Star Stalker Sunday: Local Diva Sandy Ashton-Smith

For today’s Star Stalker Sunday, I’ve decided to go a little bit loca(l) With the past week’s events in South Africa, I’m feeling very patriotic and for the next few weeks I will be profiling local belly dancers to put the spotlight on the amazing talent we have in this beautiful country.

This week I’m putting the amazing Sandy Ashton-Smith in the spotlight. After having the honour of dancing with her and her talented troupe at Montana Traders last weekend, I turned to Google to find out more about her. . .

Sandy Ashton-Smith grew up in Pretoria, in the Gauteng Province of South Africa.  She has been a Belly/Oriental dancer for more than ten years and a freestyle dancer for over 15. She is also the owner and choreographer for Belly Divas, her studio in Pretoria. (See www.bellydivas.co.za for more information)

After school, Sandy started studies in Theology while continuing her freestyle dancing. She spent a number of years abroad, where she studied Oriental dance under Khaleed Shalby Shafeeq in the Far East.

Since December 2008, Sandy has been running her independent studio where she gives classes in Classic Oriental, Folk, Gypsy, modern Oriental and Fusion belly dance.

She is very involved in her community and can always be found at fundraisers for various organisations such as Cansa Pretoria (notably the Relay for Life events) She is also the organizer for the Pretoria event for World Belly Dance Day. They were also part of the troupe of belly dancers that busted the Jacaranda FM studio team. We all remember that memorable moment!

At the Jacaranda FM studios

She is an infectious energy on stage and is known for her dramatic eye makeup and ever-present smile. When I commented on that smile, she said “If we don’t dance with our heart, we will not be alive.” Words every kind of performer should take to heart!

In action at the Montana Traders - photo credit: Thor Photography)

(sources: www.bellydancedivas.co.za, http://talentcoach.co.za/index.php/associate-partners/39-sandy-ashton-smith)

Hope you enjoyed this expose and please come back next week to see what other local belly dancer will be placed in the spotlight!

XxX

Marina