Tjarda van Straten

Tjarda van Straten is an original and talented dancer with a broad-minded approach to Fusion Bellydance and has become well-known for her innovative choreographies. She is the inventive force behind award-winning Fusion Belly Dance Company The Uzumé and The Amano Project and has received several grants to expand her knowledge or to develop new projects.

Career

Tjarda has a background in many dance genres, ranging from modern, flamenco and tango to improvised movement. She pioneered Tribal Fusion in the Netherlands and was winner with The Uzumé of the first Shimmy Shake competition in 2007 and has been a major inspiration for all new developments since then. Countries where she has performed include Spain, Belgium, Brazil, England, Germany, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Croatia, China, Kazachstan, Mexico, Czeck Repulic, Austria, United Kingdom and the United States.