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Arabic/Turkish (Oriental and Gypsy) Style Dancer/Instructor
DILEK, means “wish” in Turkish
Dilek is one of the most sought belly dancer in San Diego
2008 Belly Dance Of the Universe Competition
CHAMPION, Taxim Category
FIRST RUNNER UP, Universal Category
THIRD RUNNER UP, Veil Category
CBS TV News Footage
http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=5989@kcbs.dayport.com
FOR PICTURES:
http://www.bellydanceroftheuniverse.com/bduc2008/bduc2008-winners.htm
2007 Arabesque Belly Dance Competition, San Diego
FIRST PLACE, Veil Category
SECOND PLACE, Soloist Cabaret
2007 NATCMED Belly Dance Competition, Hawaii
FIRST PLACE WINNER
2007 International Belly Dance Convention, Las Vegas
SECOND RUNNER UP, Folkloric Category
2006 San Diego Mahmoud Reda/Morwenna Assaf Choreography Project
FAVORITE DANCER
SECOND RUNNER UP, 2007 Zaghareet Best Kept Secret Award
http://www.zaghareet.freeservers.com/poll.html
LEVEL II CERTIFIED FROM SUHAILA SALIMPOUR FORMAT
AND
LEVEL I CERTIFIED FROM JAMILA SALIMPOUR FORMAT (FIRST TIME OFFERED IN 25 YEARS)
Dilek is one of the most sought belly dancer in San Diego
Dilek has been performing belly dancing regularly at San Diego's most popular Middle Eastern restaurants, private parties, weddings, engagements, birthdays, showers, also for high rank military personnel at Camp Pendleton & Navy Base, stage shows, large corporate events (Coca Cola, Qualcomm 25th Year Anniversary), school shows (UCSD, USD, SDSU, Rancho Bernardo HS, various high schools), libraries local and Southern Californian clubs.
She was featured at local TV commercials for Greek Town Buffet as featured dancer, Zorba’s TV Commercial, Vaudeville Theater Shows.
She is a Turkish origin Middle Eastern Dance Artist; started learning in Turkey, formally introduced to belly dance here is San Diego where she resides currently.
She is a software quality assurance engineer by day and professional belly dancer by night. She has a respect and love for this dance.
Dilek received her Bachelor’s in BA, Accounting from one of the most repetitive college in Istanbul with Magna Cum Laude. She continued her Master’s in MBA and MS in Computer Science after she arrived to San Diego.
Her shows are family oriented, and fun for everyone has interest, love, and respect to Raks Sharqi/Oriyental Dans.
She has been training students in Arabic and Turkish Style of Dances.
She is known by her strong style and technique, elegant presentation of the music, extensive cultural background, Turkish drop, beautiful candle dance, amazing shimmies and layering, lovely personality, inner and outer beauty.
My cute accents, strong shimmies, Turkish drops and backbends, beautiful and elegant arm moves, strong isolations, high energy, communication with my audience, and face impressions make me a unique Turkish dancer.
TEACHERS/INFLUENCES/WORKSHOPS (Local and international)
I am currently studying to pursue Suhaila Salimpour Level III certification, and Jamila Salimpur Level II certification.
Morwenna Assaf and Vilia are my current instructors where I go and polish my skills and learn something new each time to improve my technique.
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Mahmoud Reda, Aida Nour, Tito of Egypt, Mohammad Kazzafy, Amir Thaleb, Suhalia Salimpour, Jamila Salimpour, Sakti, Angelika Nemeth, Sabuha of Germany, Layla Jovana, Fahtiem, Rachel George, Aziza, Sonia of BDSS, Kamaal, Leila of Cairo, Sahra Saeeda, Marguerite, Mesmera, Rachel Brice, Meleah, Lucia, Jim Boz, Ana, Cyrena.
I
was born and raised in Turkey, dancing Turkish style since I was a
child, which I learned while watching others at the parties,
weddings, and gatherings with friends. I still keep learning new
techniques, combinations from various well-know instructors.
Currently, I am the only Turkish Dancer in the San Diego area known,
entertaining the audience with my unique and lovely style of dance.
I have been getting my formal training from famous instructors in belly dance world. One of them is Famous, Legendary Jamila and Suhaila Salimpour, from famous Suhaila School of Dance in SF. I have regular trainings with Morwenna Assaf locally, famous East Coast performer and instructor, who also trained famous Nourhan Sharif. Morwenna was trained by famous, legendary Ibrahim Farrah “Bobby Farrah”. Walid Assaf is my drummer teacher, amazing, energetic Lebanese drummer/teacher; http://www.danceranddrummer.com
I
consistently improve myself by exposing to different
styles/techniques by taking workshops with well-known instructors
such as world-wide known, legendary Mahmoud Reda (for the last 3
years), Fahtiem, , Kamaal, Angelika Nemeth, Alexandra King, Mesmera,
regularly. Some of the local teachers with who I was also trained, at
the beginning of my dance career; Ana, Cyrena, Lucia, Meleah.
My style of dance is Turkish and Arabic, but I also like to dance to
Gypsy rhythms because of the sound of the tambourine and clarinet.
I do use zills (finger cymbals) with Turkish and Arabic styles of
dance. I am currently working on a research project on Turkish
Gypsies, and will be traveling to Turkey next year to visit my
country, friends, family. While I am there I am planning to visit
Sulukule for my research project and meet some dancers to interview,
watch and learn more of the Turkish Gypsy style.
Other
props I use in my performance are the veil, tambourine, sword, cane,
and the candle tray. I love to mesmerize the audience with my
impressions and feeling, interpreting the music into my dance.
There are so many dreams I would love to
pursue.
My current goal is completing my 200 hour Yoga Alliance YTT training and start teaching yoga.
I
also want to accomplish a training in Ashtanga yoga with famous David
Swenson. Some day I want to go to Prune, India and visit, study with
Mr. Iyengar as well. After I get trained and establish myself as a
teacher, I would like to open a yoga, dance studio where women can
come for retreat, eat vegetarian/vegan/organic/raw food, get spa
treatment with Dr. Hauschka/Aveda products, take some yoga and dance
classes, and relax with Ayurvedic treatments.
I
am extremely happy to live in San Diego, and consider myself very
fortunate to have all that I do, a wonderful career, a wonderful
family and friends, and my dancing.
SAN DIEGO'S ONLY TURKISH BELLY DANCER
