Nefertiti

Instructors

At Nefertiti Middle Eastern Dance we have three very talented instructors, two of whom reside in Hervey Bay, and one who now instructs internationally. They are:

Ziya

Ziya

Ziya in Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Ziya began learning Middle Eastern Dance with Faryz in 1998, as she had heard that it was excellent exercise for a woman and lots of fun. Both proved to be true and she has been learning, performing and instructing Middle Eastern Dance since then.

Ziya originally established Nefertiti Middle Eastern Dance classes by herself, instructing classes of varying levels, before joining forces with the instructors who now make up Nefertiti Middle Eastern Dance. Ziya is also a qualified teacher.

Ziya has a special interest in the use of zills and drums, and has choreographed solo and troupe dances incorporating them. Ziya coordinates a drumming group of the Nefertiti Middle Eastern Dance, which is also available for performances.

Ziya has undertaken workshops with:


Jameerah

Jameerah

Jameerah in Egyptian Hieroglyphs

Jameerah has been learning and performing Middle Eastern Dance since 1998, having commenced in Kununurra, in the remote far north Kimberley region of Western Australia. The group in Kununurra were much in demand for performances, and Jameerah gained considerable experience as a dancer, and in organising high quality, polished performances.

Jameerah moved to Hervey Bay in 2003, and joined Faryz and Ziya who were already established here. Jameerah began instructing with Faryz and then, with Ziya, helped form Nefertiti Middle Eastern Dance in 2004. Her favourite dance styles are veil, taqsim and cane.

In April 2006 Jameerah participated in a 10 day accredited teacher's training course at the Belyssa Academy of Danse Orientale in Perth. She learned a great deal and benefited from intensive technique development as well as dance teacher training. She has completed a 3 day instructor's course with the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER), including safe technique. In September and October 2006 Jameerah participated in a cultural tour of Turkey, where she was able to experience Turkish dance styles first hand, and where she also taught a dance workshop. In 2008 she travelled to Egypt and undertook training with Liza Laziza and Caroline Evanoff. Jameerah is a member of the Balkan and Middle Eastern Dance and Music (Bamedam) Association and a qualified adult educator and management consultant.

Jameerah has extended her knowledge of Middle Eastern dance by undertaking workshops with:

Faryz

Faryz

Faryz in Egyptian Hieroglyphs

"Dancing is the light of my soul - it brings out my femininity, sensuality and strength."

Faryz' cultural heritage is Indo/Malay/Yemen. She was born in Malaysia, into a family of dancers and theatrical performers. Faryz learnt the art of Middle Eastern dance from her grandfather and mother from the age of 10. Faryz pioneered the middle-eastern dance art in the Wide Bay region, where she established the first classes as Faryha Raqs Sharqi in Hervey Bay in 1994 and continued to instruct for the next 12 years, joining Nefertiti Middle Eastern Dance from 2004 to 2006. She now instructs internationally, and will return to visit us in Hervey Bay from time to time.

Faryz has choreographed many dances, both for her own students, troupe performances and for other groups on commission. She conducts workshops in Kuala Lumpur for beginners to advanced students, veil techniques, cane and taqsim. She was commissioned to choreograph, dance and train the staff of 'Multimedia Development Corporation', for their annual dinner function with the theme "The Arabian Night" which was greatly applauded. She returned to Malaysia in March 2004, February 2006 and February 2007 to conduct further workshops with great success.

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