Photography by Brad Dosland - TabooMedia.com

Biography

Elizabeth Strong is a life long dancer, raised in the folk communities of California, where she was exposed to music and dance of the Balkans and Middle East from a young age. In addition to over a decade of study in the Bay Area, She has traveled and studied dance ethnology in Turkey and Egypt, the first student of Reyhan Tuzsuz in Istanbul, and student of Sahra Saeeda in Egyptian dance and culture.

   Elizabeth is former primary member of Aywah! Ethnic Dance Company, a troupe devoted to regional dances and music of North Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East. She was a collaborative member of “The Pogonometric Revue” with the Toids, Rachel Brice and Mardi Love, and a choreographer and collaborator for the last Undulation performed by Ultra Gypsy. Elizabeth performed with the Bellydance Superstars in 2008 and 2009, and is currently a part of Jillina Carlano’s new production, Belly Dance Evolution, as well as Zoe Jakes’ dance company for Beats Antique.

   Find Elizabeth Strong's performances on Evolution and Tales of Desire 1& 2 released by Hollywood Music, and on Tribal Fusions 2 released by Bellydance Superstars.

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Teaching

Elizabeth's teaching specialties include Turkish Roman, Bellydance, floorwork, isolation, balancing with props, and strengthening. Elizabeth's education as a dancer has been unique in that she has been trained through both Western, formal technique, and in the Old World style of following by simply watching and imitating. She tries to use both methods in her teaching, allowing the feel of the form to become familiar to her students, while guiding with explainations about important details, from muscle control to cultural background.

Most of all, Elizabeth strives to create a learning environment that is joyful, nurturing, and fun, as well as educational.