ABOUT SUSAN
Susan ‘Kamila’ Rodriguez was first introduced to belly dance in Jacksonville in 2005. She was looking for a fun way to exercise and improve her mind-body connection. She had heard that belly dance helped women embrace their femininity as well improve body image and self esteem; she found this to be the case for her, and belly dance has been her passion ever since.
When Susan moved back to Tampa a year later, her first order of business was to find belly dance classes! She first started taking lessons with Madrin’ha, whose technique, choreographies, and style both challenged and inspired her. Over the next year, Susan’s technique and confidence improved greatly, and she began performing in Madrin’ha’s choreographies at the Arabian Nights Haflas. Here she was introduced to Hip Expressions, and she began studying with Johanna, Karen, and Omaris while continuing with Madrin’ha.
In 2008, after performing in a talent show at a local church, Susan was asked to teach a belly dance class to women whose curiosity had been peaked watching her performance. After the 5-week course was over, her students asked her to continue with weekly ongoing classes. A teacher by trade, Susan found sharing her passion for belly dance effortless, and beginning dancers are reassured by her easy-to-follow instructions and warm enthusiasm. Her goal for her classes is that her students learn, have fun, and get a good workout. She understands how busy women’s lives can be, so the more benefits that she can offer at one time, the more inspired her students are to continue dancing.
SUSAN KAMILA
Modern Egyptian, Arabic Pop, Fusion
Personality is the glitter that sends your little gleam across the footlights and the orchestra pit into that big black space where the audience is.
~ Mae West
