Alexandra King, Founder, Director

Alexandra King is recognized as one of the foremost Middle Eastern Dance artists in the United States. She has traveled extensively throughout North Africa and the Middle East to observe and study the dances of this region, later teaching and performing throughout the world. Her career began in 1975, and since she has received many awards for her work as a performer, choreographer and instructor.

"She is a bawdy courtesan, star-making teacher, ground-breaking director and a provocative and engaging performer. Her love of the dance is an obvious extension of her soul." ~ Belly Dance Magazine

"When you danced my mouth dropped and I wasn't able to breathe...your performance was incredible"! ~ G.B. Bakersfield, CA

"There are no words to describe your dancing".~ L.S. Forest Hills, N.Y

"Alexandra King "Wows" the audience!" ~ Arab American News

"When Alexandra King dances it is beautiful" ~ SB Independent

"Your dancing sets my soul free" ~ B.T. Los Angeles, CA

"Alexandra's enthusiasm, extensive knowledge of the dance forms and cultures, and obvious enjoyment of teaching combine to make one of the most enjoyable and exciting classes I've had!". ~ UCSB Student

"Alexandra King is one of the most knowledgeble, dedicated and brilliantly inspirational women I know. She is a true gift to the Middle Eastern dance community". ~ S. T., Sponsor, N. C.

"She is amazing". ~ J. S., Sponsor, Pacific Grove, CA.

"She is so settled and steeped in her physical and intellectual understanding of the art of belly dance that there is a relaxed natural way about her teaching. When I am in her class, I am actually dancing, not just learning movements and drilling/repeating them. There is a balance between technique and personal creative expression".~KC, beginning student, Santa Barbara, CA.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Alexandra was raised in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, where the blend of African, Latin, and East Indian cultures planted the seeds of her love of ethnic dance and music. Her inspiration came growing up in a family with three generations of performing artists, including silent screen star, Molly King, Uncle Charlie King, (star of Melody of Broadway), her beloved mother, Broadway actress Peggy French, and her maternal grandparents, Edward and Virginia French, both composers and concert pianists. She began dance classes at the age of ten which stoked the fire to become a dancer.

CAREER

From 1975 – 2008 she was an itinerant teacher and performer, working internationally.
In 1990 she co-founded the UCSB Middle East Dance Ensemble with Dr. Scott Marcus and was its director, choreographer, costume designer and principal soloist until 2010, when she retired from the group.
From 2000 - 2004, she was a lecturer in the first accredited ethnic dance class at UCSB in the Department of Dramatic Arts and Dance.
Since 1983 she has produced dozens of theatrical events and festivals.

TRAINING

The roster of her teachers includes:

Ballet, jazz and tap dance:: Jayne Miles, NYC, St. Thomas, VI.
Ballet and Modern:: Julie McLeod, Santa Barbara, CA.
Ballet and Point :: Beth Bartlett, Santa Barbara, CA
Belly Dance:: Diana Ferarri, (formerly with Kos Kadas, San Francisco), Santa Barbara, CA.
Belly Dance:: Jenaeni Rathor, Ojai, CA.
Bharata Natyam:: Sandya Keller, Ojai, CA
Persian and Uzbek:: Laurel Victoria Grey, Carolyn Krueger, Robin Friend, Shahrzad Khorsandi, Los Angleles, CA
Lebanese Dabka:: Hassan Harfouche, Los Angeles, CA
Turkish Folk:: Ahmet Luleci (Turkish folk), CA
Greek Line Dance:: George Alexiades, Santa Barbara, CA.
Egyptian folk and BellyDance:: Raqia Hassan, Mahmoud Reda, Sahra Saeeda, Los Angeles, CA
Armenian:: Tom Bozigian (Armenian), Santa Barbara, CA
Saudi:: Hallah Mustafah and Kay Campbell (Harvard), Los Angeles, CA
Flamenco:: Carmen de Torres, Seville, Spain.

HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In 1983 she produced her first concert, “A Tribute to Ethnic Dance” featuring Santa Barbara’s top cultural dancers.

In 1984 she founded Santa Barbara’s prestigious Middle Eastern dance company, SEHER, which, from 1995 - 2010 was the official dance ensemble of the UCSB Middle East Ensemble, the largest Middle East Ensemble in the US, and the only one with dance.
In 1985 she produced the popular performance video "A Very Special Evening at the Plaka”, featuring herself and both of her teachers, Diana Ferrari and Jenaeni Rathor, (Ansuya's mother).
In 1989 Alexandra wrote, choreographed and mounted the first full-length Middle Eastern folk ballet, "SERAGLIO”, which she toured in California and Utah. she is currently reviving it at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara in March, 2024.
Between 1986 -1992 she produced the best-selling four-part DVD series, “The Ancient Art of Belly Dance” which is a complete course in the basics of American cabaret belly dance, and includes performances by Ms. King
She founded and produced the Santa Barbara Middle East festival, MOON OVER MOROCCO in 1998 and produced it for ten years before the recession forced her to stop.

AWARDS

First place in the 1988 at the Belly Dancer of the Year pageant, Walnut Creek, CA.
Best Instructor, the 1995 Nafisa Gem Award for Best Instructor.
Nominated Best Instructor, 1998, International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (IAMED).
Best Instructor, 1999, IAMED
Best Cabaret Dancer 2003, IAMED.
Nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award, 2005 by the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance