Anna grew up in a family of performers, immersed in the sounds and songs of Eastern Europe and the SWANA region. She has been performing professionally for over 2 decades, is the UK's top finger cymbal percussionist and has trained and travelled extensively around the SWANA region. She toured England with Turkish fusion band Oojami, shared headlines with bellydance superstar Sonia Ochoa, produced and performed in shows with English/Egyptian band Beledi Blues, and been invited to perform and teach across the UK, Europe and USA. She has been commissioned by London and local authorities to perform and teach within communities and outreach organisations including the London 2012 Summer Olympics and in 2016, with support from the Arts Council England, she coordinated and produced the London leg of the Bal Anat 60th Anniversary International Tour.
Her current project Chalguh Chengi is a high energy, family friendly experience introducing the unique instruments, songs and dances of Turkey, the Balkans and the MIddle East with the exceptional 6 member band Hazir Ensemble. Thanks to support from the Arts Council, Chalguh Chengi will be touring England in the summer of 2021. More details TBA.
Anna began studying belly dance in 1993 in Seattle, USA, and earned a B.A. in Dance and Film Production from Bard College, New York in 2001. She has travelled throughout the world studying with master teachers in different styles of belly dance, absorbing languages, histories and contexts for various branches of this diverse global dance form. She is certified in Level 4 of Suhaila Salimpour Format and Level 3 of Jamila Salimpour Format, a globally recognised certification programme of SWANA Dance.
She began teaching belly dance in 1997 and over the years has instructed thousands of women from New York to Mumbai. In 2002 Anna moved to south London and has been primarily based there ever since. As the director for The Small World Centre she organizes classes, workshops and events throughout the UK. She is dedicated to promoting the art of belly dance in its many guises and to supporting local students and professionals.
Anna teaches introduction through advanced as well as open level lessons. Her classes have a strong technical focus and often include historical references and/or cultural anecdotes to help broaden students' education and appreciation of this diverse art form
Anna travels regularly throughout Egypt, the Middle East and the US to continue her training and personal growth and development.
Her current project Chalguh Chengi is a high energy, family friendly experience introducing the unique instruments, songs and dances of Turkey, the Balkans and the MIddle East with the exceptional 6 member band Hazir Ensemble. Thanks to support from the Arts Council, Chalguh Chengi will be touring England in the summer of 2021. More details TBA.
Anna began studying belly dance in 1993 in Seattle, USA, and earned a B.A. in Dance and Film Production from Bard College, New York in 2001. She has travelled throughout the world studying with master teachers in different styles of belly dance, absorbing languages, histories and contexts for various branches of this diverse global dance form. She is certified in Level 4 of Suhaila Salimpour Format and Level 3 of Jamila Salimpour Format, a globally recognised certification programme of SWANA Dance.
She began teaching belly dance in 1997 and over the years has instructed thousands of women from New York to Mumbai. In 2002 Anna moved to south London and has been primarily based there ever since. As the director for The Small World Centre she organizes classes, workshops and events throughout the UK. She is dedicated to promoting the art of belly dance in its many guises and to supporting local students and professionals.
Anna teaches introduction through advanced as well as open level lessons. Her classes have a strong technical focus and often include historical references and/or cultural anecdotes to help broaden students' education and appreciation of this diverse art form
Anna travels regularly throughout Egypt, the Middle East and the US to continue her training and personal growth and development.
Form
Belly dance is an all-encompassing genre that includes specific styles of dance from all over the world. The common thread linking these styles is the muscular isolation involved, mainly in the hips and rib cage. All of these styles, when performed with strong technique and feeling, are captivating and Anna strives to work and train in as many different styles as possible. Her own performance style is rooted in Egyptian cabaret and American belly dance but can include influences from theatrical belly dance, tribal fusion, Turkish dance, ballet and contemporary depending on the mood and inspiration. Her dancing is characterized by its flexibility and creativity of sequences and choreographies and, by necessity, is rooted in strong technique.
Belly dance is a dynamic dance form and Anna's particular take on it is influenced by her lively personality and individual style. It is her goal and she believes it is her responsibility as a teacher to help her students uncover and nurture their own unique style of expression through dance.
Belly dance is an all-encompassing genre that includes specific styles of dance from all over the world. The common thread linking these styles is the muscular isolation involved, mainly in the hips and rib cage. All of these styles, when performed with strong technique and feeling, are captivating and Anna strives to work and train in as many different styles as possible. Her own performance style is rooted in Egyptian cabaret and American belly dance but can include influences from theatrical belly dance, tribal fusion, Turkish dance, ballet and contemporary depending on the mood and inspiration. Her dancing is characterized by its flexibility and creativity of sequences and choreographies and, by necessity, is rooted in strong technique.
Belly dance is a dynamic dance form and Anna's particular take on it is influenced by her lively personality and individual style. It is her goal and she believes it is her responsibility as a teacher to help her students uncover and nurture their own unique style of expression through dance.
International Experience
As well as teaching in London, Anna was belly dance instructor at Bard College in New York, USA from 1997 to 2001. In 2006 and 2008 she taught belly dance classes and workshops in Mumbai, India where she was featured in National tv and print magazine. This international experience helped her develop a very accessible teaching style to women from all corners of the world in all walks of life
As well as teaching in London, Anna was belly dance instructor at Bard College in New York, USA from 1997 to 2001. In 2006 and 2008 she taught belly dance classes and workshops in Mumbai, India where she was featured in National tv and print magazine. This international experience helped her develop a very accessible teaching style to women from all corners of the world in all walks of life
Training
Anna's has trained extensively with many of the world's leading dancers, dance ethnographers and musicians. They include:
Suhaila Salimpour (USA), Jamila Salimpour (USA), Fat Chance Bellydance (USA), Jill Parker, Zoe Jakes, Heather Stantz, Kami Liddle, Sharon Kihara (California, USA), Bozenka (Forida/Greece), Raqia Hasan (Egypt), Serena Ramzy (UK), Aida Noor (Egypt), Mona el Said (Egypt), Loubna (Egypt), Hossam Ramzy (UK/Egypt), Abd el Fattah Naeem (Egypt), Nesrin Topkapi (Turkey), Yousrey Sharif (Egypt/USA), Nourhan Sharif (USA), Anahid Sofian (USA), Morocco and Tarik abd al Malik (New York), Anasma (France/USA), Soraya Zaid (Brazil/Egypt), Tina Sargeant (USA), Delilah of Visionary Dance (USA), Yasmila (USA), Habib (Washington, USA), Suzanna Del Veccio (Colorado, USA), Maleeha (Ibrahim Farrah dancer USA), Virginia (Florida, USA) and many more.
She travels regularly to the Middle East, North Africa, the Levant and the USA to study different styles of technique,
choreography, history and percussion.
Related studies include Guinean drum and dance, Senegalese sabar, Flamenco, Afro-Cuban dance, Contemporary dance, Ballet, Capoiera, Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique,
Anne Bogart Technique/Kinetic Response, Anatomy and Physiology.
Anna's has trained extensively with many of the world's leading dancers, dance ethnographers and musicians. They include:
Suhaila Salimpour (USA), Jamila Salimpour (USA), Fat Chance Bellydance (USA), Jill Parker, Zoe Jakes, Heather Stantz, Kami Liddle, Sharon Kihara (California, USA), Bozenka (Forida/Greece), Raqia Hasan (Egypt), Serena Ramzy (UK), Aida Noor (Egypt), Mona el Said (Egypt), Loubna (Egypt), Hossam Ramzy (UK/Egypt), Abd el Fattah Naeem (Egypt), Nesrin Topkapi (Turkey), Yousrey Sharif (Egypt/USA), Nourhan Sharif (USA), Anahid Sofian (USA), Morocco and Tarik abd al Malik (New York), Anasma (France/USA), Soraya Zaid (Brazil/Egypt), Tina Sargeant (USA), Delilah of Visionary Dance (USA), Yasmila (USA), Habib (Washington, USA), Suzanna Del Veccio (Colorado, USA), Maleeha (Ibrahim Farrah dancer USA), Virginia (Florida, USA) and many more.
She travels regularly to the Middle East, North Africa, the Levant and the USA to study different styles of technique,
choreography, history and percussion.
Related studies include Guinean drum and dance, Senegalese sabar, Flamenco, Afro-Cuban dance, Contemporary dance, Ballet, Capoiera, Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique,
Anne Bogart Technique/Kinetic Response, Anatomy and Physiology.
For most recent video visit Anna's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annakdancer/
Useful Links
About Bellydance
- IAMED www.bellydance.org
- Everything you want to know: www.shira.net
- Dance Ethnographer Morocco www.casbahdance.org/
Middle Eastern Music
- Lyrics & translations of Arabic songs: www.arabicmusictranslation.com
"If I can't dance, I don't want your revolution" -- Emma Goldman