Curriculum vitae

Curriculum vitae

Education & training

  • Master of Science, University of Turku, Finland 1998
  • Master of Arts, University of Turku, Finland 2002
  • Oriental Dance Teacher, Masrah Association, Finland 1998
  • Seamstress, 2021.

A bit of background

I have taught Oriental Dance at Adult Education Centres since 1997 and at Turku University as part of University Sports Programme since 1998. I have had my own Moon Dance Studio in Turku, Finland, since 2005. I have given workshops in Finland since 1997 and have also given workshops abroad in Tallin, Estonia, and Stockholm, Sweden.

Performing is highly significant for an artist, and I have been fortunate to perform both with various dance groups as well as solo in Finland and abroad. My first performance took place in 1992 and I am still on that road. Dancing has taken me to some magnificent places and introduced me to many lovely and wonderful people!

Here are some highlights of my career so far:

2020

  • Pikkutuhma tapahtuma / The Naughty Little Event 11th Jan; organized by Karkadeh Assoc., Turku, Finland.

2019

  • Helsinki Oriental Summer Sessions Show 15th June; organized by Helsinki Oriental, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Jasmine Flowers 18th May; organized by Yasmine Association, Oulu, Finland.

2018

  • Oriental Soul -show 22nd Sep; organized by Riitta Hintikka & Anita Lähde, Helsinki, Finland.
  • Helwa Halawa -show 9th June.; Welwa International Oriental Dance Festival, Organized by Studio Henna & Amina, Helsinki, Finland.

2017

  • Masrah Association's 25th Anniversary Gala, 21st Oct; Masrah Assoc., Helsinki, Finland.
  • Oriental Dance Festival / Savonlinna, 9th - 11th June; international Oriental dance festival, production Farah - Ilon ja Onnen Tanssi ry. & Karkadeh Assoc., Savonlinna, Finland.
  • Kuunsillalla - On Moonbeams, 4th Feb; personal jubilee show, Turku, Finland.

2016

  • Stockholm Belly Dance Festival, 6th May; Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Orient Express, 14th April; a concert by Kari Kriikku & Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku, Finland.
  • Soiree Grand Gala,13th Feb; organized by Karkadeh Assoc., Turku, Finland.

2015

  • 124 Moons; 10th Oct 2015, MDS's 10 year anniversary gala, Turku, Finland.
  • Stockholm Belly Dance Festival; 15th May 2015, Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Hype the North; 11th June 2015, Oriental Hype -Festival, Helsinki, Finland. Organizer: Oriental Hype.
  • El Raqs Hayati, Helsinki, Finland 21st March 2015: Mahmoud Reda's 85th Anniversary Show, organized by El Hosseny Dance.

2014

  • VUO 5.June, Tampere, Finland; organised by Karkadeh Assoc. A joint performance of Oriental Dance, Flamecno and live music.
  • International Oriental Dance Summer Festival, Tampere, Finland, 6th – 8th June. Organized by Karkadeh Assoc., Mihrimah ry, & Tanssiyhdistys Sahara ry.
  • VUO (FLOW), 4th Oct, Helsinki, Finland; organized by Karkadeh Assoc. A joint performance of Oriental Dance, Flamecno and live music.
  • Hafla Show, 1st Nov 2014, Vantaa, FInland : järj. Laura Zaray.

2013

  • Midwinter Moon 12th Jan; Organised by Moon Dance Studio / Anu Toivonen. My 20th Anniversary Show.
  • Hafla Intensive III, Vataa, Finland, 10th March; organized by Laura Zaray
  • Raqsat Rabiya, Tallinn, Estonia, 18th May; organized by Pille Roosi and Safran
  • DanceRUMBITA® licensed teacher 29th June
  • Raks Madrid Festival, Madrid, Spain, 3rd–7th July; organized by Nesma
  • VUO 5.10., Turku, Finland; organised by Karkadeh Assoc. A joint performance of Oriental Dance, Flamecno and live music.
  • 9th International Oriental Dance Festival, Tallinn, Estonia, 1st–3rd Nov; organized by Pille Roosi and Safran

2012

  • From Sahara to Sibelius 24th March, Helsinki, Finland; together with Aimina, Peppina Lindfors and Heli Turunen.
  • Summer festival in, Savonlinna, Finland (June); Organised by Farah Association; Workshops and shows: The Wedding of Erik John's Son & Gala Oriental.
  • Tähtisadetta (Star Shower): Turku, Finland (Sept). Organised by Mizmar Associaion
  • Mabruk Masrah, Helsinki, Finland (Oct); Organised by Masrah Association.
  • The Wedding of Erik John's Son; Savonlinna, Finland (Nov). Organised by Farah Association.

2011

  • Karkadeh – Moods of Oriental Dance and Music, produced by Pauliina Tiainen and Anu Toivonen, Turku, Finland: solos and group dances.
  • Stockholm Belly Dance Festival, Stockholm, Sweden: solo
  • International Summer Festival, organised by Seitsemän Hunnun Tanssi (Dance of the Seven Veils) Association, Jyväskylä, Finland: workshops and solo
  • Karkadeh – Soirèe, produced by Pauliina Tujula and Anu Toivonen, Turku, Finland: solos and group dances.

2010

  • Gawaher, Annual Spring Show and weekend of workshops organized by Seitsemän Hunnun Tanssi (Dance of the Seven Veils) Association, Jyväskylä, Finland: show and workshops
  • Stockholm Belly Dance Festival, Stockholm, Sweden: workshop and solo
  • Yalla! International Oriental Dance Fesival, organised by Masrah Association, Helsinki, Finland: workshop and solo accompanied by Mr Mohamed Shabana and his Orchestra
  • Raqset Al Kharif – Autumndance, show organised by Mizmar Association, Turku, Finland: group dances and a solo
  • Show with Sahra Saeeda and dancers from the Nordic countries; organised by Sheherazade, Stockholm, Sweden; two solos
  • Oriental Fantasy and Friends; Beata ja Horacio Cifuentesin show in Järvenpää, Finland 4th Dec; organised by Amina. Group dances with Amina, Peppina Lindfors and Heli Turunen.

2009

  • OrientalDance.fi, organised by Afifa Studio, Naantali, Finland: solo
  • In Limbo, a show combining Oriental Dance, Circus and live music, Helsinki, Finland: one of the producers; group dances and a solo
  • Stockholm Belly Dance Festival, Stockholm, Sweden: a duet with Pauliina Tiainen
  • International Raqs Sharqi Contest 2009, organised by Beata and Horacio Cifuentes, Berlin, Germany: awarded II place in Solo Professional Contest
  • Raqs DeLilah, show organised by Mizmar Association, Turku, Finland: group dances and solos

2008

  • OrientalDance.fi, organised by Afifa Studio, Naantali, Finland: dancing with Mizmar Dance Group
  • International Summer Festival, organised by Seitsemän Hunnun Tanssi (Dance of the Seven Veils) Association, Jyväskylä, Finland: workshop and solo
  • Becoming a trainer of trainee teachers in the Masrah Teacher Training Programme
  • Trick or Treat Show, organised by Mizmar Association, Turku, Finland: group dances and two solos

2007

  • Oriental Dance Festival of Finland, organised by Afifa Studio, Naantali, Finland: solo
  • Yalla! International Oriental Dance Fesival, organised by Masrah Association, Helsinki, Finland: workshop; solo accompanied by El Nugum Orchestra and a group dance with El Hosseny Dance Company
  • The World Dances with Mahmoud Reda, organised by Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt: three shows; dancing with El Hosseny Dance Company, solos in three separate dances

2006

  • Oriental Dance Festival of Finland, organised by Afifa Studio, Naantali, Finland: dancing with Mizmar Dance Group
  • Oriental Dancefever Festival, organised by Nadia's Oriental Dance School, Stockholm, Sweden: workshop and solo
  • Secret of the Magic Forest, a dance play organised by Mizmar Association, Turku, Finland: one of the script writers; a solo and a duet with Heli Maanila
  • International Summer Festival, organised by Mihrimah Association, Tampere, Finland: workshop, solo and a dance with Mizmar Dance Group
  • Layyali Simsimiyya Show, organised by Shamsina Association, Helsinki, Finland: dancing with Shamsina Dance Company

2005

  • Oriental Dance Festival of Finland, organised by Afifa Studio, Silja Line, Turku-Stockholm-Turku: solo, duet with Outi Boman
  • Haflat Shamsina Show, organised by Shamsina Association, Helsinki, Finland: dancing with Masrah Dance Company, and a duet with Outi Boman
  • International Summer Festival, organised by Seitsemän Hunnun Tanssi (Dance of the Seven Veils) Association, Jyväskylä, Finland: dancing with Masrah Dance Company, also a solo
  • Masrah Show, Helsinki, Finland: dancing with Masrah Dance Company, also a solo
  • Raks Madrid Festival, Madrid, Spain: dancing with Masrah Dance Company
  • Secret of the Magic Forest, a dance play organised by Mizmar Association, Turku, Finland: one of the script writers; a solo and a duet with Heli Maanila
  • Invitation to Dance Show, organised by Mizmar Association, Turku, Finland: group dances and a solo

2004

  • Oriental Dance Festival of Finland, organised by Afifa Studio, Silja Line, Turku-Stockholm-Turku: dancing with the group Al Amirat
  • Layali Misr Show, organised by Al Amirat Association, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat, also a solo
  • Yalla! International Oriental Dance Festival, organised by Masrah Association, Helsinki, Finland: workshop; solo and group dances in Hafla Masreyya Show with Masrah Dance Company in a show organised by Masrah Assoc. and Mahmoud Reda, and accompanied by El Nugum Orchestra. Also dancing with Masrah Dance Company in the Gala Show

2003

  • Oriental Dance Festival of Finland, organised by Afifa Studio, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat
  • Enchanted by Al Amiratin, organised by Al Amirat Association, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat, also two solos
  • International Summer Festival, organised by Seitsemän Hunnun Tanssi (Dance of the Seven Veils) Association, Jyväskylä, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat
  • Tamsileya Show, organised by Masrah Association, Helsinki, Finland: dancing with Masrah dance Company, also a solo

2002

  • Layali Misr Show, organised by Al Amirat Association, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat, also two solos
  • Yalla! International Oriental Dance Fesival, organised by Masrah Association, Helsinki, Finland: workshop and solo
  • Tallinn Belly Dance Day, Tallinn,Estonia: workshops and solo performances
  • Oriental Express Show, organised by Masrah Association, Helsinki, Finland: dancing with Masrah Dance Company
  • Cyprus International Folklore Festival, dancing with Masrah Dance Company, also a solo

2001

  • Layali al Qahira Show, organised by Al Amirat Association, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat, also a solo

2000

  • Oriental Dance by Al Amirat and Masrah Show, organised by Al Amirat Association, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat, also a solo
  • Yalla! International Oriental Dance Fesival, organised by Masrah Association, Helsinki, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat

1999

  • Oriental Dance Festival of Finland, organised by Afifa Studio, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat
  • Jewels of Egyptian Dance Show, organised by Al Amirat Association, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat, also a solo
  • International Summer Festival, organised by Seitsemän Hunnun Tanssi (Dance of the Seven Veils) Association, Jyväskylä, Finland: dancing with the group Al Amirat

1997

  • International Summer Festival, organised by Seitsemän Hunnun Tanssi (Dance of the Seven Veils) Association, Jyväskylä, Finland: dancing in the duo El Nahar.

1996

  • Oriental Dance Festival of Finland, organised by Afifa Studio, Turku, Finland: dancing with the group Nefer

Study trips abroad

  • Cairo, Egypt: 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007 (also Alexandria)
  • Madrid, Spain: 2005
  • Stockholm, Sweden: 2006, 2009, 2010 (twice), 2011
  • Berlin, Germany: 2008, 2009
  • Prague, Czech Republic 2012

English language articles in magazines

  • Habibi (USA), vol. 15, N. 2 (1996)
  • Letters from the Readers: TANZ Oriental 106 (Dec 2010–Feb 2011) (translated into German)

updated 2.1.2022

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Contact

+358 40 516 5533

toivonen.anu (at) gmail.com *

* Should You wish to contact me by e-mail, please replace (at) with @ omitting the spaces.