Ishra is an award-winning, multi-dimensional dancer, and performer, instructing dance now for over 25 years.
Since beginning her bellydance (MENAHT dance-Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic, Turkish) training in 1994, she has been a member and teacher with several innovative dance companies across Canada. She currently teaches in Guelph, Ontario, and is the Founder and Artistic Director of Invoketress Dance, a troupe of strong, bewitching women. She is a voracious student in her pursuit of dance knowledge, delving into the study of dances from around the world and ancestral spirituality. Her latest dance loves being Flamenco and Polynesian dance. She was an artist in residence at the River Run Centre/Guelph Dance’s Shebang project for 3 years as well as a recipient of top 40 over 40.
Through her wide breadth of dance study and decades of dedicated dance practice, she is a strong improviser and especially loves to dance with live bands. Performances with live bands include the twice Juno-nominated Eccodek, award-winning Light of East Ensemble and Juneyt Yetkiner, internationally acclaimed Adrian Raso as well as opening for Sean Paul and Akon with her Invoketress crew. As a teacher Ishra is very warm and inclusive, believing deeply: when we heal ourselves, we heal each other and we heal the World.