Who is behind - Art of Movement?

Tanya Bamford-King - Biography
[click here for Tanya's photo gallery]
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With over twenty years of Belly Dance teaching and dancing experience Tanya is one of New Zealand's premier Belly Dance instructors and performers.

After many years of classical ballet, jazz and contemporary dance training Tanya started studying Belly Dance in 1988 and was quickly hooked on the fascinating and exotic dance form. She began dancing and teaching Belly Dance professionally 1992.
In1995 she moved overseas, taking the opportunity to perform and study Oriental dance in Luxembourg, Germany, France, England and Tunisia. She also accepted invitations to teach workshops in Germany and France.

Tanya has studied under many of Egypt's master teachers in not only in Cairo, but also Sydney and Brisbane including Raqia Hassan, Nagwa El Sultan and Randa Kamel. (For a full list of the teachers see below)

Tanya brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to New Zealand Belly Dance; as a performer, teacher and director. Her talent for absorbing and passing on knowledge and for producing consistently high quality dance product is well known and respected in the New Zealand belly dance community. She has been guest instructor several times at the Middle Eastern Dance Festival of New Zealand and the Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival. She also teaches workshops regularly around New Zealand as well as hosting retreats at her own property, Haven Thyme. She also regularly sponsors overseas master instructors to teach workshops around New Zealand.

In 1997 she established her own dance school, Art of Movement, which continues to thrive today. She manages and directs the award-winning community dance troupe, "Belly Hoo", as well as her own professional dance team "Dangerous Curves Ahead". Over the past five year the development of Dangerous Curves has included the growth of a very special, exciting dance and, drum partenership with a truely talented dance drummer Daniel Dib.

Tanya has a special knowledge of and affinity with Balady and Orientale style belly dance. However, her teaching philosophy is driven by her passionate belief that building a strong, safe and beautiful base technique, and nurturing a respect for the culture, aesthetics, substance and feel of each performance and dance style, will give a dancer a strong base on which to build any dance.

Tanya has taken training both internationally and locally with the following Master Instructors:

In addition to numerous other instructors from New Zealand and over seas.