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All About my Belly Dancing Lessons in Norfolk - how Dianne Davies came to be teaching bellydancing lessons in Norfolk, UK - Letheringsett (Holt) and East Runton (Cromer)
About Me:
Well, let's start at the beginning. Let's face it, most Northern English Roses don't start out in life expecting to be teaching ladies belly dancing lessons in Norfolk!, East Anglia.
I was born in the North of England and spent a great deal of my life "up North", including University and running a business. Work and education took me to different parts of the UK.
I did spend some
time in and around the
Nation's Capital
in my late twenties where
I met my husband, Ray.
We have been living very
happily in North Norfolk
for over four years, and
we absolutely love it here.
Such friendly people,
such a laid-back
atmosphere, fascinating
wildlife and a big, big sky.
Belly dancing is an intuitive art form which is taught by adult women to children in the Arab culture. Women dance for themselves and for each other. Although we strive to improve all the time, and there is always something else to learn, we don't go for formal qualifications or "medals" in the way that is prevalent in ballroom, for example. Although I have no formal dance qualifications and didn't do ballet as a child or anything, I have always been a keen and passionate dancer. I was into prog rock in my teens and my dancing was expressive, to say the least! I danced a lot at University (Eng Lit, 2:2) including English folk dance, and after that I moved to the Smoke and went to drama school and trained in acting. Some song and dance was included on the course. I think my peers would say they have detected a touch of theatricality in my Hafla performances! In the 80's I was proud to be a part of the "Dancercise" movement spearheaded by the late Phyllis Greene-Morgan. I was part of an exhibition troupe - we did promotional shows at a number of venues across London - comprising contemporary, jazz, show and disco dance.
After we moved away from there, there was a big gap in my life in terms of dance. I did try line dancing for some time but it bored me as it was too regimented, too centred on choreography for its own sake and not individual enough.
The nearest I came to belly dance was when Ray and I, after honeymooning in Zakynthos, (back when it was Greek and not ruined by the tourists) became regulars at a huge local Greek restaurant (sadly no more). We became rather good at Greek dancing, so much so that Greeks would speak in their language to us, assuming we too were Greek! Tsiftiteli (or Chiftetelli) is the Greek name for belly dance, and is also the name of one of the common rhythms. The Greek version is not so elaborate as Egyptian dance and does seem to involve a lot of jumping on tables (at least for the "tourists"), but I did enjoy myself a lot!
ers, and sometimes a new way of describing a move or a step is all that's needed.
By chance I discovered Egyptian belly dancing lessons in the school opposite where we lived, about 10 years ago. It was Chris Ogden who was teaching, of the "www.wiggle.org.uk" website and primary instigator of the huge JOY Egyptian Dance Festival in Yorkshire. From the very first class, for me it felt like "coming home". She gave me an excellent grounding in the basics and I still fondly remember her inclusive Haflas (parties). Everyone joined in and left on a giddy high, without (or with only a little) alcohol! The Arabic music is so beautiful and inspiring, and most of the basic moves came (relatively) easily to me. After this we moved to the West Coast of North England and I was privileged to be taught by the beautiful dancer Anne Kingston, who is such fun, and so knowledgeable - she is an inspiratiion.
In 2008 I started teaching and dancing bellydancing lessons for hen weekends in North Norfolk and I taught a few classes at North Walsham. I have studied the dance at workshops hosted by national and international stars such as Kay Taylor, Sarah Farouk, Hossam and Serena Ramzy, Yasmina of Cairo, Fifi Abdou, and Dondi from the USA.
Egyptian Dance is all about the body interpreting the music, and it's this aspect which I love and you will find this in my choreographies. Belly Dancers appreciate each others uniqueness and although there are some challenging moves to master, ultimately it's about celebrating the joy of the dance and individual expression, an aspect which suits me down to the ground. I am an emotional dancer and all emotions can be brought into the dance, but especially pleasure and enjoyment.
I can say in all honesty that belly dancing has changed my life in all ways for the good, and it could do the same for you. It increases your strength and flexibility in the torso area, and tones your muscles. It gives you gracefulness in your arms, pride in the way you walk. It teaches you great posture which you can take into your daily life and walk tall and protect your back and joints. It enables you to dress up like a Princess, whatever your size, shape, age or budget (yes, some belly dance costumes are very expensive but you can make some fabulous unique costumes at home).
I am one of those people who has a need to communicate and to be understood, so this makes me keen to teach this fascinating dance form in my belly dancing lessons, and bring its benefits to other ladies so they can enjoy it as much as I do. I hope if you join me we can have great fun and I can infuse you with the same passion for Egyptian Dance as I have.
It has enabled me to meet and make friends with some truly amazing and fascinating women from all walks of life. Our love of the dance brings us together for Haflas (belly dance parties) and can lead to some very close and lasting friendships. Above all, belly dancing lessons in Norfolk will give you a skill, which once learned you have with you forever. At any time you can put on some Arabic music and forget the cares of the day; it's truly therapeutic, almost like giving yourself a massage. Whether you do bellydancing lessons to dance only for yourself, your partner (cheeky!), or you get up and perform the dance in an amateur or professional capacity, it is joy-bringing and very good for you and your self-esteem. If you want to learn belly dancing purely because you need the exercise, well, it's good for that - but for many of us Egyptian Dance ends up being so much more than just exercise.
I can say in all honesty that belly dancing has changed my life in all ways for the good, and it could do the same for you. It increases your strength and flexibility in the torso area, and tones your muscles. It gives you gracefulness in your arms, pride in the way you walk. It teaches you great posture which you can take into your daily life and walk tall and protect your back and joints. It enables you to dress up like a Princess, whatever your size, shape, age or budget (yes, some belly dance costumes are very expensive but you can make some fabulous unique costumes at home).
I am one of those people who has a need to communicate and to be understood, so this makes me keen to teach this fascinating dance form in my belly dancing lessons, and bring its benefits to other ladies so they can enjoy it as much as I do. I hope if you join me we can have great fun and I can infuse you with the same passion for Egyptian Dance as I have.
It has enabled me to meet and make friends with some truly amazing and fascinating women from all walks of life. Our love of the dance brings us together for Haflas (belly dance parties) and can lead to some very close and lasting friendships. Above all, belly dancing lessons in Norfolk will give you a skill, which once learned you have with you forever. At any time you can put on some Arabic music and forget the cares of the day; it's truly therapeutic, almost like giving yourself a massage. Whether you do bellydancing lessons to dance only for yourself, your partner (cheeky!), or you get up and perform the dance in an amateur or professional capacity, it is joy-bringing and very good for you and your self-esteem. If you want to learn belly dancing purely because you need the exercise, well, it's good for that - but for many of us Egyptian Dance ends up being so much more than just exercise.
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