The MEDANZ 2009/2010 Committee

Know your Committee

My name Is Karen - Also known as Adilah when I teach or perform, I am honored to be the Medanz President for 2011/2012.

I have always had a passion for dancing and found middle eastern dance in the late 90's - What drew me to Middle eastern dance was watching Fatina perform - at a Turkish themed medieval fest - then I was lucky enough to attend classes with Fatina, where I learnt I am and always will be a dance addict and student of this wonderful art form. I danced with the Kashani Dancers until 2003 after moving to Cambridge in 2002 I started teaching my own students with Fatina's Guidance I have been fortunate to perform at many community and private events and have experience in dancing at restaurants I was lucky enough to be the Resident Dancer over Christmas 2003 at Hamilton's Sahara tent. Now I have my own troupe of dedicated dancers who perform at community events and paid function called the Desert Gypsys - whom I am very proud of.

I became a MEDANZ Member in September 2000 as an Introductory member and full member since 2001 and have attended many MEDANZ sponsored workshops and festivals since joining - My worst trait is I don't remember Names, I do recall faces, and I have met lots of Lovely ladies from all over the country through Medanz however my best trait is I am and always will be the eternal belly dance student because when we stop learning we stop living!

Hi, my name is Amanda Bound or Aaminah. I am passionate about MEDANZ and middle eastern dance. I am always keen to be learning new techniques and more of the history of our dance form and just love learning or creating new choreographies.
My husband is a self employed accountant and I am a Registered Legal Executive working in Estates Administration, Family Trusts and Conveyancing. My boys are growing up and I now have one at University studying a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Marine Biology and Chemistry, and the other at a local tertiary institute studying to be a Chef.
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 I'm Bronwyn otherwise known as Fern. I have little sense of time and can't remember what year I began bellydancing. (This probably means I have danced more years then I have fingers to count on). But dance rather quickly became a driving force in my life. Oh and then I picked up a drum! We are fortunate in Dunedin to have our own Kasbah Studio which gives local dancers and drummers a space to practice and socialize. This has helped us become a bonded supportive community.

I dance with Cindy and together we perform as Tribal Echo. We perform both Fat Chance Tribal Style and Tribal Fusion. I formed and perform with the musical group The Unfortunate Repercussions and co-formed the Lost Tribe. Now I have moved on to form Tribal Echo with former Lost Tribe performer and co-founder Cindy to explore the many roots from which fusions styles are derived and to branch out into our own style of movement and fusion. This also allows me more time with The Unfortunates playing for my other dancing buddies.

As well as being passionate about bellydance, I am a full time artist and sculptor. I have two horses, two chickens and a cat and live in a wilderness frequented by native birds.

Dianne Thompson. When I was born maybe my parents found the need to compensate for the surname Smith because they named me Sherrill Dianne Smith.
That's right two r's, two l's and two n's. Then to complicate matters more they set about referring to me by my second name Dianne because Dianne Sherrill Smith didn't sound right. (Also the initials spell something not so nice!)
Around the time of my birth Bing Crosby was crooning his version of "Smile for me, my Dianne". (Possibly has only one n?) Anyway the point to this is that although lovely names, they have caused me problems a great deal of my life. There were many times at school when a cross teacher read my name from a list only to be ignored. Of course any official form states full name etc and then I have to explain to every one who I am. Then at last a form was invented that asked for a "preferred name". Oh bliss! At last I can be me! No sorry most times that doesn't work either even if you under line it in red ink or highlight it in orange Nah! The phone will go and "can I speak to Sherrill please?" So one might think I would choose Sherrill as my dance name perhaps? Well no and probably because I have been well taught in the art of ambiguousness I decided I would make a play on my now surname, Thompson and the fact that I am a Gemini and use the Hebrew name for the female twin Thomasina. Now that is explained hello lovely Belly Dancers and MEDANZ Members.
I have newly been elected to the Committee at the 2010 festival held in Tauranga. I am a member of the Taupo Mirage Middle Eastern Dancers and had my first Bellydance dance lesson at the end of 2005 but didn't get really cracking until 2006. I got hooked and now bear the traits of a magpie and when I listen to music I am always thinking "Can I Bellydance to that?" Sounds familiar huh?
I am happy to be available to serve you all and look forward to helping with next year's festival so keep your ideas for what tutors you would like and other stuff rolling in.
Have happy times everyone
Thomasina

Doreen Bestmann - aka Dori. My dance name is Dori and 2011 will be my 11th year of belly dancing. I am an oriental dancer at heart however I have studied both folk and tribal group improvisation styles have dabbled in the odd fusion style.
For a number of years I was a level 4 dancer and teacher with the School of Contemporary Belly dance in Christchurch where I did the bulk of my early training and teacher training. I have also spent 4 years in England teaching, learning and attending major festivals with dancers from all over the world for further development. Some of these include Fifi Abdou, Raquia Hassan, Randa Kamal (Egypt), Artemisia (Belgium), Leila Haddad (France), Horacio and Beata Cifuentes (Germany), Jim Boz and Fathiem (USA).
I have performed professionally in NZ, the UK, Germany and France both in staged and restaurant settings.
Since returning to NZ in 2010 I have been based in Auckland where I have been immersing myself in the local dance community, attending classes and performing throughout Auckland when there is time to fit it all in.
I have previously been on the MEDANZ committee for 2 years as the membership person.
I think it's important to be involved in national dance community, get to know people and keep improving what MEDANZ has to offer its membership, which is why I am back. If you have any suggestions, queries or heaven forbid complaint or general nagging to do please feel free to contact me as your MEDANZ representative (note that nagging is best appreciated over coffee/wine so Auckland invites would be most welcome! :) ).

Lynley Murphy (Treasurer). I have the honour of being your Chancellor of the Exchequer for the next twelve months as well as your current Newsletter Editor.
I am married with no children and live in Tokoroa on a "Boutique Farm" running 120 dairy cattle.
Dancing came late in life to me. I just worked it out - I have only been dancing three years!!! - seems like it has been a part of me forever. I belong to the Cambridge troupe Desert Gypsys (yes the spelling is correct - and yes it plays havoc with my OCD) with my teacher Karen (aka our President) as well as our local Tokoroa dance troupe Keshet Sorellenza (the Rainbow Sisterhood).
I am involved also in our local dramatic society but my only claim to previous dance experience was 12 mths in ballet at 8yrs old. But I am making up for it now. And not only have I got the bug but I have also infected my step daughter who is learning down in Wellington.
I am looking forward to the coming year working with such a great team. PS keep those articles coming please!

Hi my name is Petra Colwell and, while being a "newby" on the committee, I have been belly dancing, teaching and performing for 14 years since experiencing an early mid-life crises while in India.
I first learnt belly dancing in Sydney but the class was just not right for me and when I moved to Dunedin I joined some classes as a way to meet new people and fell in love - with belly dance.
Since then I have devoured as many MEDANZ Festivals as I can attend (and if I am not at the festival it is because I am tramping in Nepal - my other great passion), teaching DVDs as I can afford to buy, workshops with visiting teachers in Dunedin (and we have had lots), costumes, veils and Isis Wings (I now own four pairs).
I teach classes at the Kazbah, am part of a troupe that is made up of former students (Hips Infinity) and am currently gestating a new troupe of new dancers.
I love living in Dunedin, have a house with water views, a wonderful partner (who I met in Nepal), three cats and a work as a legal secretary/PA to two great bosses, and feel fortunate to be dancing in Dunedin. We have a great sisterhood of dancers here who all support each other - whether cabaret or tribal. We have a studio with several different spaces which we run as an incorporated society (of which I am chairperson) which is used by members for classes, troupes, practices, drumming classes and we have a resident rock band as well (made up mostly of husbands of belly dancers).
I am excited about the opportunity to host the Festival in Dunedin in 2012 and will work my hardest to make sure it is a success, so please all come and visit us for some southern hospitality.

Hola; I'm Pip E-Lysaah, belly dance performer and teacher, I live in Christchurch and work in Wellington, so each week I fly to Wellington for work on a Monday and then home on Thursday evening. I began belly dancing in 2002 under Shannon Wanty, Storm Geldenhuis and Gendi Tanner, gravitating to tribal I began teacher training under Gendi and took over the School of Contemporary Belly Dance Inc Tribal classes in 2005. Since this time I've travelled to study extensively with teachers such as Carolena Nericcio & Devi Mamak in ATS, Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Zoe Jakes, Mira Betz, Amy Sigil and Heather Stants in Tribal Fusion.
Currently my dance partner A'mal and I coerce The Red Queens, a revolving performance group for belly dance, as well as teaching whenever there is a group who wants to learn. We hold ourselves to high standards and believe good technique is the best base to begin performance with.
2011 is the year I have decided its time to step up and offer my skills to MEDANZ; I hope to inspire others in dance and work very hard for to support the standing MEDANZ Committee as best I can.