Habiba Dance

Susanna is a performer, teacher and choreographer of Egyptian Dance and founder of Habiba Dance. 

Susanna first started to learn Egyptian Dance in 1996, after moving to Edinburgh to study, where she discovered classes taught by Lorne McCall, who was then at the beginning of her teaching career.  Inspired by her beautiful dance style and natural teaching ability, Susanna went on to follow several years of study with Lorne, who went on to complete the Raqs Sharqi Society teacher training.  Since 2003, Susanna specialised almost exclusively in traditional and contemporary forms of the Raqs Sharqi style.  Key influencers in the direction of Susanna’s training and artistic development are Juliana Brustik, Béatrice Grognard and Anne Ashcroft whose classes and workshops she has followed for a number of years across the UK, Belgium and Egypt. 

Susanna also draws inspiration from many years study of a diversity of dance and movement forms including Scottish Country Dance, Ballet, Jazz and Cabaret, Pilates and Yoga. 

Susanna is known for her exuberance, energy, humour and musicality in performance, her connection to the audience, and for soulful interpretation of the different forms of Egyptian Dance.  She is also a patient and giving teacher who combines a strong grounding in technique with musical expression, and she always brings a sense of fun to her classes and workshops.

Susanna founded the dance company Habiba Dance to promote performance and teaching in traditional, expressive and theatrical forms of Egyptian Dance and make these forms accessible to new audiences.  Under the Habiba Dance banner, she performs, teaches community classes and workshops, and organises other workshops and events. 

Susanna is based in Scotland, she is a member of Northern Arabic Dance Association and supporter of Edinburgh Egyptian Dancers who organise local events and workshops.