Phoenix Belly Dance

Prices include:

• 2 nights’ accommodation (including bedding but not linen)
• Middle Eastern inspired dinners and 2 snack platters per day (healthy and decadent options available!)
• Workshops with our international guest teacher and some of NZ’s acclaimed belly dance teachers!
• Performance opportunities, games, activities, parties, and entertainment!

Aziza is one of the brightest, most in-demand stars of bellydance in the world today, recognized across the globe for her unparalleled ability to express the unique synergy of movement and sound that is the hallmark of this ancient art form. Her innate musicality, effortless creativity and lifelong training allow Aziza to fully inhabit the dance, simultaneously capturing a range of emotion and intensity of expressive movement - subtle yet intense, fluid yet strong, poetic and powerful. Aziza is of the rare and gifted breed of performer whose styling is instantly recognizable, yet always evolving and new.

Aziza’s exquisite and undeniable mastery of the stage is matched by her skill in the seminar classroom. An intuitive, concise and generous instructor, Aziza excels at inspiring dancers to reach the next level. Promoters and students alike appreciate her ability to present well-organized, relevant and useful material that is accessible and challenging to all levels of dancers from beginner to professional. A lifelong student herself, she continually seeks inspiration as she travels the world, discovering new and revisiting familiar movement forms, always presenting material that is fresh and exciting. To study with Aziza is to be moved by her genuine devotion to her beloved art and to each and every dancer that comes to learn with her.

Due to popular demand, Julie Anterrieu, dancer, teacher and choreographer with a lifetime of experience will be joining our Retreat Teaching team again this year! Whilst her technical knowledge of dance training and strengthening is impressive spanning her studies in France, New York and NZ, it can't hold a candle to the variety of dance styles she's studied. Julie has had training in Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Chair Dancing, Burlesque, French Cancan, Broadway Jazz, Charleston, and Aerial Arts. That's just the dancing; Julie also has training and certifications BodiBalance™, Horton and anatomy, so in addition to teaching you how to move your body, she also teaches you how to keep it safe! 

This year, Julie will be teaching all about turns, turns, turns! With this workshops you will learn all the key ingredients that go into accomplishing turns: posture, leg action, spotting, coordination and more...

Please join me in welcoming this stunning dancer into the Retreat Teaching Team!

We are very lucky to host another international teacher at the retreat this year!! Bibiana Franco has more than 20 years of dance experience; the last 13 years specialising in belly dance. Having had the opportunity of being trained in South America, Europe and Australia, Bibiana’s work takes a global spin, delivering dynamic and modern productions. Being a Colombian immigrant in Australia, Bibiana brings to her classes her natural Latin flavour and combines it with her impeccable dance technique to deliver fun and up beat classes.

During the last 2 years, Bibiana has had the opportunity to work and learn from Master teacher Jillina Carlano and artistes Jrisi Jusakos and Keke Hadjandonis.

In Australia, Bibiana had training with artistes, Nayima Hassan and Tereska; as well as furthering her skills in samba, salsa, merengue and zumba. Her belly dance career started in Colombia after years of performing Colombian folk dances. Whilst living in France, Bibiana developed her skills in contemporary and hip-hop dance styles. Bibiana is now the Artistic Director of Belly Dance Adelaide Company and the Principal of Belly Dance Adelaide.

At the retreat we will be learning her Belly Latin Drum Solo Fusion Choreography, and an Earthy Saiidi technique workshop (so don't forget your canes!) I am personally so excited to have Bibiana visiting NZ after meeting her in Sydney in March, as she was also one of the winners of the 2014 Belly Dance Evolution Casting Competition. She is one of the most entertaining dancers both on and off the dance floor!

Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after costumiers in New Zealand, Tatyana Tania Laptsevich is coming to the retreat this year to show us some costume tricks!! Tatyana Tania Laptsevich has been studying belly dance for about 10 years, starting in Belarus where she is from. She is a teacher and a manager of Aisha Belly dance studio and Bella Arabika performing group, based on the Hibiscus Coast, Auckland. Tania has had the privilege to take classes with Randa Kamel, Tito, Orit Maftsir, Yasmin Elena Grinchik, Sumaya Evgenia Logvina, Alexey Riaboshapka, Elena Ramazanova,  Ava Flemming, Karim Nagi, Kaeshi Chai, Sonya, Dariya Mitskevich,  Warda Maravilha, Belladonna and others.

With ten weeks to go until the retreat, it's time to announce our last teacher- our very own Candice Frankland!! Many of you are already familiar with Candice's accomplishments. In only four years, she's created an award-winning belly dance company and performance troupe. Under her direction, the Phoenix Troupe has won the 2012 Jambalaya Dance Competition, the 2013 Viva Eclectika Asian Fusion Dance Cup, and performed multiple times at high profile events both locally and overseas. Most recently, Candice won the casting contest for Bellydance Evolution in Oz: Dark Side of the Crown, performing alongside bellydance titans such as Jillina, Kaeshi, and Sharon Kihara. In addition to all that, she's a fantastic teacher too, often going out of her way to provide resources and help for any student who asks.

At this year's retreat, Candice will be showing us big skirt choreography!! Loosely based on Balkan and Romani movements and imagery, this fast and flirty choreography starts in a village 'scene'. The women and girls hear the call of the music and answer it with fiery hips and swishing skirts! This piece is great for large or small groups (duets or trios). It's also a great opportunity to play with characters - the bride and bridesmaids, gossiping girls, mother and daughter, sulking teen, laundry washer, etc. A great choreography for acting silly and playing with a giant skirt!!!

Note: Big skirts not included, please bring your own or ask about placing an order with us :)

Rose Ottaviano (Perth, Australia)

Rabiya (Sydney, Australia)

Candice Frankland (Auckland, NZ)

Pip E-Lysaah (Wellington, NZ)

Christine Haviland (Auckland, NZ)

Angela Mott (Auckland, NZ)

Suezy Robertson (Auckland, NZ)

Julie Anterrieu (France / NZ)

Aida Sajadi (Iran / NZ)

Tanya Bamford King (Tauranga, NZ)

Dallia (Auckland, NZ)