Instructors
"[the instructors] were all different, professional and positive. They all brought wonderful personalities and various teaching techniques to the class. It sure made me excited to continue on with the classes and experience courses from as many of the instructors as possible! They all have so much to share!"- Yvonne (student)
Aurora
Founder and Artistic Director for Edmonton Bellydance Ensemble, Aurora is an accomplished and graceful dancer. She is credited for being an excellent and dedicated teacher. For more information regarding Aurora's dance training, please see her Bio.
Maria Kiturah
It has been said that Maria Kiturah is an elegant and adept dance artist. Her formal training includes both Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and Cecchetti methods. Maria Kiturah has studied tango with Miguel Angel Pla (Argentina) and has trained Salsa On-1 and Mambo styles with Alex Rojas, Daiana Moy, Jennifer Izquierdo and Jayson Molina (Puerto Rico). In 2007, she was hand selected to perform with Jayson Molina’s Sabor a Fuego, Edmonton at the 2007 International Salsa Congress in Puerto Rico. She has also performed as principal dancer with Ballet Folklorico Huerquen under the directorship of Gabriel Cabrolier, and with Movements: Afro-Caribbean Dance Ensemble: Sharlene Thomas, Artistic Director. Currently, she performs as principal dancer with Edmonton Bellydance Ensemble: Aurora Ongaro, Artistic Director.
Maria Kiturah began her Middle Eastern dance training 2003. She credits her technical training to local teachers and to numerous international master instructors She attended and performed at the International Bellydance Conference of Canada (2008, 2010) and completed the Arabesque Academy Professional Course (2010). Maria Kiturah is a featured performer at Yianni’s Taverna and Cosmos Greek Taverna and performs at corporate events, parties and weddings.
Holly
Holly is a versatile and creative dancer. She studied tap, jazz, ballet, and gymnastics as youngster but didn’t take her first bellydance class until 2002 with Delia. From there she studied under local instructors Donna Cucheran, Anemone Ruder, Shehenda, Aldiya, and currently Aurora. She has also participated in workshops with world renowned instructors Hadia (Montreal), Sahra Saeeda (California), Helene Eriksen, Beatta & Horacio Cifuentes (Germany), Yasmina Ramzy (Toronto) and more to come. Holly received her Personal Fitness Training Certification from NAIT, and group fitness training through the AFLCA and Spa Lady’s Apprenticeship Program.
Kristin
Kristin began her bellydance training in January of 2003 and has been instructing for EBA since 2005. In addition to her role as a principle dancer with the Edmonton Bellydance Ensemble, she also performs as a soloist at weddings, restaurants and special events around the city. In the summer of 2009 Kristin completed the Professional Middle Eastern Dance Program at Arabesque Academy in Toronto with Yasmina Ramzy. In 2008 she was a featured performer at various venues in Seville, Spain. She has taken bellydance workshops with Aida Nour of Egypt, Tito Seif of Egypt, Yousry Sharif of the U.S.A. and Zuel of Spain. Additionally, Kristin performed with the Salsaddiction NYLA Team throughout 2007, including a performance at a World Salsa Congress in Puerto Rico.
Natasha
Natasha has been dedicated to the art of dance for nearly two decades. Her training is primarily in classical ballet and began in 1987. She was privileged to be accepted into the professional program at the Edmonton School of Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. From 1995-1996 Natasha danced with the Edmonton Festival Ballet Company. In the later years, she incorporated jazz, lyrical, modern and tap to give variation to her art form.
In the fall of 2004, Natasha fell in love with middle eastern style dancing. She gives credit to Ana, Aurora and Zaghareet! for their support and knowledge that has guided her path in this new art form. As of spring of 2007, Natasha has added another role with the studio as the public relations representative. She looks forward to all the many years ahead not only teaching but working with the public on behalf of the organization and its students.
Anita
Anita hails from an artistic European family whose evenings were spent with close relatives, dance, and music. Her dance exposure and training consists of Jamaican, Latin, Contemporary dance, and Ballet. Middle Eastern dance became an all consuming passion 10 years ago and she has learnt from a large variety of instructors from all over the world. Anita was introduced to Tribal Style belly dance in 2004 and she was a member of Zaghareet Tribal Belly Dance until 2006.
During the time of summer festivals Anita became enamored with fire poi and the unique styles of motion and movement it created. Anita uses Poi and the unique styles of movement it creates and incorporates it into Oriental and Tribal dance, creating a new way to bring all these styles into one!
Elizabeth
When Elizabeth dances her joy and excitement is tangible. She began bellydancing in 2002. Since then, she has taken courses, classes, and workshops from the wealth of amazing bellydance instructors in Edmonton and abroad. In 2003 she discovered tribal style belly dance and therein devoted the bulk of her efforts. She was a key member and principle dancer in Zaghareet!, the Edmonton tribal bellydance troupe, from 2003-2006. During that time, Elizabeth began learning dance poi with fellow troupe members. Elizabeth's dance poi has burgeoned from small experiments into spectacular light, flag, and fire performances. In 2006 that Elizabeth became an ardent performer of American Tribal Style (ATS) as created by Carolena Nericcio of Fat Chance Bellydance. She continues to study American Tribal Style (ATS) under Brandi at Edmonton Bellydance Academy. Elizabeth has also been performing ATS as a proud member of Three Eyes Tribal since its inception in 2008. Elizabeth is often a substitute instructor for Tribal and Poi classes and Edmonton Bellydance Academy
