My Story

Once upon a time, a young lass was asked to belly dance for a friend’s wedding… and the rest, as they say, is history.
20+ years later, her love of dance has grown, through hundreds of performances in several countries, leading performance and student troupes in two provinces, and ongoing studies with many world-renowned teachers.

Victoria has also been a part of various troupes over the years. Most recently, she was a founding member and teacher at Desert Beats Belly Dance in Saskatoon, and led the Durga Dance fire dancing troupe. Now based in the Okanagan, Victoria continues to perform locally and internationally. She teaches weekly belly dance classes in West Kelowna and performs with Leona and with our troupe, the Saffron Dance Collective.

Victoria has performed at corporate events, festivals from small town celebrations to Shambhala, the Saskatoon Fireworks Festival, and other festivals with thousands of audience members, weddings in multiple countries, dance and community events, conferences, restaurants, parties, haflas, multicultural events, banquets, business launches, health and wellness expos, fundraisers, and hundreds of other events. From large shows, to backyard birthday parties and restaurant dancing, Victoria designs performances to fit clients’ needs.

As a founding member of Desert Beats Belly Dance, Victoria performed with and taught for the group for its first 10 years. She was also part of Mayurichaal (the first Canadian Certified Studio of Fat Chance Belly Dance), member and then teacher at Oriental Dance Arts, as well as Rakasa!, and performed with La Troupe du Jour, MythMaker Productions, River's Edge Theatre Co., Al Amar Dance Theatre, the Solovei Ukrainian Dancers, and the Zavarookha Ukrainian Dancers. Back around 2001, Victoria also founded a belly dance troupe in the West Kootenays, called the Hip Sisters. 

Victoria trains with renowned teachers all over the world, expanding on her knowledge, technique, and understanding of the cultures where Middle Eastern, North African, and Turkish dance comes from, and the modern interpretations of the music and dance form. She is a Certified Studio in FatChance®Style and obtained Jamila Level 1 certification with the Salimpour School in 2016.

Victoria also studies Middle Eastern drumming, teaches Middle Eastern drumming basics, and is currently a member of the Al Tarab band.

In addition to dance training, Victoria is a certified Display Fireworks Assistant and Pyrotechnician, and trained in fire dancing safety and performance. 

Victoria has trained with…

  • Sahra Saeeda: Journey Through Egypt 1 + 2 - 2022, Calgary workshop 2003, Nelson workshop 2002

  • Shahrzad: Vancouver 2024, 2022, Edmonton 2019

  • Aziza: Dreamcamp with Issam Houshan 2024, 2017, Edmonton 2017, Ottawa 2019, Kitscoty 2013, online workshops various years

  • Suhaila Salimpour: Jamila Salimpour Level 1 Workshop 2016, Jamila Salimpour Level 1 Workshop, Suhaila Choreography 2013, Suhaila Format Level 1 workshop, 2 day workshop and Level 1 workshop 2006

  • Issam Houshan, Aziza’s Dreamcamp 2024, 2017, Kitscoty workshop 2013

  • Moria Chappell 6 week stage make up course 2023

  • Mark Bell, Lark Camp 2015, 2017, 2018, ATS Reunion 2018

  • Dan Cantrell, Saskatoon workshop 2017

  • Elizabeth Strong, Lark Camp 2015, Saskatoon workshop 2017

  • Helene Eriksen: Dance, Music and Culture tour to Istanbul 2015, 2003

  • Fat Chance Belly Dance: Teacher Training Certification, 2018, General Skills Certification, 2017

  • Fat Chance style teachers: Carolena Nericcio, Megha Gavin, Kae Montgomery, Kristine Adams, Collette Todorov, Philippa Moirai, Jesse Stanbridge, Anita Lalwani, Devi Mamak, Sandi Ball, Wendy Allen, Lisa Allred, Kelly Beeston, ATS® Sisters Collective, Tribal: Pura, 2008, with Carolena Nericcio and Megha Gavin

  • Nada El Masriya

  • Negma, in Saskatoon and Kelowna

  • Reyhan Tuzsuz: Istanbul 2015, Minneapolis 2016 

  • Ashley Rhianne

  • Shining 

  • Khryia Mazin

  • Amanda Rose

  • Melissa Gamal

  • Don Jordan

  • Natalie Nayun

  • Wael Kakish

  • Serkan Tutar

  • Amina Beres

  • Naci Songür

  • Bollywood Dance with Kashmira 

  • Turkish Roman with Cassandra Eve

  • Display Fireworks Certification Course, Natural Resources Canada Explosives Regulatory Division 

  • Lava

  • Kumsal, Istanbul

  • Rhea of Greece, Athens

  • Mohamed El Hosseny

  • Sahira 

  • Serena Ramzy

  • Hossam Ramzy

  • Suzy 

  • Pyrotechnics Special Effects Certification Course, Natural Resources Canada Explosives Regulatory Division 

  • Karim Nagi 

  • Nath Keo 

  • Sonia Ochoa

  • Yousry Sharif

  • Jahlilah

  • Hadia

  • Michael Frishkopf

  • Rahma Haddad, 2023 workshop, 2003 workshop

  • Adel Awad

  • Christina Bates

  • Amanda Hulland

  • Angela Safire Jones