Artemisia started belly dancing as a young teenager, in 1992. Today, she is a passionate and devoted international professional performer and teacher, of both classical Egyptian and modern style belly dance. Having started her dance career early in life with several local instructors, she went on to study with international Master Teachers such as Mahmoud Reda, Hassan Khalil, Leyla Jouvana, Ava Fleming and many more, always looking for new sources of inspiration for her own interpretation of this ancient, yet always renewing dance art. Recently she has been especially influenced by American award winning dancer Aziza, who she continues to study with.
Artemisia's performances are full of joy and fun, femininity, passion and sensuality, and for her , belly dancing is always both art and entertainment. Audiences especially appreciate her magic with the veil and her sense of humour. As a soloist she performs regularly in Belgium and abroad (The Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Iceland,...) at parties, conferences, corporate events, festivals and theatre shows. She has taught and performed at belly dance festivals in Belgium and abroad and has appeared on Belgian, Dutch and Icelandic television and on professional belly dance DVDs. She is the artistic director and choreographer of dance group (e)motion, a group of professional and advanced dancers, who perform at events and festivals. Recent performances include the World Cop Billiard 2007 in The Netherlands and the celebration of 100 years of scouting in the Heizelstadion.
Artemisia started teaching in 2000 and since 2003 is the Director and lead teacher of dance school (e)motion in Leuven (Belgium), offering classes and workshops for beginners to professionals. Her students describe her as an enthusiastic, warm and encouraging teacher, who loves to share her passion and knowledge, combining technical expertise with a great sense of introducing students to communication and creativity in dance.

Dance Training

Artemisia started dancing at a young age - she loved Jazz Dance and the American TV-series "Fame". She took her first bellydancing lessons at the Amana Dance Theatre in Leuven (Belgium) in 1992, a dance company with a very theatrical approach of the dance. In 1997-1998 she took classes with Angelika in Bielefeld (Germany), who introduced her to zills and (double) veil. Since 1996, Artemisia intensified her training with workshops and private classes with both local teachers and international master teachers. (see below for a list). To further broaden her horizon she added cross-training in Ballet, Modern and Contemorary Dance, Jazz Dance, Traditional Dances of the Middle East and Yoga, as well as a few study trips to Cairo and Istanbul. In 2005 she started taking workshops and private classes with American award-winning dancer Aziza, who has become a tremendous source of inspiration, and whom she continues to train under.

International workshops, Master Classes and/or private lessons.

These dancers and teachers have especially influenced and inspired Artemisia

• Aziza. I have now taken more than 50 workshops with Aziza, i have lost count! She is my number one hero, belly dance crush and source of inspiration. She is one of the best contemporary bellydancers, both as a teacher and a performer and I urgently advice all dancers, to try and take one of her classes and definitely to go and see her dance whenever you have the chance! Her veil work is the most beautifull ever, and I just love her sense of humour on stage. A captivating and innovative performer all the way.
• Leyla Jouvana. The Shimmy Queen! Leyla's school is in Duisburg (Germany), just a few hours of train from Brussels. She organises frequent weekend intensives at a very high level, and a yearly festival, one of the biggest and best oriental dance festivals in Europe, it's my annual dance sabbatical.
• Ava Fleming. An innovative performer and teacher with impeccable technique and an amazing personality on stage. Taking classes with Ava gives me just that extra push to really go for it and do my own thing!
• Mahmoud Reda. One of the pioneers of oriental dance as a performance art on stage in Egypt. I am very greatfull to have been able to take several workshops with him
• Beata and Horacio Cifuentes. Technical perfection, very good teachers and really beautifull stage shows.
• Hassan Khalil. Choreographer who frequently teaches in Brussels.
• Jillina. Very inspiring both as a teacher and a performer. I especially enjoy watching her solo work.
• Nelly Mazloum (1929-February 21, 2003). Famous actress, dancer and choreographer. I'm very greatfull I was able to take her workshops in Belgum.
• Aladin El Kholy. Aladin has his own school in Bonn (Germany) and sometimes teaches in Brussels. A great teacher for the folcloric styles.

Artemisia also took one or more workshops with the folowing teachers... a healthy mix of Egyptian and American style:

Amar Gamal, Aida Noor, Amir Thaleb, Asmahan, Aziza (Denemarken), Aziza (Torino), Bozenka, Diana Mahiou, Dondi, Freiz, Gamal Seif, Hadia, Hassan Affifi, Hind Sardi, Khaled Seif, Laila Haddad, Momo Kadous, Mona Habib, Morocco, Rachel Brice, Raheesha, Randa Kamal, Raqia Hassan, Razia, Reyhan, Sabah, Samasem, Sharazad, Sharon Kihara, Sonia, Suhaila Salimpour, Youshri Sharif,...

Experience as a teacher and performer.

Artemisia started teaching beginners classes in 2000, at the Amana Dance Theatre in Leuven (Belgium). In 2001, she taught classes in Florence (Italy). In 2003, she started her own school, dance school (e)motion in Leuven. In 2005, she added advanced classes and a performance troupe. In the fall of 2006, Artemisia was an international guest teacher in Iceland (Reykjavik en Akureyri).for five weeks. Since 2006, she frequently teaches succesfull workshops in Belgium and abroad (UK, Germany, South-Africa,...).

Artemisia started performing in 1998 with the Amana Dance Theatre, starring in several of their theatre productions. In 1999 she started her carreer as a professional soloist. From 2007 Artemisia and Dance Troupe (e)motion have been performing frequently for corporate events for companies such as Lipton, KLM, BusWorld, the Mariott Hotel, etc... Artemisia is also a frequent guest at bellydance festivals and events in the UK an Germany.

Below are some examples of performances by Artemisia and dance troupe (e)motion

• 15th March 2003, De Nacht van Exclusief, Casino Knokke
• 26th April 2003, 3rd festival of Oriental Dance (Brussels)
• 18th March 2004, Diamond Princess Party Boat (Antwerp)
• 10th April 2004, Artemisia on TV! (daily soap on VRT: Thuis)
• 25th March 2005, Concertzaal De Vooruit (Gent)
• 5th June 2005, Artemisia and Sarah Chebaro, Zills 'n' Thrills Show (Antwerp)
• 24th September 2005, Hafla, Stanley Halls (South-London)
• 2nd December 2005, 13th Festival of Oriental Dance, (Duisburg, Germany)
• 25th May and 28th September 2006, Planet Egypt, Club Darbucka (London, UK)
• 17th June 2006, Hafla, Bingley Dance Studio (Yorkshire, UK)
• 22nd September 2006. "Koninginnen van de Nacht" (produced by Marc Boogaerts) in CC Westerlo
• 30th september 2006, Aziza Hafla, Fairfield Halls (Croydon, UK)
• 13th October 2006. "En 's nachts dansen wij" (produced by Marc Boogaerts) in CC Maaseik
• 2nd December 2006. 14th Festival of Oriental Dance, (Duisburg, Germany)
• January 2007: "Si le monde", Art Movie by Robert Groslot
• 27 January 2007: World Cup Billiard (Netherlands)
• 29 April 2007, Dance Troupe (e)motion with 30 dancers, closing show 100 Years Scouts, Boudewijnstadium (Heizel)
• 11 and 12th May 2007, Erotikon, project Inja van Gastel and Praga Khan
• 13th October 2007: Jewel of Yorkshire Festival (UK)
• 20th October 2007: Busworld @ Expo Kortrijk, corporate event with 30 dancers, stage show produced and choreographed by Artemisia
• 3rd November 2007: 2nd Oriental Dance Festival Cape Town City Hall (South-Africa)
• 9th February 2008, headliner at Noujoum Sawa stage show at Cultural Centre Brussels
• 12th April 2008. Jewel of Yorkshire (UK)
• 31st May 2008. Aziza Showcase (Brussels)
• 18th July 2008, Shisha Oui (Purley, UK)
• 23rd August 2008, Aziza's Birthday Bash (Orlando, USA)
• 4th October 2008, Artemisia and Troupe (e)motion, Zills 'n Trhills in CC Berchem (Antwerp)