Terezka Drnzik

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Terezka Drnzik is one of the current matriarch figures in the Australian bellydancing community. She also started the first dedicated bellydance studio in Sydney in 1989. The school has produce many professional dancers including Jrisi Jusakos of Hathor Dance and Kaeshi Chai of Bellydance Superstars.

Terezka Drnzik, of Czechoslovakian/New Zealand descent was introduced to bellydancing when she arrived in Australia in 1979 at age 23. The first dancer she saw was Rozeta Ahalyea performing in a Greek Nightclub. Terezka approached Rozetta who took her under her wing and primed her for her first restaurant performance.

In 1980 Terezka lived in a household with three Arabic families absorbing their traditon and culture. Terezka was influenced by the stars of the past from the 1930's to the 1950's and considers Soheir Zaki, who was prominent in the 1970's, as her greatest teacher even though they have never met.

Turning professional in 1981 Terezka was given the Arabic name of "Leila" (Night). Terezka regularly performed seven shows per night. She quickly established herself as one of three top performers employed on a regular basis at a time when Arabic food, clubs and restaurants were in their hey-dey due to the influx of Arabs to Australia at the time of the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970's.

In 1982 Terezka performed at two large shows in Sydney with famous visiting Egyptian Baladi singer Ahmed Adewaya and the famed composer and piano accordion player Hussan Abou Seoud and his orchestra from Paris. From there Terezka was offered a contract to perform in Paris. On accepting the contract she traveled to Paris and performed 6 nights a week at Vildizler, L'Lamp du Aladin and Al Badiya as well as giving numerous functions for the upper echelons of Paris. From there Terezka took contracts in London at the Omar Khyaam performing along side Mona Sayeed. From there Terezka performed in Belgium, Spain and Morocco-Tunisia.

After 2 years away Terezka returned to Australia to open Sydney’s first full time Middle Eastern dance studios - dedicated to presenting Arabic Dance in an intelligent and sensitive way , staying true to the cultural aspects. Terezka felt that she should present more than just the cabaret style by incorporating traditional group dances as well as contemporary (ie Pharonic). In this way the dance would continue to gain respect due to the traditional values of the community as a whole.

Terezka aimed to present the dance form to the Arabic community in way which up until then hadn't been seen before as a full theatrical performance. This included a large group of women presenting contemporary (Pharonic) pieces, traditional Beledi, Saidi and Khaleegy and stunning soloists with the emphasis being on Arabic interpretation, technique and spirit in movement and performance skills.

Terezka turned to full-time teaching in 1985 and continues to do so today. The Academy of Danse Orientale began presenting workshops with live music - 10 Arabic musicians with a theme pertaining to an era or style of Middle Eastern Dance. These were women-only events - presenting an opportunity for women to relate to themselves and each other in movement while show-casing many dancers and performing with high quality musicians in a supportive environment.

In 1991 Terezka hosted an evening with live musicians for the first Bellydance-a-thon, an event which turned into the annual Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival.

In 1992 Terezka retired from performance on the Arabic nightclub and restaurant circuit at age 36.

In 2006 Terezka was Australia's representative teacher at the Cairo Dance Festival.

Terezka has now set up a charity call Make a Child Smile, which sponsors children from developing nations. The charity’s main fundraising events are gala bellydancing balls.

[edit] External links

• Academy of Danse Orientale
• Middle Eastern Dance in Australia - Today by Jamie McGraw
• Interview of Rozeta Ahalyea by Despina Rosales
• Interview of Jrisi Jusakos by Despina Rosales
• Bio of Bellydance Superstars performer Kaeshi Chai
• Bellydance Superstars
• Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival Archives
• Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival 2004 Workshop Program extract
• Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival 2005 Australian Bellydance Legends Invitational Performance
• Sydney Middle Eastern Dance Festival 2006 Workshop extract
• Cairo Dance Festival 2006 report
• Cairo Dance Festival 2005 mention