www.chellcyraks.com

Biography

Internationally renowned, cultural dance artist; Chellcy has performed and taught workshops all over Europe, Canada, and the U.S. and is the artistic director and choreographer for Fringe Benefits International Dance Company in Chicago, U.S.A. and Malta, E.U. She is a highly sought after instructor and performer and teaches regularly at some of the worlds largest Belly Dance events like Rakkasah West and East and the Stockholm Belly Dance Festival. As well, Chellcy has had the pleasure of working with many famous musicians and bands from around the world including Ana Masry Band in Egypt, Karim Nagi in Egypt/USA, Georges Lammam in San Francisco, CA., Naser Musa in Los Angeles, CA., Arabesque Orchestra in Toronto, Canada, Souhail Kaspar in Los Angeles, CA., Yagmur in Turkey/USA, and many, many more.

In 2007 Chellcy became a proud affiliate of Arabesque International based in Toronto, Canada and sponsored by Yasmina Ramzy (one of her mentors). Chellcy has nineteen years of classical dance training in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern styles. She is always exploring new dance forms including salsa, bachata, flamenco, tango, Congolese, samba & performance art. 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. Since 1994 she has studied Raqs Sharqi extensively with many teachers from around the world including renowned Egyptian dancers such as Tito, Aida Nour, Khaled Mahmoud, Mahmoud Reda, & Lubna Emam. In 2011, Chellcy became a certified Zumba fitness instructor!

In addition, Chellcy holds three degrees in art and history from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago & teaches belly dance there. Dedicated to traditional, cultural performing and visual arts; Chellcy recently co-founded STAR: Supporting Traditional Artists Residency with Dr. Samvit Audichya. STAR is a new artist in residency and cultural exchange program in Udaipur, India (Rajasthan). Still in the developmental stages; STAR will offer a unique, inspiring, and supportive environment for visual and performing artists to make their work and share it with others. Artists in residence will also have the opportunity to learn a traditional Indian art form from regional artists! We hope to open the program by the end of 2011!

Chellcy loves teaching and takes great pride and fulfillment in her student’s successes. In addition to her regular technique and choreography classes at Dance Connection, SAIC, and Paul Curmi Dance Studio, Chellcy specializes in personal performance coaching and teaching techniques for improvisation and choreography to develop a well-rounded, versatile, and professional performer. “Chellcy is a dynamic dancer whose technical ability and charismatic personality make her a joy to watch. As an instructor, she gives 100 percent of herself so that her students can achieve their personal best!” –Rita Pensa, Student.

Recently, Chellcy produced "Cairo Raks Chicago" DVD with an all-star cast including Aida Nour and Karim Nagi of Egypt, released in April of 2009. Also in 2009, Action Video Productions released a documentary series for TV, “Inside the Belly Dancer” the first DVD features Chellcy with dance and teaching demonstrations, interviews and performances clips. In 2010 she released an instructional DVD “Sa-Rumb-A-rabic”: samba, rumberas, bellydance fusion. This a a fusion style which Chellcy created inspired by the Cuban, Brazilian, and Egyptian divas of the 30’s and 40’s.

Performances by Chellcy and her dance company can also be seen on these compilation videos: First International Belly Dance Conference of Canada 2007 “BDCC Best of 07/08”, “Stockholm Belly Dance Festival” (SBDF) volumes 2004-2011 produced by Suzanne and Mohamed Abou Shebika, and “Where the Mid-East Meets the Mid-West” 2007-2008 produced by Arabesque Chicago LLC. Chellcy and her company were featured in May, 2008 on SuperOne TV in Malta and on Family TV-Malta in December of 2008 and January of 2009 and on BBQ Malta in July 2010! Chellcy has also been seen on Channel 11 in Malta, “Check Please” in Chicago, and commercials for the first season of the hit reality show “So You Think You Can Dance?”.

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 or passage, 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?