Instructor
"Middle Eastern Dance, one of the most ancient and most beautiful art forms, builds and maintains a healthy and creative body and mind". Hala offers classes and personal instruction in the traditional form of this dance to dancers of all levels. Hala is a seasoned performer who has delighted her audience all over the United States with her authentic and elegant style. She also offers Arabic to English translations, especially for song lyrics.
A Middle Eastern Performer & Teacher, the ONLY one in the whole San Francisco Bay Area!!
Hala grew up in Alexandria, Egypt to the rhythms and melodies of the Middle East. She has been dancing since she was a child and brings her own graceful, elegant and authentic style to the dance. Hala exposes the cultural, historical and native dimensions of the dance as it's done in the East. Her dance style is heavily influenced by the folkloric Egyptian traditions that are less known in the West. Hala studies regularly with many Egyptian Master teachers and brings the latest dance styles, music, fashion and trends from Egypt every year. She organizes and leads annual music and dance tours to Egypt. Her teachers include Master Egyptian stars like Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Raqia Hassan, Aida Nour, Dina, Tito, Badia'a, Mervat Mongy, Nagwa Fuad, Zizi Mostafa, Hamada Hosam El Din, Hassan Afifi and many others. Hala also studies and performs with American and Canadian stars including Hadia, Sahra Kent, Alexandra King, Morocco, Ansuya, Jillina, Amar Gamal, Dondi Dahlin, Lorna Zilba and many others.
Praised not only for the authenticity of form and style but also for the immaculate rhythm of her choreographies, Hala, a native of Egypt, has risen to be one of the most authentic dancers today. Her performances are captivating with a lot of passion and energy.
She has been performing in the bay area since 1997. In 2006, Hala
was elected Vice President of the San
Francisco bay area chapter of MECDA
(Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association). The Hala Dance Company offers
solo & group performances. They were among the few selected from over 115
dance companies to perform at the presitgious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival
in June 2004. In 2005, Hala performed with master percussionist Hossam Ramzy
in London, England and presented her native art at the Los Angeles County Museum
of Arts in celebration of the King Tut exhibit. In 2006, she and her friend
Amanda, opened Halanda Studio, a dance
& fitness studio in San Jose, CA. They offer classes and workshops in many
international dance styles. In 2007, Hala taught Middle Eastern dance through
the Dance Dept at Stanford University. It was the first time a major Western
University endorses Middle Eastern dance as part of their curriculum.
Unique benefits of Hala's approach to dance teaching
Hala's approach to dance teaching, which has been highly praised by her students, offers the unique opportunity for students of all ages, genders, and skill levels to learn together. A dance routine blending the basics with the more layered moves offers a chance for each student to hone the skills that they already have, perfect the right posture and attitude and learn new moves as well as new ways of combining moves; each at their own pace and development capacity. She explains the meanings of the songs and stresses the emotional and spiritual aspects of using the body as a musical instrument that complements the music. Since dance is an expressive art, Hala encourages her students to develop their own unique style and dance personality. Her teaching method is based on the eastern traditions and blends in her martial arts training which fosters a healthy posture, technique and form. Hala stresses valuable health tips that are crucial to using this dance as a healthy physical exercise without any long-term strain on the body.
Click here for some testimonials from her students
Hala, a dancer unlike any other
Hala is becoming the performer of choice for the Middle Eastern community in the San Francisco bay area because of her authentic and graceful dance style as well as her awareness of the cultural sensitivities of the community. Whenever authenticity in style is sought after, Hala is called upon to perform and present her cultural heritage. She has performed at the following events (for a complete list, please see Past Events):
A well rounded artist, Hala hosts the only radio show in the San Francisco Bay Area dedicated to Middle Eastern music & culture on KKUP Cupertino. As a citizen of the world and an avid traveler, she has been a Servas member since 1994. In her spare time, Hala's hobbies include Soduko, Kakuro, board games, rock climbing, martial arts, learning new dances, arts and outdoors activities. Hala has a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a black belt in Shotokan karate from SKA (Shotokan Karate of America). Hala is a strong believer in pursuing one's dreams no matter how impossible they may seem. She has finished the "Curriculum for living" and the "Communications Courses" at Landmark Education in San Jose and San Francisco, CA.
Preserving a traditional dance form
Hala is actively involved in preserving the history and tradition of Middle Eastern Dance. In addition to teaching classes to all ages and abilities, she provides information and assistance to local schools, organizations and publications on the origin and survival of this beautiful dance form. In a recent collaboration with a local teacher, Hala wrote this article on the dance for a school presentation:
For more information or to register for a Hala Dance class, please contact
Hala
