After returning, Laura moved to Toronto to study with Canada's pioneer of Egyptian dance, Yasmina Ramzy of Arabesque. She was soon accepted into Arabesque Dance Company - Canada's leading Middle Eastern dance and music ensemble, where she is now a lead dancer. Laura appears in multiple Arabesque performance DVDs, and recently released her own instructional DVD "Learn to Bellydance". She now lives and works in Toronto but visits Halifax regularly, producing professional bellydance shows and workshops with Cabaret Serpentine co-founder Monique Ryan.

Laura has had the great pleasure of learning from renowned dancers such as Hadia, Aziza, Zoe Jakes, Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Ansuya, Bellyqueen, Suhaila Salimpour, Aida Nour, Randa Kamel, Sahra Saeeda, Tito Seif, Amir Thaleb, Orit Maftsir, Mira Betz, Ariellah, and Hannan Sultan.

Inspired by her teaching practice, Laura deepened her understanding of health and the human body with a career in Massage Therapy. Learn more about Swedish massage and Laura's therapy practice here.

Performance highlights include dancing in Istanbul at Club Playshow and in Pushkar, India at the Raganath Temple. She has appeared on MuchMusic and Breakfast Television and CBC's Dragons Den. With Arabesque Dance Company Laura has performed in large scale theatrical productions ASALA, EGYPT, and OUM, Dance Ontario Dance Weekend, the International Belly Dance Conference of Canada and many more.

In Toronto Laura has been the featured dancer at many popular venues such as Ambrosia, Karoon, Elegance and Christina's. A sought-after performer at weddings, parties and events, you can also find Laura teaching classes and at various workshops.

Casino Nova Scotia Halifax, NS

LOL Lounge Toronto, ON

Desert Nites Richmond Hill, ON

Aspetta Cafe Toronto, ON

MINK Nightclub Toronto, ON

Terrace on the Green Mississauga, ON

The Capitol Event Theatre Toronto, ON

Splendido Restautant Toronto, ON

Newmarket Town Hall Newmarket, ON

Casa Loma Toronto, ON

El Rancho Toronto, ON

Karoon Restaurant Toronto, ON

Hava Nagila Banquet Hall Thornhill, ON

Moscow Nights Banquet Hall Toronto, ON

Messini Restaurant Toronto, ON

Ambrosia Banquet Hall Missisauga, ON

Elegance Banquet Hall Richmond Hill, ON

Layali Arabesque at Myth Toronto, ON

Christina's Restaurant Toronto, ON

Prego Della Piazza Toronto, ON

Oasis Banquet Hall Toronto, ON

Mezza Restaurant Halifax, NS

Club Caliente Halifax, NS

Aladdin's Restaurant North York, ON

Christina's Restaurant Toronto, ON

Besharam at Fly Nightclub with Bombay Cabaret Toronto, ON

Toula at the Westin Harbor Castle Toronto, ON

Shiraz Restaurant Toronto, ON

Mawaal Restaurant Mississauga, ON

Anatolia Turkish Cuisine Halifax, NS

The Regina Revue Istanbul, Turkey

Club Playshow Istanbul, Turkey

Club Vortex Halifax, NS

The Khyber Club Halifax, NS

The Marquee Club Halifax, NS

TELEVISION

2009 CBC's Dragons Den performance with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 MuchMusic performance with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 "Mr. Friday" on The SLICE Network Toronto, ON

2006 Miss Pakistan World Pageant Toronto, ON

2004 Breakfast Television with Yeo hoon Kim

2004 Breakfast Television with Monique Ryan


DVD / VIDEO

2010 OUM - performance with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 Ali Loz - performance with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 Learn to Bellydance - instruction, performance, content author

2007 Asala 1 & 2 - performances with Arabesque Dance Company


SPECIAL EVENTS

2010 Vagabond Opera Opening Performance

2009 Shawn Byfield Fundraiser at 6 Degrees, with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 Women in Dance show with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 Wyclef Jean appearance, Golf Rocks fundraiser co-chaired by Belinda Stronach, with Arabesque dancers

2008 Luminato Opening Party at the Royal Ontario Museum, with Bombay Cabaret

2007 Crave Party at the Bata Shoe Museum

2007 Aradia Fitness Opening Party

2007 Circus Sideshow MAC AIDS Fundraiser at FRED Gallery

2007 Arabesque Dance Company at the Canadian Arab Federation

2004 Black Rose Cabaret Vaudeville Show with Monique Ryan

2004 The Halifax Burlesque Society presents Burlesque Goes Bust

2003 The Halifax Burlesque Society presents Beaver Fever

2003 The Halifax Burlesque Society presents Hot and Wet in the Marshes

2002 The Halifax Burlesque Society presents Bottoms Up

2002 The Halifax Burlesque Society presents Under the Big Top

2001 The Halifax Burlesque Society presents Pasties and Petticoats

2001 The Halifax Burlesque Society presents The Burlesque Show

FESTIVALS

2008 Peruvian Festival with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 Muhtadi Drum Festival with Arabesque Dance Company

2007 Carassauga International Festival, Turkish Pavillion

2004 St. Mary's International Festival with Yeo hoon Kim

DANCE EVENTS

2009 Bellywood Funkabelly

2009 HIPnosis Gala with Arabesque Dance Company

2009 Inversion: Rouge -a night of alternative belly dance

2008 International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Main Stage with Cabaret Serpentine

2008 International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Gala Stage with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 Orit Gala with Arabesque Dance Company

2008 Dance Ontario Dance Weekend with Arabesque Dance Company

2007 The Dark Side -a night of alternative belly dance

2007 International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Gala Stage with Arabesque Dance Company

2007 Hysteria at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre with Arabesque Dance Company

2006 Ansuya's Ex-zyll-ation Gala show

2005 Aziza Gala Show: Evening At the Oasis

2004 The Old Ranji Temple Pushkar, India

2004 Lala Hakim workshop show, with Neely Vincent

2004 Dalhousie Dance Festival, with the Ruby Troupe

ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS

2010 OUM with Arabesque Dance Company -Canadian Tour to Whitehorse and Vancouver

2010 OUM with Arabesque Dance Company at Fleck Dance Theatre

2009 EGYPT with Arabesque Dance Company at Fleck Dance Theatre

2009 Kariat el Fingan with Arabesque Dance Company at Ontario Dance Weekend

2006 Inte Omri with Arabesque Dance Company at Ontario Dance Weekend

2006 ASALA with Arabesque Dance Company at Premiere Dance Theatre

2004 Caravan to Cairo in The Atlantic Fringe Festival with Belindance

2003 Desert Dance in The Atlantic Fringe Festival with Belindance

CABARET SERPENTINE EVENTS - Co-produced with Monique Ryan

2010 Serpentine Circus at The Casino Nova Scotia Schooner Showroom

2009 Cabaret Carnivale at The Casino Nova Scotia Schooner Showroom

2008 Serpentine Nights at the North Street Church

2008 Raqs Hypnotique at Club Caliente

2007 Cabaret Serpentine at Club Caliente

ARTICLES PUBLISHED

Winter 2009 Behind the International Bellydance Conference of Canada  - The Gilded Serpent

Winter 2009 A Bellydancers Guide to Gigs - Mid Bits Magazine

Winter 2009 Working with Live Musicians - The Chronicles

Fall 2009 Review of Arabesque's Al Khaima Workshop - Mid Bits Magazine

Fall 2009 Adventures in Apprenticing with ADC - The Gilded Serpent

Fall 2008 Review of Arabesque's Pro Course - Mid Bits Magazine

Spring 2008 My Turkish Adventures, Part 1  - Mid Bits Magazine

Summer 2008 My Turkish Adventures, Part 2  - Mid Bits Magazine

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2010

Weekly Classes: Bellydance, Beginner 1 and 2
Toronto Dance Salsa
Toronto, ON

Weekly and Substitute Classes: Beginner 1, 2 and Intermediate 1
Arabesque Academy
Toronto, ON

Workshops: Veil Technique 1&2 for The Arabesque Allspice Company
Arabesque Academy
Toronto, ON

Weekly Classes: Bellydance Beginner 1
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON

2009

Weekly Classes: Beginner Bellydance
Toronto Dance Salsa
Toronto, ON

Weekly Classes: Funky Fusion, Foundation and Beginner 2
Arabesque Academy
Toronto, ON

Regular substitute teacher
Arabesque Academy, Flirty Girl Fitness
Toronto, ON

2008

Workshop: Indian Fusion and Serpentine Combinations
Cabaret Serpentine at The North Street Church
Halifax, NS

Weekly Classes: Foundation, Beginner 1, Beginner 2 and Intermediate 1.
Arabesque Academy
Toronto, ON

Weekly classes: Bellydance Workout
Street Dance Academy
Toronto, ON

Workshop: Egyptian Bellydance, Levels 1 and 2
Studio In Essence
Halifax, NS

2007

Weekly Classes: Intro, Beginner 1, Beginner 2, Intermediate 2 and Kids.
Arabesque Academy
Toronto, ON

Intermediate/Advanced Egyptian Technique Workshop
Belindance Studio
Halifax, NS

Weekly Classes: Beginner Belly Dance
Aradia Fitness
Toronto, ON

Various parties and private events
Toronto, ON

2006

Variety Classes: "Indian Arms and Hands", "Sword Technique", and "Veil Technique".
Arabesque Academy
Toronto, ON

Weekly Classes: Beginner Belly Dance
Joy of Dance Studio
Toronto, ON

2003-2005

Odissi Indian Classical Dance: Introductory Workshop
Belindance Studio
Halifax, NS

Middle Eastern Dance: Assistant Teacher
St. Andrews Center
Halifax, NS

DANCE TRAINING

2010

Taqsim and Slow Rythms with Sarah Skinner
Toronto, ON

International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Panel discussions, lectures, and workshops with Jillina, Sera Solstice, Sema Yildiz, Haida and more.
Toronto, ON

Weekly Advanced Classes and Company Rehearsals in Egyptian Bellydance with Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque
Toronto, ON

2009

Mira Betz Performance Intensive
Workshop in bellydance's cultural influences, professionalism, choreography, expression, personal style and much more
Toronto, ON

Sahra Saeeda's Journey Throught Egypt 1 & 2
Intensive workshops in Egyptian folkloric dance and culture
Toronto, ON

Mira Betz and Ariellah
Sampler workshops in Tribal Fusion bellydance
Toronto, ON

Weekly Advanced Classes and Company Rehearsals in Egyptian Bellydance with Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque
Toronto, ON

2008

Level II Teacher Training with Hadia
Intensive course focusing on safety, course planning, dance anatomy, effective technique and much more.
Toronto, ON

Doumbek Classes with Suleiman Warwar at Arabesque Academy
Toronto, ON

International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Panel discussions, lectures, and workshops with Tito, Aida Nour, Bozenka, Amy Sigil of Unmata, Nath Keo, Ferda Bayazit and more.
Toronto, ON

Orit Mastfir Workshops: Personal style and Egyptian Folklore
Toronto, ON

Weekly Advanced Classes and Company Rehearsals in Egyptian Bellydance with Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque
Toronto, ON

2007

Weekly Bellydance Classes with Hannan Sultan
Toronto, ON

Aziza Intensive Workshop
Toronto, ON

International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Panel discussions, lectures, and workshops with Randa Kamel, Amir Thaleb, Sahra Saeeda and Bellyqueen.
Toronto, ON

Rachel Brice and Mardi Love, Tribal Fusion Workshop
Toronto, ON

Weekly Advanced Classes and Company Rehearsals in Egyptian Bellydance with Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque
Toronto, ON

2006

Weekly Bellydance Classes with Hannan Sultan
Toronto, ON

Suhaila Salimpour Format Workshop
Toronto, ON

Zoe Jakes Tribal Fusion Workshop
Buffalo, NY

Ansuya Workshop
Toronto, ON

Aida Nour Workshop and Master Class
Toronto, ON

Weekly Advanced Classes and Company Rehearsals in Egyptian Bellydance with Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque
Toronto, ON

2005

Suhaila Format Workshop
Toronto, ON

Arabesque Academy Professional Course
Toronto, ON

Level I Teacher Training with Hadia
Hull, QBC

Belindance Solo Choreography Workshop
Halifax, NS

Workshop with Aziza
St. John, NB

Odissi training, with Guru Padma Dehury at the Jyoti Kala Mandir College of Indian Classical Arts
Bhubaneswar, India

2000-2004

Turkish Style Dance Workshop with Hadia
Halifax, NS

Egyptian Style Choreography with Layla Hakim
Saint John, NB

Weekly bellydance classes and troupe rehearsals with Belinda Ferguson
Halifax, NS

Hip-Hop with Jenny Gowen at Halifax Dance
Halifax, NS

Belly Dance with Bernadette Dawson
Halifax, NS

Belly Dance with Andrea Haines and Pat Mcmenemy
Bridgewater, NS

Bellydance with Erin Kim Turnbull
Chester, NS

For complete booking information, please visit the bookings page.