BDASA Featured Dancer

Here's an opportunity for you to get to know a little about other members.
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MARINA  BASSON
Cairo Moon Belly Dance School
Vaal Triangle

1. What originally attracted you to belly dancing?

My father is an Egyptian Greek and my mother Greek - it is my culture and I love it.  The attraction was a genetic one!  Then on a more relative plane I love the sensualness of the art form.

2. What encouraged you to become a teacher of belly dance?

This sensual and dynamic art form is meant to be shared, and share it I will.

3. What Belly Dance training have you had and with which teachers?

I have my Associate Level with BDASA:  Silver Level with Dancers of the Desert:  Belly syllabus with Dance Art International and my training with Mahmoud Reda, RANIA and Tamlyn.  I have also done courses with Akasia.  I am busy with the teachings of Corrie Zomora which is also a phenomenal style.

4. Do you have a day job? When you aren’t belly dancing, what are you doing?

No, as an accountant by trade, I sold my practice two years ago to pursue my belly career in full.  I never stop belly dancing.  Its in my blood!!

5. How long have you been dancing and what emotional and physical benefits have you gained?

I have been dancing since the age of four in various disciplines including belly. (ballet, spanish, latin american, modern jazz)  Emotianally the benefits are endless because I get to do what I love the most. Physically , well do you hear all those whistles - its because I am a dancer - a belly dancer!

6. How would you describe your dance style? (Tribal, cabaret, folkloric, etc)
Its a mixture of classical belly with a hint of charm and zoosh!  I dont stick to any one style.  The music leads the soul and that will be my style for that particular piece.

7. What has been the highlight of your belly dancing career?

Sharing the passion!  There are of course the benefits of clinching big contracts which are financially rewarding, but the highlight has to be SHARING THE PASSION

8. Which local and international belly dancers do you admire and why?

I could never choose one.  Each and every single dancer - national and international has something to offer my dance vocabulary.  I absorb what I like and am grateful that they were willing to share their knowledge with me.

9. Whats next? Where do you see yourself and your studio in the future? what are your goals and dreams?

BIG BIG BIG ! and I don't mean sex and the city's Mr Big. 
As this is my chosen career right now I obviously work to make it a very lucrative business based on sound business and ethical values. Nurturing good relations with my clients (big or small) is the key to making it up the "proverbial corporate ladder" in belly.

10. How do you see BDASA’s role in promoting belly dancing in South Africa?

Its a good thing that we have a measuring stick in South Africa.  I hope that BDASA will maintain the high values and standards that should always be sinonomous with belly.  Only by maintaining high standards in dance ethics will the promotion and subsequent general acceptance of this art form become a reality outside the belly dance fraternity.