INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: "She is the doyenne of British belly dancing".
She has danced in London, Egypt, Paris and New York. Arab royalty, celebrities and the rich and famous have been amongst her audiences at London venues such as The Dorchester, Cafe Royal, The Reform Club, and many more top establishments. She has worked with, amongst others, Ronnie Corbett, Nigel Kennedy, Ernie Wise, Boy George, Green Goddess, & Dr Miriam Stoppard.
Her research of this skilled art-form
makes her a favourite of the media, as her countless T.V. and radio appearances,
magazine and newspaper articles show. Her personal accolade is to have been
compared with Samia Gamal, a legendary film star in Egypt in the 1950's,
by Arabic media.
Her aim is to enlighten, inform and
correct unhelpful myths regarding this liberating form of middle eastern
dance. As a Raqs Orientale dancer, Jacqueline's passionate advocacy has led
the profession between classical and cabaret middle eastern dance, sweeping
aside the corrupt form, often called 'Belly Dance'. This much-maligned art-form
has, for too long been danced for the titillation of men in the Western World.
Jacqueline's performances elevate this
dance far above the levels we have become accustomed to. A ten year nursing
career as an R.G.N.,with obstetric training, was abandoned so that Jacqueline
could turn professional in 1980. Her nursing skills and knowledge of the
human body, are invaluable in helping all, with or without medical problems
to benefit from learning this ancient art-form.
Jacqueline leads regular classes and
workshops at various venues and gives Lecture and Demonstration evenings,
as well as performing solo cabaret.
Belly Babies ante-natal class is her
own innovation using obstetric training and middle eastern traditions.
Her diverse background of ballet, acting and nursing
provides the experience. Her personality and her love for middle eastern
dance makes her the true professional that she is well known as.
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