A MORAY woman’s dreams of life as a dancer were dashed at the age of eight, when her ballet teacher told her to hang up her pumps and tutu for good.
Nearly four decades on, mother-of-two Sun Fyre Sweeney, of Aberlour, is preparing to step into the spotlight to perform alongside an internationally renowned troupe.
Sun Fyre (47) has been invited to dance with tribal belly dancers GCDG in England in October.
It was a few years ago when Sun Fyre first attended a local dance class as a way to get back into shape following the birth of her daughter – never dreaming that it would lead her on a path to fulfilling her childhood dream.
“I never imagined when I started attending a wee local class that I would embark on such an adventure, one that has led me to this fantastic opportunity to perform with an international troupe as inspirational and professional as GCDC,” she said.
“I began training with Paulette, founder and director of GCDC, five years ago when they visited Glasgow, and I have been to Portland, Oregon, three times since to train more intensively.
“I am now not only a student, but a qualified dancer and teacher in this format,” she said.
“It has been brilliant for me to learn how to dance, and it has given me much more confidence in general to be able to achieve this, especially since I was written off before the age of 10! What is really great about this dance style is that you can start it at any age, shape or size, and if you stick with it, you will reap the benefits of increased fitness, potential weight loss
toning, improved concentration and co-ordination.”Tribal belly dancing has seen Sun Fyre travel across the UK and USA, undertaking workshops, teaching and performing.
“I am so glad that I have stayed with it,” she said.
Ahead of October’s performance, she is offering classes locally, which have begun this week. “There will also be the opportunity to do Shimmy Fit, a belly dance fitness class introducing belly dance moves into accessible and fun routines that also combine other dance genres and a wide range of music from Burlesque to Bollywood. I will also be drawing on my experiences as a qualified Zumba instructor,” she said.
For more information, e-mail sunfyre@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.soulfulexpressions.co.uk
