Individual Artists & Troupes

in Europe

These listings are arranged by geography. A appears in front of the ones that contain at least one article to read. In order to qualify for a star, this article must be on a subject other than promoting the activities of the site owner, selling merchandise, or links.

Austria

• Dunia. Vienna, Austria. The Flash is slow to load and the navigation doesn't work very well (menu choices didn't go where I expected), but it's pretty.

Belgium

• Artemisia. Leuven, Belgium. In Flemish and English.
• Eve. Brussels, Belgium. In French.
• Hannele Aaltonen. Liege, Belgium.
• Rakiya. Mons, Belgium. Site is in French.

Croatia

• Dance a Lot. Zagreb, Croatia.

Czech Republic

• Amira Clé. Prague. Site is in both Czech and English.
• Khalida. Ceske Budejovice. Site is in Czech.

Denmark

• Alice Oppenheim. The site is entirely in Danish.
• AzizA. Vamdrup, Denmark. The site is available in Danish, German, English, French, Russian, and Arabic.
• Mavedans Med Botticelli. Roskilde. Some belly dance animations found on the web, instructions on how to do a few basic belly dancing movements, and contact information for some vendors in Europe. In both English and Danish.
• Natashia Ninet. Odense, Denmark.
• Susanne Potempa's School For Oriental Dance. Copenhagen. Also contains a great article about the history of using essential oils, a brief list of vendors who sell Middle Eastern music in Denmark, and other information.

Finland

• Outi. Helsinki, Finland. Includes several articles about Egyptian culture, including Ramadan, dancing in Egypt, music in Egypt, movies, and other topics.
• Tuija Rinne. Finland. Site is in Finnish and English.

France

• Amana. Paris, France. Site is in French.
• Etoile des Sables. Paris, France. Site is in French.
• Illina. Chaville. Site is in French.
• Noura Saad. Anitbes. Site is in both French and English.
• Sylvie. Montpellier. Site is in French.
• Yolla Motz. Paris. Site is in both French and English. Includes a little dictionary of Lebanese/Arabic words translated into French and English.

Germany

• Akasha. Hamburg, Germany. Site is in German.
• Claudina. Weimar, Germany. Site is in German.
• Coco. Berlin, Germany. Site is in German and English.
• Djamila. Frankfurt, Germany. Site is in German and English.
• E-Motion Studio. Leipzig, Germany.
• Helene Eriksen. Includes an article about traditional women's dance in Afghanistan. Written in both German and English.
• Karin Leyla. Wolfratshausen.
• Khalida. Aachen.
• Khadejah & Mustapha el Oueslati. Wiesbaden.
• Mihrimah Ghaziya. Regensburg, Germany
• Nesimah. Munich.
• Reyhan & Djamila. Frankfurt-Am-Main. Content in both English and German.
• Roxalena. Hannover. All content is in German.
• Russya. Hamburg.
• Salma. Wuppertal, Germany. Site is in German, French, and English.
• Sheritra al Naghmea. Frankfurt. All content is in German.
• Sibel Nefa. Braunschweig, Germany. Site is entirely in German. Includes humor, tips on false eyelashes, frequently asked questions, and more.
• Sonya's Oase. Dortmund. Site is entirely in German.
• Zarka. Murrhardt. Site is entirely in German.

Greece

• Athena Najat. Athens, Greece.

Hungary

• Adry Svraka. Site is in both English and Hungarian.

Ireland

• Graziela Calis. Cork, Ireland.
• Khelashi Wexford, Ireland. Includes instructions to make a coin bra and a belt.

Italy

• Francesca Rossato. Venice. Site is in both Italian and English.
• Maya Gaorry. Trieste. The site is in Italian, English, Spanish, German, and Portugese.

Malta

• Atlantis Balogh. Ennis, Ireland. Includes an online pattern for a three-tiered skirt, tribal fairies artwork, how to wear a sari, how to tie a turban, information about veils, information about Ottoman kocheks, and free belly dance clip art.

Netherlands

• Amira Ates. Amsterdam.
• Aziza. Nijmegen.
• Nadiya. Rotterdam. Information is in both Dutch and English.
• Sabouschka. Amsterdam.
• Shaheen. Amsterdam. The information is in Dutch.
• Suzanne Roelofs. The information is in Dutch.

Norway

• Anne Rosas. Site is in Norwegian only.

Serbia

• Emine. Belgrade. Site is in Serbo-Croatian.
• Tijana. Novi Sad, Serbia. Site is in Serbo-Croatian.

Spain

• Aida. Catalunya. Includes several articles (in Spanish only), including recipes for Middle Eastern food, historical information about Oriental dance and the harems of the Middle East, a profile of Mata Hari, and Turkish Çengi (Gypsies).
• Anandi. Marbella, Spain.
• Gill Eardley. Nerja. Includes a couple of articles, one on "The Sacred Art of Self Decoration" and the other on "Soul's Ecstasy". In English.
• Kayra. Málaga. In both English and Spanish.
• Nabila Arbid. Lanzarote, Spain. In English, Spanish, and German.
• Ne-mah. Granada, Spain.
• Samira Saida. Barcelona. In Spanish. Articles about cane dance, origins of Oriental dance, candelabrum, Khaleegy, melaya leff, and debke.
• Shasekh. Madrid. Includes articles on the physical and emotional benefits of Oriental dance, styles of Oriental dance, a Spanish translation of my "Fact or Fantasy?" article, Butoh dance, characteristics of modern dance, and dance as a medium of social communication. In Spanish.

Sweden

• As-Sayf. Site is in Swedish.

Switzerland

• Asmhan. Uster, Switzerland. Site is in German, French, and English.
• Dunya. Lucerne, Switzerland. Site is in German, French, and English.
• Esmeray. Zürich. Site is in Italian. One page, Le Donne Dell'Harem, describes life in a Turkish harem and is illustrated with some lovely artwork that's a joy to look at even if you can't read Italian! Also some nice pictures on the Folclore page. Site also has a list of some Arabic names and their translation in Italian, a nice overview article about belly dancing, and other articles.
• Irene von Salis. Zürich. Site is in German.
• Meissoun. Switzerland.
• Miriam Missura. Zürich. Also information about Middle Eastern music and various dance styles. Site is in German.
• Zeyna. Zürich.

Turkey

• Bulent Dogan. Mugla, Turkey.
• Tayyar Akdeniz. Istanbul, Turkey.

United Kingdom

• Afra Al-Kahira. Exeter, United Kingdom. Includes an opinion poll and several articles about ethics, standards in dance, music licenses, suitability of body types for dance, and insurance for teachers.
• Ahlam of El Amiraat. Reading, England.
• Aylin Hansen. London, England.
• Alison Hallewell. Eastbourne, England.
• Beatrice Curtis. Surrey, England. The section "For Students" contains several helpful resources, including some song translations, tips on making simple costume items, and more.
• Caitlyn. London, England. Includes an article on Gypsy dance in America.
• Carolyn. Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Charlotte Desorgher. Manchester, England. Includes an article about the history of belly dance.
• Claire Morgan. Includes an article with a brief overview of raqs sharqi.
• Desna Mackenzie. Lancaster, England.
• Donna Gardner. Lichfield, England. Includes an article about American Tribal Style of belly dance, an article on what to look for in a Tribal skirt, an article about finger cymbals, and more.
• Elaine. London, England.
• Elaine Fraser. London. Includes instructions on how to make a circle skirt, a panel skirt, a flounced skirt, a 2/3 circular veil, and a headband out of scraps. Also a searchable database of music which can be used to find which CD's contain a certain song.
• Emma. Cambridge, England.
• Emma. Redditch, England.
• Emma Pyke. Reading, England. Contains a collection of articles, including pre-performance tips to reduce nerves, how to improvise, how to produce a successful show, making the most of practice time, etc.
• Georgina Howson. Biggleswade, England.
• Hazel King. London, England.
• Helen Brunton (Semra). Solihull, England. Includes an article on what it was like to spend the day filming with the BBC, and a second page with a bit of photo-editing humor.
• Helena. Leeds, England.
• Hilde. Brighton, England.
• Hilary Thacker. Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Jacqueline Chapman. London, England. Includes a directory of dancers in the United Kingdom and a brief article about Raqs Orientale.
• Jameela. Kent, England.
• Jasmine. Crewe, England.
• Jawahir Middle Eastern Dance Club. Newport, Wales.
• Joanna Bradshaw. Nottingham, England.
• Karen Pilkington. Leicester, England. Also includes recipes for kofte and aubergine/tahini salad, a list of belly dance teachers in the United Kingdom, a great article about the relationship between dancers and journalists, and a couple of other articles.
• Katy Carmichael. Manchester, England.
• Kay Taylor. Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.
• Kharis. Merseyside, England. The site also features a Fifi Abdou page with several photos and an article with a brief history of Middle Eastern dance.
• Laila Ajbar. Newport, Wales.
• Lucy. Norwich, England.
• Lynne Chapman. Rugby, England.
• Mariëlle Holman. Glastonbury, England.
• Maylynn. London, England.
• Mia Serra. London, England.
• Nikki. Carterton, England.
• Nuala. London, England.
• Ramona Bachen. Caernarfon Bangor, Wales.
• Roz. North Yorkshire, England. Includes opinion pieces about female genital mutilation and mistreatment of women in the name of Islam, some entertaining accounts of adventures doing gigs, and a brief article about history of Middle Eastern dance.
• Samia. Paignton, Devon.
• Sapphira. London, England.
• Sara Shrapnell. Reading, England.
• Sarah. Southend, England.
• Shamira. Glastonbury, United Kingdom. Articles on Middle Eastern dance, its different styles and garb, musical instruments, props, and reiki healing.
• Shelley Skipper. Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Shona Hagan. Poole, Dorset.
• Sitara. Essex, England.
• Talia. Southampton, England.
• Zafirah. Bristol, England.
• Zafirah. London, England. Includes an article titled "About the Dance" which provides a pleasing overview of Oriental dance.
• Zehara. Manchester, England. Includes a lovely poem, and several articles including health benefits of belly dance, thoughts on "authenticity", teaching, dance history, etc.
• Zahira Nour. Cambridge, England.
• Ziba Tabrizi. Cambridge, England.