Let's start with one of my favourite Australian bellydancers, Aradia. Sadly for Sydneysiders, Aradia has moved to Canberra now, but she still visits regularly to appear in shows. She has invented a unique style - industrial bellydance! The combination of hip-hop style locks and pops with sinuous snake-like movements is mesmerising to watch.
I've never attended her classes myself, but I've seen some of her students perform and been very impressed by their technique and performance awareness. So I'm going to try her workshop when it comes to Sydney soon (she's also holding workshops in other States).<
To learn more about industrial bellydance, visit Aradia's website at www.spellboundbellydance.com.au
June 16th, 2008 at 6:31
This woman is the most incredible thing I have ever seen in Bellydance. Aradia is a fantastic performer with so much vibrance and personality and her movement is out of this world with her crazy popping and locking. I did her Sydney Industrial Bellydance workshop and found it to be the best value for money day I’ve ever had. We were given a hard days work with drills and a small choreography as well as lunch, a tank top and cd. I left that day with a new inspiration for what I can do with bellydance now. Thank you Aradia and never stop what you are doing as you are truly just an inspirational woman.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:15
I agree, Kat. I went to the Sydney workshop and while I confess I was hopeless at the industrial pops and locks, I learned a huge amount from the workshop and was lost in admiration for her control!
June 24th, 2008 at 1:44
Unfortunately I never had a class under Aradia, but I have seen her perform her Industrial style & it is fantastic.
She has so much body control it is amazing to watch. Aradia is one belly dancer who you really appreciate watching perform.
A very insperational belly dancer!
July 31st, 2008 at 1:22
I love Aradia’s workshops - talk about value for money they go for most of the day- included is a wonderful catered lunch- a goody bag with a t-shirt- not to mention fantastic drills and choreography then ending on a wonderful meditation to boot. She is a wonderful teacher and I cant recommend her classes enough. We in Canberra consider ourselves very luck to have this wonderful woman and wonderful teacher
August 1st, 2008 at 11:54
Aradia has been the most inspirational teacher I have ever had…. all I did was the one Melbourne workshop and my dancing has changed forever!! What a generous teacher sharing her incredible skills and knowledge and then also providing lunch, t-shirts and a CD (and freddo frogs). We were blown away. And with Industrial I have found my new passion in belly dance, and have been so inspired myself since. I haven’t danced everyday for a long time but these movements just keep coming and I can’t stop. Very grateful and can’t wait till she comes back
August 5th, 2008 at 12:38
I am in total agreeance with these women. I have never seen anyone like Aradia anywhere in Australia. It’s great to see someone who is the same as everyone else and she has this brilliant refreshing attitude with no ego like some other dancers out there. My dancing too has changed forever and I feel as though she has opened the gates to what I can do with my own dancing. She’s bringing out a DVD on Industrial later this year apparently and my students and I are just hanging for it. If you haven’t seen this woman dance… go to her site or better still, go see her in person - she takes you on a journey as though you’ve never seen dance before.
August 10th, 2008 at 11:49
I attended the Melbourne workshop and was really impressed. the quality of teaching was brillant.
Vaule for money, and she makes you feel welcome and at ease. I havent been to any other workshops that can compare….
Loved it and would go again in a heart beat,,,when are you comming back??
November 18th, 2008 at 9:08
I am verye xcited to be dancing alongside Aradia at Canberra’s Multicultural Festival 2009!!
I hope to start an Industrial Class next eyar as well. She is incredible live.