About Elspeth SwishandHips
I started belly dancing in 1997.
When I was a teenager I studied tap, modern and disco dance, so I turned up to my first belly dance class in a leotard and tights, and got a bit of a shock. Still, I got hooked quickly and performed my first solo to Donna Summer's Macarthur Park shortly afterwards.
In 2000, I started taking classes with the amazing and inspirational Lorna of Cairo and, thanks to the confidence and opportunties Lorna gave me, I started performing more regularly and made dancing a bigger part of my life. When my children were born I gave up my office job as a parliamentary lobbyist and started teaching belly dance.
I like to take part in workshops with visiting teachers and attend bellydance festivals like JoY and Shimmy in the City. We are lucky that so many amazing teachers visit the UK and I'm glad to have learned from them. I love the straightforward teaching qualities of teachers like Jillina and Ava Fleming; I'm inspired by the Middle Eastern musicality of Eman Zaki; and I adore the style and flair of Randa Kamel, Ozgen, Tito and Orit.
I like organising events, especially events which give my students and others the chance to show what they've been working on. I want this to help build a positive, encouraging belly dance community in Scotland, where dancers support dancers and grow the community. In 2013 I organised a Flashmob in the National Museum on Scotland, getting together one hundred representing all the styles and forms of Bellydance of Edinburgh. I regularly organise events for Lorna of Cairo, and several fundraising haflas each year.
I love performing - you can see some clips below - and dance regularly at Cafe Casablanca in Edinburgh.
I love running and fitness, but there's nothing like the buzz I get from hearing a fantastic piece of music and just wanting to move to it. For me, all the great dancers in all styles GIVE something to their audience, something that only that dancer can really express. I would love to be able to do that.
When I'm not dancing, I am a qualified Personal Trainer, a pre- & post-natal fitness specialist, and an ambassador for the FooFooFunClub.
When I was a teenager I studied tap, modern and disco dance, so I turned up to my first belly dance class in a leotard and tights, and got a bit of a shock. Still, I got hooked quickly and performed my first solo to Donna Summer's Macarthur Park shortly afterwards.
In 2000, I started taking classes with the amazing and inspirational Lorna of Cairo and, thanks to the confidence and opportunties Lorna gave me, I started performing more regularly and made dancing a bigger part of my life. When my children were born I gave up my office job as a parliamentary lobbyist and started teaching belly dance.
I like to take part in workshops with visiting teachers and attend bellydance festivals like JoY and Shimmy in the City. We are lucky that so many amazing teachers visit the UK and I'm glad to have learned from them. I love the straightforward teaching qualities of teachers like Jillina and Ava Fleming; I'm inspired by the Middle Eastern musicality of Eman Zaki; and I adore the style and flair of Randa Kamel, Ozgen, Tito and Orit.
I like organising events, especially events which give my students and others the chance to show what they've been working on. I want this to help build a positive, encouraging belly dance community in Scotland, where dancers support dancers and grow the community. In 2013 I organised a Flashmob in the National Museum on Scotland, getting together one hundred representing all the styles and forms of Bellydance of Edinburgh. I regularly organise events for Lorna of Cairo, and several fundraising haflas each year.
I love performing - you can see some clips below - and dance regularly at Cafe Casablanca in Edinburgh.
I love running and fitness, but there's nothing like the buzz I get from hearing a fantastic piece of music and just wanting to move to it. For me, all the great dancers in all styles GIVE something to their audience, something that only that dancer can really express. I would love to be able to do that.
When I'm not dancing, I am a qualified Personal Trainer, a pre- & post-natal fitness specialist, and an ambassador for the FooFooFunClub.
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