www.chellcyraks.com

Internationally renowned, Chellcy is a true artist both in dance and in life. When she's not dancing, she's painting! She has many years of dance experience teaching, choreographing, and performing and also obtains a B.F.A. in Fine Art, a B.A. in Art History and a Certification in Gallery Practices. She has 19 years of classical dance training including ballet, modern, tap, and jazz. She loves dancing and is always exploring new dance forms including salsa, bachata, hip-hop, flamenco, tango, Irish, Congolese, samba and swing just to name a few. Chellcy's broad studies on dance and art have enriched her belly dancing and given her dancing a creative and innovative edge through the fusion of some of these dance forms with Raqs Sharqi. She has studied Raqs Sharqi extensively with many teachers including such renowned dancers as Aida Nour, Yasmina Ramzy, Tito, Lubna Emam, Khaled Mahmoud, Mahmoud Reda, Karim Nagi, Suhaila and Jamila Salimpour, Shoshanna, Dahlena, and many more.

Chellcy has performed and/or taught workshops all over the U.S., Canada and Europe. She performs in many styles, however Egyptian Cabaret, Saiidi, Shaabi, Zaar and Spanish and Samba Fusions are her specialties. She also incorporates many props in her dancing including four yard and double circle veils, finger cymbals, canes, skirts, fans and more. She performs solo and with her dance company Fringe Benefits International. Chellcy is the director and choreographer for Fringe Benefits who recently was one of 16 dance ensembles selected from around the world to be featured at the First International Belly Dance Conference of Canada 2007 and on the compilation DVD 07/08. Chellcy and Fringe Benefits have been featured in May, 2008 on SuperOne TV in Malta! Chellcy's other TV appearances include commercials for "So You Think You Can Dance?", Channel 11 in Malta, "Check Please", and short clips and interviews on "Access Hollywood", and "Good Morning America".

Originally from California, Chellcy is currently residing, teaching, and performing in Chicago, IL. She recently graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chellcy loves teaching and takes great pride and fulfillment in her student’s successes. In addition to her regular technique and choreography classes, Chellcy specializes in personal performance coaching and teaching techniques for improvisation and choreography to develop a well-rounded, versatile, and professional performer. Chellcy performs regularly at nightclubs, parties, weddings, conventions, haflas and shows. She also takes regular art commissions for murals, drawings, and paintings. Chellcy is also a promoter and hosts guest artists/dancers to teach workshops and participate in shows in Chicago. Most recently she hosted Cairo Raks Chicago Starring Aida Nour of Egypt and Karim Nagi Oct. 2008! She is also producing a professional compilation video of the show which will be released in January of 2009.

Chellcy is interested in exploring the spiritual, cultural, ritualistic, historical and healing aspects of dance especially in Middle-Eastern dance forms. She believes that through dance healing physically, mentally, and spiritually is possible. Dance is good for the whole person and is a unique tool in building self esteem, and developing a healthy individual and community. Belly dancing is the oldest recorded dance form and has been used by many cultures in rituals, social gatherings, entertainment, rites, spiritual and religious practices, and most recently exercise.What better dance form than the ancient art of belly dancing to heal one’s self and develop a community?