Fiona’s teaching philosophy: I believe everyone can dance and that dance and costuming should be available to anyone who has the call to learn! I aim to provide a rich, cultural experience for women that is fun and increases their fitness and wellbeing, beginners through to professional. My mission is to inspire and empower mind, body and spirit through traditional dance.

 

Fiona Harding (stage name Fina) started learning belly dance, along with her mother, at the age of 12 and was dancing professionally by 14 years.  Taught by Egyptian born professional musician, Farouk Darwish, the dancing helped with her confidence as a young person, launching a modelling career both in front of the camera and on the catwalk.  Fiona was winner of the Miss 1980 and contestant in many pageants, including the Miss Asia/New Zealand and Miss Universe/New Zealand in 1981. She trained as a fitness leader by completing the ACHPER training course in Sydney in 1992. 

Fiona has been teaching belly dancing since 1990 in Australia and New Zealand and began learning the Egyptian Tabla in 1997 with Egypt's Ambassador of Rhythm Hossam Ramzy, having now attended many dance and drum workshops with both Hossam and Serena Ramzy on their regular visits to New Zealand. www.hossamramzy.com/

Choreographer for the sell-out play "The Secret Life of a Belly Dancer" a comedy by local playwrite Geoff Allen staged at The Rose Centre, Belmont, in September 2009.

For extra information and insight into Belly Dance, please visit http://www.medanz.org.nz/teachers.html#auckland  the website of the Middle Eastern Dance Association of New Zealand.

This gives professional details about Fiona, as well as background information – history, FAQs, costumes, and photo galleries.

 

It all started with Fiona’s mum, Sherryn!  Who currently teaches belly dancing on Waiheke Island!

 

Sherryn met her future Egyptian husband in 1972, and soon after, along with a group of friends, formed the Arab New Zealand Friendship Society for families of multi-culture to get together for a shared meal, enjoying food and dancing in each other’s homes. Captivated by the belly dancing, and following on from studying the artform with a professional dance teacher and musican, Sherryn began teaching belly dance on Auckland’s North Shore.  The Middle Eastern Dancing School, formed in the mid 70’s was one of the first belly dancing schools in New Zealand, offering belly dance classes from beginner through to professional, and professional dancers for entertainment, starting a wave of interest in the dance.

 

Pictured here are: Sherryn, Neil Harding and Fiona Harding at a belly dance hafla at Devonport Community House.

 

Her interest in the Middle East expanded as she studied cookbooks and started sourcing rare ingredients for authentic Middle Eastern meals. In 1985, Sherryn and her husband lived in Egypt where she naturally picked up more knowledge about Middle Eastern food.

 

Soon after, based in London, Sherryn was inspired to share her passion of Eastern food and worked as a chef in a health club where she introduced an accent on Middle Eastern dishes. This was at the time when this style of food was fast becoming a popular new cuisine, particularly for the health conscious. Since returning to NZ she has catered Middle Eastern food for many belly dance evenings.