About Keti

Keti Sharif, dance educator and author, created A–Z Bellydance™, whilst living in Egypt. Bellydancing since 17, her career began in Cairo, performing to live music at the Cairo Hilton at 23. Keti spent most of her adult life in Egypt, immersed in arts and culture, living between Cairo and the Red Sea. She worked alongside many exceptional Egyptian artists whilst curating festivals, cultural events and tours.

She is the author of several books, including Bellydance: A Guide to Its Culture, Music and Costume (Allen & Unwin), Embodied Venus, and Seven Spheres of the Soul. In 2024 Keti produced Farida: A Memoir, with her mentor Farida Fahmy, Egypt's most celebrated theatre dance artist and co-founder of the Reda Troupe.

Keti's revered teacher and mentor of more than 25 years, Egypt's visionary choreographer Mahmoud Reda, deeply inspired A–Z Bellydance™, while her long-standing collaboration and friendship with Farida Fahmy, shaped much of its rich cultural foundation.

Keti's residency in Egypt included completing a BA in Fine Arts majoring in Middle Eastern Art History. Creative projects AstroBelly & Alkawakib were inspired by Sufi astrology, while the Lotus Theatre series & Bellysoma™ draw reference from Ancient Egyptian mythology.

Live Egyptian music is at the heart of Keti's teaching philosophy, and she is passionate about supporting Egyptian artists and preserving the tradition of live music in dance education.

A–Z Bellydance™ features over 100 musicians who performed live and recording music especially for the program. For the last three decades, Keti has hosted festivals, tours and live cultural music events showcasing the talents of Egyptian musicians to help dancers develop their musicality.

Alongside her dance career, Keti has devoted a lifetime to the study of Somatics, culminating in her wellbeing program, BellySoma™. Keti's somatic movement training with Dr Martha Eddy traces directly to the work of Irmgard Bartenieff, who Martha studied and researched with for years.

Keti's distinctive integration of Egyptian cultural dance, live music and somatic movement has inspired dancers and teachers around the world. More than 5,000 dancers have undertaken her specialised A–Z Bellydance™ and Somatics training programs, with graduates in 40 countries.

In Perth, where she now resides, Keti runs the Blue Lotus Room and continues to teach internationally, maintaining close relationships with students and teachers, and supporting their ongoing artistic development through the evolving, cyclical nature of the A–Z Bellydance™ methodology.

Keti collaborates with percussionist and music teacher Sam Nascimento, producer of the 40 Arabic Rhythms CDs, recorded in Egypt. They present dynamic drum–dance workshops at festivals & cultural events, celebrating the joyful connection between rhythm, movement and live music.

A-Z Bellydance, Blue Lotus Room, 2/23 Rudloc Rd, Morley, WA 6059 Australia
Email Keti Sharif office@ketisharif.com

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