Luna ~ Principle Teacher

Luna is one of Adelaide's most exciting performers. Luna began her career at the feet of her mother, Zalika. She has grown up with Belly dance being a large part of her everyday life. Luna made her first solo appearance at age eight and from that moment on she has strived to excel at the dance.

Luna is the founding member of the Desert Dreams, Henna Nights premium dance troupe. As the director of this troupe Luna has explored the many facets of the genre of Middle Eastern dance, and has developed her own personal style which has been described as dynamic, breathtaking and exciting. Focusing on classical and modern Egyptian dance, with strong technical background and a hunger to study this dance in depth has meant Luna has become a respected performer and teacher.

Luna began teaching in 2001. She began as a junior teacher in a class for small children. In these classes Luna found a regular creative outlet for her dancing and choreographic skills. Luna soon realized that to be a teacher she must never stop learning herself. Luna explains " The little ones were like sponges. They had endless questions and were always excited to try something new". Luna began making regular trips interstate to study with experienced and respected teachers. Many years later Luna is still teaching and incorporates her knowledge into her classes by not only focusing on movents but also the dance's rich history, its costuming, and it vibrant community of dancers.

Luna is presently attending the University of South Australia where she is studying a Bachelor of Biodiversity, Environmental and Park Management. She spends her spare time volunteering for Adelaide zoo, assisting in animal research and is an active member of Conservation Volunteers Australia.

Zalika ~ Founder, Manager and Creative Director

Zalika's love of dance began at an early age. The first time she appeared on stage was at the tender age of 5. Dance has always been there in one shape or another throughout her life. It is Middle Eastern dance however that has captured her heart.

Zalika first discovered this enchanting dance form over 19 years ago. Since then she has been driven to gain as much knowledge about the dance as she can. Zalika has trained with a myriad of well know and respected instructors from Australia, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon and America. Each one adding something fresh and new to Zalika's repertoire. Zalika continues her studies by seeking out inspirational teachers. This study has allowed her to create her own unique style which is described as fluid, earthy, stylish and fun.

In keeping with her love and commitment to Middle Eastern dance, Zalika opened her own school in 1996. Although a talented performer, teaching was soon to become Zalika's first love. The school has grown to be one of its largest kind in the state. Many years later Zalika is now seeing the fruits of that love. She has trained some of Adelaide most stunning dancers, who now are performers themselves.

Zalika strongly believes that everyone should be able to enjoy this dance at whatever level they are at. In her first year of teaching Zalika held a concert that included the few students she had. There were approximately 10 performers and 5 audience members. Eleven years later Zalika finds herself producing shows that include anywhere up to 80 performers to an audience of around 600. There is a community feeling at these events and they are attended by enthusiasts from all over South Australia.

Along with teaching and performing, Zalika also presents workshops locally and interstate.

Through my student's eyes

By Zalika

I have been involved in Middle Eastern dance for 16 years. I have spent all of those years living in South Australia. I have studied with some great teachers and have known some wonderful dancers and musicians. I have also made some friendships that will last forever. Adelaide has grown with the dance and we have a thriving community of dancers who can offer a diverse range of styles, talents and events to the ever increasing students.

We are now seeing a steady stream of dancers coming from other states to study with SA teachers, perform, hold workshops or of course to do that all important shopping trip to the famous Egyptian Bazaar which resides in the centre of Adelaide. That too has grown with the dancers, from its early days in a market place to a glitzy department store in the centre of the shopping district. Ali and Kathy have large range of exquisite costumes and no trip to Adelaide is complete without a visit.

During those 16 years, this dance, has given me much pleasure with the occasional pain on the side to add spice to my life. I have had major injuries, had falling outs with dancers and have lost money. But I have also felt much accomplishment when I mastered a step, exhilaration at performing, been in awe, and on occasion moved to tears, as I watched other dancers, and the child in me just has had a ball with the costumes. I never could say no to one more sequin. I am also lucky enough that my school has grown from its very humble beginnings of 3 students in a cold, dusty hall, to the point where I now teaching fulltime and have my own studio. I have watched some of my students transform from awkward 8 year olds to charming, graceful ladies. Others from charming, young ladies to more mature and confident performers. Each student bringing a little something of themselves to this dance.

I am, I know, very lucky to be making a living from what I love to do but I must admit that every now and then a little of the shine starts to wear off, especially after you have just spent 8 hours at a computer doing paper work, your feet are sore from teaching 6 classes the night before and you have to go do that show even though you are suffering from the flu. This is where my students come in. I never tire of watching them discover this dance. I get to see it all anew through their eyes. It is wonderful to see a new student dancing come alive as she gains more confidence or a more advanced student come rushing in to my studio to show everyone her new cossie. At which point we all turn green with envy. My students help me to rediscover the dance over and over again. They get excited when I say things like "We are going to learn cane next term", and I cant help but get excited with them. They remind me of what it was like when I first began belly dancing. My hips would not do what they were told, I was heard to utter that familiar cry of "How come I don't look like that" to my teachers. A cry I now hear from my own students. I'm sure back then veils had hair magnets in them because I didn't get through a class without wrapping it around my head. I once, totally unaware, hit a man twice with my cane. He managed to make a get away before I got him a third time. Poor man! I did in the end become master of my cane and I'm pleased to say I haven't whacked anyone lately. All of this of course produced fits of laughter and mounds of determination, I could not wait till my next class or performance. I was and still am in love.

The other day one of my students brought her little boy to the class. He sat on the floor, wide-eyed watching us all do warm ups. After some considerable effort he managed to pull himself up on to his feet and he began to dance. He bounced up and down with his knees, arms waving with a look of pure delight on his face. It struck me then that we are all born with this need to dance. Its like walking, eating and sleeping. Its instinctive. I love the old Japanese proverb which goes "We are fools whether we dance or we don't, so we may as well dance".

This dance, its rhythms, costuming and its people has a way of getting under your skin and once its under there you cant imagine life without it.

First published in the Flowers of the Desert magazine, 2004