Graziela's Bio

Graziela (Scorpio, Cancer rising)

Bellydance Teacher/Choreographer/ Performer)

Graziela’s formal dance background since the age of 6 includes classical ballet, with German teacher Angelika Voltz and traditional Brazilian southern dances (dança gaucha), with Brazilian teacher Rosa Schueri. Graziela always enjoyed taking classes in latin and ballroom dances such as lambada, forro, tango and salsa, but mainly samba, which comes naturally to a Brazilian’s body and soul.

Her passion for bellydance and middle-eastern music started many years ago while she still resided in her home country, Brazil. Graziela started taking bellydance classes soon after she first moved to Ireland, in 2001, with American tribal bellydance teacher Marius Griffin and in 2004 she began to teach her own classes in Cork and perform throughout Ireland under her own company, Hip Circles Bellydance.

"Dance 'til the stars come down

with the rafters. Dance, dance,

dance 'til you drop."

W.H. Auden A. MacNeice

Graziela started a journey that would lead her to appear in local media as well as performing nationally per public’s request. Graziela has choreographed and produced shows in Ireland as well as many charity events for a good cause. She believes in returning to the community what the community has given to her, and by that she organized events to raise money for developing communities. Graziela’s passion for her dance has taken her to travel abroad to receive the best teachings from world’s best dancers. She transpires peace and energy in all of her classes, as well as her projects and achievements.

Graziela evokes greatness in her passion for this dance, as a teacher she will encourage her students and help each student to find their individual taste and style, as she promotes uniqueness and individuality.

Aside from coordinating guest appearances and workshops throughout Ireland, Graziela's most recent project was the opening of the first fusion bellydance school in Ireland, Hip Circles Bellydance School, currently functioning at the Cork Capoeira Academy (77 Douglas St.) and the Firkin Crane Theatre (Shandon, off Shandon St.), Cork City, Ireland (please see class schedule for full details).

"May dance keep your soul and body

in intimate harmony"

"My body is the temple

and dance is my prayer!"

Jehan

Just after finishing her Bachelors degree in Arts by the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil and sadly leaving her work with the Centro Mineiro para Conservaçao da Natureza(now Centro Brasileiro para Conservaçao da Natureza) in 1998, Graziela decided to travel and improve her English, finally to settle down in Cork, Ireland, in 2000. Following her passion for nature studies she then completed a Diploma in Environmental Science and Social Policy by the University College Cork, as well as a Certificate in Field Ecology.

Graziela is a member of the

CID - International Dance Council, the UNESCO official umbrella organization for all forms of dance in all countries of the world

Graziela's style of performing and teaching can be described as "Tribal Fusion Bellydance". Even thought Middle Eastern origins are the basis of her dance, her desire is to enhance this dance form by fusing new aspects of the world's cultures and their diversity of movements, as well as the individual expressions of what we learn with our own realities. For this reason, Graziela's dance is an ecletic mix of American tribal, Tribal-Fusion, Latin-Arabic, Gypsy and Brazilian styles. Her belief is that each dancer is a canvas for discovery, revelation, interpretation, unity, natural movement, sensuality, femininity, and spiritual transcendence - you dance who you are!

If you would like to know more about Graziela please check

(you must be a member)

Graziela's 2008 Holidays' Pics in Brazil!

As the days grow near the end of their sphere and the moon overpowers the sun,

I long to enjoy a most marvelous noise and dream of things yet to come...

... let your light shine ...

... SWEET DIVINE ...

... let your light shine ...

... SWEET DIVINE ...

... I love the way that you move your lips ...

I love the way that you wiggle your hips ...

... I love the way that you are ...

... who you are ...

Toby Eaton (Wiggle)

Photo by Thorsten Merz

"Não sou eu que danço a música, é a música que dança em mim"

"It's not me who dances to the music, it's the music that dances in me"

Graziela's Style - Tribal Fusion

"Tribal Fusion" describes the innovative direction taken by many American Tribal Style belly dance companies and solo performers. Tribal Fusion embraces a new blend of traditional and contemporary movements and aesthetics, combining diverse world influences with modern American dance styles creating a revolution in movement, music and costume!

This style mixes a combination of different movements which blends Romany, Flamenco and Indian dances with a funky spice of modern beats. It embraces solo and troupe work, there is improvisation building up a dance language with a vocabulary of cues as well as choreographed dance. This style can be enhanced by the use of props such as zills, veils, fire-dance, swords, etc. A low impact workout that improves flexibility and coordination,

a fun way to learn how to shake your hips!

Homage to My Hips

by Lucille Clifton

these hips are big hips
they need space to
move around in
they don’t fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips
they don’t like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top!