Grand Diva. Danish Open Bellydance Presented in alfabetic order

Transcription

1 Grand Diva Danish Open Bellydance 2012 Presented in alfabetic order

2 Helle Nørgård Pedersen, Denmark Helle Nørgård Pedersen is 46 years old, born and raised in Frederikshavn, where she also lives today. She is married to Morten and together they have three beautiful children aged 22, 19 and 11 years. And she totally loves to dance belly dance. Her life with belly dance started because she got an injury and had to wave goodbye to handball. She saw that FOF Frederikshavn had belly dancing on the program and thought it would be fun to try. She was about to give up several times because her handball body was stiff and rigid, but was stubborn and just wanted to learn it - fortunately :-) AND SHE LOVES IT. The first few seasons she danced with Liz Berg in the mid1990s, but then she switched to my first and great inspirer Inge Majbrit Ravn-Jensen. In after having given birth to her third child, she got tired of dancing and thought that she was going to do something else. Fortunately, she was enticed with a workshop in Skive with German Alitza Mermigas who could really inspire and motivate, and then she was turned on again. Since then she have participated in many of Alitzas worshops both in Denmark and Germany. Additionally she has been taught by Lena Astrid Jensen, Anna Barner Sarp and Liza Laziza as well as courses in oriental percussion by Lars Bo Kujahn and Regitze Rugholm. As a spare-time occupation, she teaches at AOF in Frederikshavn, where she has a team of enthusiastic dancers, whom for the most of them have danced with her since she started the team in It is a weekly pleasure that she enjoys very much. Photo: Jiri Srba

3 Inge Olsen, Denmark Inge started dancing oriental dance on a regular basis in Before that she had danced on and off, but was more occupied with dancing and teaching salsa. When she lost her joy of dancing the salsa she revived her joy of dancing when she started taking weekly classes of oriental dance with Inge Majbrit Ravn-Jensen (Nashwa). Although some dancers have given a very special kind of inspiration (like Nashwa, Alitza and Liza Laziza) Inge finds it very important to be taught by a variety of different dancers as everyone has something unique to pass on. Apart from the mentioned teachers Inge has participated in workshops with Susanne Potempa, Josephine Wise, Maher Kishik, Selina Sevil, Marie Møller Jensen, Lena Astrid and Anna Barner Sarp. Inge lives in Aalborg and apart from teaching her own class of oriental dance at Den Rytmiske Nordkraft, she attends the class of Bente Meyer Nielsen and she tries to attend as many workshops as it is possible to fit into a busy life with a family and a fulltime job as a child psychiatrist. Inge has often performed at the Oriental Dance Festival in Kolding and whenever there is a local event with oriental dance. She enjoys both solo performances but also performing in groups and especially the occasions where she has performed in a duo with her 17 year old daughter who is a very talented oriental dancer. Photo: Naja Ravn-Jensen

4 Karen Strauss, Denmark Karen Strauss has danced belly dance for over 20 years. Karen has been teaching for approx. 15 years and is still an active dancer and teacher, with in Gørlev. Additionally, Karen repeatedly taught the "desert roses" s annual study tours in Turkey and Tunisia, where about belly dancers are assembled to share an intensive week of belly dancing. Karen is president of the association "Jasmin's Oriental Dance Zealand", where she ensures that its members annually participate in a well planned show in Slagelse. Karen was for many years a part of the trio "Belly de Luxe", where she and Anna Barner Sarp and Signe Boie Norbert Sorensen, helped to create several dance performances, and the group participated in several large belly dance shows. Karen has previously participated in the Danish Championships in belly dancing 5 times, with an second place as best result. Photo: Jens Barrit Laursen

5 Lisbeth Bové Simonsen, Denmark Lisbeth lives in Hals and works as a teacher in physiotherapy. She has been teaching oriental dance at AOF-north for the last 3 years. Lisbeth got acquainted with the oriental dance in 1995 and has been dancing ever since. She has been dancing at Inge-Majbritt Ravn-Jensen, and has participated in workshops in Denmark as well as abroad, with eg. Liza Laziza. Lisbeth has never before participated in a competition, but is looking forward to participate in Danish Open Bellydance. Lisbeth has performed in different shows, eg. as a member of the groups El-saada and Zafran. Lisbeth is passionate about the classic Egyptian dance, and among her favorite dancers are Fifi Abdu, and Nagwa Fouad Photo: Torben Lund

6 Luise Kristiansen, Denmark Once you are a dancer you always dance! And I've actually always danced. Jitterbug, jazz, ballet, freestyle, hip hop, show dance - and belly dancing. Before I had children, a part of my free time I taught wonderful kids in various dance steps. That I am a belly dancer today I can thank my sweet neighbor who 10 years ago took me to my first training. Belly dancing captured my interest, and from then on it has evolved into everything from bachelor shows to 70 anniversary shows. Most of all belly dancing is for me a free space to be feminine and the ability to communicate and express myself through dance. The many styles of belly dance provide plenty challenges and perfectly suited to my temperament. Through the years I have had the pleasure to attend many interesting workshops. Recently it is Tine Valois, who trains and inspires me. This is my first competition - very exciting! I live in Skive, Denmark. Married to Tonni and have two lovely daughters who are 7 years and 12 years. Photo: Fotokanalen

7 Maizena, Denmark Maizena started ballroom dance already when she was 3 years old, but in 1991 she got acquainted with belly dancing and since then her heart has belonged to the oriental dance. Ten years ago Maizena took over Danmarks Mavedanserskole, which she has since owned and operated. It is one of the few independent Danish dance schools that have only bellydance on the program. In 2009 Maizena completed the training program CATT (Certified Academic Teacher's Training) in Berlin - a two-year training target to oriental dance teachers. Maizena has participated in numerous major shows, for example, Oriental Fantasy and Friends, Oriental DanceFestival Copenhagen, Orientalsk DanseUnions PowerShow and Oriental Show in support of Plan Denmark etc. Maizena is the founder of the troupe "Jumanah", which also participates in Danish Open Bellydance. The category Grand Diva was just what Maizena had been waiting for, and she is very pleased to go on stage and compete against other talented bellydancers. Photo: Mia Matilde Andersson

8 Marianne Kirk, Denmark Photo: Jane Ruth

9 May-Lill Thorkelsson, Norway May-Lill started to dance in 2006 when she was a student at the University of Oslo, Norway. She had thought about it for some years and finally she took the chance. Her very first teacher was Solvor Søråsen, and she is remembered as a sweet, skillful and qualified teacher. After a while, May-Lill joined courses at Sandvika and Oslo Belly dance Studio with Catherine and Siri Ydstie as hers instructors and they brought her to new levels of technique and understanding. Occasionally she has taken classes with Anna B. Sarp, Diana, Khalida, Josephine Wise, Maikki, David of Scandinavia, Mari Sletten, Inessa Christensen, Dud Muurmand and Majken Wærdahl. May-Lill has worked as an instructor for two years and has great difficulties imagine a life without belly dance, Hawaiian hula or Bollywood. She is a member of the group Bellystars from Oslo Belly Dance Studio. They have participated several times in the show 1001 Night Festival at Oslo Concert Hall, as well as other festivals. In December 2011 Bellystars participated in the Palace Dancers Award Competition for groups at Fantasia Festival in London. The Grand Diva Competition held in Roskilde is her first as a soloist. She s really looking forward to the whole event. Photo: Ilmur Eir Thorkelsdottir

10 Natashia Ninet Hjelme, Denmark In 2011 Natashia Ninet Hjelme celebrated her 20th anniversary as a belly dancer. She has been teaching belly dance for over thirteen years. Natashia has starred in and choreographed several large belly dance shows and performances, both as a soloist and with the Oriental Dance Company Tafanin. She continues to choreograph new dances for herself and for her students. Most recently in November 2011, when she and Lotte Andersen/Zanobia arranged and choreographed the performance Journey of the Goddesses a show that at the same time celebrated their 20th anniversary as dancers. Natashia has participated in the Danish Championships of Belly Dance four times and in 2006 she could add the title of National Champion to her résumé. Natashia is excited to be on stage in the Danish Open Belly dance Competition, and is really thrilled about the category Grand Divas that allows people to see, that as a belly dancer you certainly have plenty to offer, even though you are no longer in your twenties. Photo: Bettina Wadum