Bellydance Performance & Instruction
Angelina McKellar Thorne is a professional dancer and dance educator based in Kingston, Ontario.
She is a member of the UNESCO International Dance Council (CID), and a Professional Artist with the Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, and the Canadian Dance Assembly.
She has been teaching movement since 1995, as the youngest certified coach of rhythmic gymnastics recognized in Canada at the time. She has studied various folk & social dances of the Middle East, North Africa, & the Mediterranean since 2002, and has been teaching and performing raqs sharqi (bellydance) professionally since 2006. In 2016, Angelina created Cairo to Cabaret, a unique 20-hour pre-professional training program for advanced students. She is a certified yoga teacher with over 15 years of experience as a teacher & mentor to new instructors.
Angelina has had the good fortune over the years to learn from legendary bellydance artists, dance historians, musicians, and masters of the craft. She has been performing at galas, weddings, restaurants, festivals, & revues since 2006, cultivating a reputation for her warmth, professionalism, & skill. She has traveled the world extensively, and loves learning about the musical traditions of the people she is fortunate enough to meet along the way.
Since 2011, Angelina has been one half of the Vancouver BC based duo Scarlet Lux, which has toured the West Coast from BC to California, performed in a monthly revue for 4 years, and shared the stage with amazing musicians and artists. Angelina is now based in Kingston, and continues to teach & travel from her new home in Ontario.
(Photos by: Dark Cell Photography, Fubarfoto, Charles T Low Photography)
Learn To Bellydance
Angelina offers detailed, approachable, safety-oriented, and culturally centered training for every level of dancer, from beginner to professional. She is an experienced teacher, and creates a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for all.
NEW CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT!
Weekly classes at THE CONSERVATORY in Kingston! Starting Wednesday Sept 11!
Angelina is offering 2 classes for the 2024/25 season:
Open Level and Family Bellydance from 6-7pm
Classical Bellydance Foundations from 7-8pm
Both classes are offered in the beautiful Conservatory studio in downtown Kingston.
For registration and information, check out The Conservatory website.
Angelina is available to teach private group classes and seminars for special events. Check out the Events section for the latest updates. Contact Angelina through the BOOKING FORM with your requests.
News & Events
This list is for Angelina’s public workshops & events only. For inquiries about private events such as weddings, family events, or corporate parties, please contact us through the booking form.
*** NEW CLASSES IN KINGSTON, ONTARIO! ***
Join Angelina at the beautiful Conservatory studio in downtown Kingston for “Open Level & Family Bellydance” and “Classical Bellydance Foundations”. EVERYONE is welcome!
Go to the—conservatory.com for registration and information!
COMING SOON - ONLINE EDUCATION FOR DANCERS- “Lifting the Veil on American Cabaret”
An informative talk on the definition of American Cabaret Bellydance. This classic style is often misunderstood, and Angelina will help you fall in love with AmCab by revealing it’s history, it’s development, and it’s influence on some modern popular styles, including fusion.
DATE TBA - Watch this space!
COMING SOON - ONLINE FINGER CYMBAL WORKSHOP: “Finger Cymbal Foundations”
Zil, Sagat, Moukha, Kymbalon, Finger Cymbals - Learn basic techniques and rhythms with this no-pressure workshop perfect for beginners and the percussively perplexed. It’s an online workshop, so you’ll need your own set. An in-person workshop is coming soon!
DATE TBA - Watch this space!
Book a Bellydancer
Bellydance is perfect entertainment for weddings or engagements, henna parties or girls nights, festivals or family gatherings!
For the right restaurant or lounge, a bellydancer can bring a glamourous and traditional touch to top off your guest’s experience. At weddings, a bellydancer is the perfect entertainment for guests, and a wonderful way for the bride and groom to add glamour and romance to their reception.
A bellydance set is 15-20 minutes long, and can include props such as finger cymbals, a balancing sword, or a flowing silk veil. The music comes from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Performance is the focus, but you might find that your guests can’t help but dance along too - it’s all part of the celebratory atmosphere that only a bellydancer can create. You can expect an elegant, energetic, and entertaining show!
Rates vary depending on location and event type - contact Angelina for more information.
Booking Request Form
FAQ
What is bellydancing, exactly?
Bellydance (known as “raqs sharqi” or sometimes “raqs baladi”) is a common form of entertainment and social dancing that originated in various parts of the Middle East, North Africa, the Levant, Anatolia, and the Eastern Mediterranean. There are even styles that developed in North America. Today, the most popular styles come from Egypt, although the dance itself has a very big family!Who is bellydance for?
People of all ages love bellydancing! Since it’s roots come from common social and party dances, it has been enjoyed in some form or another by people from every walk of life for centuries. While we often associate bellydancing with sensuality, it is really a celebratory, social dance that is appreciated by folks at every age. That is why you will often find bellydancers at weddings, birthdays, restaurants, and big public festivals.How much does it cost to hire a bellydancer for a typical set?
The rates for hiring a bellydancer vary, depending on the type of event, the length of time the dancer is required to be there, the distance to the event, and the special requests or considerations that might be involved, like wait times, special props, or extra long sets. If you have a vision for your event, fill out our booking form and let us know the details!I have more questions, but I can’t think of them right now…
No problem - just use our booking form to send us any further questions you have. We love to talk about bellydancing!