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Genevieve's bio
I began taking middle eastern dancing in 1998 in Providence, RI: first with Tina Enheduanna, then Nourhan Sharif, the executive director of the Egyptian Academy of Dance in New York City. She is married to Yousry Sharif, a well-respected Egyptian choreographer of Raks Sharqi.
In 2000, I moved to Massachusetts and began studying with Sardis, a Boston-based, well-known professional middle eastern dancer. Soon thereafter, I became a member of Sardis’ troupe Al-Jawary Al-Hessan. In the summer of 2004 I took a weeklong intensive workshop with Yousry Sharif in NYC. I took another weeklong workshop in August 2005 with Morocco, a world-renown middle eastern dance expert in New York City.
In Massachusetts, I danced professionally at The Middle East, the Athenian Corner in Lowell, and the Kasbah in Winthrop.
Beginning in December 2004, I taught belly dance workshops and classes at Third Life Studio in Union Square, Somerville. I was teaching in Somerville and in other locations up until the fall of 2007. Then, I moved to Seattle.
Now in Seattle, I have found my way to Delilah's Visionary Belly Dance studio. I take weekly private lessons with Suzanna Davis, an accomplished Middle Eastern dancer. Visit her site at www.planetsuzanna.com. I’m also happy to know the bands House of Tarab and the MB Orchestra.
I am currently available for performing and teaching private lessons. I teach and perform with zills (finger cymbals), veil, cane, fan, and sword.
dance training and performance
- 1976–1987 Dance training at Dance World in Columbia, SC in tap, ballet, and jazz
- 1993 Performed with Pam Wunderlich, a RI performance artist in her Glamour Animals Series at Perishable Theatre in Providence, RI and at Mobius, Boston
- 1994 Lead role in December 3rd: Worms, directed by Mark Lehrman, Perishable Theatre, Providence, RI
- 1991–2000 Ballroom dance classes with Ed and Carole Croften in Wakefield, RI
- 1998–present Belly dancing classes and workshops
- 2001–2003 Argentine tango classes with Hillary Ross and Hsueh-tze Lee, Boston area
- 2002–2004 Modern dance and pilates classes with Jimmy Raye of Salem, MA; performed his choreography Osmosis for the 2nd annual Gravity Dance performance, June 2004
- 2003–present Member of Al-Jawary Al-Hessan [performances include belly grams, and at the Athenian Corner (Lowell), the Middle East (Cambridge), Kasbah (Winthrop), and various events]
- 2005 Belly dance performance for Gypsy in Cairo at the Regent Theatre, Arlington (April); Member of five-dancer warm-up act for Oojami, at the Regent Theatre (June); Belly dance performances at Art Beat in Davis Square and at the Union Square Farmer’s/Crafts Market (July/August); Performed at Third Life Studio open house (September)
2006 Recipient of Dance/Theater Project grant from
the Somerville Arts Council. Attended workshops with Dalia
Carella (April) and Suhaila
Salimpour (August); Dance performances with Guitar
Circle New England (June and July), with the Church of
Flying Dreams (August), and a solo performance at the
Union Square Farmer's/Crafts market (September). November 2006: Produced, directed, and choreographed Caravan of dancer-musicians and musician-dancers. - 2007 Ballet training, Jose Mateo Ballet Theater; attended workshops by the NEBD, Faten Salama, Artemis Mourat, and Yasmina Ramzy.
- 2008 Found my way to Delilah's Visionary Belly Dance studio and House of Tarab. Participated with dancers and musicians in the annual Fremont Solstice Parade (June 21)
- 2007–present Guitar lessons and working with Seattle-based Tuning the Air.
- 2008–present Private lessons with Suzanna Davis, an extrodinary dancer, performer, event planner, and member of her troupe Tawasol Dance Ensemble. Currently performing in local venues in the Seattle area.
dance instruction
- 1998–1999 Dance instructor for Chance to Dance, Roger Williams Middle School, Providence, RI, a state-wide after school program that introduces 4th graders to dance (taught classes and choreographed two dances for a final show)
- 1998–2000 Choreographer for the South County Players Children’s Theatre, South Kingstown, RI. Responsible for developing and teaching dance to children, teenagers, and adults. Choreographed Schoolhouse Rock, Grease, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Really Rosie.
- 2006 Belly dance instructor at Woburn High School; Belly dance instructor at Positive Energy Studio, Holliston, MA
- 2004–2007 Belly dance instructor at Third Life Studio in Union Square, Somerville
- 2006–2007 Belly dance instructor at Tranquility Studio in Franklin, MA