Dharlene Valeda

Middle Eastern Dance Performer and Teacher

Founder of Haft Vadi Bellydance Studio Kitchener, Ontario

Home: 57 Breithaupt Street, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 5G7, (519) 569-7139

Studio: 100 Ahrens Street West, Kitchener, Ontario, N2H 4C3

dharlene@haftvadi.com                  http://haftvadi.com

Dance Training Courses

Raqia Hassan’s Professional Dance Intensive (partial attendance), Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 2006

Rocky Mountain Retreat - Teacher Training and Professional Development, Aug. 6-9, 2002Taught by Hadia (www.hadia.com)

Arabesque Academy Professional Course, July 18-27, 2002Taught by Yasmina Ramzy (www.arabesquedance.ca)

Formal Middle Eastern Dance and Music Training

Main instructors

(direct feedback received during weekly and/or private lessons)

Yousry Sharif (www.egyptianacademy.com),  2006

Raqia Hassan (www.raqiahassan.net,), 2006

Roula Said (www.torontobellydance.com), 1996 - 2003

Yasmina Ramzy (www.arabesquedance.ca), 1995 - 2003

Hannan Sultan (www.hannandance.com), 2005 - present

Mayada (www.mayada.ca), 2001 – 2002

Hadia (www.hadia.com), March 1998, August 2002, October 2003

Ranya Renee (www.ranya.net) -- Nov. 1997, Aug. 2002, Jan. 2003, Oct. 2005

Intensive Workshops

(minimum one week courses in technique and choreography)

Raqia Hassan (Egypt) -- July 2004 (limited enrollment master class)

Yousry Sharif (Egypt) -- Dec. 2003, July 2004 (limited enrollment master class)

Mahmood Reda (Egypt) -- March 2004 (limited enrollment master class)

Jillina (California) -- March 2004

Dandash (Egypt) -- March 2004

Magdy el Leisy (Egypt/Germany – March 2004

Josephine Wise (England) -- March 2004

Djamila (Germany) -- March 2004

Sahra Kent (California) -- August 2003

Shareen el Safy (California) -- August 2003

Ansuya (California) -- August 2003

Helene Eriksen (Germany) -- August 2003

Venus (Vancouver) -- August 2002

Gamila Asfour (Montreal) -- August 2002

Sabura (Seattle) -- August 2002

Hadia (Calgary) -- August 2002

Jalilah (Yemen/Canada) -- July 2002

Dance Workshops

(one - three day courses in technique and choreography)

Ranya Renee (New York City) – October 2005

Autumn Ward (New York City) – October 2005

Cassandra (Minnesota) – April 2005

Luna Yatsula (UAE/Canada) – November 2004

Madgy El Leisy (Egypt) - May 2004

Aziza (Oregon) - February 2004, October 2004

Jillina (California) -- October 2003

Ishra (Vancouver) -- February 2003

Yousry Sharif (New York City) -- January 2003, May 2005, January 2006

Sashar Zarif (Azerbaijan) -- August 2002, Dec. 2002, April 2003

Delilah (Seattle) -- May 1999

Leila Gamal (Indiana) -- September 1997

Badia Star (Vancouver) -- December 1996

Shahrazad (Germany) -- October 1996

Arabic Music and Language Instructors

Farouk Mustafa (University of Chicago) – Arabic language

Georges Lammam -- singing

Karim Mohammed Nagi -- finger cymbals

Roula Said -- finger cymbals, singing, drumming

Amer Matri -- drumming

Dr. George Sawa -- singing, drumming

Michael Frischkopf -- music history, drumming

Ranya -- finger cymbals, Arab musical scales and modes, music interpretation

Karima Al-Kinani - Arabic language

Yussef Farag - Arabic language

Abdullah BaMasoud – Arabic language

Najwa Gibran – singing

Maroun Tannus – Arab musical scales and modes

Teaching Experience

Weekly local classes

Haft Vadi Studio (founded) min. 7 classes per week, November 2002 - present

Kitchener, Peergroup: weekly classes 2004 and 2006

Waterloo, Clarica/Sun Life Fitness Centre : regular weekly class Oct. 2002 – Oct. 2003

Kitchener YWCA : regular classes, 4 per week, October 2001 - October 2002

Montreal, Vie en Forme women’s fitness centre : regular twice-weekly lessons, 2000-2001

Barrie : regular weekly lessons, 1998-1999

Toronto, York University : 10 week beginner course, June - July 1998

Out-of-town teaching engagements

Awalim Studio, Hamilton

Hip Circle Studio, St. Catharines

Hannan’s Studio of Middle Eastern Dance, Toronto

Bellydance Extravanganza, Stratford

Parry Sound, Ontario

Wildfire Outdoor Education Centre, Wyevale

Other teaching experience

Breithaupt Community Centre, Lutherwood Coda Women at Play Day, Bluevale Collegiate, University of Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo Community Arts Centre, Northfield Racquet Club, Cambridge Rise and Shine Yoga Studio, Peergroup, private lessons.

Performance Experience

Variety middle eastern dance shows in New York City, Ottawa, Montreal, Parry Sound, Buffalo, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Guelph, Waterloo, Kitchener

Private engagements for restaurants, banquets, weddings, bridal showers, birthdays, holy day celebrations, multicultural festivals, graduation celebrations

Event Producing Experience

Student recitals at the end of every session of classes, occasional soloist cabarets and workshop galas (we’re up to 17 now!)

Tapestry Festival Bellydance Gala annual since 2004 produced variety bellydance shows as part of the City of Kitchener’s Tapestry Festival

Silk Road Festival, Kitchener, June 2004, June 2005 programmed a variety show for the City of Kitchener representing cultures from Syria to China

Mother’s Day Show, Waterloo, May 2003 organized and performed in a fund-raiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation

Silk Road Weekend, Kitchener, April 2003organized and performed in a weekend of Persian arts workshops and shows

Chab-i-Yalda (Longest Night), Kitchener, December 2002organized and performed in show and party for Persian celebration of the longest night

Bewitching Bellydance Ball, Waterloo, annual since 2002 organized and performed in a variety belly dance show for Hallowe’en

Belly Button Bash, Waterloo, April 2002 organized fund-raising show for the Waterloo Community Arts Centre

Spring Equinox Women’s Festival, Sutton : March 1997 organized, taught and performed for a day of women’s workshops