Portrait of Leeay
Professor/Choreographer/Dancer/Costume designer+maker
She discovered Oriental dance in 2008 and started studying with Anasma, Dalia Carella and Ranya Renée in New York City.
She has shown her talent in many aspects and a great deal of dedication to the study of Arabic dance, and has even extend her studies to other countries. She also has shown interest and seriousness in working towards a better understanding of the aesthetic of Oriental dance and Egyptian folkloric forms, and readily seeks out and adapts to constructive criticism in an effort to improve as a dancer and a performer. In 2011, she had stayed in Egypt to study with Mahmoud Reda for a short term and she blessed him for such a valuable experience.
She spares no effort to improve her skills and gaining experiences as a dancer and a performer. To gain more knowledge and learn new experiences, she is always ready to travel around the world.
After finishing her full life in New York City, she moved to Paris in 2015. She has looked for developing her style with Djamila Henni-Chebra, Kareem GaD and Mayodi. Also she has put particular emphasis on practical experiences and teacher's training. She focuses on "dancing in the music" with appreciating Arabic culture history.
Nowadays she shares her dance, experiences and knowledge, what she has gained in many countries and introduces the call of Oriental dance. She keeps performing in front of the audience and works with people from all over the world. Also she still makes an all-out effort to improve herself as a dancer and performer, and enhance her dance.
My creed
I have dedicated myself to study Egyptian folklore dance and Oriental dance more than decade. During this journey, I have met so many people from different countries, varying ages and origins. They have their each own culture, various opinions and several ways to share them. All these experiences had a great impact on my life style and way of thinking.
I am always respect to Egyptian folklore dance, Oriental dance and other types of dance and beyond with regard to tradition, background, history, roots and culture.
It is highly appreciated that we are able to dance and express Arabic culture and Oriental dance from various angles for us, that is foreign dancers.
My passion
Oriental dance is my life. Through my dance life, I met all kinds of people and visited and lived in so many different countries. Every single moment is very precious and I feel blessed for my situation.
I love to dance in the music not on the music. I’m enchanted by Arabic music which has beautiful lyrics, rhythms and feelings. My emotions lead to my movements, so I always want to be a person who has a flexible mind, adaptability and sensibility.
Oriental dance is one of the most beautiful art forms, which can be expressed yourself through your body and feelings and this is not merely a form of self-expression but also one of the beautiful Arabic culture of the world. I really appreciated all my teachers to give me a bunch of opportunities to study Arabic culture and music then work with great artists. My main focus is the Arabic dance and culture which include Egyptian folklore dance and Oriental dance.. The more I know, the more I come to understand in depth the difficulties, and the more fascinating it becomes at the same time. Today, Oriental dance and Bellydance are diverse and complex but I always respect every culture, its history and its background and love to enjoy them.
My first show was in 2009 in New York City. I was one year and half experienced dancer, so green. I am still unwilling to look over my past works but everything I have experienced up until now is what has made me what I am today, my current self.
Major work in the past
QUEENS, NY :Group Performance as the member of Ranya Renée Company
NEW YORK, NY :Solo Performance at Ranya Renée's Annual Holiday Gala Show
NEW YORK, NY :Solo Performance at Dalia Carella Christmas Holiday Bash
NEW YORK, NY :Solo Performance at The Arab Dance Seminar by Karim Nagi
NEW YORK, NY :Solo Performance at Theatrical Bellydance Conference
NEW YORK, NY :Solo Performance at the restaurant regularly
KAUAI, HI :Solo Performance at Kauai's Dreamtour Hafla feat. Aziza and Issam Houshan
MONTREAL, CA :Solo Performance at Aziza's Dreamcamp Hafla
PARIS, FR :Solo Performance at some events
LUXEMBOURG, LU :Solo Performance at La Magie de l'Orient Festival
LUXEMBOURG, LU :Solo Performance at some events
TOKYO :Solo Performance at some events.
I am deeply thankful to
CANADA :Aziza of Montreal
EGYPT :Mahmoud Reda
FRANCE :Djamila Henni-Chebra /Kareem GaD /Mayodi
HUNGARY :Mercedes Nieto
USA :Anasma /Dalia Carella /Elena Lantini /Issam Houshan /Kaeshi Chai /Mohamed Shahin / Nourhan Sharif /Ranya Renée
and all professional dancers and instructors who I was taught by.
FRANCE :Julie from Méthode Julie Schepens Barre au Sol /Tahia Cambet from O Tahiti Nui
USA :Marcelo Tessari from DeROSE Method /Masters from STOTT Pilates /May Cacal from Polynesian Dance Production /Tunui Tally from Tunui Royal Polynesians
JAPAN :Masters from Okinawa Traditional Dance
and all professional dancers and instructors who I was taught by.