Intervew with Marta Eltohamy

Queen of bellydance, Marta Eltohamy is the founder and director of Arabian Rose Bellydance School. She is a highly experienced and talented teacher and performer, who loves to share her passion for the vibrant style of Oriental dance with students of all ages.

What first attracted you to belly dance?
-I have always loved dancing. Once when I was on holiday in Egypt, I saw a belly dancer moving so smoothly and magically to the music, that I instantly fell in love with this dance style. From that moment I knew I wanted to learn Oriental dance.

What do you love about this exotic style of dance?
-I absolutely admire the Middle Eastern music. The beat of the Arabic drum is absolutely amazing, and I can express myself fully to it. In bellydance we work with almost all our muscles, and learn how to isolate different parts of the body. This is challenging and a great form of exercise at the same time. I love that bellydance makes you feel good in your body, and also more confident.

What did you want to do, as a career, when you left school?
-Although I have trained in bellydance since I was a teenager, I actually chose to study medicine, as I have always been interested in the human body. I love to work with people, and to make them happy. It was a natural choice for me, and I have studied very hard to become a doctor.

Why did you decide to open a belly dance school?
-Teaching was first my hobby. I used to teach an hour a week alongside my day job. Teaching makes me feel so happy that I don’t feel as if I am working at all. I began getting more and more students and was asked to organise more classes. I decided to open a bellydance school, where I can offer more availability, classes on different days, and a more systemised programme of courses.

What do you love most about teaching?
-I enjoy every aspect of it. The most fulfilling thing is when you see your students progressing, opening up to the music, and mastering the technique. I love to share my passion, experience and my knowledge with my students. Seeing smiles on their faces, because they love bellydance, is so rewarding.

Can you teach anyone to belly dance?
-Although we all have different fitness levels, musicality and dance experience everyone can learn bellydance. I like to challenge myself as a teacher, so I never give up on my students. Sometimes more time is needed to master certain moves. But everything is possible when one really wants to learn.

Why do you think your classes are so popular?
-I have been teaching for over 10 years but I still prepare for each class, taking into consideration my students’ progress and abilities. I plan the programmes very carefully, and I like to work individually with students. Each class is special, unique and unforgettable. I give every class 100% of my energy. I guess that when you do what you love, people can feel it. I have students travelling from Manchester, Birmingham, Ireland and Belgium to attend my classes.

What tips can you give to anyone who wants to improve their belly dance techniques?
-There is no shortcut to success. Training hard and regular practice will make you a master. Don’t give up! Even when you are working on the difficult belly dance moves that can take months to learn.

Do you still perform at dance shows?
-Yes, I love dancing and connecting with an audience. I perform in theaters, musicals, and at the Arabian Rose bellydance school’s dance shows. I am a choreographer, and I work alongside theatre and musical directors creating Oriental choreographies.

Do you enjoy any other styles of dance?
-Yes, I love dance in general. I particularly love flamenco and salsa. If I had more free time I would definitely discover more styles.

Have you ever lived in the Middle East?
-After my children were born I moved to live in Egypt with my husband. There I had a chance to train with world famous teachers and to enjoy authentic bellydance. Due to my Middle Eastern background, I regularly travel to see my family in Egypt and Dubai.

What are your passions in life?
-In terms of my professional career bellydance is definitely my passion. I am very lucky that I do what I love in life. In my private life, my two boys take over my time completely. I love being a mum. Although I am very busy teaching and managing the school, I always find time for my family.

How do you juggle a busy career with motherhood?
-Some days I wake up at 5am to prepare my classes or work on choreography. Other times I stay up very late at night working, doing admin, answering emails, and catching up with messages. Because I enjoy my work I don’t mind having to juggle everything. I think I am fortunate to have found the perfect balance between my career and private life.

Now that you have a successful belly dance school what’s your next career goal?
-My next goal is to continue to grow the school. I plan to offer more hours and more availability. I want to continue to deliver the best quality of teaching to my students, and to continue producing amazing dance shows.