Cheri Berens is known internationally for her instructional video series "Belly
Dance with Cheri". She has won Best Instructor by the International Academy of
Middle Eastern Dance (IAMED), and her first video, "Belly Dance Basics: Beginner
through Intermediate Level I", won Best Instructional Video by the Giza Academy
of Music and Legends of Dance (GAMAL). Cheri has taught workshops throughout
the U.S. and has been a recurrent staff instructor at the annual World Music and
Dance Camp as well as The Orient Camp. She has been the featured dancer in
three Middle Eastern Dance magazines: Zaghareet!, The Crescent Moon, and The
Caravan. Cheri was also named as one of the "Big Names from Right Here at
Home" in Anne Thomas Soffee's book, Snake Hips.
Cheri has been conducting field research in Egypt since 1996 and has studied with
some of the most respected artists in Egypt: Nagwa Fuoad, Raqqia Hassan,
Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmi, Mohammad Khalil, Ibrahim Akef, Dina, Mona el Said,
and others. She has also trained with various folkloric troupes in Egypt.
Cheri received a BA in dance and in 2002 she was chosen as a Shea Scholar, a
highly esteemed honor, for her work entitled "Distinguishing Authentic Middle
Eastern Dance". She has given academic lectures throughout the U.S. on authentic
Middle Eastern dance as well as having taught workshops on American Cabaret and
American Tribal styles. She was staff writer for The Caravan from 1998-2004 and
contributor to many other magazines,
Dance with Cheri". She has won Best Instructor by the International Academy of
Middle Eastern Dance (IAMED), and her first video, "Belly Dance Basics: Beginner
through Intermediate Level I", won Best Instructional Video by the Giza Academy
of Music and Legends of Dance (GAMAL). Cheri has taught workshops throughout
the U.S. and has been a recurrent staff instructor at the annual World Music and
Dance Camp as well as The Orient Camp. She has been the featured dancer in
three Middle Eastern Dance magazines: Zaghareet!, The Crescent Moon, and The
Caravan. Cheri was also named as one of the "Big Names from Right Here at
Home" in Anne Thomas Soffee's book, Snake Hips.
Cheri has been conducting field research in Egypt since 1996 and has studied with
some of the most respected artists in Egypt: Nagwa Fuoad, Raqqia Hassan,
Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmi, Mohammad Khalil, Ibrahim Akef, Dina, Mona el Said,
and others. She has also trained with various folkloric troupes in Egypt.
Cheri received a BA in dance and in 2002 she was chosen as a Shea Scholar, a
highly esteemed honor, for her work entitled "Distinguishing Authentic Middle
Eastern Dance". She has given academic lectures throughout the U.S. on authentic
Middle Eastern dance as well as having taught workshops on American Cabaret and
American Tribal styles. She was staff writer for The Caravan from 1998-2004 and
contributor to many other magazines,
Cheri has been living full time in Egypt since May 2003 where she is finishing her book, The History of
Egyptian Dance and working on her Master's Degree at the American University in Cairo. In June 2006, the
First Lady of Egypt, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarek, instructed Egypt's Ministry of Culture to provide Cheri with full
use of their facilities and authority to fully document Egyptian dance, a distinguished honor. Cheri's book will
include Egypt's regional dances as well as performance styles. A DVD will be included with her book.
Cheri has been involved in Middle Eastern dance for over 30 years.
Egyptian Dance and working on her Master's Degree at the American University in Cairo. In June 2006, the
First Lady of Egypt, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarek, instructed Egypt's Ministry of Culture to provide Cheri with full
use of their facilities and authority to fully document Egyptian dance, a distinguished honor. Cheri's book will
include Egypt's regional dances as well as performance styles. A DVD will be included with her book.
Cheri has been involved in Middle Eastern dance for over 30 years.
