Photo by Lina Jang
The Gilded Serpent presents...
Tanna Valentine
After becoming fascinated with bellydance as a young girl, Tanna Valentine started her serious studies in 1990 in New York City. Since that time, she has had the tremendous good fortune to learn from some of the best dancers this art form has produced, including several principal members of the late Ibrahim Farrah’s famed Near East Dance Group. Her long-term teachers have included such luminaries as: Gamila El Masri, Elsa Leandros, Jehan Kamal, Samara and Mish-Mish. Other key instructors are Phaedra, Reyna Alcala, Anahid Sofian, Rayhana and the late Serena Wilson. Tanna’s training is primarily in the classical forms of both Arabic and American cabaret bellydance. Although she enjoys performing “alternative” pieces, Tanna believes that a solid background in the traditional styles of the dance is a critical pre-requisite before exploring new forms.
With many years of experience in the field, Tanna is constantly seeking to grow and to challenge herself as a dancer. In 2004 she decided to experience a bellydance competition firsthand and, to her surprise, she won 2nd place in the Grand Champion category of the East Coast Classic. After entering her second bellydance competition in 2008, Tanna was honored to be crowned the Bellydance Dancer of the Universe Veil Champion, in addition to receiving two “Miss Congeniality” awards.
A regular performer at various venues in New York City, Tanna also loves having the opportunity to teach and share her appreciation of bellydance with others. While her very favorite gig is performing to live music, her second favorite is producing nightclub events that showcase both the classical and “alternative” forms of bellydance. Tanna has had the privilege of appearing on a number of belly dance DVDs, all produced by World Dance New York. To learn more please go to her website.
Web site: www.tannavalentine.com
Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Tanna Valentine
11-15-08 Bellydance Fashion, American Style: The 2nd Annual Decotach Fashion Show Report
For this year’s fashion event, Ms. Lambru chose to display her costumes in the context of a Berber wedding.
8-26-11 "Objects of Desire, Photos from Venus Uprisings April Performance
The 7th fantasy bellydance concert produced by the New York City artistic salon Venus Uprising took place at the Merce Cunningham Studio on April 15th and 16th, 2011. Invited dancers were asked to create new works based upon the theme "Objects of Desire". The performers responded with an interesting array of interpretations, ranging from the literal to the highly abstract.
