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,
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. While finishing her MA at the American University in Cairo and doing research on the Egyptian Culture, she contacted the First Lady of Egypt, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarek expressing the need for documenting certain traditions and dances that were beginning to disappear. In June 2006, the First Lady of Egypt instructed Egypt's Ministry of Culture to provide Cheri with full use of their facilities and authority to fully document Egyptian traditions, celebrations, and dance--a distinguished honor. Cheri continues her field research and is finishing her main book, The Cultural History of Egypt. A second book will focus on Egyptian Dance and it's history, and will include regional variations and customs involving the dance styles. A DVD will be included with her book: The History of Egyptian Dance |
