Z-Helene holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Franklin & Marshall College. She has a broad dance background that includes extensive study and performances in Middle Eastern, East Indian, African, modern, ballet and flamenco dance forms. Having first studied Middle Eastern dance in the late1970's with Marie Silva in Los Angeles and Bobby Farrah in New York City, she has been continually performing and instructing Middle Eastern dance for over 26 years and is constantly attending seminars to upgrade her skills. She is a certified board member of NATCMED. Z-Helene has also successfully completed one year of training for Iyengar Yoga instructor certification and has been teaching yoga for eight years.

   For the past 19 years Z-Helene has been teaching an accredited Middle Eastern dance class at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas, where she has produced large scale Middle Eastern dance concerts. As originator of her own eclectic ethnic style, Blue Wave, she has also received numerous cultural grants from the City of Austin to produce professional concerts. She has written a paper entitled Middle Eastern Dance: The Emergence of the New Sacred Temple Priestess, which is an expanded version of a presentation given at the First International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance at Orange Coast College. Z-Helene has been nationally acclaimed for her percussion talent with finger cymbals and her passionate dance style. She has produced four dance videos and two music CDs with more planned for the future. She has also pioneered a movement fusion that combines Belly Dance and Yoga called Bellyoga. As well as courses at Austin Community College, Z-Helene teaches classes at her home studio.and teaches seminars both locally and nationally. Her husband, Rick Fink, performs with her and teaches drum classes both in Austin and regionally.
   
   
   "Z-Helene is an excellent dancer who is one of the most exceptional finger cymbal players I have ever seen. She and her drummer husband Rick Fink have an exciting onstage relationship that is creative and entertaining. But what I love the most about Z-Helene is her voice! She adds a theatrical element to the dance that is wonderful indeed."
- Mahmoud Reda, Pioneer of Egyptian dance theatre

   "I cannot say enough about this young woman... she is a kindred spirit... She's a wonderful, strong, vital and knowledgeable dancer and teacher. Z-Helene is known for her expressive finger cymbal playing; she is considered groundbreaking in her use of counterpoint and syncopation... She cuts through the future frontier of our dance with a style she calls the contemporary/ethnic Blue Wave Belly Dance!"
- Delilah, Visionary Dance Productions; Seattle, WA

   "Watching Z-Helene perform is an organic experience... [she] proves that a determined artist can successfully fuse various international dance styles upon a solid base of Middle Eastern dance... Z-Helene has absorbed the nuances and soul that are Middle Eastern and has enhanced these elements with the sophisticated theatrical treatment of the West... Here is an artist of strong individuality... Z-Helene makes a statement when she dances, and one of the strongest statements that comes across is that she believes in what she is doing. The language of her dance is universal and would be understood in any land... She reaches for the elements and incorporates them successfully into her own personal expression, fusing them into movement."
- Ibrahim Farrah, Arabesque


© Copyright 1997 Z-Helene Christopher, All Rights Reserved © Copyright 1997 Thundula Productions, All Rights Reserved Do not replicate by any means (including any e-mail, photocopying, printing, quoting, links to other sites, etc.), in part or in whole, without written permission from Z-Helene Christopher.