The Gilded Serpent presents...
Sonja
Sonja is an Oriental Dance Artist located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Sonja began learning the art of Bellydance in 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee.
After a short hiatus to pursue graduate studies, Sonja resumed her studies of Middle Eastern Dance in 2004. Sonja has previous experience in basic Latin, ballroom and swing dance, liturgical dance, and extensive musical training in piano, brass, and string instruments. Sonja has taught beginning and intermediate bellydance classes under the umbrella of Alexia’s School of Middle Eastern Dance.
In addition to regular instruction with master instructor Alexia, Sonja has studied in intensive workshops and/or private lessons with renowned artists Amir Thaleb and Yousef Constantina (Argentina), Tito (Egypt) Bozenka (Miami), Samara (New York), Virginia (Miami), Samira Shuruk (Washington DC), Laurel Victoria Gray (Washington DC), Gina (Atlanta), Amani Jabril (Atlanta), Linda (Nashville), Raksana (Chicago), Ava Fleming (Arizona), and others.
Sonja is a house dancer and featured performer at Mirage Restaurant in Knoxville, and performs regularly in solo appearances and with the Knoxville dance ensemble, the “Alexandria Dancers.” She has appeared at numerous venues across the eastern United States. Sonja is motivated by the joy she feels when dancing, and particularly enjoys interacting with her audience.
Web site: www.tnbellydance.com
Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Sonja
- 12-4-09 Drum Solos: 3 Masterful Approaches, 1-2-3 Drum Solo with Bahaia, Arabic Rhythms and Combinations with Tamra-henna, Dynamic Drum Solo: Technique & Choreography with Sadie
Overall, if I were an advanced beginner through advanced intermediate student with only enough money for one of these videos, I'd purchase Arabic Rhythms and Combination with Tamra-henna. - 6-14-10 Got Baby? Two Prenatal DVDs: Amira’s Bellydance & Yoga for Pregnancy, Prenatal Bellydance with Naia,
For students who are looking for a quick but easy workout with some light and simple bellydance movements, Prenatal Bellydance with Naia may provide a slightly more satisfying pace. However, new beginners may be overwhelmed, and would do better to select Amira’s Bellydance & Yoga for Pregnancy. Neither DVD offered a challenge for advanced dancers, while both DVDs are more suitable for a dancer in her second or third trimester, as they may be too easy for a dancer in her first trimester. - 9-27-09 Wiggles of the West: One Dancer’s Foray into Competition
In the world of belly dancing lately, dance competitions seem to be the big thing. Love them or hate them, they are popping up all over the country, leaving one to wonder what benefit they add to our art form. In an art form as varied as Middle Eastern Dance, incorporating cultures crossing multiple borders and continents, to what standards do these competitions adhere? - 9-16-09 Yousry Sharif Makes a Stop in Tennessee
Yousry sat on the front row during the performance, and is rumored to have remarked “that is me dancing up there!” when Virginia made her appearance.
