Iana is an internationally recognized dancer and teacher originally from Ukraine, known for her rich knowledge and creative approach to dance. She is the host of the Belly Dance Life podcast with over 300 episodes released, the founder of the online platform Iana Dance Club, and a graduate of York University’s professional dance program in Canada. Winner of multiple international competitions, including Star Bellydancer Canada 2014, she also shares her passion for Turkish Romani and Silk Road dances through both performances and teaching. She is also the first choreographer to start using Triple Isis wings since 2012. Check out her website and travel blog here: Iana Dance
Founder of the original Summer school, Jo ran it for 30 years before handing over the reigns. Jo is an integral part of the summer school team. It is still her favourite week of the year. Jo brings her wealth of experience to summer school classes.
One of our Summer school team and an integral part of Summer School. Yasmina worked as a professional dancer in Cairo for many years and brings a huge amount of in depth knowledge to her classes.
Part of our Summer school team: Abeer was born and studied in Alexandria where she was part of a folklore troupe. Abeer moved to Germany when she married and has built a fabulous bellydance community. Abeer specialises in Egyptian folklore. You can take individual classes or sign up for the folklore course.
Kay is an integral part of the Summer school team and is responsible for the organisation of Summer School along with much more. Kay teachers regular classes in the North East as well as workshops around the country and internationally. As Farida Adventures she takes groups of dancers to discover the dance secrets that Egypt has to offer.
Dorte Evelyn, also known as Ishtar, is an international belly dance teacher and performer famous for her fabulous and captivating choreographies, performances and strong stage presence. Her background as an actress and theatre choreographer, combined with her extensive training in Ballroom, Latin, Jazz, Bollywood and Middle Eastern dance, gives her an elegant intensity and energy. Having taught and performed all over Europe and the Middle East, she is now based in Surrey, England, but continues to teach internationally. She is a much acclaimed mentor and dance development coach, an experienced adjudicator at belly dance competitions, and part of the Bellydance Now team.
Pedro is a Brazilian photographer, drummer and composer and has been traveling the world for the past 5 years exploring connections between cultures. Pedro focuses on Middle Eastern music and its influence on various musical traditions, having studied with master percussion players from Egypt, Turkey, Iran and beyond. He is also the creator of the world music and dance group The Blue Dot Ensemble, as well as the co-creator of the educational online platform Iana Dance Club.
Moyra is part of the Summer School team, leading our Angels. Our Angels make the magic happen at summer school. Moyra is one of Scotlands most known and loved bellydance teachers and performers. She teaches regular classes in Edinburgh.
Alanya (Abbie Mason) trained in Classical Ballet and Jazz Dance and has been a student of Belly Dance since 2003, becoming a professional tutor having gained the JWAAD diploma 2009.
She teaches regular classes in Herefordshire, and regularly attends, performs and teaches at national Belly Dance events, and continues her professional development with internationally renowned dancers and teachers.
As well as performing as a soloist, Alanya leads her Open Level student performance troupe, and is currently developing her Beginner Level performance troupe.
Angela was born in Istanbul and grew up in Munich /Germany .
She was captivated by Oriental Dance From a very early age.
Her Style is a blend of German and Türkish influences, just like herself, but with a strong
Passion for the Egyptian Style .
Elizabeth is based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, where she teaches weekly classes and workshops and performs at haflas and charity events. She trained with JWAAD to become a fully qualified teacher and continues to study a range of styles from folk to modern Egyptian as well as fusions such as tango, jazz and Bollywood. She is known for being a friendly and approachable teacher and she aims to encourage students to develop their own style and expression within this beautiful dance form.
Gwen is a well known belly dance instructor and performer based in Oxford. She has danced and taught across the UK and Europe over many years and is a tutor for Bellydance Now teaching certification. Students and dance colleagues describe her as an inspirational teacher with a wealth of knowledge and experience. She's really looking forward to sharing her passion for bellydance with you (as well as her nerdy fascination with anatomy, if you let her)!
Ingunn has been belly dancing since 2007, and has taught in her own dance studio in Alta in Northern Norway since 2009.
She has previously danced modern and classical ballet for a total of seven years.
Ingunn has been a guest teacher on Anna Barners summer courses in Denmark taught at JWAAD Summer School, now Bellydance International Summer School.
Ingunn is also a trained Hatha yoga instructor from the Yandara Yoga Institute in 2011, and a yin yoga instructor from August 2021.
Ingunn is known for her pedagogical teaching, good choreographies and not least her cheerful and inclusive nature. Feedback from students is that Ingunn loves to teach, and she does so with joy and humour.
I am a FatChanceBellyDance® Style (formerly American Tribal Style®) belly dancer with nearly ten years of experience and an oriental belly dance practitioner for almost four years through my continued participation in the BellyDance Now International Challenge. I am a Level 1 Bellydance Now certified instructor and have a deep love for teaching FCBD® Style, especially sharing its community‑based, improvisational format at summer camp and group workshops. My dance journey is rooted in connection, musicality, and the empowerment that comes from dancing together.
I have been dancing and teaching for 40 plus years.I trained with Jo Wise and took classes with Egyptian teachers.
I performed with Masriat and Johara dance company’s and many years in cabaret.
I taught on the early years of teacher training,I still teach weekly classes and will until I drop.
Based in Kent. Teaching Pilates and Bellydancing on zoom and in the studio.
Naama uses her knowledge of Pilates to develop drills that will improve the necessary muscles and joint range for bellydancing.
Naama continues to develop her dancing by taking classes and workshops with various master teachers and attend the Fantasia Festival and Summer School regularly. She will join us to the summer school to teach a Pilates warm up for Bellydancers to prepare your body for a day of dancing ahead.
Raphaelle is based in Paris. A trained JWAAD teacher, Raphaelle is also a musician. She brings a unique perspective to her classes and teaches sagat sessions every lunchtime.
Sandra is a professional JWAAD Teacher, Assessor, Choreographer and Performer. She is founder and principal of ‘Sahara Dance’ a Hull based dance school and founder and Artistic Director of the dance troupe ‘Heneya’
An experienced Arabic Dance teacher she also has more than 30 years’ experience and training with the IDTA, ISTD and UKA in various other forms of dance including Jazz, Contemporary, Latin American, Salsa, Folkloric , Modern Fusion and Tap dance. Sandra is also a qualified counsellor/therapist and utilises her knowledge of various Holistic approaches such as somatic movement, breathwork and meditations within her teaching.
Her knowledge of Arabic Dance is comprehensive covering all aspects of the art form including music, rhythms, styling, history and culture, musical instruments and costuming which she uses to make her classes interesting, informative but most importantly fun.
As a performer and also a teacher ‘its sharing not only the techniques but the passion and emotion of our wonderful dance with others, taking them with you on a wonderful journey of discovery, that’s what it’s all about for me.’
‘The joy of the dance is in the sharing’
Former Nurse Sue Baker is based in and around Cambridge. she has been teaching since 2008 and attained her JWAAD BND Diploma in 2014, and was awarded the inaugural JWAAD Commitment to continual learning award in 2015. Sue is a trustee for our very own Belly Dance Charity , Just Because, which continue to raise money for the breast Cancer foundation of Egypt and for costume designer Hanan Mahmoud. Although she teaches many styles of Egyptian dance, Sue particularly loves folkloric style. As a long term regular of summer school she loves it for catching up with old friends, learning new techniques and consolidating existing knowledge. Sue is planning to host workshops with Abeer Wills in the Spring to raise money for Just because – you can find further details on her website when they have been confirmed.
Yasmine Latkowski is a Welsh-based composer, vocalist, and workshop leader with a passion for bringing people together through music. Drawing on her dual heritage and a deep love of Middle Eastern traditions, she works in Arabic song, blending it with influences from across the world.
She is also the lead artist behind Panedeni, a vibrant multicultural band that brings together Welsh, Middle Eastern, and folk influences. Through original music, the group celebrates cultural connection, platforming artists of lived experience.
Alongside her composing work for film, theatre, and community projects, Yasmine is an experienced vocal leader who regularly runs inclusive, welcoming singing sessions. She has worked with communities across Wales and beyond, helping people of all backgrounds discover their voices in a relaxed and supportive environment.
