Meet the Sevenveils Teachers

Catherine Bartholomew (JWAAD)

Catherine founded Sevenveils Bellydance in 2004 when she began teaching her first regular belly dance class at Strood Sports Centre. Since then the list of Sevenveils classes has grown to cover much of Kent, including Aylesford, Sittingbourne and Sheppey. Sevenveils also took on a second permanent teacher, Charlotte Burton to run the Sittingbourne class in 2008.

Catherine has been a dancer all her life, learning ballet and tap from the age of 4 until discovering belly dance at 17. In over a decade she has studied with many distinguished teachers of Egyptian dance and continues to develop her skills by attending regular classes with Josephine Wise in London and workshops with some of the best dancers and teachers in the world, including Randa Kamal, Raqia Hassan, Mahmmoud Reda, Beata & Horacio Cifluentes, Aziza and many more.

Catherine is also a member of the Johara Dance Company (www.joharadance.co.uk), lead by internationally respected teacher and choreographer; Josephine Wise. She completed her first UK tour with Johara Dance in 2009 and is now working on the second show, due in theatres across the UK in 2011.

In 2007, after two years of study, Catherine received her JWAAD Teaching diploma, proving that she is a safe and knowledgable teacher and an active participant in the bellydance community. (see article "What is JWAAD?")

Her real passions are for earthy, traditional Baladi from Cairo and elegant modern Oriental dance, originally inspired by ballet.

See Catherine Dancing:

Email info@sevenveils.co.uk to contact Catherine.

Please note that Catherine is expecting her second baby in April 2010 and her classes are currently being covered by Charlotte Burton and Ann Hall (JWAAD). See below to find out more about the Sevenveils teachers!

Charlotte Burton

Charlotte Burton became Sevenveils second permament teacher when she took over the Sittingbourne class in 2008. She also covers the Aylesford class while Catherine is having babies!

Charlotte has been teaching for a number of years with the Adult Education in Gillingham as well as running the Tribal Banshees. She recently completed the JWAAD Teacher Training Foundation Course and is now studying for the full JWAAD Diploma. In 2009 she also completed a Tribal belly dance teaching course with Black Sheep Bellydance.

Charlotte specialises in Tribal Belly dance which is a style originating from the US in the 1990s. As well as Tribal style, Charlotte has also studied Turkish cabaret and gypsy dance and the many forms of Egyptian dance. Charlotte is a very enthusiastic teacher who likes to include everybody and make sure her students all have fun while they learn.

Ann Hall (JWAAD)

Catherine owes her enthusiasm for the dance and much of her education in it to Ann Hall, who was one of her first teachers. Ann teaches classes all around Medway and Gravesend under the name Medina Bellydance, but still finds time in her busy schedule to cover the Strood and Sheerness classes while Catherine is on maternity leave.

Ann has made many appearances at haflas, workshops and of course as one of the Brides in "Brides of Dracula". She is also a JWAAD qualified teacher trained in Egyptian Dance as well as Turkish Oriental and American Cabaret styles. Over the past few years she has travelled to Egypt extensively to study both the dance and culture and continues to research the art form with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm. She is a very lively and fun-loving teacher with a fascinating wealth of knowledge.