Sirke Seppänen

I have been dancing oriental dance since 1987. Before oriental dance jazzdance kept me busy. I also studied some African dance, flamenco and samba. However, I felt immediately that oriental dance has a special place in my life. In 1989 the enthusiastic hobby turned into teaching.

After learning the basics in Finland I have increased my skills of oriental dance first in Turkey and since 1990 during my visits to Cairo. Many worldwide recognized choreographers have visited in Finland, and I have actively participated in their work shops. Among my teachers have been Mahmoud Reda, Raqia Hassan and Yousry Sharif.

Besides baladi and modern raqs sharki I have learned Egyptian folkloric dances: ghawazi, fellahi, haggala, Nubian and Alexandrian dance. Also khaleegy from Persian Gulf area and Mahmoud Reda’s andalusian dance belong to my repertory. I am also familiar with Turkish 9/8 karsilama.

I love to dance with different props like veil, finger symbals, dance stick, melaya, tambourine, sword, candels and shamadan-candelabra. And although a snake cannot be found in my dance closet, I have danced with a tiger python.

1993 my book "Oriental Dance" (in Finnish) was published. It includes a short review to the history of oriental dance and presents the basic movements of oriental dance illustrated with photographs.

Nowadays dancing, performing and teaching oriental dance is my main profession, and I organise dance courses from elementary to advanced levels. I also make choreographies for solo dancers as well as to groups.

Before starting to dance professionally I graduated from Helsinki University 1990. I majored in comparative religion studies concentrating on islam and international politics and got a degree of master of sciences. At that time I had a vision of working in the international field, for example as an interpreter between two different cultures. Although it so happened that I left the academical world and became a professional dancer, I found that my vision has eventually come true. As a teacher of oriental dance I am able to bring a little piece of culture from Middle Eastern and North African countries straight to peoples hearts, I can make them personally feel sentiments from different cultures.