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, 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 with many teachers including such renowned dancers as Aida Noor, Yasmina Ramzy, Suhaila and Jamila Salimpour, Shoshanna, Eva Cernik, Dahlena, Lubna Emam, Khaled Mahmoud, Tito, Mahmoud Reda 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 Fusion 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 student troupe Fringe Benefits. Chellcy is the director and choreographer for her student troupe 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. 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.

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 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.

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?