About Sue Baker
Sue Baker (also known as Elisa Gameela) is:-
- a Belly Dance Now (Formerly JWAAD) qualified Instructor of Egyptian (Modern and Folkloric) & Middle Eastern dance technique, musicality and performance skills.
- an experienced Choreographer for soloist and group dancers;
- A performer, both as a soloist and with the dance company Wardat Al Sahra;
- an event organiser.
- A Trustee of the ‘Just Because’ registered Charity – which aims to raise funds to promote awareness, early detection, treatment and after-care of breast cancer for women in Egypt.
DANCE BACKGROUND
Whilst on maternity leave from her nursing career, Sue first attended Turkish style belly dance classes in rural Norfolk in 1998 and was immediately hooked.
On moving back to Cambridge she studied with the respected instructor of Egyptian Style dance, Pauline Sayhi and with Lisa Michaela, known for her world fusion style.
Sue started teaching in 2008, but continued her dance education with Jane Webster, who is a specialist in spinning and veilwork, and then with the highly regarded and fabulous instructor Josephine Wise, Head of the JWAAD organisation.
Sue has attended workshop with many contemporary belly dance legends, including Fifi Abdou, Randa Kamel, Nesrin Topkapi, Sahar Samara, Wael Mansour, Aida Noor, Dr Hassan Khalil, Yasmina of Cairo, Lorna Gow, Sara Farouk, Elis Pinhiero & Ozgen to name a few. These dancers have greatly influenced her style of teaching and performance. Her most memorable learning experience was studying belly dance in Egypt with Aida Noor.
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Sue was awarded her JWAAD Teaching Diploma in 2014. The JWAAD Teaching Diploma is accredited by the ONE AWARDS and consists of the following modules,
- Safe Delivery of Belly Dance Classes’
- ‘Understanding Music Used within Belly Dance’
- ‘The Influence of History & Culture upon Belly Dance’
- ‘Teaching methods for belly dance module’.
As part of her qualification, Sue attained a distinction in her background knowledge and professional awareness.
In 2015 her strive to gain further professional knowledge was recognised won the inaugural JWAAD Award for ‘Commitment to continued learning’.