Claire bellydances

...as a Dancer...

Claire first began belly dancing in 1999 and has since studied extensively with top dancers and choreographers in both the United Kingdom and Cairo, including Kay Taylor, Raqia Hassan, Aida Nour, Dina, Randa, Yasmina, Dandesh, Leila, Camelia, Josephine Wise, and Leila Haddad. In 2009 Claire went to stay in Cairo for two months to study dance in depth and improve her understanding of Egyptian culture.

Inspired by these influences and experiences, Claire has worked to develop her own dancing style. She is known most widely for the soft and expressive quality of her dancing, showing her emotional side whilst dancing to music such as that of Om Kalthoum. In contrast as the tempo builds, the music brings out Claire's strong, powerful and cheeky side! Claire also has a secret passion for dancing to western rock music, which she likes to indulge at appropriate events! Above all, Claire is well known for her expression and musical interpretation.

Claire is an experienced performer, performing at restaurants, corporate events, parties and weddings. She has also performed on stage with the headliners of the Avalon Stage, the Baghdaddies, at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival. From 2003 until 2014, Claire was a member of the Tarab Dance Company, one of only a few professional Arabic Dance troups in the UK. As part of Tarab, Claire has performed shows at numerous locations around the North of England, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2004 and at the Hilton Hotel, Algiers for their 2007 New Year celebrations, and was Artistic Director for their "Rihla" Show, which toured the UK in 2011 and 2012. She has recently left Tarab to concentrate on other projects.

...as a Teacher...

Claire has been teaching classes in the North East since 2003 and is a JWAAD qualified teacher. She now acts as a tutor on the JWAAD Foundation Course (click here for details). She was the inaugural chair and remains on the committee of the JTA, a national association dedicated to maintaining and promoting professional standards in bellydance teaching in the UK.

Claire teaches workshops around the UK, including at the Farha Festival, Scottish Arabic Dance residential at Largs, the Jewel of Yorkshire at Saltaire and on a regular basis at the Farida Ford Castle residential course, where she regularly receives great reviews.

Claire is a kind, warm and approachable teacher, who has a clear teaching style and novel approaches to breaking down new material, whether that be technique, musicality or performance skills.

For Claire, responding to the feeling of the music is the most important aspect of dance. She therefore tries to engender an appreciation of Arabic music in her students; by teaching cultural and musical context and encouraging students' personal responses to the music.