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Tambra - Biography

Tambra began studying Middle Eastern dance in the early 1970's. Thirst for more knowledge about the dance lead her to seek out Jamila Salimpour who was teaching in San Francisco. Several times each year Tambra traveled to study with Jamila in her class and her week long seminars. While in California, she also studied with Aisha Ali who is very proficient in Ghawazee and Tunisian dance. Tambra became so interested in the dance of the Ghawazee that she sought out information on their costuming, music, and well as their culture. Finally on one of her trips to Egypt she met with the Benat Mazin family, who are the last existing family of Ghawazees and was permitted to dance with them and video their performance. Unfortunately, this family is longer available to dancers or the general public. Tambra has also sought out teachers proficient in other Middle Eastern Dances such as the trance dance of the Blue People of Morrocco and Pharonic dance.

Tambra wanted to share this valuable information with other dancers, thus beginning a long relationship with Jamila and her 13 year old daughter, Suhaila, by sponsoring them in Dallas for the next 13 years. Their format was: Jamila would verbalize her basic steps, combinations, and choreography, while Suhaila demonstrated. It was a blessing for dancers to be able to finally find a teacher who possessed such great knowledge of the art form, especially Egyptian dance, which Jamila had gleaned from her study of Egyptian films.

Tambra also studied with and sponsored other well known teachers, great teachers, such as Ibrahim Farrah, Shareen el Safy, Aisha Ali, Asiz, John Compton, Yousry Sharif, Zahra Zuhair, Elena, Dalia, Badia'a, and of course the great master teacher, Mahmoud Reda. During her first trip to Egypt in the 1980's, Mr. Reda contracted Tambra to be his business partner and arrange his tours in the U.S. This began another wonderful relationship that has been very beneficial to all dancers.

This background empowers Tambra to be one of the most knowledgeable teachers in the U.S. She is well versed in Modern and classical Egyptian as well as the Ethnic dances of the Middle East.

Twenty five years ago Tambra founded a toupe of dancers called The Egyptian Connection. This troupe performs both modern and Ethinic Middle Eastern dance. The group constantly studies the costumes, music and dances of the Middle East and they accompany their dances by palying doumbecs, tambourines, and finger cymbals.

By choice Tambra teaches small classes so that each student can receive individual attention. She teaches beginner, intermediate, advanced, and private lessons. Students begin by learning Jamila Salimpour and Mahmoud Reda basics and then grow by adding steps and combinations put together by Tambra. Students soon find their own style as their knowledge of dance and their personality begin to blend.

Tambra's advanced class often performs under the name of Talameez Tambra and each dancer is encouraged to perform solo.

One of the things that Tambra loves most about the dance and feels that she does best is choreography. Many dancers choose their music and come to her for help in choreography.

Tambra performs on a regular basis with her troupe, The Egyptian Connection, and she also performs solo for civic organizations, senior groups, church festivals, and fund raisers. She especially enjoyed performing for the Dallas Chapter of United Nations, Neiman Marcus Greenhouse, and a video show entitled, "Sizzling Seniors". In 1999 Tambra wowed the audience with her classic Egyptian dance performance and was crowned "Ms. Mature Denton County", and in 2000 she won the title of first runner up at the Ms. Texas Senior Pageant.

The dance is alive and wonderful...Life is Good...