Afro Bellydance

Fereshta is developing a new fusion of African dance with bellydance and is calling it Afro Bellydance.

Fereshta has been an African drummer for about 4 years and also learns African dance. She currently drums for Makemba, a women's African drumming group, and often performs Afro Bellydance with the group

It was when she began learning African dance a few years ago, that the seed of an idea came to her about combining the two dance forms. She loved the earthiness and the stories woven into African dance.

Last year Fereshta developed her first course on Afro Bellydance at Oasis Dance Studio, and eventually she and two students Sharon and Katherine performed a dance called Oya - the African goddess of power. This first performance at Oasis was accompanied by two drummers- Michael O'Shaunessy and Flick Hughes - they received tumultuous applause! The music was taken from Umoja, a CD of African music

In June 2004 Fereshta ran a workshop on Afro Bellydance accompanied by some of the drummers from Makemba at the WA Middle Eastern Dance Festival. Dancers reveled in the power of live drums in the studio as they learnt the intoxicating movements and rhythms.

For information about Afro Bellydance workshops and classes call Fereshta on 9383 4264, mob 0422 810 797 or email fereshta@bellydance.net.au.

Katherine, Fereshta and Sharon debut Afro Bellydance at Oasis Dance Studio