BELLY DANCE BY DENIZ

Turkish American Dancer Dedicated to the Diverse & Artistic Representation of Middle Eastern Dance

About Deniz

My lifelong passion for dance, equality, multiculturalism and women’s leadership development inspires me to be dedicated to the diverse and artistic representation of Middle Eastern dance.  As a professional dancer, developing percussionist, and supportive instructor, I strive to educate our community through the art of Middle Eastern dance and music.

My dance style at the core is a unique combination of classical Turkish, Egyptian, and Lebanese cabaret with jazz, ballet and theatrical influences.  I’m also trained in a variety of Middle Eastern fokloric dances, and I’m a developing percussionist playing finger cymbals/zills, darbuka/doumbec, davul, tambourine/riqq, and frame drum.  I’ve been told that my performance and teaching style is very fun, energetic and playful, while also being classy and professional.

Background & Inspiration

Belly Dance By DenizGrowing up in a multicultural home and representing the Turkish, American, and secular Jewish/Islamic communities instilled my core values of being open to understanding people of different cultures, ethnicities and religions.  Music and dance are a common language with the ability to create a bridge of understanding.

I discovered my love for Turkish “Oriental” belly dance at the age of 3.  My progressive Turkish American family encouraged me to learn belly dance moves and perform them in addition to my jazz, ballet, gymnastics, and tap dance classes taught by professional Las Vegas showgirls.  My Turkish belly dance performances were often featured at school talent shows and international festivals during my youth growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada and Orange County, California in the USA.

At 15, I made a decision to take a break from dancing to pursue volleyball, track and field and musical theater as my primary extracurricular hobbies.  When I realized that I wouln’t become a star volleyball player at university, I decided to focus on the many leadership, social, intellectual, athletic, dance and theater opportunities at the University of California, Irvine.  I studied Environmental Analysis and Design with an emphasis on cultural ecology and designing communities and spaces to be sensitive to diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religious needs. I decided to continue my studies and earned a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of California, Irvine while working for Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Irvine and serving as President of the Associated Graduate Students.

During this very busy time studying and working, I renewed my passion for belly dance when I took a belly dance class with Tina “Enheduanna” Elkins of Orange County, California.  Her energetic classes and unparalleled mentorship re-instilled my passion for belly dance and exposed me to a beautiful world of diverse belly dance/folkloric choreographies, research, and music taught by her talented percussionist partner, George Medlock.

Under Enheduanna’s artistic direction, I joined the dance troupe Raksat Al Zamaan (Dances of the Ages) in 2002 and performed in a variety of community festivals, celebrations, weddings, galas, benefits, competitions, and the annual Oriental Nights dance showcase. I also worked full-time as an urban planner, project manager, community organization leader in Orange County while enjoying learning, creating, and performing in a very positive dance troupe environment.

Since 2002, I’ve also been fortunate to take workshops and courses from international master instructors and choreographers in California, Turkey and London including Mahmoud Reda, Nourhan Sharif, Yousry Sharif, Lee Ali, Rana Miras, Melissa Pina, Mia Serra, and Sonïa of Belly Dance Superstars.

In addition to learning from outstanding dancers and choreographers, as a dance instructor/trainer, I have been inspired by teaching dance and percussion to women ages 12+ since 2004.  I have professional experience teaching beginner, intermediate, advanced and master belly dance and folkloric classes through Belly Dance By Deniz.

In 2009, I moved to London with my partner, founded DUNYA dance duo with Rosy Summerbell and started working as a programme manager on sustainability projects at the UK’s Design Council.

DUNYA Dance Troupe in London

Rosy & Deniz as DUNYA

As the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of DUNYA with beautiful dancer Rosy Summerbell of Belly Dance Bells, we are dedicated to the diverse artistic representation of Middle Eastern dance.

Our approach is to create opportunities to learn and be inspired by a variety of dance genres and share Middle Eastern/Oriental dance through memorable choreographies and unique performances.

DUNYA is a London-based professional belly dance troupe founded in September of 2009.

Visit our website or contact me at deniz@michelledrouse.com for details.

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Performances

Below is a list of performances featuring Deniz as part of DUNYA.  For more information about upcoming performances, please email deniz@michelledrouse.com.

28 January 2010, 7:30pm: Planet Egypt Bellydance Showcase (Darbucka World Music Bar & Lebanese Restaurant, 182 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London, UK)

31 January 2010, 7:30pm: Bellybliss @ Madame Jo Jo’s(Madame Jo Jo’s, 8-10 Brewer St, Soho, London, W1F OSE, UK)

27 March 2010, 6:00pm: SameeraShimmyNites (Stratford Circus, Theater Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BX)

1 April 2010, 7:30pm: Arabesque Monthly Bellydance Showcase (The Gunnersbury, 590 Chiswick High Road, W4 5RP, London, UK)

1 May 2010, 9:00pm: Turkish Delight Festival Oriental’s Dream Showcase (Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy, Istanbul, Turkey)

9 May 2010, 6:00pm: BabyBliss Girls Fusion Show (Arch Angel, 7-11 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP, London, UK)

Videos

For more information, please contact me at deniz@michelledrouse.com