Elizabeth Strong

Elizabeth Strong’s understanding of Middle Eastern dance and Eastern folk music began as a child in the California folk music community. As a teenager she began to study the dance formally and passionately.

Liz's DVD A native of San Francisco, Elizabeth maintains the integrity and spirit of traditional dance forms inside of a contemporary framework. A former principal member of Katarina Burda’s Aywah! Ethnic Dance Company, Elizabeth has traveled to Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Greece and Bulgaria to study closely at the source. Her foray into Fusion began in 2002 when she began to wonder how to make the Old World traditional art she loved relate more to the culture around her. Elizabeth has since worked with other innovative artists including Zoe Jakes, Rachel Brice, Jill Parker, Dan Cantrell, Frederique, Mira Betz, Mardi Love, Jillina Carlano, Ariellah, Samantha Emanuel, and Sharon Kihara.

In addition to exploring the outer edges of belly dance fusion, Elizabeth remains rooted in folk tradition in her travels and in her work with California Rom, Jewish, and Balkan communities. She performs with live music groups including Brass Menazeri and Fishtank Ensemble, and renowned world musicians including Faisal Zeidan and Rumen Sali Shopov. Elizabeth has previously toured with Bellydance Superstars, and was a founding member of Bellydance Evolution and of Beats Antique.

Performances are available on Bellydance Superstars Tribal Fusions Vol. 2, Bellydance Superstars Tribal LA, Bellydance Evolution’s “Immortal Desires”, Hollywood Video’s Evolution, Tales of Desire I & Tales of Desire II. Elizabeth currently teaches and performs internationally. Her self-produced Turkish Roman instructional DVD was released in 2011.

Find Elizabeth (and her DVD) at
www.strongdancer.com

Articles on Gilded Serpent by or about Elizabeth

2-29-12 How I Met the Tuzsuz Family in Istanbul by Elizabeth Strong
As for taking lessons with her – her teaching has improved over the years and her repertoire has expanded (although her large movement base was what attracted me to her as a teacher in the first place, so it has always been extensive).
4-3-06 Rachel Brice Goes Balkan: Pogonometric Revue Reviewed by Rebecca Firestone, Photos by Brad Dosland
Sunday, March 12, 2006, CELLspace, 2050 Bryant St., San Francisco, Cost: $15 and worth every penny
12-3-07 Bellyqueen vs. Barbary Coast: It’s an East Coast West Coast Showdown! Gina Grandi Puts on a Show of Astronomical Proportions. Review and photos by Surreyya
Comedic timing, clever costuming and an endless supply of mojo bring about the wonderment of the early settlers of the California gold rush, with a taste of burlesque, and a taunt of influences from around the globe.
8-18-09 GigBag Check #18-Elizabeth Strong
In February of 2009 we were able to speak with Elizabeth who was filling in a dance position with the Bellydance Superstars for their San Rafael Civic Center gig. Zoe Jakes, Rachel Brice and others also pipe in. What is it like to slip into such a high profile dance troupe?

Trailer for Elizabeth's DVD