I’ll be honest with you: I don’t gush easily. After years of taking workshops and watching performers, it takes a lot to make me stop and think that was something special.
But let me tell you about a moment at Aziza’s Dreamcamp.
It was the end-of-camp hafla; you know the vibe, a room full of incredible professional performers, everyone bringing their best. And then Siobhan Camille performed to Leylet Hob, and something shifted in the room. It was heartfelt, precise, deeply musical, the kind of performance that doesn’t just impress you, it moves you. The fact that she stood out so memorably for me, in a lineup of so many seriously strong artists, tells you everything you need to know.
So when I heard was going to be nearby in Montreal this summer, and willing to travel to teach, I jumped on the chance to have Duniya Studio host her in Ottawa. She’ll be teaching two days at the Shenkman Arts Centre on August 29–30, 2026
What’s actually on offer
The weekend is broken into focused and substantial sessions. Saturday is all about the drum solo, Siobhan’s absolute wheelhouse. She’ll take you through foundational and advanced technique, layering, and stage presence, and you’ll walk away with a brand new original tabla solo choreography. Not a recycled piece, something new.
Sunday is dedicated to shimmies and isolations: a shimmy marathon covering multiple styles with drills and strengthening work, followed by an isolation deep-dive. And here’s the thing: when Siobhan teaches you to access and isolate muscles, she really means it. This is not hand-wavy “feel the movement” instruction.
Why her background matters more than you might think
Siobhan holds postgraduate degrees in Rehabilitation Science (from McGill University, no less) and Exercise Prescription, and is a certified Strength & Conditioning Coach. She conducted the first formal research on injury incidence in belly dancers. She trained Olympic athletes. When she explains why you hold something in your body a certain way, there’s actual science behind it, and it makes the technique click in a completely different way.
This is rare in our dance world. The combination of award-winning artistry (she’s been a Master Instructor for Aziza’s Year of You for six years running, has competed internationally, performed with Bellydance Evolution) and that level of anatomical and biomechanical knowledge is genuinely uncommon. You’re not just learning steps, you’re learning how your body works.
She’s also just lovely
I don’t want to skip over this, because it matters. Siobhan is warm, enthusiastic, and the kind of teacher who makes you feel genuinely supported rather than judged. Her whole philosophy is built around “movement optimism,” helping you find what your body can do. In a dance world that can sometimes feel intimidating, that energy is a gift.
The practical bits
Early bird pricing runs until July 20: a single day is $180, or $310 for the full weekend (use promo code SIOBHAN2DAYS at checkout to get $50 off when you book both days). After July 20, prices go up to $220/$390.
There’s also a hafla the evening of August 29 where you can watch Siobhan along with some amazing local dancers perform live. Tickets are $20 and the event is open to all.
If you’re travelling in, the venue is right next to a Holiday Inn Express in Orleans, which is super handy.
Register through the Duniya Student Portal or email duniyastudio@gmail.com.
Thirty spots. Two days. One teacher who will genuinely change how you understand your own body and your dancing. Go register!