Profiles

How long have you been dancing? How did your interest start?

"I have been dancing since the age of four but learning Middle Eastern dance for the last 13 years and teaching for the last eight.  Previous dance experience was in tap and jazz as well as dappling in flamenco, Latin American and African."

Tell us about the bellydancing classes you run?

"I run six weekly evening classes around Preston and teach workshops and on residentials all over the UK.  I also give talks/demos/taster sessions on Middle Eastern dance to groups across the county."

Anne Kingston (c) www.jasonsmalley.com

Do you need to be fit?

"Not necessarily, one class a week isn't too taxing and you will tone you up, however, if you want to dance professionally you do have to be fit."

What are haflas? What goes on there?

"Hafla is the Arabic word for joyful celebration.  They are evening parties where students can bring their families to watch group and solo dances and maybe even get up on the floor themselves for a boogie!  I usually arrange for an Egyptian band to play (who live locally thankfully) and we have a Middle Eastern souk where shoppers can buy anything from a hip belt to the latest in two piece costumes and a Middle Eastern buffet."

Has your dancing inspired your travels abroad?

"Yes, most certainly.  I travel to Egypt at least once a year, usually to Cairo to buy music and costumes, take lessons, watch dancers and learn more about the culture.  I have also visited other parts of Egypt including trekking across the Sinai desert raising money for Scope and last year slept out under the stars in the enchanting White Desert as well as a two nights at an oasis. I have also been on dance holidays to Istanbul and have visited Morocco with my husband."

Any special memories from your travels?

"Once in Cairo some Egyptian friends took myself and two friends to an Egyptian wedding and we thought we would just be guests but it turned out we were the entertainment and they wanted us to dance for them on stage!  We did eventually dance and they thoroughly enjoyed it and showered us with money.

"Inspirational moments have been dancing around the campfire to live Bedouin music in the middle of the desert and being involved with the London Concert for Afghanistan some years ago where I danced on stage at the Royal Albert Hall with seven other dancers."

To find out more about Anne's dance classes, visit her website...