Ecole De Danse Corps Et Ame En Mouvement

Claudette Biron's original career path did not include oriental dance. A psychotherapist by training, she adhered to more non-conformist approaches, such as the Italian method of psychosynthesis.

Her career was followed by two children, and in 1978, she travelled to Cuba with a friend. It was during this trip that she discovered a passion for dance — and, with it, a mission. "In Cuba, I danced like a maniac all night!" says Claudette.

Her friend Jocelyne Dubuc, who founded Spa Eastman, recommended that she enroll in belly dance classes, as baladi was then called, with Micheline D'Astou, author of a book on oriental dance. Arabic music and movements fascinated Claudette, who practised every day. Then, for 12 years, she took courses by Gamila, a leader of baladi in Quebec and in North America. She also participated in several courses with Master Ibrahim Farah in New York.