Dharlene Valeda
Middle Eastern Dance Performer and Teacher
Founder of Haft Vadi Bellydance Studio Kitchener, Ontario
Home:
57 Breithaupt Street, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 5G7, (519) 569-7139
Studio:
100 Ahrens Street West, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 4C3
dharlene@haftvadi.com
http://haftvadi.com
Last updated properly 2006. Much more to be added soon!
Dance and Teacher Training Courses
Journey Through Egypt Certification Intensive, Levels 1 and 2, Nov. 2009
Taught by Sahra Kent
Arab Dance Seminar, Spring 2006
With Karim Nagi, Nourhan Sharif, Kay Hardy Campbell and Amel Tafsout.
Raqia Hassan’s Professional Dance Intensive, Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 2006
Dahab Dance Retreat, Dahab, Egypt, March 2004
Rocky Mountain Retreat – Teacher Training and Professional Development, Aug. 6-9, 2002
Taught by Hadia (www.hadia.com)
Arabesque Academy Professional Course, July 18-27, 2002
Taught by Yasmina Ramzy (www.arabesquedance.ca)
Formal Middle Eastern Dance and Music Training
Main instructors
(direct feedback received during weekly and/or private lessons)
Yousry Sharif (http://www.yousrysharif.net), 2006
Raqia Hassan
(www.raqiahassan.net,), 2006
Roula Said
(http://www.roulasaid.ca/roulasaid.php), 1996 – present
Yasmina Ramzy (www.arabesquedance.ca), 1995 – 2003
Hannan Sultan (www.hannandance.com), 2005 – 2008
Mayada
(www.mayada.ca), 2001 – 2002
Hadia
(www.hadia.com), March 1998, August 2002, October 2003
Ranya Renee
(www.ranya.net) — Nov. 1997, Aug. 2002, Jan. 2003, Oct. 2005, Oct. 2008
Intensive Workshops
(minimum one week courses in technique and choreography)
Raqia Hassan (Egypt) — July 2004 (limited enrollment master class)
Yousry Sharif (Egypt) — Dec. 2003, July 2004 (limited enrollment master class)
Mahmood Reda (Egypt) — March 2004 (limited enrollment master class)
Jillina (California) — March 2004
Dandash (Egypt) — March 2004
Magdy el Leisy (Egypt/Germany – March 2004
Josephine Wise (England) — March 2004
Djamila (Germany) — March 2004
Sahra Kent (California) — August 2003
Shareen el Safy (California) – August 2003
Ansuya (California) — August 2003
Helene Eriksen (Germany) – August 2003
Venus (Vancouver) — August 2002
Gamila Asfour (Montreal) – August 2002
Sabura (Seattle) — August 2002
Hadia (Calgary) — August 2002
Jalilah (Yemen/Canada) — July 2002
Dance Workshops
(one – three day courses in technique and choreography)
Ranya Renee (New York City) – October 2005
Autumn Ward (New York City) – October 2005
Cassandra (Minnesota) – April 2005
Luna Yatsula (UAE/Canada) – November 2004
Madgy El Leisy (Egypt) – May 2004
Aziza (Montreal) – February 2004, October 2004
Jillina (California) — October 2003
Ishra (Guelph) — February 2003
Yousry Sharif (New York City) – January 2003, May 2005, January 2006
Sashar Zarif (Azerbaijan) – August 2002, Dec. 2002, April 2003
Delilah (Seattle) — May 1999
Leila Gamal (Indiana) — September 1997
Badia Star (Vancouver) — December 1996
Shahrazad (Germany) — October 1996
Arabic Music and Language Instructors
Farouk Mustafa (University of Chicago) – Arabic language
Georges Lammam — singing
Karim Mohammed Nagi — finger cymbals
Roula Said – finger cymbals, Arab musical scales and modes, singing, drumming
Amer Matri — drumming
Dr. George Sawa — singing, drumming
Michael Frischkopf — music history, drumming
Ranya — finger cymbals, Arab musical scales and modes, music interpretation
Karima Al-Kinani – Arabic language
Yussef Farag – Arabic language
Abdullah BaMasoud – Arabic language
Najwa Gibran – singing
Maroun Tannus – Arab musical scales and modes
Teaching Experience
Weekly local classes
Haft Vadi Studio (founded) min. 7 classes per week, November 2002 – present
Kitchener,
Peergroup: weekly classes 2004 and 2006
Waterloo,
Clarica/Sun Life Fitness Centre : regular weekly class Oct. 2002 – Oct. 2003
Kitchener
YWCA : regular classes, 4 per week, October 2001 – October 2002
Montreal,
Vie en Forme women’s fitness centre : regular twice-weekly lessons, 2000-2001
Barrie
home studio : regular weekly lessons, 1998-1999
Toronto, York University :
10 week beginner course, June – July 1998
Out-of-town teaching engagements
Awalim Studio, Hamilton
Hip Circle Studio, St. Catharines
Hannan’s Studio of Middle Eastern Dance, Toronto
Bellydance Extravanganza, Stratford
Parry Sound, Ontario
Wildfire Outdoor Education Centre, Wyevale
Other teaching experience
Breithaupt Community Centre, Lutherwood Coda Women at Play Day, Bluevale Collegiate, University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo Community
Arts Centre, Northfield Racquet Club, Cambridge Rise and Shine Yoga Studio, Peergroup, private lessons.
Performance Experience
Solos in variety middle eastern dance shows in Egypt, New York City, Ottawa, Montreal, Parry
Sound, Buffalo, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Guelph, Waterloo, Kitchener
Private engagements for restaurants,banquets, weddings, bridal showers, birthdays, holy day celebrations, multicultural festivals, graduation celebrations
Event Producing Experience
Student recitals at the end of every session of classes, occasional soloist cabarets and workshop galas
Tapestry Festival Bellydance
Gala annual since 2004 produced variety bellydance shows as part of the City of Kitchener’s Tapestry Festival
Silk Road Festival, Kitchener,
June 2004, June 2005 programmed a variety show for the City of Kitchener representing cultures from Syria to China
Mother’s Day Show, Waterloo,
May 2003 organized and performed in a fund-raiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Silk Road Weekend, Kitchener,
April 2003 organized and performed in a weekend of Persian arts workshops and shows
Chab-i-Yalda (Longest Night), Kitchener, December 2002
organized and performed in show and party for Persian celebration of the longest night
Bewitching Bellydance Ball,
Waterloo, annual since 2002
organized and performed in a variety bellydance shows for Hallowe’en
Belly Button Bash, Waterloo,
April 2002 organized fund-raising show for the Waterloo Community Arts Centre
Spring Equinox Women’s Festival, Sutton : March 1997
organized, taught and performed for a day of women’s workshops