About Johara
Johara began taking bellydance classes in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She and her friend thought it would be a great
lark for the six weeks the session lasted. After the first set of classes, Johara was hooked. Soon Johara, along with
some other dancers in her class, were on trips to Maine to perform with her instructor's friends, who had formed an
Arabic-/gypsy-tribal band. Johara went to Hadia's workshop in Saint John and the rest was history.
After Johara had been dancing for a year and a half, she had the opportunity to teach on a Cree reserve in northern
Alberta. Her Northern Allowance went into bellydance training - she did a week-long dance and drum intensive with
Yasmina Ramzy and Amer Matri. Yasmina then accepted Johara into the Pro course Yasmina was offering the following
week in Toronto. Performing at her Hezz y Wezz, improvising with a live band with members who were also improvising, was one of the most challenging
performances Johara has ever done.
She then went to Vancouver the next summer to train as a teacher with Hadia and took master classes with Jalilah.
Johara continues to learn by taking private classes and workshops with instructors such as Carolena and Megha of Fat
Chance Belly Dance, Nath Keo (Victoria), Shahenda (Edmonton), Hadia, Yasmina (Toronto), and Habiba (Philadelphia).
She has also taken drumming workshops with Amer Matri and Suleiman Warwar and is currently looking forward to studying
with Rebeba of Hahbi 'Ru, Sausan, and Nadia Ashjaee of Suhaila Salimpour's School of Dance in San Francisco in December 2008 and Carmine Guida of Djinn in February 2009.
 Johara has taught students from 4 to 79 and performs regularly at events in the community, from Egyptian Murder
Mystery birthday parties to splurge groups to stagettes/hen parties (women and mixed groups only), and other gatherings
and parties from Sweet Sixteen to 80th Birthday celebrations. Johara also offers community introduction classes and
farewell party performances. Johara holds Haflas and Bellydance Olympics for her students and has taken her troupe to
dance at events such as Big Sisters workshops and fundraisers like Joints in Motion (Arthritis Society), and most
recently, for the Tribal Pura showcase in Saskatoon. She's even sent students to dance at the Bridge City Boogie…
"Thank you to all my beautiful dancers, who named the troupe, created a slogan and made all of this possible!"
Embrace the Jiggle - Johara
If you are interested in trying out a class or two,
check out the classes page to see the available class selection.
Johara also does workshops and performances so be sure to check out the workshop and hire a dancer page too!
Newly released is the Two Left Hips Bellydance Workbooks!
There are three beginner-level books, two intermediate-level books, and one advanced-level book. You may buy them seperately
or buy the whole set for $65.00.
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