Umdloti’s Carla Shepperson has wriggled and shaked her way to the prestigious title of Miss Belly Dance South Africa 2009, writes Garth Johnstone
Carla, who takes lessons with Senta Seele of the Maya Dance Company based in La Lucia, was too hot for the competition in six challenging categories in the national event held in Johannesburg: the categories were Modern Egyptian; Folkloric; Sagat (finger cymbals); Veil; Drum solo and Freestyle.
With preparation for the competition going back to February and involving hours of training every week, Carla was delighted with her win. “She’s definitely a star,” said Senta. “It’s her hard work and dedication that brought her the success in Johannesburg.
The judging panel of Rania (winner of the Miss Belly Dance Universe title), Astrid Lewis and Angela Anzilotti from Joannesburg and Anne Knowles from Pietermaritzburg rewarded Carla for her interpretation of the various categories, particularly drum solo, in which she generally excels. “I really love performing the drum solo (tabla drum). We often dance to live drumming but in competition we dance to a recorded solo, and this is really my chance to shine. It’s lots of fun dancing to drums.”
“Originally the drum solo started as competition between drummer and dancer, but it eventually evolved to the two operating in partnership in bellydancing. It’s technically very difficult, and it’s crucial to maintain perfect timing,” said Senta.
The most testing part of the competition was the freestyle section, where the contestants have no idea which music the organisers are going to play, and must improvise as best they can.
Other dancers from Maya Dance who excelled included Lucille Kambarran, who took 1st in the Egyptian solo and drum solo categories, and Ioleen Lazenby, second in the Modern Egyptian category.
Carla took ballet lessons from the age of 3 before she quit for a while after relocating to Durban from Pretoria. From about the age of eight she got back into the sport, taking part in modern, contemporary and hip hop dance before being hooked by bellydancing about four years ago. That was when she started taking lessons with Senta, which has proved a winning combination and a “whole lot of fun”.
Carla says she is passionate about dance and is determined to compete internationally one day, once she has completed her schooling. Some of the noted bellydancers she aspires to around the world are the great Egyptian dancers who dance . . . you guessed it . . . Egyptian style; America’s “Bellydancing Superstars” and the great dancers of Lebanon and Turkey.
When she puts her dancing shoes away, Carla plays the piano and is a keen surfer, with Umdloti being her home break.
Senta initially took up bellydancing for fun and as a way to boost confidence. What started out as a hobby eventually became a job, and Senta says she is “consumed” by her passion for bellydancing. She regularly travels to Egypt for private lessons with the top bellydancing tutors there. Her dancers perform at shows such as “Shall We Dance” and at the Hilton Festival, where Carla has performed dance solos.
Info: senta@mayadance.co.za
CARLA’S WINNING TRAINING SCHEDULE
2 hrs a week bellydance classes
1hr a week performance group
2-3 hrs of private lessons a week
1 exam class a month
1 hour of practice at home a day