Orientale Dance Company
Professional Leeds-based belly dancer Helena had already built a successful career as a solo artiste when she founded Orientale Dance Company in early 2010. Realising there was a lack of professional belly dance troupes in the UK, she hand picked talented dancers who shared her creative vision to found her own Dance Company.
Helena says "I was often asked for more than one dancer for larger events, but there are so few genuine dance groups in the UK in this style. I hand-picked only professional dancers with extensive training in a range of styles, from contemporary Cairo style Orientale, to folk dance and to the latest innovations in modern, globally inspired belly dance. The name Orientale comes from the real name for belly dance, "Raqs Sharqi" (Dance of the Orient)".
Orientale performances showcase the range and beauty of belly dance:
- Traditional: Traditional "Beledi" belly dance and Middle Eastern folk dance, featuring props such as "Assaya" (canes) which are whirled and spun during the dance and pretty bell-like finger cymbals
- Classical: Flowing, graceful belly dance from the "Golden Age" 1940s-1950s, when "Raqs Sharqi" (Dance of the Orient, i.e. modern belly dance) first appeared and belly dancers became famous stars of the silver screen
- Contemporary: Powerful, elegant dance from Cairo, the current epicentre of belly dance
- Modern: Globally influenced belly dance with exciting modern props such as swords, which are balanced on the head whilst dancing, and the dramatic "Isis" wings.
Orientale Dance Company have performed for clients including GC Motors of Harrogate, the Freemasons and Leeds Officer Training Corps and appeared at a range of private weddings, parties and community events, including York and Copmanthorpe Carnivals.