“I was born in Egypt and grew up in Cairo.  My parents migrated here in 2001, I knew no English at all so straight into Year 9 at school was quite challenging!

“We lived in Alice Springs for five years and it was through school I really started getting into dance. I've loved dancing since I was two years old, but I didn’t take it seriously until I came to Australia. I did hip hop, contemporary and jazz at school and then when I finished school, I took on other dance styles.

I moved to Adelaide for University to study law and then moved to Sydney for around eight years. I’d started teaching dancing in high school and I have not stopped, so it has been my full-time job since.

“When I moved to Sydney, I started with a Brazilian company called Rhythm Brazil and we would do shows all around Sydney. I also danced with the Rio Project and every single year we would travel to Rio, Brazil and parade in Carnivale. I still dance with them every now and then.

“I came to Orange a couple of years ago as Sydney started to get too busy and chaotic and I realised with the traffic and that that I was spending so much time travelling from one place to another. I discovered Orange and I liked it a lot! I now teach a Zumba class here each Tuesday.

I enjoy everything about dancing! If a day goes past without me dancing, you would notice it. People ask what's wrong and then I play music and I realise I didn't dance today! For me it is freedom. Dancing makes me alive — I love it!