Tamra-henna is a performer, choreographer and instructor of Middle Eastern dance whose emotional range and technique have been shaped by seven years of performance, study, and life experience in the Middle East. With the intention of learning the art of raqs sharqi (belly dance) from its source, Tamra-henna moved to Egypt to study musical interpretation, technique, and the Arabic language and culture. She trained extensively with Nadia Hamdi, Raqia Hassan, Mona El Said, and Ibrahim Akef while pursuing a performing career in Cairo.
She appeared in Egypt’s most prestigious venues, most notably the Nile Hilton, where she was offered an extended contract. While in Egypt, she opened for some of the most well known artists in the Middle East today such as Amar Diab and Dina. Hungry for diverse cultural experience, Tamra-henna accepted contracts throughout the Arab world and has performed, traveled, and lived in: Lebanon, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen, and Cyprus.
Since her return to her native California, she has earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance Choreography (within the genre of raqs sharqi,) at the University of California, Los Angeles (2004) and toured internationally as a featured soloist and workshop instructor with the “Bellydance Superstars” (2005). She has taught accredited classes in raqs sharqi technique and culture at UCLA, California State University, Pomona, and currently, in the dance department at Glendale College. Tamra-henna can be seen on numerous IAMED and Hollywood Music Center belly dance performance dvds. Her latest release is “Arabic Rhythms and Combinations,” a 2 hour Intermediate/Advanced level instructional dvd on the IAMED label.
Tamra-henna is constantly seeking to broaden her kinesthetic knowledge, hone her teaching skills and expand her artistic expression. Towards this end, she is currently working towards certification in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies, a system for understanding, mastering, and communicating a vast range of expression through movement.
