Meet Our Performers
Our diverse troupe of dancers are some of the best in Australia and New Zealand! Candice Frankland director and founder of the award-winning Phoenix Belly Dance, is an international teacher, winner of national dance competitions, has performed lead roles in international dance show tours, and has represented New Zealand at Middle Eastern dance events across the world.
The Phoenix Troupe members come from every part of the world and each has her own list of achievements, repertoire, and skills. Our collective aim is to uplift, delight, and share the art of Middle Eastern dance throughout New Zealand.
Candice
Principal Teacher, Choreographer and Founder
Candice Frankland is the Founder and Director of the multi-award-winning Phoenix Belly Dance Company. Her company provides lessons to all levels of students from shiny new Beginners to seasoned Professionals with established backgrounds. Candice also caters for all manner of performances from Hen’s Parties to large corporations, politicians, movie, TV, music, and sports stars that demand the highest quality shows. Candice has become one of NZ's most sought after teachers and regularly travels around New Zealand, Australia, and the world to teach workshops.
Solo videos:
Award-winning performance submission with Voi and Drum Solo
Troupe choreographies by Candice:
Aziza, Candice Frankland and Helene Skaugen performing Melaya Lef at Tarazade Festival Istanbul 2015
cindy
Troupe Dancer
Cindy has danced for as long as she can remember. Though belly dancing is where her passion truly lies, she has trained in contemporary, Indonesian Jaipong and ballroom and Latin dancing. Tutored by international dancers Sandra Bogart and Kim Grison, she made her way into the professional belly dancing world by becoming the resident belly dancer at Nomad Cafe - a popular Middle Eastern restaurant in her hometown - and spent her time there honing her skills and knowledge of the art form.
Cindy has trained with many high level dancers, including Jillina, Kaeshi Chai, Irina Akulenko, Elisheva, Aziza, Karim Nagi and Ava Fleming. She has performed with Phoenix at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park, as part of the opening act for Bellydance Evolution in Oz. She was also cast in a supporting role in the Bellyqueen Journey Along the Silk Road in Australia 2016 tour.
Theatrical Belly Dance performance - Letting Go by Cindy and Candice
Elea
Troupe Dancer and Teacher
Elea hails from France, and has been a dancer most of her life starting with ballet, that she practiced for 4 years, and eventually falling in love with belly dance. She has developed her belly dance skills from a variety of belly dance studios and has attended many workshops from well known belly dance instructors from all over the world, such as Jillina, Aziza of Cairo, Kami Liddle, Diva Darina. She is continuously trying to improve her dance style and technique by trying new styles or taking workshops with different teachers.
Elea has performed professionally for many years as a soloist, and joined the Phoenix troupe in 2017. She is always excited to see students shine and learn and does everything she can to help them on their way.
samia
Troupe Dancer and Teacher
Started her studies in Tandil city at the age of 5 in the Municipal Dance School of Tandil, where she attended the Classic Dance Teacher Training College until she was 14. She then started to study Arab Dance in the Arab Cultural Center in Tandil, under the tuition of instructors Fernanda Alak and Alejandra Ape. At 17 she moved to Buenos Aires city and joined the Arabian Dance School of Amir Thaleb. Samia moved to live in Auckland in 2018. Samia is a very natural performer with an effortless style and a love for Arabic music and dance.
Suei
Troupe Dancer
From a young age Suei has immersed herself in dancing and performed the art of Dun Huang dance. This dance involves very fluid and beautiful movements, many of which are similar to belly dancing. She has since found passion in belly dancing and went on to develop her belly dance skills from a variety of belly dance studios and have attended many workshops from well known belly dance instructors.
Suei has performed professionally for many years as a soloist, duo and within a troupe. The belly dance training she has developed after many years along with her background in traditional dance has shaped her into the versatile belly dance performer she is today. As a teacher, she strives to convey the technique and culture of the dance form, whilst providing a safe, educational atmosphere.
mili
Troupe Dancer
Mili started dancing at the age of 5 in her hometown Tandil, in Argentina. Her oriental dance training started at the age of 8 at the Arab Cultural Center in Tandil, under the tuition of instructor Fernanda Alak. She then left behind Oriental Dance training for a while to become an Argentinian folklore teacher, performing at some of the biggest cultural events and theatres in Argentina. During this time she also took ballet, contemporary, flamenco, tango and salsa classes.
At the age of 22 while living in Buenos Aires, she resumed her training with teacher Celeste Novas and moved to Auckland in 2018 continuing her training at Phoenix Bellydance School. She is now part of the Professional Troupe and enjoys sharing her love for this form of art in every performance.
Sabrina
Troupe Dancer
Sabrina hails from the US, and has always loved dance. She has developed her belly dance skills with Phoenix Belly Dance and enjoys making people smile when she performs. She is continuously trying to improve her dance style and technique by trying new styles or taking workshops with different teachers.
Her dance is fun, light, and entertaining!
Danielle
Troupe Dancer and Fusion Teacher
Danielle is a tribal fusion belly dance instructor with 10 years of tribal fusion belly dance instruction experience. Danielle is also a professional belly dance performer who has been cast in professional music videos and has experience at halls, clubs, and restaurants, and with live bands. Danielle has been part of Jill Parker's dance companies Foxglove Sweethearts and Little Egypt and Ariellah's company Deshret in California and Audra Simmons' company Lavish in Toronto. Danielle earned a college dance certificate in African Heritage Performance from San Francisco City College and holds a registration in dance-movement therapy.
Astra
Soloist and Troupe Dancer
Astra is a beautiful red head with a passion for dance, having always danced in some form or other she first discovered her love of Belly Dance back in 2007 and started training under Kali Zahira. Since then she has strove to improve her understanding and performance of Middle Eastern dance, leaning towards the Oriental and Baladi Styles and incorporating fan veils, sword, isis wings and veil. In 2010 traveling to Egypt to further her training she attended the Nile Group Festival, where she studied with Mahmoud Reda, Aida Nour, Mona Moustafa and Nevein Ramez. In 2012 she attended the Tarazade Festival in Istanbul studying with Prof. Hassan Khalil, Azad Khan, Aziza, Serkan Tutar, Rose Ottaviano and Sema Yildiz before travelling to Cairo to study with Outi of Cairo. Back in New Zealand she has done workshops with Pip E-Lysaah and a weekend intensive with Ranya Renee. She is also an accomplished fire performer and can incorporate fire into her performances.
Phoenix Belly Dance Troupe Drum Solo at the Retreat with Hadia 2015
Setsuna
Soloist, Troupe Dancer and Teacher
Setsuna hails from the US and performs, teaches, studies, and revels in dance. A belly dancer since age 15, she has spent most of her life practicing this art form, and continues to learn all she can to make her classes fun and educational. She has studied many other dance forms including Chinese Traditional Dance, R&B, Brazilian Samba, and Afro-Brazilian. Setsuna is an avid researcher and loves to share not only beautiful technique with her students, but also the cultural nuances and roots of the dance.
