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Simone "The Arabian Princess"

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International Belly Dance Instructor and Performer. The owner of Jacksonville only Belly Dancing Studio. Specializing in Instructional Bellydancing beginner's through advance, Veil and Floor work, Sensual and Regular Choreography, Aerobic Bellydancing and Belly Clubbing. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Simone "The Arabian Princess", Tuma & The Stars of the Night Biography - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Simone, known as “The Arabian Princess”, is an international performer in Raks Sharqi, the Oriental Dance of the East, known in the West as “belly dancing”. She is the most respected and recognized belly dancer in North Florida, distinguishing herself from other dancers in her history of performing the dance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Residing in Jacksonville, FL, Simone was born and raised in Sidon, Lebanon of Lebanese and Palestinian descent. Her first memory as a child is dancing. She began learning and training in Raks Sharqi at an early age and has remained faithfully devoted to her traditional style of the dance ever since. This style she has passed down through her own working belly dance troupe known as “The Stars of the Night”, teaching private lessons at dance studios and also in her classes at FCCJ where she has been a belly dance instructor since 1997. Her traditional style of dancing will continue to be handed down as well as various modern interpretations of belly dancing at her new belly dance studio, “Simone Belly Dancing” which will be Jacksonville’s first and only belly dance studio scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2006. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Some of Simone’s credits include performing abroad, portraying the famous belly dancer Mata Hari in the Oscar award-winning Discovery Channel documentary “Spies In Washington”, has been showcased on several television interviews and performances as well as local newspapers and magazines, performing on Carnival Cruise Line, at The Festival of The Nile, the World of Nations Festival which celebrates diversity and culture and is hosted to thousands, weddings, events, universities, charity and church functions, corporate parties, etc. Along with The Stars of the Night who also perform at these events, Simone and her troupe have been contracted by all the Arabic restaurants in Jacksonville where they regularly dance different nights every week. Together they perform traditional and modern versions of Cabaret, Baladi and the 1001 Nights styles of Raks Sharqi. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Simone holds a B.A. from Beirut University and a B.S. in Health from the University of North Florida. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tuma (http://www.myspace.com/libnani) is a Lebanese American born in Jacksonville, FL. Proud and in love with his Lebanese heritage, culture and Motherland Lebanon along with his passion of music, Tuma taught himself to play the derbeki (doumbek/tabla), a drum native to the Middle East providing the essential rhythms in Raks Sharqi. It wasn’t long before Tuma and Simone simultaneously approached each other with the intention to merge their talents. Within their first month together, Simone and Tuma along with The Stars of the Night performed for thousands at The World of Nations Festival. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tuma’s love and passion for music has made him self-taught in three instruments: guitar, bass guitar and derbeki, he has been a DJ (DJ FLUX) in clubs around Florida since 1993 and has also received an Audio Recording Engineering Degree from the world-renown Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In addition to his love for music, Tuma is equally passionate about art and is an accomplished, also self-taught painter and professional make-up artist and has been featured in many art shows. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tuma plays many roles with Simone and within the troupe, beginning with being Simone and The Stars of teh Night derbeki percussionist. He is also the dancer recruiter for The Stars of the Night. He does PR, promotions and helps to manage the troupe working side by side with Simone. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From the time Raks Sharqi was first introduced to the West at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 by the dancer known as “Little Egypt”, it has become increasingly popular and recognized within the last few decades throughout the world. With its roots spanning back thousands of years originating from various places in the Middle East, India and Africa, beginning as a ritual performed during childbirth and later became a dance that was done by women for women, it has become a mainstream and cultural phenomenon popularized in America where there are currently more belly dancers than the rest of the world combined. This movement has swept the globe and can now be seen performed everywhere from restaurants, weddings, concerts and festivals to belly dancing tours. An artistic and beautifully expressive dance revering femininity through what is an all encompassing celebration of a woman’s form, physique, emotion, spirituality and sexuality, Raks Sharqi “belly dancing” is beloved by the women who perform the dance and dazzles the audience that witnesses its grace and beauty. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For booking Simone, Tuma and The Stars of the Night Raqs Sharqi troupe contact: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tuma: http://www.myspace.com/libnani - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For joining The Stars of the Night Raqs Sharqi troupe contact - - - - - - - - Tuma: http://www.myspace.com/libnani - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Simone Belly Dancing - 7037-3 Philips Highway - Jacksonville, FL 32216 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -www.SimoneBellyDancing.com - and - www.SimoneTheArabianPrincess.com

My Interests

Belly Dancing

I'd like to meet:

People who are seriously interested in Belly Dancing for exercise, fun and career opportunities. Belly Dancing is recognized throughout Middle Eastern countries. Its origin stems from Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Iran, Morocco, and South africa. This Exotic Tradition has been carried on for thousands of years. The original name for bellydancing is Al-Rakas Al-shurki "eastern dance". Belly Dancing is estremely beautiful and magical. It is a powerful tool for self-expression and mesmerizing experience for the soul.

Music:

Mostly Arabic (traditional, modern, dabke, etc)

My Blog

Simone "The Arabian Princess", Tuma & The Stars of the Night Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dancing)

Simone, known as The Arabian Princess, is an international performer in Raqs Sharqi, the Oriental Dance of the East, known in the West as belly dancing. She is the most respected and recognized b...
Posted by Simone "The Arabian Princess" on Tue, 10 Jan 2006 01:32:00 PST