The MEDANZ 2009/2010 Committee

Know your Committee

My name is Amanda Bound and I feel very privileged to be your President for the coming year. In the meantime I will be continuing with the Secretary role as well, ably assisted by the remainder of the committee members. A bit about me, I have two teenage sons, so our house is full on with one sitting NCEA Level 2 and the other Level 3. My husband is a self employed accountant. For myself I am a Registered Legal Executive working in Estates Administration, Family Trusts and Conveyancing. I met a belly dancing teacher in Palmerston North at a conference one weekend, and decided this was something I really wanted to try. Finally after months of making enquiries in New Plymouth I started learning with the Cairo Rose Middle Eastern Dance School. That was August 2005. Since our mentor and tutor decided to stop teaching last year, we have formed our own group Shimera Middle Eastern Dance Incorporated. I particularly enjoy learning new choreographies, and having the opportunities to perform them. I sometimes think I may have been Egyptian in a previous life, because the music just gets into my soul and makes me want to move with it!

Hi, my name is Linley Duncan (Linley). As well as being a dancer, I am a wife, mother, choreographer, costumer, dance teacher and I'm also supposed to be an orchardist. (Oh well, 6 out of 7 ain't bad!) I live on a kiwifruit orchard in Te Puna, just North of Tauranga with my husband and three teenage sons. I also have several "furry children".
I have enjoyed bellydancing for over a decade now! I lead the group "Arabian Spice".
I have enjoyed many styles of dance since age dot--one of the most memorable and pleasurable being hair tossing moves as a toddler...behind the couch to NZ music shows such as Happen In--or maybe the predecessor? "Go-go " style dancing I used to call it.
When I started school I pestered my mother into taking me to Highland Dancing lessons which some of my classmates were attending. Then came ballroom and latin, and a dabble with ballet. I also played several instruments (separately!) during my childhood--and this love and understanding of music has greatly influenced my dancing.
Bellydancing has fascinated me since I saw a brief TV documentary of a big group of women all dressed up, complete with yashmaks having FUN!
I learnt bellydancing at formal classes for several years. I also performed at community and private events with several groups and as a soloist before starting my own group modelled on my ideals that promote the social aspects of dancing as well as the physical and therapeutic benefits.
I have been fighting the disease Fibromyalgia over the last decade and have recently been diagnosed with Arthritis. I have been living by the "use it or lose it" motto--and dancing is in the forefront of my battle plan! I may write an article about dancing as a therapy in the near future.
I teach bellydancing several times a week at different locations around the Tauranga area--several of them College evening classes--and also organise haflas and shows in which all my pupils get together to enjoy dancing as Arabian Spice. I am a prolific choreographer and really relish this aspect of my dance. I have always enjoyed sewing and other handcrafts--this creative passion is well satisfied by dance costuming.
I have been a member of MEDANZ for most of the last decade and benefitted from the hard work of previous committees and feel that the time is right now for me to contribute time and ideas as a MEDANZ committee member, --which should prove very useful as the next festival will be held in my home town.