Bonita

Bonita Oteri is a popular teacher and performer in the Washington DC Metro area. Bonita is an Italian-American with a Bachelors of Arts in modern languages and Masters in international relations. Bonita attended dance classes with her mother growing up in Boston. She was inspired to dream of Middle Eastern dance, by a glamorous photo of her mom in a Belly Dance costume.

Bonita began her dance study in Augsburg, Germany with Sabuha Shahaz and continued to study primarily with Ali Sharif, formerly of the Mahmoud Reda Troupe and continued in the USA with Faten Salama, of the National Egyptian Dance Troupe. She has also trained with Elizabeth Artemis Mourat to learn Greek and Turkish style belly dance.

She currently teaches students ages 10 to 70+. Bonita instructs beginners and coaches professionals in specific focused specialty areas.

Her high energy, passionate performances and Mediterranean look make her a popular choice for cable TV performances, ethnic festivals, weddings and club/restaurant shows. Bonita also travels to work with live bands at ethnical festivals and other events.

Web site: www.raksbonita.com

Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Bonita

2-16-10 Rainbow Dancers of the Dunes; Amera's Khaleegy DVD Reviewed by Bonita
Amera, a legendary Australian dancer who worked in the Middle East, begins with a brief poetic, documentary presentation of Khaleegy basic background history and how it personally touched her heart.
10-9-09 "Habibi, You are My What?.."DVD- Essential Arabic for Dancers, Vol 1 reviewed by Bonita
However, I have never had such insight into the words as this DVD taught me! Now, thanks to Leyla, I have an added dimension to teach my students.
10-9-09 Zills: "Voice" of Bellydance 2 CDs of Finger Cymbal Instruction:Mastering Finger Cymbals By Mary Ellen Donald, Raqset al Sajat, An interactive CD A Review by Bonita
A special thanks to the artists and producers who made these CDs possible, and may they individually and collectively preserve and revitalize an aspect of the dance, playing finger cymbals, that, sadly, has been withering on the vine in the community of late
9-24-09 Belly Dance Novels, Light and Dark: The Belly Dancer by DeAnna Cameron, Midnight Rose by Wendy Buonaventura Reviewed by Bonita Oteri
“The Belly Dancer” has mass marketing appeal to many women as a light, entertaining romance novel; it is a good introduction to the art form which, I believe, will even entice more than a few ladies into our classes. In contrast, “The Midnight Rose” has a darker side and is not for the faint hearted who want to read a happily ever after type novel.
12-15-08 Love and Romance, Egyptian Style, Book Review of The Poison Tree, planted and grown in Egypt by Marwa Rakha Review by Bonita Oteri
Bravely baring her soul and laying her innermost fears on the altar of Truth as she sees it, the author gives us a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Love and Romance, Egyptian Style.
1-18-09 Dancing with Legends: Interview of Freddie Elias Part 1: When Boston's Golden Era Rocked to Music Orientale by Artemis Mourat
They do not study the craft in a deep and meaningful way, and everybody’s in a hurry. They don’t get into it right. They don’t think! If you do not work hard, you cannot protect your craft.