TAMRA-HENNA, Belly Dancer, West Los Angeles Area

Tamra-henna began her dancing career in 1992 under the tutelage of Alexandra King. Inspired and eager to learn the dance from its source, Tamra-henna moved to Egypt to study Arabic dance, culture and language in its native land. She trained extensively with Nadia Hamdi, Raqia Hassan, Mona El Said and Ibrahim Akef while pursuing a performing career in Cairo. Within one year of receiving her dance license Tamra-henna was contracted at the Belvedere nightclub in the Nile Hilton Hotel and became one of the few foreigners in years to hold such a prestigious position in the Cairo dance circuit. Subsequently she was also featured at the Cairo Meridien, Cairo Sheraton, Cairo Marriott and Mena House Oberoi nightclubs. Tamra-henna has performed for private functions in every five star hotel in the greater Cairo area and opened for some of the most well known artists in the Middle East today such as Amar Diab and Dina. It was here in Egypt that Tamra-henna perfected her authentic interpretation of Arabic music and learned to speak Arabic.

In the years following, Tamra-henna took this experience to audiences throughout the Arab world, performing, traveling, and living in Lebanon, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen and Cyprus. After her extensive seven year sojourn to the Middle East, Tamra-henna has returned to reacquaint herself with her native California. She currently makes her home in Los Angeles where she is pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Dance Choreography at UCLA. She is the first dancer to be accepted into this prestigious program based solely on her experience and accomplishments in the field of Raqs Sharqi (AKA belly dance). She continues to perform regularly in LA’s finer establishments and in Middle Eastern Dance festivals nationwide.

PERFORMANCES: Tamra-henna has performed at well over 1000 weddings and family celebrations across the Middle East and in the USA, and has earned a reputation for her musicality, authenticity and class! She is currently available for weddings, birthdays, bridal showers and other family celebrations as well as corporate events and festivals.

WORKSHOPS: Tamra-henna is available for open level workshops in Raqs Sharqi.

Raqs Sharqi Bellydance Classes: Tamra-Henna teaches Basic Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Raqs Sharqi Bellydance Classes in West Los Angeles. For information about classes or wokshops, please e-mail Tamra-henna or call (310) 922-4362.