Katie Holland

KATIE'S BIOGRAPHY

Nameste!
Dancing from the age of three and having studied Ballet, Tap, Modern, African, Samba, Bollywood, Bharatanatyam, Sacred Nepalese, Tribal Fusion, Egyptian Bellydance, Yoga and Martial Arts. Katie's love of, dedication and commitment to her dance shines through and is evident to all who see. Combining traditional dance techniques with her own unique interpretations - fusing herself to an ancient culture whilst dancing forth into the new. Katie enthuses and inspires this magical energy to all she meets.

On her quest for deeper understanding and precision of movement Katie constantly pushes herself into the unknown and onto higher levels, keen to share her knowledge and expertise on her journey. This includes studying to be a Usui and Tera-Mai Seichem Reiki Master and massage therapist in 1999 and being one of the first to study on the Drumzy Advanced dance training course with Hossam and Serena Ramzy.

In Europe she works closely with expert drummer and master percussionist Simon Webster organising Dance-Asylum - Intensive Dance Teacher Training and holidays in the UK, Isle of Man and Morocco.

In India she is the featured dancer for BBC award winning master maestro Abhishek Basu and his band ISM. 

Regarded as one of the best foreign performers in India, Katie is in high demand as a teacher and performer for all kinds of events. To date she has performed with Hossam and Serena Ramzy and their Egyptian Ensemble at Planet Egypt, The Bloomsbury Theatre and Bath Middle Eastern Festival, The Arab League at Raqs Brittania, with Amani of Lebanon, Simon Webster, Digital Samsara, Kundalini Airport plus many more including at elite Indian weddings, with top Hindi musicians, the Goa Film Festival, with Graeme of UB40, Futji-Afro/German band, at the infamous Titos, Mambos and Ingos Saturday Night Market, Goa, The Royal Kolkutta Golf Club and countless 5 and 7* hotels in India including the Heritage Kumarakom Lake Resort, Kerala.

Of the countless corporate shows Katie has performed at some include: Hindi film premiere 'Acid House' with Gitanjali Jewellery, Percepts - Bridgestone, Bacardi, T2, Jorhat Gymkhana Races, Dewars, Pepsi, Amoda, Kingfisher Speed nights at HHIC, 'Force India'-Formula 1 Racing Team, Dainik Jagran, Goa International Marine and Boat Expo, Resolute, Brittania, Mahindra, Samsung, Fun Holidays, Canara HSBC, Sanghi Industries, the launch of Hero Honda, Google India, Sony, Moet Chandon, Allied Domecq, Reliance, Airtel, Phillips, Maruti, HP Printers, Reliance, Dehradoon Private School, NGO Groups, The Super Marketing Company, Cipla, Bosch, Axis Bank, The Great Escape, Oracle, Sab Miller, The Round Table-India, Bayer Health Care, Iown, for the Indian Army, Navy and Airforce, Katrina Kapoor at the Praineeta Collection launch and Salman Khan at a family wedding.

Also performing for Bodies and Beats, Saqarah, Planet Egypt, Majma, Raqs Brittania, Mehifsa, Kookie Kaftan, Egyptian Moonlight, Gaunts House Festival, The Goddess Show South, Nafoura, Maria D'Silvas Midlands Extravaganza, Planet Angel, Bingley Bongley, Day of the Dead, The Goddess Festival, Notting Hill Carnival, The Mahatma Gandhi Institute at Imperial College, London, Carnival Collective, Leicester Egyptian Museum, The Petrie Museum, Arabesque Nights, charity events, Sally Gunnells birthday, fashion shows, product launches, films, prestigious weddings and events for delegates, government ministers and wedding parties from all over Asia, West Indies and the Middle East.
 
Katie has been filmed and interviewed many times for National and International Indian television including live and exclusive for STAR TV, 24 Ghauta, HNC, Prudent, Radio Mirchi 98.3 Degrees and at the Goa Film Festival 2008. Katie can be found in Lonely Planet: India and Goa. She has also been featured in The Delhi Telegraph, The Daily Jagran, Telegraph - Kolkutta, Seeall Goa, The Goa Times, Goa Herald, UK Bellydance Magazine Mosaic, Society Mirror, Kathmandu, Jagran Times, Worthing Plus magazine, The Mother Magazine, Dancing in the UK magazine, Banat El Raqs, The Times of India and the highly acclaimed dvd by Digital Samsara. She has also written articles related to her dance experiences for Mosaic, Shimmy in the Spirit of the Dance and Nafoura online magazine.

The well known Northern Poet John Barton Watson has written and dedicated a poem to Katie titled 'Katie Bonny Katie' featuring it in his best selling first book of poetry (see articles page).   

Currently having the time of her life living between Europe and Goa. Performing, running and teaching at her studio Magic Health and Fitness and organising Dance and Tai Chi holidays whilst continuing her study of dance and life across India and Nepal with her Tai Chi Instructor/stuntman husband Glen and two lovely children - Xavier and Tai Willow.

Katie is available for film and/or group choreography. Teaching all aspects of Egyptian Dance specialising and incorporating understanding of rhythms, interpretation of music, choreography, props, teacher training and performance, fusion (mix of African, Bollywood, Samba, Bharatnatyam, Flamenco Arabe, Nepalese, Martial Arts) and Sacred Nepalese Buddhist Dance.

Encouraging dancers to achieve their highest potential without compromising the quality or interpretation of the dance. Katies methods of teaching and performing have evolved to an inspirational level and quality over the years. Her respect and thanks to her family, teachers, peers and students who have influenced, inspired, supported and encouraged her: including Sylvia Canetti, Anji Jackson-Main, Maggie Caffrey, Eleanor Keen, Niina Martin, Uppa, Adolfina, Leila Haddad, Hossam and Serena Ramzy.

Katie is also founder and organiser of the UK festival Bodies and Beats World Music and Dance Events featuring the best teachers and performers from around the globe. 

Working from the philosophy that all you have experienced in this life good or bad is what has brought you to the place you are now. Whatever you take from these experiences and the dance, pass it on, use it within your dance and life...let it all develop and unravel from there.
 

Shanti, Shanti..........

 

NEW, NEW, NEW!!

 

NEW!  Recognised ARABIC DANCE TEACHER TRAINING INTENSIVE COURSE will be held in Morocco during July. www.dance-asylum.com

 

NEW! Katie's unique clothing range is now available online due to popular demand: www.shaktipants.com. Buy your very own personalised 'Shakti Pants' and 'Pixi Coats'.

 

NEW! Katie is now artist manager for an exclusive events company in Goa. If you are a professional dancer, musician and/or singer with lots of performance experience, can learn choreography quickly, have a strong background in Bellydance and preferably other dance styles/fire poi etc. Would like to work as part of a troupe and live in India for 6 months or more. Email your profile, video clips and photos for more information.

Only genuine, team working, capable dancers need apply!

Applications are now being taken for 2010/11.

 

NEW!!! Simon Websters band 'Tayfa' are now featuring Katie and are available for festivals and concerts around the world.

 

NEW! Collaborations...... combining the unique and special talents of Katie, Glen Pelham-Mather, Simon Webster, Michelle Roberton-Jones: 'Angel Therapy and Sacred Feminine'. Amazing spiritually uplifting workshops coming for 2010 and beyond!

See the 'News and Events' page for dates and further details.

 

Big thanks to the amazing photographers who have contributed to my websites: Maani Vadgama, Derek Lee, Mark Oakley and Tanya Nikola.

Join our Facebook Group 'TAI CHI, ARABIC DANCE AND DRUMMING RETREATS' and Fan pages 'Shakti Pants' and 'Dance-Asylum'.

Katie performing her funky veil dance at Planet Egypt, Darbuka club, London. Stunning photos courtesy of Anne White and Derek Lee.