Raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, Laura's true passions have always lay in the exotic east. Her diverse training includes over ten years of bellydance, as well as a sampling of Latin, Hip Hop and Odissi, a style of Indian classical dance born in the temples of Orissa.

It was love at first sight when Laura saw bellydance in a local theatre production. She began taking lessons immediately and before long was eagerly performing in variety shows, festivals and parades. She was later accepted into Halifax's Belindance Belly Dance Troupe where she studied and performed regularly for two years, while taking every available workshop from visiting teachers. After finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University, Laura traveled to the Far and Middle East to explore this dance form, spending time in Turkey with Turkish master of Oriental dance Sema Yildiz, and in Bhubaneswar, India where she studied Odissi at Jyoti Kala Mandir School of Indian Classical Arts under Guru Padma Cheran Dehury. 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.

Laura continues to dedicate her time to studying and taking workshops with renowned teachers such as Belly Dance Superstars Aziza, Zoe, Rachel Brice, Mardi Love and Ansuya, Bellyqueen, Suhaila Salimpour, Aida Nour, Randa Kamel, Sahra Saeeda, Tito, Amir Thaleb, Orit Maftsir, Hadia, and Hannan Sultan.

Performance highlights include dancing in Istanbul, Turkey at Club Playshow, and in Pushkar, India at the Old Ranji Temple. In Nova Scotia she has performed at many venues including The Marquee Club, The Khyber Center for the Arts and weekly at Anatolia Turkish Cuisine. With Monique Ryan as Cabaret Serpentine, Laura performed regularly with the wildly popular Halifax Burlesque Society. Monique and Laura continue to work together, putting on regular shows in Halifax including the hugely successful "Cabaret Serpentine" and "Raqs Hypnotique". She has appeared twice on Breakfast Television, and with Belindance Belly Dance Troupe in Fringe Festival hits "Caravan to Cairo" and "Desert Dance". As a member of Arabesque Dance Company Laura performed in the large scale production "Asala", Dance Ontario Dance Weekend, and proudly continues to dance in many festivals and events with ADC.

In Toronto Laura has been the featured dancer at Gypsy Co-op, Ambrosia, Aladdin's, Mawaal, Shiraz, Prestige, Langolino, Christina's, Oasis, Elegance, Myth and more. A sought-after performer at weddings, parties, and events, you can also find Laura teaching classes at Arabesque Academy and at various workshops.

Curriculum Vitae

Performance Highlights
(private events such as weddings and parties are not listed)

Selected Solo Performances:

2008

Moscow Nights Banquet Hall Toronto, ON

Messini RestaurantToronto, ON

Ambrosia Banquet Hall Toronto, ON

Appearance on the SLICE Network's "Mr. Friday" Toronto, ON

Elegance Banquet Hall Toronto, ON

Layali Arabesque at Myth Toronto, ON

Raqs Hypnotique at Club Caliente Halifax, NS

Christina's Restaurant Toronto, ON

Prego Della Piazza Toronto, ON

Oasis Banquet Hall Toronto, ON

Mezza Restaurant Halifax, NS

2007

Aladdin's Restaurant Toronto, ON

Layali Arabesque at Myth Toronto, ON

Ambrosia Banquet Hall Toronto, ON

Mezza Restaurant Halifax, NS

Christina's Restaurant Toronto, ON

Crave Party at the Bata Shoe Museum Toronto, ON

Carassauga International Festival, Turkish Pavillion Toronto, ON

Aradia Fitness Opening Party Toronto, ON

The Dark Side "A Night of Alternative Belly Dance" Toronto, ON

2006

Toula at the Westin Harbor Castle Toronto, ON

Shiraz Restaurant Toronto, ON

Mawaal Restaurant Toronto, ON

Miss Pakistan World 2006 Pageant (Televised) Toronto, ON

2005

Anatolia Turkish Cuisine Halifax, NS

The Old Ranji Temple Pushkar, India

Aziza Gala Show: Evening At the Oasis St. John, NB

2000-2004

The Regina Revue Istanbul, Turkey

Club Playshow Istanbul, Turkey

Club Vortex Halifax, NS

The Khyber Club Halifax, NS

The Marquee Club Halifax, NS

Group and Duet Performances

2008

Luminato Opening Party at the Royal Ontario Museum
with Bombay Cabaret

International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Main Stage with Cabaret Serpentine

International Bellydance Conference of Canada
Gala Stage with Arabesque Dance Company

Raqs Hypnotique with Cabaret Serpentine

Orit Gala with Arabesque Dance Company

Dance Ontario Weekend with Arabesque Dance Company

2007

Hysteria at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre with Arabesque Dance Company

Circus Sideshow MAC AIDS Fundraiser at FRED Gallery

Cabaret Serpentine at Club Caliente

Arabesque Dance Company at the Peruvian Festival

Muhtadi Drum Festival with Arabesque Dance Company

Arabesque Dance Company at the Canadian Arab Federation

Besharam at Fly Nightclub

2006

Inte Omri with Arabesque Dance Company at Ontario Dance Weekend

ASALA with Arabesque Dance Company at the Premiere Dance Theatre

2004

Solo and group numbers in Caravan to Cairo at the Neptune Studio Stage with Belindance

Lala Hakim workshop show, with Neely Vincent

Dalhousie Dance Festival, with the Ruby Troupe

Breakfast Television with Yeo hoon Kim

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

Breakfast Television with Monique Ryan

Black Rose Cabaret Vaudeville Show with Monique Ryan

2000-2004

The Atlantic Fringe Festival at the DuMarier Theatre with Belindance

Four of the Halifax Burlesque Society's Shows, with Monique Ryan

Monthly "Hafla" performances at Belindance Studio, both solo and group.

Teaching Experience

2008

Weekly Classes: 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

Various parties and private events
Toronto, ON

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

2008

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 Academy
Toronto, ON

2007

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

Weekly American/Egyptian 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

2006

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

Weekly American/Egyptian Bellydance Classes with Hannan Sultan Toronto, ON

Suhaila Salimpour Format Workshop
Toronto, ON

Zoe Jakes Workshop in Tribal Fusion
Buffalo, NY

July 2006 Ansuya Workshop
Toronto, ON

Aida Nour Workshop and Master Class
Toronto, ON

2005

Suhaila Format Workshop
Toronto, ON

Arabesque Academy Professional Course
Toronto, ON

Hadia's Teacher Training Course
Hull, QBC

Belindance Solo Choreography Workshop
Halifax, NS

Workshop with Aziza
St. John, NB

Intensive Odissi Classical Dance 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 classes and troupe rehearsals in traditional and modern Bellydance 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

For complete booking information, please visit the bookings page.