Afra has been a dancer all her life. She started dancing aged 3 with ballet classes and has studied and performed Ballroom and Latin American to professional level (including teaching). In her late teens Afra caught the aerobics bug and qualified to teach it. She also began to experiment with other dance styles and has taken classes in jazz and flamenco for many years. Her real passion though is Middle Eastern Dance, both the classic Egyptian Oriental and folkloric styles, and her own exciting blend of drama, props and story telling, best described as Middle Eastern inspired experimental dance. Afra is also a member of Equity and has appeared as an actress in TV commercials and as an extra in numerous films. Afra is a qualified and experienced adult educator with over 20 years experience as an instructor. Afra has taught and performed internationally in several countries (her latest trips include being a guest teacher at Morocco of New York's weeklong seminars in Summer 2007 & Winter 2008)..
During her career Afra has performed in top restaurants, clubs, at major corporate events, theatrical productions, for major politicians, celebrities, and even for members of the Royal Family. She has appeared on stage with the likes of Morocco of New York, Vashti of London, Hossam & Serena Ramzy and Yasmina of Cairo. She is regularly invited to teach and perform at many UK events. You can read her current schedule here.
Afra has produced, directed and choreographed several shows including ' Nile Dance'. An innovative presentation of the history of Near Eastern Dance starring Morocco of New York, Vashti of London and the Kol Dance Cooperative.
Other achievements include the show 'Dance of Hope'. A sell-out show starring many of London and the South of England's most talented dancers, with Hossam & Serena Ramzy at the top of the bill. Afra organised this in just 3.5 weeks as a response to the appeal for help after the tsunami in S.E. Asia.
Afra is the UK's leading exponent of the art of dancing with Wings of Isis. She was the first dancer in the UK to perform with them, and she is particularly renowned for using double wings. Other skills include her breathtaking double sword and finger cymbals numbers and a wide variety of exciting props.
When she is not teaching and performing herself Afra leads a busy life in other directions!
She runs Celebrating Dance - a popular annual dance festival held each Autumn in Devon. This year's guest stars are Morocco of New York and Dondi Dahlin. Afra regularly host workshops with visiting overseas teachers. Most recently Morocco, Aziza of Montreal, Sadie of Denver, Yasmina of Cairo, and Dondi Dahlin. She also attends regular workshops to extend her own dance skills. Afra runs her own dance organisation (Al Kahira School of Middle Eastern Dance - ASMED) through which she mentors dancers and dance teachers from across the country. She edits and publishes Britain's oldest oriental dance magazine - Taqasim and writes articles for dance magazines all over the world.
In May 2008 Afra was voted Chairman of Britain's largest Arabic Dance organisation - the Mosaic Arabic Dance Network (MADN) and sees her role as one of helping MADN to fulfil its stated role to promote Arabic and Arabic derived dance forms both here in the UK and beyond. She is backed by a talented and dedicated committee and everyone gives their time for free in order to help promote and support our dance.
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Amina - My first teacher. 