Philosophy, Training and Experience

“Belly dancing really comes from inside the person. It lifts your spirits.”

A Unique and Versatile Individual

Magda has her Bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in Chicago, in a mentor-guided program in Women’s Studies and Spirituality. Her Master’s is also from DePaul, an interdisciplinary, self-designed and mentor-guided program in Transcendental Imagery©. She has a large background in the art and ethics of teaching and group facilitation, due to her MA. She is currently working on her PhD. She is certified in Transformational Imagery under the guidance of Dr. Charlotte Smith.

She is a certified yoga instructor with 11 years of personal practice, and studied Tai Chi with Master Domingo Tui for 7 years before that.

Magda is a certified domestic violence counselor through IDVA (Illinois Domestic Violence Act). She was on the board and served as Vice President of Sarah’s Inn of Oak Park (an organization for survivors of domestic violence) and is still associated with them.

Her uniquely inspired style of Middle Eastern Dance draws from her twenty-four year passion for the art of movement and her eclectic taste in music. Her dance style is improvisational and interpretive of the music, never choreographed.

Magda’s latest endeavor is Saaj Café, in which she is part owner, along with Omar Almusfi and David Schneider. This Wicker Park restaurant will feature live music and dance performances with a Middle Eastern/Mediterranean menu. Opening 2008!

A Dedication to Learning

From 1979 to 1985, she studied Tai Chi Chuan under direction of Master Domingo Tui of Chicago. From 1985 to 1998, she studied Kriya Yoga in an intensive study/teacher certification program under the direction of Yogini Diane Dombeck, Temple of Kriya Yoga of Chicago. She began her Middle Eastern Dance training under the artistic direction of TJ DuCote, also of Chicago.

Magda continues her training by studying with these highly skilled artists: the incomparable Sadiyah and Leila Gamal for continuing dance instruction, and Omar Al Musfi (Principle Percussionist, Syrian National Symphony) for percussion instruction. She is a member of the Middle Eastern Culture and Dance Association (MECDA).

She takes as many seminars as she is able, and is pleased to have been able to complete seminars with the following artists:

Passionate Performances

Magda has also performed for the Masons
at the Scottish Rite Temple!

Media Attention

Brief excerpts from the Miller article, Dinner and dancing, appeared in the 31 July 05 News-Dispatch:

“Since [Magda] does not choreograph her dancing, her 20-minute show is improvised, lending her time to dance with restaurant patrons.

“‘You see them, and they just want to be asked [to join you],’ she said. ‘Women want to get up and learn something, show their husbands or boyfriends.’”

Brief excerpts from the Fox article, Belly dancing at Moe's, appeared in the 25 July 05 Post-Tribune:

“‘She’s so talented,’ [a restaurant patron] said. ‘She really brought out the crowd and got everyone into it. We would definitely do it again.’

“Being aware of the culture is important for a belly dancer, [Magda] said. ‘You try to be respectful and portray it as they would.’”

Brief excerpts from the Snow article, Belly up for fitness, appeared in the 3 May 05 Southtown, and Belly dance your way to physical fitness in the 22 May 05 Star:

“‘You learn to work one group of muscles while you keep the rest steady,’ instructor [Magda] said. ‘That’s what makes a belly dancer.’

“[Magda], who performs in the Chicago area, learned belly dancing seven years ago as a natural extension of her studies, which include tai chi and yoga, and her degrees in women’s studies, spirituality and transcendental imagery.”

[This article was written about the hafla, or dance party, that preceeded the Cassandra Shore seminar that Magda co-sponsored with Samantha Wolf.]

Brief excerpts from the Hageman article, Belly Up! Middle Eastern dancers throw themselves a hip party (30 November 03):