Tamra-henna is a performer, choreographer and
instructor of Middle Eastern dance whose emotional
range and technique have been shaped by seven
years of performance, study, and life experience in
the Middle East. With the intention of learning the art
of raqs sharqi (belly dance) from its source, Tamra-
henna moved to Egypt to study musical interpretation,
technique, and the Arabic language and culture. She
trained extensively with Nadia Hamdi, Raqia Hassan,
Mona El Said, and Ibrahim Akef while pursuing a
performing career in Cairo.
She appeared in Egypt’s most prestigious venues,
most notably the Nile Hilton, where she was offered an
extended contract. While in Egypt, she opened for
some of the most well known artists in the Middle East
today such as Amar Diab and Dina. Hungry for diverse
cultural experience, Tamra-henna accepted contracts
throughout the Arab world and has performed,
traveled, and lived in: Lebanon, Morocco, the United
Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen, and Cyprus.
Since her return to her native California, she has
earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance
Choreography (within the genre of raqs sharqi), at the
University of California, Los Angeles (2004) and toured
internationally as a featured soloist and workshop
instructor with the “Bellydance Superstars” (2005).
She has taught accredited classes in raqs sharqi
technique and culture at UCLA, California State
University, Pomona, and currently, in the dance
department at Glendale College. Tamra-henna can be
seen on numerous IAMED and Hollywood Music
Center belly dance performance dvds. Her latest
release is “Arabic Rhythms and Combinations,” a
2- hour Intermediate/Advanced level instructional dvd
on the IAMED label.
Tamra-henna is constantly seeking to broaden her
kinesthetic knowledge, hone her teaching skills and
expand her artistic expression. Towards this end, she
is currently working towards certification in
Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies, a system for
understanding, mastering, and communicating a vast
range of expression through movement.
Tamra-henna continues to travel, bringing the art of
raqs sharqi to audiences and students across the
globe!
instructor of Middle Eastern dance whose emotional
range and technique have been shaped by seven
years of performance, study, and life experience in
the Middle East. With the intention of learning the art
of raqs sharqi (belly dance) from its source, Tamra-
henna moved to Egypt to study musical interpretation,
technique, and the Arabic language and culture. She
trained extensively with Nadia Hamdi, Raqia Hassan,
Mona El Said, and Ibrahim Akef while pursuing a
performing career in Cairo.
She appeared in Egypt’s most prestigious venues,
most notably the Nile Hilton, where she was offered an
extended contract. While in Egypt, she opened for
some of the most well known artists in the Middle East
today such as Amar Diab and Dina. Hungry for diverse
cultural experience, Tamra-henna accepted contracts
throughout the Arab world and has performed,
traveled, and lived in: Lebanon, Morocco, the United
Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen, and Cyprus.
Since her return to her native California, she has
earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance
Choreography (within the genre of raqs sharqi), at the
University of California, Los Angeles (2004) and toured
internationally as a featured soloist and workshop
instructor with the “Bellydance Superstars” (2005).
She has taught accredited classes in raqs sharqi
technique and culture at UCLA, California State
University, Pomona, and currently, in the dance
department at Glendale College. Tamra-henna can be
seen on numerous IAMED and Hollywood Music
Center belly dance performance dvds. Her latest
release is “Arabic Rhythms and Combinations,” a
2- hour Intermediate/Advanced level instructional dvd
on the IAMED label.
Tamra-henna is constantly seeking to broaden her
kinesthetic knowledge, hone her teaching skills and
expand her artistic expression. Towards this end, she
is currently working towards certification in
Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies, a system for
understanding, mastering, and communicating a vast
range of expression through movement.
Tamra-henna continues to travel, bringing the art of
raqs sharqi to audiences and students across the
globe!
CLIP: Tamra-henna's latest instructional
| Comments or experiences to share about Tamra-henna? Let us know! |
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| Quote: “Do everything in your power to visit the homeland of Raqs Sharqi - Egypt. When you do, go beyond the beaten path of clubs and workshops. Meet the people. Have tea with the shopkeepers. Learn some Arabic phrases and use them. Get invited to a wedding party. Dance in the desert. The soul of this dance form cannot be found in the studio alone. It is in the hearts of the people of Egypt.” |
(c) Pixievisionproductions
Essential rehearsal tips:
1) If you repeatedly make a mistake at the same point in
the music, do not go back to the beginning. Drill just that
section. When you can do it correctly, do it 3 more times.
Then go back to the beginning!
2) When you are fairly confident of your performance
during practice, turn around and rehearse facing the
opposite direction. Our brains will often associate what
we see with what we are doing. Changing the direction
you are facing forces your brain to break those
associations so you can perform the piece more easily in
any setting.
3) After you have a piece down, visualize a few people
you care deeply about watching you from about 25 feet
away. Project every ounce of emotion you feel out to
them. Projecting emotion is a skill that can be cultivated.
1) If you repeatedly make a mistake at the same point in
the music, do not go back to the beginning. Drill just that
section. When you can do it correctly, do it 3 more times.
Then go back to the beginning!
2) When you are fairly confident of your performance
during practice, turn around and rehearse facing the
opposite direction. Our brains will often associate what
we see with what we are doing. Changing the direction
you are facing forces your brain to break those
associations so you can perform the piece more easily in
any setting.
3) After you have a piece down, visualize a few people
you care deeply about watching you from about 25 feet
away. Project every ounce of emotion you feel out to
them. Projecting emotion is a skill that can be cultivated.
Look for
Tamra-henna's
latest instructional
video, available on
Tamra-henna's
web site.
Tamra-henna's
latest instructional
video, available on
Tamra-henna's
web site.
Workshop with Tamra-Henna: Beledi vs. Oriental Sunday, Feb 24th Click for info |