Read about the star guests that Qamar14 have invited to Yorkshire

Khaled

Khaled Mahmoud, originally from Egypt, is now based in London, UK but travels frequently around the globe for workshops and performances. His presence on stage is unforgettable. His movements are dazzling.With a captivating smile and shimmys that seem like a minor earthquake - few dancers improvise and entertain an audience like Khaled does. He has quickly made himself a name both as a mesmerizing dancer and a respected sought-after teacher all over the world.

www.khaled-goldenhips.co.uk

Ozgen

Ozgen has performed, taught, choreographed & directed for the last 15 years. In Istanbul, he joined the cast of Night of the Sultans combining contemporary dance, ballet & oriental dance and taught for several years at the Tolgahan Dance School in Istanbul. Since then, his reputation as a male belly dancer & teacher has taken him across the world. He is now based in London where his reputation has grown quickly both as a dancer and a teacher and he travels internationally, teaching and performing Turkish Oriental & Romani (Gypsy) dance.   www.ozgen.co.uk

Anne White

After discovering and falling in love with Arabic music in the Greek bars of Cyprus, Anne White has now studied Raqs Sharqi for nearly 20 years, and has been a performer and teacher since 1990. A graduate of the Hilal School, now known as the Raqs Sharqi Society, Anne teaches weekly classes in London, from complete beginners to professional performance level.

In 2003 she founded the monthly Planet Egypt cabaret club nights which quickly became the performance showcase for London dancers, and for new and exciting upcoming performers and teachers. The performance schedule is booked up for months in advance and the show is always a sell-out – little wonder when Planet Egypt offers the best UK debut for soon-to-be-dance-stars, such as Ozgen, newly arrived in the country, as well as talented British dancers “discovered” on Anne’s travels.     Website: www.planetegypt.co.uk

PRINCESS FARHANA

Internationally acclaimed dancer Princess Farhana has appeared in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Egypt, Mexico and Canada, and across the USA,

For the past twenty years she has also written extensively on Oriental Dance, for both dance and mainstream publications, and has appeared on the cover of belly dance publications

she has performed live at concerts with Arabic superstars Amr Diab, Ragheb Alama, Hakim, Natacha Atlas, and Alabina, as well as at private events for celebrities and dignitaries such as former First Lady Hilary Clinton, The Saudi Arabian Royal Family, and The Rolling Stones, among many others.

She is known for her exquisite technique-including her mind-boggling abdominal work and skills with balanced props. With dramatic stage presence and theatrical flair

The Princess is Egyptian-trained (by Zahra Zuhair and Raqia Hassan in addition to many others) but is also a high-concept fusion performer, and travels constantly performing and teaching workshops all over the globe.

Princess Farhana has been featured on many Oriental Dance compilation DVD’s, and has also danced and acted in many motion pictures, music videos, and television shows;

In 2008, her movie credits included Assistant Choreographer for the belly dancing sequence in the hit “Charlie Wilson’s War” starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

She has co- produced eleven of her own instructional and performance DVD’s.

Nesrin Topkapi

One of the most famous and well loved dance artists in Turkey is Nesrin Topkapi. Nesrin was the first dancer to perform a show on Turkish TV at a time when belly dancing was banned. She started to teach and was popular with German students who visited Turkey. In the 90’s, Nesrin established a school of oriental dance in Germany. if you dont know who she is, just mention her name to any Turk and watch their eyes light up and you will hear them say how emotional and so elegant she always is, the Turkish people love and respect her.

She is now considered a Grand Master of bellydance and revered by belly dancers around the world, and the choreographer of the best Oriental dance shows ever.