Melissa Abraham, Kay Taylor, Anne Kingston, Jacqueline Chapman and Tina Hobin. and many more.
- Holding a torch for finger cymbals, “the neglected art” helping students master the art in an easy to learn simplified form.
- Demonstrations, talks and performances for International women’s day, Black History month and Occupational health.
- Specialties include finger cymbals, veil, saaidi stick and improvisation.
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Beginnings...
Unlike many other dancers who may have a variety of dance disciplines behind them, Yara has a very strong background of sports disciplines and been actively involved in various sports such as gymnastics, High jumping Athletics and Netball from the age of 5 and whilst studying for her Degree in Fashion engaging in competitive Fencing for three years.
A background of mainly sport (and some years of Ballet) has been very beneficial in injecting energy, strength and stamina to her dance teaching and performing.
Always favouring the Middle East and its culture, Yara started her own personal journey of Middle Eastern Dance at the age of 16 through experimentation and instinct and with the aid of early written instructional books on the dance moves.
Her first taste of being instructed in Egyptian dance was with Tina Hobin at a fantastic and energetic 4hr London workshop. Then, with the kind direction of Sue Bollins aka. Suree, discovered Mosaic Arabic Dance Network U.K. and started to advance her knowledge and experience by studying with many great National and International teachers such as Josephine Wise, Maggie Caffrey, Anne Kingston, Hadia, Yousry Sharif, Aida Nour, Yasmina, Khaled Mahmoud and many others.
Yara has a special inclination towards “furthering the cause” of teaching finger cymbals by devising a simplified way of helping students steadily master the art of finger cymbal playing. “Finger cymbals are important in helping to understanding percussion instrumentation, which is a neglected art in this dance”.
Her teaching offers a balance of not only perfecting the art of accurate technique, expression and good timing, but the importance of practice and not compartmentalizing the dance as a novelty.
“It is a form of “exercise” and not a novelty and takes very hard work to perfect.”
Qualifications and Experience...
Trained by the U.K.s leading exponent of Arabic Dance. Josephine Wise and her Academy of Arabic Dance. Yara is a qualified JWAAD Arabic Dance Teacher achieving a distinction in professional awareness.
BA (Hons) Fashion in Southampton.
Anatomy and Physiology Diploma at Barnfield College Luton.
First Aid. Appointed Persons.
A Selection of Workshops Taught...
A Journey through Egyptian Dance.
Comparing Styles Saaidi, Baladi and Oriental.
Egyptian Rhythms.
Drum Solo Technique & Choreography to Brazilian Pearls.
Steps of the Stars.
Golden Jewels Retro Style Oriental -Samia Gamal, Tahia Karioka etc.
Finger Cymbals technique & Choreography.
Folkloric Saaidi Cane Technique & Choreography.
Veil Magenci combinations & Veil Flamenco Fusion Choreography.
Hippy Hips, Hip Combinations.
Performances...
Amulet Fusion Solo -Dance of Hope for the Tsunami Appeal in London.
4/5 consecutive dances in Egypt On board a Nile cruise in August 2006.
Planet Egypt in London with Aziza from the US in the audience at one time.
Cheeky Baladi Solo - MADN Dance Platform Loughborough.
Energetic Saaidi Stick dance to Habibi Ali – Londons’ FANTASIA 2005.
4 x The Jewels of the Nile Show in Luton.
Hips Don’t Lie group Fusion Choreography & Ancient Ruins Veil Solo- SHOUT Ilford Nightclub.
Projects and Achievements...
Yara has been dancing for 20 years and teaching weekly classes and courses in Dunstable for over 7 years. She specialised workshops around the U.K. in the many different subject areas of Egyptian Dance among her favourites are Boss woman power Baladi, Finger Cymbals, Saaidi Cane, Drum Solo and Dramatic Oriental with Veil.
Yara has also performed and taught at FANTASIA in 2005 the U.K.’s largest Bi-Annual Arabic Dance Festival.
Co-producer of two Spectacular Bellydance Productions. “The Jewels of the Nile Show” at the Luton Library Theatre, with well known performers such as Khaled Mahmoud, Galit Mersand, Tracey Gibbs and Ozgen Ozgec.
The third one is due on the 23rd February 2008 God willing, with well known performers such as Josephine Wise and Shafeek Ibrahim.
A Womens’ wear and Arabic Dance Costume Designer and seamstress under her own labels.
Compliments From Other Dancers...
“Thorough and professional” Tracey Smyth.
“Sassy and strong” Niki Livermore.
“Egyptian powerhouse” Jan Piggott.
“Dances like a fireball” Sameera.
“Harmonious and Beautiful dancing” Beverly Joffe.
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