Like many children I began dance at the age of three, and I was immediately in love! I knew from that moment on that dance would always be a very important part of my life! As a child I studied Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Highland and Ukrainian dance. My favourite dance form then was always Jazz - the energetic movement and exciting music fired me up. However Highland and Ukrainian dance opened something in me that would grow exponentially - a passion for Ethnic & Cultural Dance - and that is the path I would forever follow... ![]() Throughout my years of dance I was encouraged to try my hand at choreography. The more experience and insight I gained with choreography the greater my talent grew for being able to breakdown and interpret music. I had found yet another passion through dance, a form of creative expression even richer than the dance itself and that was creating the dance! Having been intrigued by Belly Dance for a long time I took a class on a whim when I was 19 and I loved it immediately! Fate was smiling on me because I was encouraged by my instructor to work toward a professional dance career. After a lot of study, hard work and practice I began performing Belly Dance professionally at the age of 24 throughout the many Greek & Arabic restuarants of Edmonton and Central Alberta. Shortly after, I began instructing Middle Eastern Dance at Grant MacEwan Arts College, and many other venues, taking the plunge into a full time career as an Instructor, Choreographer, & Performer of Middle Easter Dance. Throughout my twenties I taught between 10 and 14 classes per week in a variety of locations. I also produced six large Dance Productions including one which followed the history of Oriental Dance. ![]() Another highlight was having the opportunity to dance with Vinok Worldance, a fabulous Edmonton based dance troupe that does an outstanding job entertaining and educating with Cultural Dances from around the world; having more than 40 different countries in their repertoire. My experience dancing with them helped to broaden my training greatly. Years later I was invited back to choreography and teach an Egyptian choreography for their show Christmas Around the World 2010! I also had the opportunity to design my own syllabus for certain dance programs, being the creator of Belly Dance Orientale, Belly Dancin Babies, and Worldbeat Dance. Throughout my dance career I have had the great opportunity to study with many amazing dance instructors and attend a wide variety of dance workshops, having studied a huge multitude of dance styles from classical styles to cultural dance from around the world. In line with this passion and obsession, I have done extensive reading and research over the years about dance and music from around the world, have studied certain cultural instruments, and some languages. ![]() Dance Photos When I imagine myself... I imagine myself as a dancer! ~Tascheleia Marangoni~1999 |
About the Dancer >