Dance. Fitness. Fashion.
The Talent
 | Stephanie - Owner. Instructor and Creative Director Stephanie has been dancing and performing Egyptian Belly Dance since 2002. She has studied with local and internationally acclaimed instructors: Ariellah, Sahfi, Jumanah, Aziza, Gypsy Caravan, Zoe Jakes, Mira Betz, Kami Liddle, Petite Jamila, Hindy Haymour, Yasmina Ramsy, Mahmoud Reda, Hossan Afifi and Khariyya Mazin. Always an avid student, she has taken her passion for learning to Turkey and Egypt. She recently attended the 2011 Las Vegas International Belly Dance Intensive where she studied with Ruby Beh, Delilah, Ariellah, Deb Rubin, Rom Deussen, Ahava and Amir Gamal.
Stephanie is an Edmonton dance instructor and entrepreneur, as well as a favourite on the restaurant circuit. In addition to Rebel Hips Belly Dance Inc., she is also the owner and designer of Rebel Kitty Designs, a company she founded in 2009. Rebel Kitty Designs specializes in Tribal and Fusion style dance costumes.
Stephanie dances in Egyptian Beledi (Egyptian improvisational) style, which relies on a deep knowledge and understanding of Egyptian rhythms and music. Most importantly, she dances from the heart, sharing her love and joy for the dance with her audience and students. She teaches from the belief that dance is a way for women to reclaim their bodies and gain individual strength while growing within a community of women.
While living and dancing in Calgary, Stephanie danced with Chiftibelly Movement Collective and The Little Fish Belly Dance Company. Photo credit: Tabatha Gach |
 | Karen Sievwright - Zumba Instructor Karen Sievwright, founder of Health Junkie Connection, is a certified Live Well Coach and licensed ZUMBA Fitness instructor. Karen’s mission to transform her life began after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in her early 20’s. Her views on nutrition, health, fitness, and lifestyle changed forever. A whole body approach to balanced living is Karen’s goal. As a believer in “practice what you preach”, Karen set out to find a way to stay fit while having fun all at the same time. After trying just one ZUMBA Fitness class, she was hooked and now teaches classes in the Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, and Edmonton area. When she is not teaching ZUMBA, Karen is working towards her black belt in Taekwon-Do, a sport that has not only built strength and discipline, but has been incredibly self empowering. Join Karen for an energetic and fun ZUMBA class that will have you shaking, moving, and laughing your way into shape. Photo credit: Tabatha Gach
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 | Silk Sirens Tribal - Tandem Tribal, Tribal Twist & Tribal Improv Instructors Silk Sirens Tribal is Edmonton's newest tribal style bellydance company specializing in combining the traditional rhythms of Middle Eastern music with the modern bellydance concept of tribal improvisation - all mixed in with a dash of funky fusion flair! Silk Sirens Tribal was started in 2010 by Carla and Reginia in an effort to push the use of zills with improvisational tribal style bellydance to the next level. When SST debuted at the Kaleido Festival in the fall of 2010, a fresh and new addition to the local bellydance community was complete. In 2011 Cynthia, Manda, and Michelle joined Silk Sirens Tribal |
 | Laura West - Tribal Fusion Choreography TBD |
 | Reginia Yan - Intro to Tribal Improv
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 | Carla Young - Tribal Combos, Beginner Belly Dance Carla’s fascination with bellydance began in early 2005 when she attended her sister’s student bellydance recital at the Provincial Museum. Carla registered for a class with her sister and was addicted right from the start! As fascination turned into obsession Carla began learning as much as she could about the history, costuming, music, and culture of the dance and experimenting with different styles of bellydance including improvised tribal style, tribal fusion, gothic fusion, classical, khaleegy and folkloric. Carla is also skilled in playing the zills, dancing with props such as swords or canes, and playing the doumbek. Carla is proud to have trained with local dancers Donna Cucheran (Nomadic Tapestry), Saskia Aarts (Luna), and is an alumna (and original member) of the local troupe, Nomadic Tapestry. As of 2010 Carla became the Artistic Director and co-founder of the tribal bellydance troupe, Silk Sirens Tribal. Carla has been fortunate enough to have attended workshops with Jill Parker (Ultra Gypsy and The Foxglove Sweethearts), Paulette Rees-Denis (Gypsy Caravan), Carolena Nericcio (Fat Chance Belly Dance), Ziah Ali (Awalim Dance Company), Zoe Jakes (The Indigo), Lee Ali, and Suhaila Salimpour. In March of 2010 Carla attended Cues and Tattoos in Seattle, WA were she attended workshops with TribalTique, Sahira and Zymirah (Urban Gypsy), Sharon "Shay" Moore (inFusion Tribal, Mandala Tribal) as well as a drumming workshop with George Sadak. Other workshops include Ariellah, Unmata, Gypsy Fire, Sadie Marquardt, and Mira Betz as well as Middle-Eastern music workshops with Jeff Rees (Gypsy Caravan and Mizna), George Sadak, and Suleiman Warwar (Arabesque Orchestra). Carla also continues to pursue regular doumbek classes with Steven Byrne (MENAME). Photo Credit: Allan Yucoco |
 | Hillary Marsden, Hip Hop in Heels & Burlesque-a-size Hillary started dancing at the young age of 3 in ballet and trying different styles such as tap, jazz, modern, even musical theater throughout her youth. Not finding any one style that was her complete passion, she focused on horseback riding for many of her teen years. At the age of 17 she discovered the local college offering hip hop classes. Hillary finally found her dance passion: Hip hop. She focused on competing and taking extensive classes and workshops from major choreographers and touring with her studio to build up her skill level for many years. With the experience she'd gained, Hillary decided to step into teaching and taught with Grant MacEwan College for a semester, and taught private lessons for fun. Although Hillary loves everything dance related, her forte lies in freestyling and sexy feminine choreography. After many nights of going to the clubs and starting dance circles Hillary started to get offers from club owners looking for go go dancers to add to the atmosphere of their clubs. With the fast growing popularity of hip hop and go go dancing, Hillary found herself now getting paid to do what she loved. Never tiring of her passion Hillary continues to dance at different venues throughout the city and pass on her training and experience to others. With her experience in the industry, she is passionate about bringing the same opportunities she's had to her dance partners and students. Hillary's favorite style to perform and teach is Hip Hop in Heels, which is a fun, energetic, and sexy style of hip hop that brings out every girl's inner pussy cat doll! |
 | Kara Brown - Booty Camp Kara Brown is an RMT who has been practicing in Edmonton for over 5 years, with a specialization in movement therapy she brings her vast knowledge of anatomy and musculature to her passions of fitness and dance.
After her own struggle with weight Kara has lost an incredible 50 lbs, and accredits it to the same type of training and classes she brings to the students of Booty Camp. High intensity training with proper muscle movements are the focus of the training. Kara also teaches stretching and foam rolling technique classes as she believes that self care is a very important part of health.
After being dragged to a bellydance class by a friend in 2007 Kara was hooked instantly and has been taking classes ever since. Kara is a proud member of the Rebel Hips troupe Rebellia and is obsessed with the beautiful movement of dance. |
 | Manda Timms - Beginner Skills & Drills, Tribal Combos TBD |
 | Marie Habib - Beginner Skills & Drills Marie Habib has been a student of belly dance since 2001. The lovely Shahenda was Marie’s first teacher, and introduced her to the many different and beautiful forms of belly dance. Marie was instantly captivated by the movements (that is, once she figured out how to Shimmy!) and has been deepening her understanding and appreciation of belly dance ever since. |
 | Anna Laitner, Salsita Chiquita Anna Laitner is an accomplished martial arts instructor of several years. She discovered her passion for dance was more than just a past time over 10 years ago as she was taking every form of group fitness and dance class known to man. Six years ago Anna stumbled upon Latin dance and immediately became emblazened by the passion and fire that Latin Dance possesses. After many years of diligent study and practicum at local dance and fitness studios, Anna has embarked on her own journey of teaching dance to women of all ages and skill levels.
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 | Andrea Wilson - Tribal Improv Instructor (On Sabbatical) Andrea, who dances under the name Aizlin, began taking bellydance classes in 2001 thanks to her sister's influence and an employer's fondness for playing Arabic music at full volume. She started her journey with Raqs Sharki but later discovered Improvisational Tribal Style bellydance in all its permutations and combinations. She is fascinated by all dance forms and isn't afraid to look awkward trying out classes like Flamenco and West African dance. She loves to encourage her students to relax and have a great time, letting the music soak into their bodies as they learn all the amazing things they are capable of doing. Dance gives life so many blessings, the best ones being confidence and the creation of an open-hearted, inclusive community filled with like-minded kindred spirits. Andrea tries to take as many workshops as possible to expand her knowledge, get more tricks to teach her students and pick up some brutally-helpful strengthening exercises ("feel the burn, ladies"). Some of her favorite workshops have been taught by Paulette Rees-Denis, Rachel Brice, Sadie Marquardt, Unmata, Gypsy Fire, Urban Gypsy, Amrita Choudhury, Mira Betz and Aziza. Andrea is a proud alumna of the Ushas and Luna Dance Fusion.
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