Female

This is how my belly dancing life started...

I really can't remember when I first saw or heard of belly dance. My fascination for it has always been there. I am attracted by the movement and the mystery of it. I enjoy dancing, as a Brazilian it is compulsory, but in Brazil this dance has only really become popular recently. The godmother of a very good friend of mine was the first person I knew who gave belly dance lessons and it was with her that my interest really took off.

My teacher Andrezza (or Amira her dancing name) was incredibly disciplined and she wouldn't let you move on and learn something new until you had learnt the basics thoroughly. Posture and position were everything and at no time could you lose your poise. You always had to look gracious and as upright as you could be. At the time it was frustrating, as I just wanted to do the impressive things and didn't give much value to the basic details that she was so strict about.

Nowadays, I am very glad that I went through it, and that someone had actually taken the time to teach me such valuable parts of the dance. I worked hard and improved quickly, a childhood of 'samba' and 'frevo' proving as valuable as the lessons.

My first performance - the 'daff'

After a couple of years of learning with Amira, she asked me if I was interested in performing a 'daff' (tambourine) choreography in my home town of, Recife, Brazil. She said it would be to a small group, something just for fun . I quickly said 'yes!' and regretted it.

When the actual day came, it was at a huge venue and there were many professional belly dancers there. In addition there were at least 300 people in the audience. My heart was in my mouth and I thought I was going to pass out. The only thing that made me face it was my passion for the dance.

So off we went, and thankfully we were very well received by the crowd. I'm glad I had a positive start and such a good inspirational teacher.

After that I moved to the UK (Nottingham) and attended Gabriella Middleton's classes, at the International Community Centre. She encouraged me immensely to expand as a dancer and increased my confidence to perform in public. In the mean time I attended several workshops with wonderful dancers and have adapted what I learnt and added it to my own style.

My style?! Well, it is heavily inspired by traditional belly dance and the fast rythms of the darbuka. It must be my Brazilian nature again.

Now I dance to all and for all. And after seven years of learning and improving, I have decided to share what I've learnt with whoever wants to learn it.

Happy dancing!!!

Hafsa.