Rabia – Leading performer of Turkish Romani Dance in Alaska/USA. 

Her most recent accomplishment was receiving the second place in the Folk Category at Eilat Festival in Israel.
Born in Turkey and raised amongst folkloric musicians and dancers, she started dancing, drumming, and performing at the age of 7 years. Her love to Turkish Romani dance, music and culture has grown consistently throughout her life.  Rabia grow up listening and dancing to the complex rhythms of Turkey’s beautiful Aegean region where Romani people still live today. Almost every celebration in this region involves playing this beautiful rhythm. Her dancing path continued with passion and love of Turkish Romani. She uses Western vocabulary to bridge the cultures.
Today Rabia is an internationally-trained Turkish Romani and belly dance teacher, workshop leader, choreographer, and accomplished performer. Her style is an incomparable blend of Turkish Romani dance, Turkish Folk dance, Turkish and Middle East Orientale Dance.
Rabia passes her enthusiasm for improvisation on to her students, demonstrating how to physically connect with melody and rhythm, using the body as a visual musical instrument. Her unique dancing and teaching style is rooted in Turkish culture and tradition.
In addition to being a nurse, she holds a Physical Education degree with an emphasis in athletics/dance, and is working towards acquiring her Master of Science in Nursing Education. She is the Artistic Director and choreographer of Turkish Dance by Rabia and Gozde Dans.