Carlotta Menna

Hi, my name is Carlotta Menna and I was born in Rome. As a child I studied music and piano, and I have been in contact with the Arabic culture since then travelling Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey. At the age of 12 I started studying ballet and modern jazz. Later on in life the passion for travelling and other cultures led me to obtain a Master Degree in Languages, Translation and Literatures.

I started studying classical Egyptian belly dance in Rome with the well-known teachers Valentina Mahira and Saad Ismail, student of Reda, getting soon to an advance level. Very important the studies with Marialuisa Sales, with whom Carlotta studied Arabic and Turkish rhythms according to Mohammad Reda codification, and, also with Marialuisa Sales, I obtained a four years qualification in knowledge of Turkish Oriental Style, Turco-Roman (Havasi) style and Ottoman Court Dance recognised by UNESCO.

In the year 2007/2008 I lived in Madrid, where I studied flamenco in the famous school "Amor de Dios".

In 2009 I started the three years formation in Florence as a professional teacher with Gaia Scuderi and Roberta Bongini, which included anatomy, Arabic and contemporary dance, props, didactic, teacher training, choreography and Sufi dance among other subjects. In 2012 I obtained the qualification as a teacher in Arabic Expressive Dance.

I keep studying classical, folkloric and cabaret style following workshops with international teachers such as Mahmoud Reda (Egitto), Amar Gamal (USA), Wael Mansour (Italia/Egitto) Jillina (USA), Raquia Hassan (Egitto) Randa Kamel (Egitto).

In 2010 I also started studying tribal fusion and ATS, following classes and workshops with international teachers such as Rachel Brice, Sharon Kihara, Manca Pavli, Geneva Bybee, Tjarda Van Straten, Elisheva, Sashi, Kymberly Mckoy, Elizabeth Strong, Anasma Vuong, April Rose, Morgana and in 2011 I obtained the first level certification in ATS FatChance Bellydance, released by Isabel de Lorenzo and Silvia Grassi of Carovana Tribale.

In 2011, with my dance company Shadi', I started a collaboration with the Italian folkloric dancer and choreographer Roberta Parravano in theatrical project that mixed contemporary and theatrical dance with oriental and Italian dances, brought on various stages around Italy.

I am part of Shadì dance company, a contemporary and tribal belly dance company based in Rome. We organised theatrical shows, workshops and performances in Rome and in numerous festivals around Italy.

Since 2009 I have been regularly performing as a solo and as a company member in Italy and around the world (Spain, Croatia, England, USA, Australia, New Zealand) in festivals, events, restaurants and private functions. Since 2010 she has been teaching regular classes and thematic workshops of different styles.

In 2014 I moved to Australia and New Zealand, where I created collaborations with musicians and performed and held workshops at different events and festivals. I was first based in Sydney where I was regularly performing and teaching dance classes and I have moved to the Northern Rivers a couple of year ago where I co-created the fire dance troupe “Enchanted Embers”.

In Australia I also started studying and teaching yoga. I am a qualified Hatha and Vinyasa 500h yoga instructor plus 75h specialisation in Aerial Yoga and SUP Yoga.

I am also dedicated to circus arts, such as aerial (aerial silk, aerial lyra) and fire spinning, which I often fusion with belly dance. I regularly perform as a fire artist and belly dancer for private and corporate events, restaurants, venues and music festivals as a solo and with her current fire troupe Enchanted Embers. 

With a very wide background, my performances and classes are very different and eclectic but also paying attention to the  techniques, the traditions and the history of the dance styles.