Biography

Lea is a warm and engaging dancer who never fails to please an audience. She took her first oriental dance lesson in college at Texas A&M. Since that day, she has devoted herself to the study of oriental dance and the colorful array of cultures that contribute to it. This was aided considerably by taking various classes in middle eastern study. She has been dancing professionally for 4 years and has performed multiple venues in and around the Houston area including: Café Europe, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Rice University, Al Basha, the Red Lion, Mykonos, Houston International Festival, Magic Island to name a few as well as internationally. She currently dances at Alexander the Great, Santorini and the Olympia Grill in Galveston, Texas. She has also appeared on “Great Day Houston” with Whitney Casey and is currently in collaboration with Houston Media Source’s “Tu Vida Houston” and hosts “ Houston’s Best Belly Dance” on Channel 17.

Lea has taken workshops from such notables as Lucy of Egypt, Ansuya, Aziza and Bozenka of the Belly Dance Superstars, Cassandra, Momo Kadous, Helena Vlahos, Morocco and Vashti. A purist at heart, she enjoys Greek, Turkish and classical oriental dance the most. She is as much at ease performing with a live band as with a cd and draws the audience in with her feminine and engaging style. “Graceful”, “Delightful”, “Exciting”, “Fun”, and “Beautifully mysterious” are just some of the words audiences have used to describe Lea’s dance style.

She began her stage career early in life thanks to her parents who put their quietly profound little girl on stage to draw her personality out. After taking classes at the Houston International Theater School, she enjoyed more of the arts by taking up the flute earning first chair on a consistent basis. The love of theater continued through high school and has taken adult acting classes at Page Parkes School of Acting and Modeling. Lea believes that through the continuing study of dance education, music and even acting, the essence and beauty of oriental dance will shine through and will reach the heart of those who watch it.

Today she consistently draws inspiration from many sources-her mentors, legends, and students, but most of all, from the cultures that have oriental dance as much a part of their lives as water or air. Continuously striving to be the best she can be, Lea has become familiar with raks al asaya (Saidi cane dance), melaya leff (Alexandria), shamadan (candelabra) as well as the karsilama (Turkish folk dance in 9/8 time), veil, zills (finger cymbals) and various Greek folk dances. Lea continuously shares her love of oriental dance with audience members as well as students with an equal flair of thoroughness and creative description. Both adults and their children value her as an instructor. Her students remark consistently on her patience, fun style, attention to detail and understanding of culture in relation to technique.

Whether it is at a wedding, birthday party, holiday celebration or a class with girlfriends, Lea will pass on the rich knowledge and beauty of oriental dance that will leave those watching wanting more.