Biography

Lisa has been passionately bellydancing since 1992. She is of Turkish/Armenian, Turgovzi-Kalderash Roma and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. This proud lineage was recently uncovered through DNA ancestry testing, due to her Mother being adopted. She has studied and performed with the most reputable experts of Turkish Oriental and Roma dance in North America and Turkiye: Artemis Mourat of Silver Spring Maryland. Turkiye's Dancers and Musicians of Roma Sulukule District of Istanbul Turkey, namely Sema Yildiz,Fegin,Didem,Tanyeli,Tayyar Akdeniz,Elçin and Kobra Murat.

Years of devotional practice, research and study, Lisa's skillful technical ability to draw upon subtle, and very powerful, physical and emotional nuances of Turkish Oriental (Oyun Havalari) and Roma Havasi dance; makes her one of the foremost instructors and innovators of Turkish Oriental and Roma Havasi dance in Canada. Her heart-felt performances are known to be breathtaking, innovative, passionate and inspiring.

As a teacher, she instills a sense of pride in her students. Always encouraging them to seek new ground, to continually explore and discover themselves through the dance. Willingly sharing her skills, knowledge and insight. Lisa is an approachable and affable teacher. Her classes and workshops are known to be a supportive and welcoming environment in order to learn

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With new, and creative, dance styles emerging on the bellydance scene, the authentic stylings, and traditional origins of Turkish Oriental dance are being lost and forgotten in the wake and zeal of embracing dance creativity. As a dance educator, Lisa continually researches and documents Turkish Oriental dance voraciously, so as creativity flourishes, this precious historical information and documentation of Turkish Oriental dance will not be lost

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Her mentor, Artemis Mourat, educated Lisa to the issues and historical racism that the Romani continue to face world-wide. Artemis stressed to Lisa that it is her duty, as a dancer, to also understand, and help the Romani overcome the social issues, and to educate others, and so, dismiss previous assumptions about the Romani people. Following this social-justice philosophy, Lisa traveled to Turkiye and spent some valuable time with the Roma community in Istanbul. She was accepted and welcomed by the Rom community of Sulukule as one of their own. Lisa witnessed how much jeopardy and poverty the Roma of the Sulukule/Fatih district are facing. She saw first hand how much the Roma's ancient lifestyle and homes are threatened to make way for the new urbanization of Istanbul. Dialogue with local Fatih district officials is poor. Officials have little regard, or understanding, for the Roma's culture and social values. Many of the Roma are either too poor, ill or elderly to move. In spite of this, they continue to express and celebrate themselves so vibrantly through their ancient songs and dances, and share graciously, and without a second thought, what little they have with others. The Roma of Sulukule taught her how to celebrate, laugh and perserve in the face of poverty, hardships and oppression

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Returning home to Canada, she volunteers her time and efforts as a Roma advocate. Her new found heritage, and recent experiences in Turkey, made her honor bound to contribute her time and assistance to those Roma in need. Lisa is striving very hard to bring Turkish Oriental and Roma Havasi Dance back to it's rightful seat of honor again as the Great-Grandmother of all oriental dance forms practiced today, and the forefront of Canadian Bellydance scene. Instructional videos will be planned in the very near future!

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Lisa is a proud member of International Dance Council (CID) Who's Who of Dance, and is a dance representative for UNESCO International Dance Council (CID). She also holds a BA Degree in Aboriginal Health, and will be entering the University of British Columbia's' Graduate Studies Program in the fall 09. She will be majoring in Health and Business Administration

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