Testimonials

Listed below are just some of the things clients have put down in writing and have sent to us over the last few years.  

Bohemian Chic - Raid-the Gypsy closet crossed with Cirque de Soliel:  flamboyant, free-spirited costumes give this group their distinctive look. Cool, natural fabrics suit their fast, upbeat dance style Dina Lydia, Costume Goddess
'Just to say thanks for your fantastic workshop today- they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the Centre management were bold over! The energy & enthusiasm generated was inspirational!'
Urban Canvass - Liverpool  
'The Gypsy dancing demonstration you provided was superb, and it was delightful to see you encouraged members of the public to participate.' 
City of Salford, Arts & Leisure Dept. 
'Light hearted nature of performance, excellent for this type of event.' 
Stockport MBC, Stockport Park Rangers 
'Your dancing delighted and fascinated the crowd at Werneth Folk Weekend.' 
Jenny Cockson, Chief Editor 'Buzz' 
'I felt you have good communication skills, many thanks for a superb concert.' 
Burton House, Withington Hospital 
'It's wonderful to see all the different traditional costumes... we look for different types and styles, and this was different to anything we've ever had.' 
Tameside Canal Festival. 
'Very different and enjoyable, come again.' 
St Thomas Hospital, Stockport 
'Zehara's personality is just right for turning an audience into performers.' 
025 Nursery, Heaton Mersey, Stockport. 
It was unusual and visually exciting arousing a lot of interest, the active involvement of the children using scarves was admired and appreciated by everyone.' 
Southwold Nursing Home, Annual Fete 
'Excellent. To get all ages involved and to have fun is what we like to see at our events.' 
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. 
'Broke down barriers with audience, gave confidence and self esteem.' 
Bridge House Rehabilitation Unit, Adswood. 
'...may I say how impressed we all were by you, many thanks for a very professional job.' 
Peter Chapman, 'Children running for Children' Heaton Park. 
You performed in a very Professional manner' 
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council. 
'Everyone thought you were fantastic and it was great to see that people off all ages were taking part and having a go. Your performances really added to the carnival atmosphere and we all really enjoyed working with you.' 
Shirley Jones- Chairwoman for Walkden Festival Committee. 
'the guests thoroughly enjoyed this, as guest comment cards proved.The promotion proved to be a success as our figures show. This is certainly due to Jan and Nikki 
Hilton Hotel, Manchester Airport 
Just a note to express our sincere thanks to you all for you excellent performance at short notice at our Charity Night of Eastern Promise. Your performance was "out of this world" and really brought the event to life. People are still talking about it even now!
We had an excellent press release in our local newspaper after the event.....The event proved a great success and raised a total of £3000 in aid of the Congleton Town Mayor's chosen charities 'Visyon' and 'Congleton in Bloom' - you helped to make a special night exceptional. 
Thank you once again and we wish you every success with your future events. 
Howard, Vesta and the CAST team - Siemens plc
I was lucky enough to see the Urban Gypsies perform on Sunday in the Town Hall and was blown away, they were fantastic!  Anne-Marie   
I am writing to say how much I enjoyed your performance at M/cr Town Hall last week.  What a celebration of womanhood - wow!!! Magnificent - I was bowled over....  I am very grateful that you are in Mcr!! ....   The costumes are so  vibrant.  What I enjoyed most was the enthusiasm and the pure joy and fulfillment the women projected.  You worked so well with the audience - it was terrific.  I was very impressed with the larger women who are so at home with their bodies.  And the smiles!!  I haven't the vocabulary to continue...I want to join in!!  Reba  
Fun, exciting, well rehearsed, effective dress, dancers seemed to have a good understanding of what they were doing. audience and performers obviously enjoyed it very much. Penny Caffrey   
Saw you and your troupe dancing at Liverpool podium on Saturday. Your dancing blew my brains out, I was banjaxed and gobsmacked all at the same time. Have been belly dancing 4mnths and absolutely love it. If I could end up just one tenth as good as you I'll be well happy. It was both a treat and a privilege to see you all dance...you put Holly Valence to shame when you did the Kiss/Kiss song. What more can I say, your out of this world all of you. Good luck in all of your future endeavors. Sandra Harvey 
Many thanks for your performance at this year's festival which had a fantastic impact.  Bluecoat Arts Centre  (Liverpool)
was fantastic and very professional and well performed by the Urban Gypsies group during the Liverpool Arabic cultural festival well done Said (Liverpool University)
enjoyed it. well performed and presented. seductive energy.  Deborah Barnard (Ludus Dance) 
Zehara has taken belly dancing to a different level, and brings her own skill and imagination into every class she teaches. I have tried other classes on the odd times she has been away and they are slow and lack the Zehara factor. Her classes are so energetic that with the stresses of life you can go in feeling worn out and come out rejuvenated and this keeps you going until the next week
StraitJacket Circus
Well after a stressful day, I can't wait to get to class tonight. Nothing like a bit of shimmying to shake those blues away! By going to the classes I've also lost half a stone in January, and still ate chocolate! I would urge anyone to come to the class and give it a go. I'll guarentee several things...you will lea...ve with a smile and your face, eager to come back for more, and finally become a hugh fan of Zehara.....like me xxx   Louise
I used to be a member of a gym but found that I wasn’t reaching my goals as I was unmotivated (like many of us) and wanted to find a fun way to keep fit. Before my 1st session I had all the usual concerns of what should I wear, will I be able to keep up etc but upon arriving all my concerns disappeared because Zehara ...was friendly and approachable and made me feel very welcome, the music started and I just went with the flow.
Sibhon 
Zehara's dance is unique and upbeat she is passionate about what she does and encourages everyone to join in and share her love of dancing. I’ve been hooked ever since and no longer require the gym as this keeps me fit whilst having fun with fantastic people, it also gives me a chance to let my hair down and feel liberated.
I have never attended any other classes before that leave me feeling so positive and full of energy.   Kelly
Dear Nikki & Jan
Thanks for the workshop last weekend it was fab! The feed back has been really good, they were buzzing about the whole experience, the energy, the music and your outfit. 
Angela
Dear Zehara Thanks for the DVD of the workshop held in Bethesda a couple of weeks a go. I really wanted to write and say how much I really enjoyed the afternoon and that your workshop was exactly what I have been looking for. It is so nice to meet a teacher who has such an infectious desire to dance and share with others. I loved the pace of your workshop and the fact that we all got on and had a go at the moves, it was all about fun and if I learnt one move that day I did well. Most of all it was the fun and the desire to carry on dancing. You really made me feel that if I practice I can dance. I really hope that I can attend more of your work shops as I feel I have so much to learn from you.
Many, many thanks for a fantastic day and the fantastic feel good factor. I hope that I will see more of you in the future.  Shazz
Hi Zehara
Again, it was brilliant to dance at your class in Northumberland.
Best Wishes Lucy 
Hiya Zehara
Just a few words to express my gratitude. I participated in the workshop in Bethesda and it was GREEEAATTT!!! I simply love it. It is a way to dance much more adapted to me than the belly dancing, to the way a feel the music and I dance and I move.
I really like the fact that we were dancing all the time, without counting or remembering the movements (As soon as I have to think what I am doing I can't do it, the same apply if I have to count!). I was just feeling the music (which was also fantastic).
Yesterday I was all aching (I confess!!) but the 3 hours past like 3 minutes, and all what I could think the rest of the day is that I wanted to keep dancing!!
Thank you very much from my heart
Celia
I just wanted to drop you a line to say Thank You for the workshop you did for us last night. We all had a really good time and it is great that the girls have had fun and exercise at the same time.
Thanks again
Christine 
i came to a workshop at topcliffe last year. it was like nothing i'd ever done before! i had a fantastic time. great to see your interpretation of the music. if you do another class in north yorkshire please let us know through basthabda. keep on dancing lou
I see you as extra special tallented people and you must continue with your wonderful dancing. You are bringing such a lot of joy and happiness to the dancers who are fortunate enough to experience your style. I look forward to my next workshop with you both.
Kindest Regards Anne
Dear Nikki & Yan
Thank you for the wonderful workshop experience at Wortely Hall. I love the energy and style of your classes. I would love to attend more workshops with you and hope I hear about any workshops you may hold in the future.
Sending you my very best wishes for the future
Kindest Regards Anne 
I am writing on behalf of the "hens" who attended your class in Didsbury on Saturday. We had an absolutely brilliant time! The class was great fun and we were made to feel very welcome indeed. We especially liked the "I will survive" track at the end !!
The class put us in a party mood for the rest of the day, it certainly was a day to remember.
Thank you so much for your efforts.
You may well be seeing some of us again!!
With warmest regards Alison.
Feedback on  SoPen Workshop with Zehara:  16 Forms completed. (All attendees completed forms) 
 Teaching:  13 said  “Excellent”;  2 said  “Very good” ;  1 said “Good” 
 Workshop Overall:   16 said “Excellent” 
 *Venue:  2 said “Excellent” ; 6 said “very good”;  4 said “Good”;  3 said “OK”;  
What did you like most about the workshop? 
 “All very good” 
“Zehara” 
“Learning to use the whole body” 
“Different style” 
“Learning “new” combinations” 
“Everything” 
“Exciting and fun easy to learn” 
“All of it” 
“Energetic, fun, a teacher with originality and style” 
“The energy, new ideas for fluidity of movement; clear instruction and demonstration” 
“Energy” 
“The energy” 
“Good – friendly – great atmosphere” 
 What did you like least? 
 “Nothing” x 6 similar responses 
 What would you have liked to spend more time on? 
 “All aspects were covered” 
“Timings right for moves/choreography” 
“Techniques” 
“Good balance; I would like to repeat same workshop again” 
“Everything covered and explained well” 
“It seemed about right to me, enjoyed it all: music, moves and costumes. Very inspirational” 
“How to move my body” 
“Good balance” 
“Nothing in particular” 
 What would you have liked to spend less time on? 
 “A good, varied schedule” 
“Timings right for moves/choreography” “Good balance”