Anna is a Bristol based dancer, producer and educator.
She grew up in the US within a family of performers and producers, immersed in the sounds and songs of Eastern Europe and the SWANA region. She has trained and travelled extensively around the SWANA region, is the UK's leading finger cymbal percussionist, been performing for over 3 decades and been teaching SWANA dance since 1997. She toured England with Turkish fusion band Oojami, shared headlines with bellydance superstar Sonia Ochoa, produced and performed in shows with English/Egyptian band Beledi Blues and highly regarded US dance organisation the Salimpour School, and been invited to perform and teach across the UK, Europe, India and the US. She has been commissioned by the city of London local authorities to perform and teach within communities and outreach organisations including the London 2012 Summer Olympics, CRISIS UK ,The Big Dance and Lambeth Council and been recipient of Arts Council England funding for coordinating and producing the London leg of the Bal Anat 60th Anniversary International Tour in 2018, as well as managing, producing and performing in the Turkish ensemble Chalguh Chengi from 2020-2022. She ran one of London's first and most critically regarded SWANA dance schools "Small World Bellydance" from 2002-2021 before relocating to Bristol.
Her current project Chalguh Chengi is a high energy, family friendly experience exploring the unique instruments, songs and dances of Turkey, the SWANA region and Mediterranean Basin with 6 member Turkish band Hazir and special guests.
Anna has a reputation as an outstanding dancer percussionist and trains in special Egyptian Toura (finger) cymbals with renowned Epyptian percussionist Hany Morgan. She is the only dancer in the UK to incorporate this technique with her dancing.
She began teaching dance in 1997 and over the years has instructed thousands of women from New York to Mumbai. In 2002 Anna moved to south London where she founded, directed and taught at Small World Bellydance, one of the UK's leading SWANA dance schools. She opened a studio dedicated to world dance in 2011 which she managed until the international pandemic moved her on to the greener pastures of Bristol in 2021. She has sponsored and produced numerous workshops and shows with Suhaila Salimpour, Sabriye Tekbilek, Bozenka and other international leaders of SWANA dance at ROH, Rambert and Sadlers Wells. She is dedicated to promoting the art of SWANA dance in its many guises and to supporting local students and professionals.
Anna earned a B.A. in Dance and Film Production from Bard College, New York in 2001. She has travelled throughout the world studying with master teachers, absorbing languages, histories and contexts for various branches of this diverse global dance form. She has gained certification in Level 4 of Suhaila Salimpour Format and Level 3 of Jamila Salimpour Format, a globally recognised certification programme of SWANA Dance.
Anna teaches introduction through advanced as well as open level lessons. Her classes have a strong technical focus and often include historical references and/or cultural anecdotes to help broaden students' education and appreciation of this diverse art form
She grew up in the US within a family of performers and producers, immersed in the sounds and songs of Eastern Europe and the SWANA region. She has trained and travelled extensively around the SWANA region, is the UK's leading finger cymbal percussionist, been performing for over 3 decades and been teaching SWANA dance since 1997. She toured England with Turkish fusion band Oojami, shared headlines with bellydance superstar Sonia Ochoa, produced and performed in shows with English/Egyptian band Beledi Blues and highly regarded US dance organisation the Salimpour School, and been invited to perform and teach across the UK, Europe, India and the US. She has been commissioned by the city of London local authorities to perform and teach within communities and outreach organisations including the London 2012 Summer Olympics, CRISIS UK ,The Big Dance and Lambeth Council and been recipient of Arts Council England funding for coordinating and producing the London leg of the Bal Anat 60th Anniversary International Tour in 2018, as well as managing, producing and performing in the Turkish ensemble Chalguh Chengi from 2020-2022. She ran one of London's first and most critically regarded SWANA dance schools "Small World Bellydance" from 2002-2021 before relocating to Bristol.
Her current project Chalguh Chengi is a high energy, family friendly experience exploring the unique instruments, songs and dances of Turkey, the SWANA region and Mediterranean Basin with 6 member Turkish band Hazir and special guests.
Anna has a reputation as an outstanding dancer percussionist and trains in special Egyptian Toura (finger) cymbals with renowned Epyptian percussionist Hany Morgan. She is the only dancer in the UK to incorporate this technique with her dancing.
She began teaching dance in 1997 and over the years has instructed thousands of women from New York to Mumbai. In 2002 Anna moved to south London where she founded, directed and taught at Small World Bellydance, one of the UK's leading SWANA dance schools. She opened a studio dedicated to world dance in 2011 which she managed until the international pandemic moved her on to the greener pastures of Bristol in 2021. She has sponsored and produced numerous workshops and shows with Suhaila Salimpour, Sabriye Tekbilek, Bozenka and other international leaders of SWANA dance at ROH, Rambert and Sadlers Wells. She is dedicated to promoting the art of SWANA dance in its many guises and to supporting local students and professionals.
Anna earned a B.A. in Dance and Film Production from Bard College, New York in 2001. She has travelled throughout the world studying with master teachers, absorbing languages, histories and contexts for various branches of this diverse global dance form. She has gained certification in Level 4 of Suhaila Salimpour Format and Level 3 of Jamila Salimpour Format, a globally recognised certification programme of SWANA Dance.
Anna teaches introduction through advanced as well as open level lessons. Her classes have a strong technical focus and often include historical references and/or cultural anecdotes to help broaden students' education and appreciation of this diverse art form
International Experience
As well as teaching in London, Anna instructed at Bard College in New York, USA from 1997 to 2001. In 2006 and 2008 she taught dance classes and workshops in Mumbai, India where she was featured in National tv and print magazine. This international experience helped her develop a very accessible teaching style to people from all corners of the world in all walks of life
As well as teaching in London, Anna instructed at Bard College in New York, USA from 1997 to 2001. In 2006 and 2008 she taught dance classes and workshops in Mumbai, India where she was featured in National tv and print magazine. This international experience helped her develop a very accessible teaching style to people from all corners of the world in all walks of life
Training
Anna's has trained extensively with many of the world's leading dancers, dance ethnographers and musicians. They include:
Suhaila Salimpour (USA), Jamila Salimpour (USA), Fat Chance Bellydance (USA), Jill Parker, Zoe Jakes, Heather Stantz, Kami Liddle, Sharon Kihara (California, USA), Bozenka (Forida/Greece), Raqia Hasan (Egypt), Serena Ramzy (UK), Aida Noor (Egypt), Mona el Said (Egypt), Loubna (Egypt), Hossam Ramzy (UK/Egypt), Abd el Fattah Naeem (Egypt), Nesrin Topkapi (Turkey), Yousrey Sharif (Egypt/USA), Nourhan Sharif (USA), Anahid Sofian (USA), Morocco and Tarik abd al Malik (New York), Anasma (France/USA), Soraya Zaid (Brazil/Egypt), Tina Sargeant (USA), Delilah of Visionary Dance (USA), Yasmila (USA), Habib (Washington, USA), Suzanna Del Veccio (Colorado, USA), Maleeha (Ibrahim Farrah dancer USA), Virginia (Florida, USA) and many more.
She travels regularly to the Middle East, North Africa and the USA to study different styles of technique,
choreography, history and percussion.
Related studies include Guinean drum and dance, Senegalese sabar, Flamenco, Afro-Cuban dance, Contemporary dance, Ballet, Capoiera, Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique, Anne Bogart Technique/Kinetic Response, Anatomy and Physiology.
Anna's has trained extensively with many of the world's leading dancers, dance ethnographers and musicians. They include:
Suhaila Salimpour (USA), Jamila Salimpour (USA), Fat Chance Bellydance (USA), Jill Parker, Zoe Jakes, Heather Stantz, Kami Liddle, Sharon Kihara (California, USA), Bozenka (Forida/Greece), Raqia Hasan (Egypt), Serena Ramzy (UK), Aida Noor (Egypt), Mona el Said (Egypt), Loubna (Egypt), Hossam Ramzy (UK/Egypt), Abd el Fattah Naeem (Egypt), Nesrin Topkapi (Turkey), Yousrey Sharif (Egypt/USA), Nourhan Sharif (USA), Anahid Sofian (USA), Morocco and Tarik abd al Malik (New York), Anasma (France/USA), Soraya Zaid (Brazil/Egypt), Tina Sargeant (USA), Delilah of Visionary Dance (USA), Yasmila (USA), Habib (Washington, USA), Suzanna Del Veccio (Colorado, USA), Maleeha (Ibrahim Farrah dancer USA), Virginia (Florida, USA) and many more.
She travels regularly to the Middle East, North Africa and the USA to study different styles of technique,
choreography, history and percussion.
Related studies include Guinean drum and dance, Senegalese sabar, Flamenco, Afro-Cuban dance, Contemporary dance, Ballet, Capoiera, Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique, Anne Bogart Technique/Kinetic Response, Anatomy and Physiology.
For most recent video visit Anna's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annakdancer/
Useful Links
- Everything you want to know: www.shira.net
- Dance Ethnographer Morocco www.casbahdance.org/
Middle Eastern Music
- Lyrics & translations of Arabic songs: www.arabicmusictranslation.com
"If I can't dance, I don't want your revolution" -- Emma Goldman