Stefania Sapuppo

I started my dance jouney in 1999 in Milan, trying different schools of middle eastern dance until I found Mediterranea in 2000 where I started to learn to dance the way I thought this dance should be danced. In 2001, I started attending RSS workshops, intensive Spring and Summer schools in the UK and all the workshops I could get to in Italy and Switzerland too.

From 2002, my teacher asked me to start teaching beginners at Mediterranea and the following year I started teaching more weekly classes and eventually teaching became my job. I had from 4-6 classes a week in Milan, Lodi and other cities near Milan. From 2003, I started attending Suraya Hilal workshops and intensive weeks in Italy, Germany and Switzerland. From 2004, I started studying with Liza Wedgwood in Italy and Germany (weekends and intensive weeks of course). I also took tabla and zagat lessons. In 2005, I met Erna Froelich and started attending her workshops. In 2008, I started attending Anne Ashcroft's intensive workshops. During those years I also attended workshops with Lita Petrou, Beatrice Grognard, Laura de Gaspari and other Raqs Sharqi teachers at every opportunity. In 2007, I held my first weekend workshop with Tim Garside in Milan and since then I hold one every year. I also give regular workshops during the year. In 2008 I gave my first workshop in the UK experimenting with how 25 English people can be definitely quieter than 12 of my Italian students!

Last year I founded a small group with some of my students to bring the dance to hospitals and homes for the elderly to offer the joy of dance to other people. I also perform at private parties such as weddings and birthdays. During the year I organize parties for the students too (one a year again with Tim Garside, when he comes for the workshop) when improvising and performing is a natural way of sharing our dancing.