Rahel has loved dance all her life. Since a young age, she has been highly involved in the artistic exploration of various forms of dance, rhythm and music. She found her calling in Raks Sharqi (Oriental/Egyptian Cabaret Style Bellydance) at the age of fifteen and has been passionate about it ever since, wholly immersing herself in it.
Rahel’s serpentine fluidity and joyful, engaging stage presence, as well as her unique, eclectic dance style make her a highly sought after performer, instructor and choreographer.
Although she has studied primarily under her mentor Narmaya, she has taken inspiration and influence from a number of dancers from around the world, ranging from the classics to the contemporary, and she has trained and taken workshops with greats such as Bozenka, Sabura, Ranya Renee, Rahma Hadad, Sadie, Jim Boz, Moira Chappell, April Rose, Gigi Dilsah, Zahra Zuhair, Katalin Schafer and Farideh. Rahel also completed Ranya Renee’s Teacher Certification Training in March 2012.
As a certified yoga teacher (RYT 500) from Prana Yoga College, Rahel incorporates elements of her yoga training into her dance lessons for a more well-rounded, body-educated practice. She is also proud to have created a fusion class called Bellydance Yoga, incorporating bellydance elements and focus into a Hatha-based yoga class. She is also available for regular yoga classes in public, private and semi-private settings.
Rahel has danced with bellydance troupe Banat Dallah, and for several years was a member of Ninawa Eastern Magic Folkloric Dance Company run by internationally renowned dancers Moh Abu Ras and Moh Al Ratta. Her film credits include a starring dance role in the award winning short film “Imago” by VFS graduate Drea Morin, as well a featured performance in an episode of the hit TV series “Hellcats”. Rahel was also a featured performer in the high profile event Illuminate Yaletown in 2011. Rahel had the privilege of having her choreography selected for the 2012 “Shimmy Mob”, the world’s largest bellydance flash mob featuring thousands of dancers all over the globe.
Rahel is one of the official dancers for Vancouver fusion band Tambura Rasa and can be seen performing with them at their exciting shows around BC. Previous shows have included the 2011 Harrison Festival of the Arts, and Vancouver’s high profile Dragon Boat Festival in 2014. Rahel has also performed with other musical sensations such as Shantel, Nickodemus, and Juno Reactor.
Rahel is currently teaching weekly beginner, intermediate and advanced bellydancing classes in Vancouver at the Jewish Community Centre, Ache Basil Capeoria Academy and Mount Pleasant Community Centre, and has been performing professionally at restaurants, weddings, birthday parties, Christmas/New Years parties, bridal showers, awards shows, corporate events and more in the Lower Mainland since 2003.
Rahel takes the greatest joy in inspiring and empowering women of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds with this beautiful, ancient art form… because everyone deserves bellydance!
