JOanne is a Toronto-based accomplished freelance innovative creator, performer, choreographer, instructor, and artistic director in the performing arts. JOanne a highly motivated and accomplished professional Bellydancer with over 25 years of experience. Nominee for the 2024 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellent in the Performing Arts. Renowned as a pioneer of fusion belly dance, she is celebrated for her unique style and signature technique.
JOannes’ extensive dance training started at a young age in ballet, jazz, and various modern dance techniques with the Doreen Hayes School of Dancing and George Randolph College for the Performing Arts and the brief opportunity with the National Ballet of Canada. In her later years, she studied dance at Ryerson College, Toronto, and Laval University, in Quebec, Canada.
In 1988 JOanne left Canada to explore the vast cultures of the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jeddah, North West Africa, and Egypt) where she had the opportunity to study, watch, and witness the haunting spiritual depth of the historical mysteries, and vast unexplored potential of the art of "Raks Sharqi' (dance of the stomach also known as a fertility dance). In the 1990's she continued her studies in Pakistan with acclaimed teachers, exploring the subtle nuances of Kathak and Bharatanatyam while widening her scope and understanding of the delicate intricacies of modern and tribal fusion belly dance with world-renowned instructors and educators. Growing up playing the clarinet in several community music bands, JOanne had the opportunity to widen her musical abilities with well-renowned teacher George Dimitri Sawa, from Egypt, and contributed to his book of “Egyptian Music Appreciation & Practice for Belly Dancers”.
In 2006 JOanne produced an Instructional Belly Dance DVD sold in Chapter Book stores now available for free online. In 2007 she founded her dance school Vivace Studios in Toronto. Since 2015 JOanne has been expanding her knowledge and developing her repertoire through circus arts and utilizing the benefits of this art form in her conditioning practice as a performer.
Dance for JOanne has been a healing journey that inspired to be a guiding force of support for hundreds of women and girls, through her compassionate spirit and teachings as a belly dance instructor, educator, and advocate for women’s health and well-being.
JOanne is the writer and director of her theatre production Inanna – the Rising Goddess of Malta and continues to explore solo and group performances to original Middle Eastern-inspired fusion dance pieces. JOanne has performed live theatre made appearances in movies and reality TV shows, galas, fundraisers, and festival events. JOannes’ magnetic stage presence, charisma, charm, and grace, have captured audiences from all around the globe.
Our Objective
​
The objective of the Company is that students of all ages, limitless shapes and sizes, strengths and flexibilities are encouraged to learn the art of belly dance within a friendly, yet productive environment.
Each and every student at JOannes' School of Dance is an important part of our growing dance community.