Queen of the Nile Bellydance.
Let the wonderful world of Middle Eastern dance be unveiled.
Heavily engrossed in the Middle Eastern cultures, Katina is no stranger to shaking those himmies at hafla's (parties) and restaurants. Katina's dancer performance first startedc at the age of 6 years, when she learnt jazz ballet and singing at the Johnny Young Talent School in Brisbane.
By the age of 10 years, Katina was into her tap dancing, jazz, funk, cabaret and theatrical -
performing at shopping centres, annual concerts, school fetes,eisteddfods and CSTD Jazz and Tap examinations.
In 1996, Katina had her first taste of dancing to Arabic music at a Lebanese hafla for fun - this is
where the fun became a passion. At the same time of Katina's discovered love of the Middle Eastern culture and music, she was accepted to perform in Atami - Japan for a 6 month contract in a 'Elvis Comeback Review' staged by Sydney's Dance Encore Productions.
Upon her return to Australia, Katina began attending belly dance classes and performing with Sue Buntine at Brisbane's "Middle Eastern School of Dance".
In 2001 Katina moved to Sydney where she continued to persue her love for Bellydance and joined classes with Amera's Palace in Newtown - learning from Amera herself (great for the true Arabic grace & styles), Paivi (great for the shimmies!) and Caroline (great for the latest Egyptian styles).
In Sydney,Katina has been teaching the exotic moves of the Middle East since January 2003. Since placing greater focus on her Belly dancing career, Katina has been inundated with bookings to dance at restuarants, weddings, christenings, birthdays,anniversaries, corporate and charitable functions. Katina receive's great reviews after all her show's and leaves her audiences buzzing with her energy.
Katina was also the organiser of a Belly Dance Extravaganza fundraiser for the women and children of Afghanistan, where some of Sydney's top bellydance schools dontated a perfomance which contributed to raising close to $3,000!
Katina enjoys teaching the rythyms and moves of the Middle East with women AND men of all ages. Her business Queen of the Nile Bellydance is still very young, but growing at a remarkable rate as Katina's presence becomes more widely known and more people turn towards personal expression through Middle Eastern dance to de-stress and keep fit.
Dance Styles Of The Middle East
Andulsian
Is Moorish and Spanish influence that travelled across to North Africa. It is believed to have originated in the 9th century. Andulsian or "Jariya" dance represents the slave girls performing in noble Andulsian houses of Spain. The music is of a classical nature and emphasises elegant arms and movements similar to a courtyard dancer. The women wear costuming similar to that of Spanish flamenco dancers.
There is also an Andulsian Moushahat, which is performed in the Middle East provinces of Egypt, Syria and Lebanon.
Dabke
Is the line and circle dancing that one can often see danced at Lebanese weddings and celebrations. The Dabke is danced in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan and Israel - all with their own variations.
It is a very "earthy" line dance with lots of feet stamping, hoping, and twirling done in different combinations and a community dance where women and men perform together. Generally each village or province has their own variation of the basic step combinations. Usually the leader of the line has their right hand free, so will twirl napkins or hankies. This is a folkloric style dance, so there are no elaborate costuming - more everyday wear or variations of heavy skirts for women with aprons and headscarfs.
Ghawazee
Originated from a family of Egyptian Gypsy dancers.
