Heather Louise
Heather is a raqs sharqi (belly dance) performer, teacher, and lifelong student based in Portland, Oregon. She has established herself as an elegant and polished performer for weddings, parties, festival stages, and everything in between. She is known for her intuitive musicality, soulful movement quality, natural playfulness, and inviting charm.
A dedicated enthusiast of the art of raqs sharqi, Heather studies regularly with the top dancers in the world and has traveled to Egypt to deepen her understanding of the music and culture. She embraces every opportunity to grow as an artist, regularly working with live music and collaborating with other professional dancers in the Pacific Northwest.
With a background in literature, poetry, and education, Heather brings a unique lens to dance. She grew up in a musical household which nurtured an ear for music early on. Heather believes in cultivating precision and authenticity in the dancers she works with, using somatic movement exercises and life coaching skills in addition to technique and cultural awareness.
Heather has been teaching for as long as she’s been performing. With a keen eye for movement, she has become a sought after teacher and workshop instructor. She has been a featured instructor on Datura Online, where she has been a featured instructor for over ten years and currently coaches advanced and professional dancers one-on-one.
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All photos by Studio Sura