Bio of Halyma
I began dancing to the beat of a "middle eastern" drum in January 1994. In April 1994, I performed publicly for the first time at an amateur party. I continued to perform at similar amateur parties for the next couple of years and then progressed to paid performances (many with drummers).
Being a clothing creator, I loved the new challenge of creating costumes for other dancers as well as for myself - when time permits!
In February of 1996, I co-sponsored "Celebrate +", a fashion show/performance fund raiser for Harmony House and realized how much I preferred dancing for the "fun of it!"
Since then, I have persued the "fun" performances and sharing the fun with others through hosting workshops and helping other local teachers with their classes. I enjoy both choreographing dances for performances and letting the music tell me what to do when I dance. As the classes available to me and a few friends were less convenient, I decided to offer my own class and began teaching in January of 1998 and happily share my love of the dance with any one interested in a fun way to get fit and feel good about the body she lives in!
Tracey becomes Halyma - A Dance History
Childhood
- Loved to dance - no formal training.
Late 80's
- Studied ballroom dancing for a year or so!
1994
- Began belly dance lessons as a way to get exercise and fell in love with the artform. Began making costumes almost immediately!
Spring 1994
- First amateur performance at Sam's Falafel and Tabouli Garden - introduced under the stage name "Halyma" - ask me about that one sometime.
1994-1996
- Performed at and helped organize many OMEDA parties,as well as beginning to dance at some paid events and work with live drummers.
February of 1996
- TAV Creations and OMEDA cosponsored "Celebrate +", a fashion show/performance fund raiser for Harmony House, an Ottawa Women's shelter.
January 1998
- I began teaching a beginner class at the Routhier Community Centre in Ottawa's Byward Market/ Lowertown area. By September of 98, this had expanded to two evenings per week. I now teach 2 evenings, 4 classes - see the class schedule, for details.
January 1999
- Old Ottawa South Community Centre hired me to teach Tuesday evening classes which have expanded to 2 levels offered there.
May 27, 2000
- TAV Creations hosted the first of many semi-annual Dancer's Bazaars. It began as 7 tables in one room of the Routhier Community Centre.
July 14, 2002 - Belly Dancing For Fun presented the first Dancing With the Elements
- A workshop for women designed to help fully awaken the Goddess of Dance within by implementing the power of the five elements. This has continued each summer as an annual workshop.
July 2002 - Summer Practice Evenings began...
- Organized by Belly Dancing For Fun, these free practice evenings have been a sleeper hit with a variety of students each summer when classes slow down but folk still want to dance.
2002 to Present: Belly dance workshops
- Ottawa Folk Festival
- Killaloe, Ontario
- Belleville, Ontario
- Trenton, Ontario
- Gaspe, Quebec
- Pembroke Ontario
2002 to Present: Performances
- National Arts Centre for Abundance 2002,a fundraising event for "Breast Cancer Action".
- 2002 Help Santa Toy Parade
- Ottawa's Fringe Festival
- Orleans Relay For Life
- Sparks Street Mardi Gras Parade Masquerade Ball
- Ottawa Folk Festival
- Fundraiser for Ottawa's Doula Community
2002 to Present: television appearances
- CHRO- the Breakfast show
- The New RO - News at Noon
- The A Channel - Fitness feature with Lianne Lang
- Rogers Community Television - Daytime - many times!
March 2003
- Belly Dancing for Fun Presents the first annual Costuming Information Session with Halyma and Leila. Again this has continued to be an annual workshop
March 2003, 2004, 2005
- TAV Creations at the National Women's Show
January 22, 2005
- Halyma's Belly Dance DVD Release Party.
October 16, 2006
- TAV Creations hosted the 14th Dancers' Bazaar, boasting over 400 patrons in attendance and over 40 tables of belly dance costumes, music, props and more!