VDP Studios employs regular ongoing class instructors, as well as invited belly dance instructors from all over the country to come teach new and interesting workshops. Read here about some of our favorite and/or regular instructors.
Our philosophy is that it is important both to honor, thank, and support teachers who have made impact or your dancing and life. It is also important to grow as a “well rounded” dancer. Studying with different instructor’s teaching styles and exploring various genres of bellydance is vital to becoming a full fledged belly dancer.
Delilah
Delilah is an internationally acclaimed belly dance performer and instructor. She was the first dancer to receive the Dancer of the Year Award from the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance in Hollywood, California 1997. Delilah grew up in Southern California, learning the dance form as it was passed on and popularized in this country by first and second generation immigrants from Lebanon, Armenia, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Morocco and Greece. Her years of devoted study and practice have led her to become one of the foremost teachers and innovators in the field of bellydance today. She is widely known for her breathtaking and deeply inspiring performances. Read More >>
Laura Rose
Laura Rose is a performance artist and instructor specializing in belly dance, theater and burlesque. She grew up belly dancing under the tutelage of her mother Delilah, an internationally renowned belly dancer and visionary. She filled out her training with workshops from top American belly dance stars and musicians including Suhalia Salmipour, Rachel Brice, Jill Parker, Laurel Gray, Lorraine Lafata, Carolena Nericcio, Sabura, Habib, Jeremiah Soto, Erik Brown…the list goes on. She’s toured the US, Korea and Tokyo with live Middle Eastern bands such as Sirocco and House of Tarab, as well as expanded her view of belly dance with fusion and alternative music and costume sources. She loves both the classic beauty, music and dance and modern dance alchemy. She views dance and the body as a performance art. Read More >>
Elisa Gamal
Elisa Gamal is entering the third decade of her love affair with Middle Eastern dance! She took her first belly dance class in 1987, and made her professional debut to the stages of Seattle in 1994 after being hand picked by the MB Orchestra to join them as a house dancer. Highlights of her career include winning numerous solo and group awards including the 1999 Bellydance USA and 2006 Seven Veils Champion titles, being featured on the cover of Jareeda magazine, and performing as a guest with the Bellydance Superstars on their first US tour. Read More>>
Bella Jovan
Bella Jovan is a lover of belly dance and is extremely passionate about Egyptian with folkloric influence and American style belly dance for three and a half years. She has been inspired by the amazing instructors Delilah, Dahlia, Nadira, Najla and Suzanna. Bella Jovan is known for her endless energy and charismatic smile. She has danced at local venues around the Seattle area such as Columbia City Theater, Marrakesh,the Pink Door, Jerzy’s Wine Bar, Habesha, King Kat Theatre, Highway 99 Blues Club, and several others. Bella Jovan is teaching afternoon and evening beginning belly dance and Power Belly classes at Delilah’s VDP Studios. For more information on future performances and belly dance lessons visit www.bellajovan.com
Erik Brown
Erik Brown began his musical career with the bass guitar in the mid 1980’s performing and recording in Washington DC. After he moved to Seattle, Erik began to seriously study Arabic percussion in 2003 after a ground breaking lesson with master percussionist Souhail Kaspar. As an eternal student he has continued to study with many master percussionists including Faisel Zedan, Karim Nagi, Uncle Mafufo, Issam Houshan, Said El Artist and Tobias Roberson to name a few. Today, Erik is one of the most sought-after players in the northwest, and he’s renowned for his ability to connect with dancers during live performances. Read More >>
Contact Erik for Middle Eastern drumming at:
erik_d_brown@yahoo.com
Christine Hamby
Christine Hamby has been diligently studying belly dance from tribal, and American Classical perspectives for over 10 years with Zanbaka, Delilah and more. She is a regular dancer in many of the Visionary Dancer projects such as Solstice events and Garden of Allah.
