Annah is known for her energy and presence on stage, her musicality and her ability to connect with her audience.
As a dancer, she receives many compliments both for her technique and her sense of dance, and for how she designs each show to lift the event and delight the audience.
As an instructor, she is often told that she is responsive, knowledgeable and inspiring and that her students learn a lot in a short time.
Fireflow Dance Studio and Annah strive to highlight Raqs Sharqi / Bellydance as respectfully and knowledgeably as possible, to spread information about the dance and its cultural context, and to support dancers, musicians and composers in the countries and cultures where the dance belongs.
Annah began classical ballet at the age of 3, and jazz and show dancing in her teens. In the early 90's she discovered belly dancing / Raqs Sharqi and quickly became engrossed. Both of the dance and of the Arabic music, which has become a crucial part of Annah's life.
After a few years, she started performing as a dancer in the Malmö region and was frequently hired in a variety of different contexts. By then she had also begun taking workshops and lessons for teachers from Egypt, including Raqia Hassan and Aida Nour.
During the 1990s, Annah also worked as a dancer and instructor in Argentine tango and performed regularly as a tango dancer. In the late 90s, however, she decided to focus on Oriental dance and since 1996 had started teaching her own classes.
After initially teaching through various study associations, Annah started her own company Fireflow Dance Studio in 2011. She gives courses and private lessons both in the studio and online, based in Ask outside Röstånga in Skåne. She also holds regular workshops both locally in Malmö/Öresund region as well as in the rest of the Nordic countries and internationally.
Specialisation, inspiration and education
Annah focuses mainly on Egyptian Raqs Sharki, Raqs Baladi and Egyptian folk styles. She is continuously training for high level instructors. She has studied privately / attended intensive courses for Aida Nour, Zeina, Marta Korzun and Jillina Carlano, among others, and has taken recurring workshops for Mohamed Kazafy, Camelia of Cairo, Khaled Mahmoud, Ahmed Refaat, Tito Seif, Lubna Emam, Aida Nour and Raqia Hassan, among others.
In addition to contemporary dancers, Annah is inspired by classic stars such as Fifi Abdou, Souhair Zaki, Tahia Carioca and Naemet Mokhtar. What she strives for in her dance and teaching is a flowing movement with inner energy and direction – hence the name "Fireflow".
Awards
- 2nd prize in the group category with the group AlFayruz at Danish Open Bellydance 2023
- 1st prize in the category Soloist at Danish Open Bellydance 2022
- 2nd prize in the group category with the group AlFayruz at Danish Open Bellydance 2019
- 1st prize in the category Grand Diva at Danish Open Bellydance 2018
- 1st prize in the category Grand Diva at Danish Open Bellydance 2017
- 1:a prize and the title of Dancer of the Year in the category Oriental Professional / Semi Professional, at Oslo Oriental Dance Festival 2016
- 1:a prize and the title of Dancer of the Year in the category Stilart (including different folk styles from the Middle East) at Oslo Oriental Dance Festival 2016
- 3:rd prize in the online competition "Take me back to Cairo" with i. a. Raqia Hassan in the online competition "Take me back to Cairo".Raqia Hassan in the jury, at From Cairo with Love Festival, Amsterdam 2015
- 1st prize in the Grand Diva category at Danish Open Bellydance 2014
- 2nd prize in the Grand Diva category at Danish Open Bellydance 2013
Collaborations and arrangements
In parallel with solo performances and teaching, Annah has participated in several dance groups, since the 90s onwards: Magica, Ammam, Al-Delta, Raqs Qadira and others.
Annah has been active as an organizer of dance shows and workshops since the mid-90s, including for the non-profit association Zhagareet, where she has been a member of the board since the association was founded in 1997. She has participated in the organization of several workshops with guest teachers from Egypt and other countries. During the period 2012-2019, she also organized the Fireflow Festival in Malmö, with international stars Marta Korzun and Vanessa of Cairo as guest instructors.
Annah has also organized haflas and student shows for many, many years, both on her own and in various collaborations. Since 2021 she is one of 4 founders and organizers in the network Raqesnii Schwai, based in Malmö and the surrounding area.