Hadia is a dancer’s dancer - in every sense of the word and truly one of Canada's natural jewels.
She has the energy of a five year old, the wisdom of an old woman and the ageless spirit of a true dancer.
In great demand as a performer, master instructor and choreographer, Hadia has achieved recognition and renown amoung her peers around the world as recipient of the prestigious global Woman of Vision – Arts, Entertainment and Culture, 2002, and the winner of the International Association of Middle Eastern Dance Best Choreographer Award 2000 and Best Modern Egyptian Dancer 2003, Middle Eastern Dance Lifetime Acheivement Award, 2003 as well as the Giza Academy Award for Best Instructional Videos, 1999.
Her thirty year career as a professional dancer began with extracurricular studies of classical, contemporary, jazz and Middle Eastern Dance while completing her Theater Degree at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Initially inspired by the legendary Badawia of Jordan, she continued with the best instructors that the world of Middle Eastern Dance has to offer, including Nadia Gamal, Dina, Ibrahim Akef, Dr. Farideh Fahmy, Mona Said, Zohair Zeki, Raqia Hassan, Ibrahim Farrah, Ahmad Jarjour, and the National Folkloric Company of Egypt (Kohmeya).
Frequent study and performing tours to the Middle East enabled her to further develop her skills and absorb the richness of Middle Eastern dance, music and culture within the countries of origin. She continues to perform and instruct throughout North America, Mexico, South America, Europe, The Middle East, The Far East, New Zealand and Australia.
Her choreographic brilliance has taken life through numerous works presented by her sophisticated and dynamic “Aiwa Arabic Dance Ensemble”. Amoung the most memorable of these was the “Journey on the Orient Express” in November, 2003. Hadia and her company shared the stage of the prestigious Jack Singer Theater with The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Tchaikovsky’s “Arabian Dance” from the Nutcracker, “Dance of the Persian Slaves” by Mussorgsky and the “Bacchanale” from Samson and Delilah by Saint-Saens were transformed into a journey into the heart of oriental dance. She has also gained recognition for her ground-breaking fusion of Oriental, ROM and Flamenco Dance.
Although Middle Eastern Dance remains Hadia’s first love, she continued to pursue jazz and contemporary dance through intensive training with Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, as well as Phil Black, Luigi and Alvin Ailey of New York.
The Moorish influence so evident in Spanish music soon drew Hadia, into the world of flamenco. For the past twenty two years, this passionate and explosive art form has remained her “other” love. While living in Madrid for several years, she studied with flamenco’s greatest masters including Ciro, Merche Esmerelda, Manolete Amaya, La Tati, Eva La Yerbabuena, Manolo Marin, Antonio Granjero, Antonio Marquez, Maria Bermudez, Matilde Coral, Ana Maria Lopez and Maria Magdalena. In collaboration with Oscar Nieto, Hadia co-founded ‘Mozaico Flamenco’ Dance Company.
Hadia has also spent fifteen years studying African and Brazilian Dance, while Latin and Polynesian dance put the finishing touches on her exciting and eclectic career.
After so many years entirely devoted to dance, Hadia returned to Canada to become a Registered Massage Therapist. She now instructs accredited post-graduate seminars in Massage and Manual Therapy Techniques through Kine-Concept Institute.
Although Hadia is an exquisite performer of impeccable quality, her extensive travels and deep understanding of many forms of dance, combined with her thorough knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology and physiology make her an unparalleled master instructor. Her ingenious teaching skills blend careful disciplined technique, attentive application to rhythm and music and encouragement of artistic expression. She has a fullness and depth to her teaching that challenges, inspires and accommodates all levels of students from novice to professional. Dedicated to educating dancers, all that she knows she willingly shares.
Hadia is presently located in Montreal, Canada, although she continues to tour international invitations as a master instructor. Since 1999 she has been conducting intensive Retreats throughout North America and Mexico, which focus on Body Balancing, Injury Prevention and Teachers Training for Dance. In 2002 Hadia presented her first Annual “Festival of the Nile,” Canada’s First Festival of Middle Eastern Dance, Music and Culture featuring Jalilah. This extremely successful event features classes and performances by such internationally renowned artists as, Sahra Saeeda and Helene Eriksen, as well as classes and lectures in Middle Eastern music and percussion by Dr. Michael Frishkopf and history, traditional costuming and culture. Hadia also conducts dance tours to the Middle East. Her Annual "Turkey - Gateway to the Orient" Tour continues to be an enormous success and is sold out every year.
In the fall of 2002, Hadia was named a “Woman of Vision” in the category of Arts, Entertainment and Culture by the Global Television Network. This prestigious award celebrates the accomplishments of women in Canada, who have implemented their personal vision and achieved success in their chosen fields. Hadia has certainly demonstrated her tireless dedication to her dreams, while continuing to inspire those around her to follow in her graceful footsteps.