Genevieve Abdel
belly dance performer, instructor, choreographer

Websites:

• http://www.genevievedance.com

As a dancer and student of music, I found my way to belly dancing (more properly called Middle Eastern dancing or Raks Sharqi) in 1998. In 2003, I became more involved in this dance form and eventually became a professional performer and instructor in the Boston area. In November 2007, I moved to Seattle. I am currently learning about the Seattle belly dance scene and its local musicians and locally-played and produced Arabic music.

I am available as a performer or belly dance instructor. As a performer and in my instruction, I use zills (finger cymbals), the veil, cane, sword, and fan.

I love to dance and perform and I enjoy sharing that with anyone who is interested. I am very good at presenting this dance form and its music and props to beginners.

Students and performance gigs.

I'm available for the following: class venues including private classes, beginner and intermediate classes, and performance venues including restaurants, events, fairs, weddings, parties.

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 Restaurant in Cambridge , 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 studio (www.visionarydanceproductions.com) and have just met the wonderful Seattle-based, Arabic music band House of Tarab.

Dancing since 1976. Belly dancing since 1998. Belly dance teaching and performing since 2003.