Varisha (Gayle Buckley) has been dancing since she was three years old, and experimented previously with ballet, jazz, modern and even maypole dance styles. Throughout this time she never completely felt like she belonged in these classes, and longed to find a style that suited her needs better than mainstream dance styles. After being inspired on a trip to Morocco, she discovered that there were Middle Eastern Dance (bellydancing) classes being held in her home town, so signed up for the course and has never looked back since!

After only a year of dancing in the recreational bellydancing class, Varisha was invited to audition for the performance troupe MERSIN. Her audition was successful and she started performing the day after being accepted, to a theatre audience of 500! Since that time she has taught and performed on a regular basis for private functions, parties and charity events both as a troupe member and a solo dancer.

Since the very beginning of Varisha’s performing career as a bellydancer, she has endeavoured to better herself through attending both regular classes and dozens of workshops with accomplished teachers from all over the world. To date, these include Aida Noor, Yasmina of Cairo, Morocco of New York, Dondi and Petite Jamilla of the Bellydance Superstars, Hossam and Serena Ramzy, and Princess Farhana. Varisha will be completing her Advanced Dancer Certificate with the AlKahira School of Middle Eastern Dance (ASMED) throughout 2008 as well as continuing to attend workshops and private tuition with Serena Ramzy on a regular basis, to hone in on her Egyptian style of bellydancing.

In addition to being an accomplished performer of Middle Eastern dance, Varisha teaches the art of belly dance and makeup/costuming skills to others at regular classes and one off workshops. Please see the WORKSHOPS and CLASSES pages for further information. She also writes dance routines for other dancers and has previously choreographed bellydancing routines to both Eastern and Western music.