Meet Ghawazi Caravan
Teachers and Troupe members
Devi Mamak
Artistic director, founder, principal teacher, troupe member
Devi Mamak is founded and directs the award winning Ghawazi Caravan, based in the Blue Mountains in NSW since 2000 and is widely considered one of Australia’s premier American Tribal Style (ATS)® dancers, teachers and choreographers having trained many of the top dancers in the genre and has also studied a variety of Middle Eastern dance styles herself for well over a decade as well as Flamenco, Classical Indian & Ballet.
April Erzetich
Teacher and troupe member
April has been dancing since she was three when she started Jazz ballet. Jazz, classical, modern dance, splashes of hip hop, Workshops in African, Egyptian Baladi for many years, Turkish, Flamenco. I have also spent the last couple of years studying for several months at a time in India learning Odissi classical temple dance and Khalbelia gypsy dance for the local gypsy girls.
Catherine O’Brien
Teacher and Troupe member
A lifelong dancer, Cath began at age 6 studying classical ballet, jazz and tap until her late teens when she turned to ballroom and Latin American. Cath is not ashamed to admit that she was the proverbial “disco dolly” in the late ’70’s/early ’80’s!
An original member of Ghawazi Caravan, she started ATS® in 2000. ‘I was completely taken with the beautiful structure, poise and elegance of the ATS® based Tribal Style of bellydance that Devi was teaching and I have remained her devoted student ever since.’
Diane Vogt
Teacher and Troupe member
Diane started American Tribal Style® belly dance classes with Devi Mamak in early 2004, and was one of the original dancers in Devi’s student troupe, Ghaziya. She has also completed Carolena Nericcio’s general skills certification in 2008, Devi’s Intensive teachers training in 2013, attended numerous workshops and goes to a local Ballet class weekly with Fiona James. Incorporating yoga and daily training into keeping in dance shape, Diane is keen to pass on her love of ATS®.
Laura Kelly
Troupe member
Laura was an original member of Devi’s girl’s troupe ‘Ghawazi Girls’ in 2005! She had seen her first bellydancer at age 6 and soon after, started taking classes.
She is now the newest member of Ghawazi Caravan.
Cristie Fuller
Teacher and troupe member
Cristie Fuller has been a passionate American Tribal Style® dancer since 2002 under the tuition of Devi Mamak and is a member the professional troupe, Ghawazi Caravan. Cristie teaches ATS and Fusion at Amera’s Palace Marrickville on Monday nights and directs the troupe, ‘Oreades Tribal Bellydance’, a sister-student troupe of Ghawazi Caravan.
Sara Arrell
Troupe member
Sara has been dancing most of her life but only discovered belly dance as an adult, it was the tribal kind!
Drawn to the empowered and alternative style of tribal bellydance, she dove in with full enthusiasm and has been studying and performing for the last 10 years. She loves this dance form that celebrates all different sizes and shapes of women’s bodies and is so multifaceted. Not only learning new ways to move and hone technique, but also exercising her mind and creativity in a supportive and inspiring community.
Rachelle Bryden
Troupe member
Rachelle is an original Ghawazi Caravan troupe member, performing and teaching around Australia and internationally. She began bellydancing in ’96 and has immersed herself in Tribal since 2000. ‘I love the strength and confidence that ATS® gives you. Having such a strong posture at all times gives me great confidence when performing. I especially love the fact that ATS® draws inspiration from flamenco. I feel proud and powerful.’
Natalie Harvey
Troupe member
Natalie has been studying Tribal bellydance since 2005, when she started with Madonna from DrumDance Bellydance in Toowoomba.
Since then she has taken her bellydance journey down the coast to NSW, dancing with Dee from Tribal Blossoms in Brisbane, Antonia and Zoe in Newcastle, Cristie and Oreades in Marrickville and finally with Devi and Ghawazi Caravan in the Blue Mountains.
American Tribal Style has always been one of Natalie’s dance passions and in 2009 she completed her General Skills and Teacher Training with Carolina Nericcio and Megha Gavin…
Parties
Let us dance at your party … big or small… at an elegant venue or in your lounge room. Birthdays, weddings and Hen’s nights are specialties. We would love to add colour and flair to your celebration.
Corporate Event
Delight and entertain your staff, clients or stakeholders. Let us help you create an unforgettable event with beauty, excitement and unique sound and style.
Classes
Learn to dance with us. Have fun, exercise, express yourself and meet new people. We provide weekly classes in the Blue Mountains, Sydney and soon to return to Newcastle.
Workshops
Sponsor Ghawazi Caravan in your town or come to the Blue Mountains for an event with an international teacher. ATS® SSCE workshops, Fusion, Devi’s Individual Critique Series and much more.