Corinne Turner - Cora

Corinne Turner (also known as Cora) is a professional Dancer and performance artist based in Nuremberg, Germany. Cora comes from the island of Malta, however she performs all over the globe.

Dance styles: Belly Dance and Middle-Eastern folklore dance such as Saidi, Ghawazee and traditional Baladi and Khaligi amongst others. Cora also performs Modern Jazz, Cabaret, Burlesque and Hip Hop. Cora also occasionally joins both singing and dancing to her Cabaret/Burlesque performances.

Apart from performing in public events and belly dance festivals, Corinne performs in private events such as weddings, Haflas (Middle eastern style parties), birthday parties, corporate events, hen's parties, baby showers etc.

Cora does not perform in Bachelor’s parties or males-only events.

For a list of services and prices kindly check out the SERVICES section.

Corinne is also a lover of culture and languages. She completed her B.A. Hons Degree in 2010, majoring in Arabic and studying linguistics as a subsidiary area. She also speaks several other languages, namely Maltese, English, Spanish, Italian and French and is currently learning German. Cora is a full time performer however she still enjoys the study of languages and linguistics in her free time.

Detailed Biography

The early years...

Corinne Turner took her first ballet class when she was only 3 years old. It was very clear since she was a baby that she enjoyed music and wanted to wiggle and dance whenever there was music! At the young age of 7 she also began taking jazz lessons as she felt she wanted something more energetic and dynamic. Her first TV performance was when she was only 8 years old on Malta's most popular TV channel, TVM, in a programme called "Ħadd wara ħadd". When she was 13, Corinne joined a jazz and cabaret troupe where she was exposed to cabaret and Burlesque shows that were a great inspiration for her later fusions of cabaret, jazz and burlesque!

Discovering the sensual art of Belly Dance

Rather than Cora discovering belly dance, one may say that it was belly dance that discovered Cora! When she was only 13 years of age, Cora, together with the Rimoa cabaret troupe, went to give a show in Sousse, Tunisia. After one particular show in which Cora was performing as "Esmeralda", the gypsy from the musical "Notre Dame de Paris", she was approached by a local belly dancer who believed that Cora could be a great belly dancer. At that time, she was still not quite sure what belly dancing involved however she took lessons with Fatima Hazer of Tunisia and she instantly connected with the oriental dance and culture. Corinne performed her first belly dance show in Malta in 2001, pioneering this new style into the Maltese Islands. She continued to take classes with Fatima Hazar during the school holidays. Her focus of study was classical Egyptian and cabaret style belly dance, however, later she began experimenting with other belly dance styles such as ATS ( American Tribal Style ), Gypsy Fusion and Turkish belly dance. She also began studying other Middle eastern folklore dances such as Saidi, Ghawazee, Khaligi and Dabke amongst others. Cora has studied and worked with some of the most popular belly dancers and oriental dance choreographers from all over the world (see list below).

The pioneer belly dancer in her home country & success in Malta as a professional dancer and teacher

Cora was not only doing shows all over the island and on television but also began her travels in Europe to learn other styles of belly dance and to perform. By age 18 Corinne had already performed in Spain, Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland, and performed every summer in Sousse. The appearances of Corinne Turner in Tunisia became more and more frequent, in fact they nicknamed her "al Maltiyya" (The Maltese one). The belly dance career blossomed and Corinne began giving her own classes in several locations in Malta.

Corinne opened her own school: ARTEMOCION STUDIO. She had been already teaching in several locations earlier however now she was equipped with a professional studio, also one of the registered centres for Royal Academy of Dance examinations in Malta. Artemocion has hosted various workshops for international dance artists and belly dancers. The school is currently run by Davinia Turner since has focused on her international show career and is now based in Germany. Cora still flies to Malta twice a year to give workshops to the Maltese belly dancers, perform and choreograph new material for the Artemocion Bella Dance troupe. Cora also choreographed the dance of Maltese model Francesca Gaspari for Miss World 2010. This choreography was chosen as the best dance of the contest.

Further success in international productions and development of belly dance career at an international level whilst still maintaining the role of top belly dancer in Malta

In 2009 Corinne was chosen to be part of the main dance team in an Indian Movie: Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa ( Will You Cross the Skies for Me? ), which was a great success in India. Cora is featured in the video of the theme song "Hosanna", which was a great hit in India was written by A.R.Rahman, who also wrote the Academy Award winning "Jai Ho", from the movie "Slumdog Millionaire". Corinne Turner is the only Maltese girl who was chosen to be part of the main dance team of this Bollywood movie.

In Malta, Corinne appeared in all TV stations not only singing and dancing but also as a personality in popular programmes such as Xarabank (TVM). Cora also was featured in numerous magazines and newspaper articles regarding belly dance and her career as an artist (for press articles check out the gallery section). Corinne has also featured as Miss January 2011 in one of the local modelling calendars.

In 2010 Corinne completed her Degree, a B.A (Hons) in Arabic, and began working on her Masters to continue this multi-façade study of the Arab world. Corinne also travelled in Syria for Summer 2010 to study Levantine dialects, culture and dance. In between a busy show schedule Cora still enjoys studying Arabic and Linguistics privately. Apart from Arabic Cora also speaks several other languages: Maltese, English, Italian, Spanish and French. She is currently also studying German.

In 2011, Corinne Turner was been chosen to teach Classical Arabic Dance in the Malta Drama Centre. This is the first course opened for belly dance in Malta that offers a diploma for Oriental dance. The course included not only Oriental dance study but also studying Arabic culture and history. Due to her international career, the work in this area has been forwarded to her students who continue to spread the art of belly dance in Malta.

In 2012 Cora performed in various prestigious events in Europe and in the Arab world. She was also one of the master teachers who gave workshops and performances at the Lelah Masriya festival, one of the most prestigious events in Egypt.

Cora is now based in Germany, teaching classes in Nürnberg and Fürth. She also gives regular workshops in Bavaria as well as other parts of Germany. Cora also gives workshops in different cities around the world apart from attending and performing in Oriental Dance Festivals.

Television and shows in major events

Corinne has also made various television appearances including

• Monalisa 2004  ( one tv) - resident performer
• Otello 2005 ( One tv) – resident performer
• Xarabank 2006 (  Tvm)
• Show time 2006 ( Tvm)
• Celebrity Sundays 2008 ( One tv)
• Euro Show box 2009 ( Tvm)
• Allegria 2009 ( One tv) – frequent performer
• Singled out 2009 & 2010 ( One tv) – frequent performer
• Sessi 2010 ( Educ 22) – frequent performer

Corinne is also invited in all the major events in Malta such as:

• Carnevale de Venezia
• Arabian nights (Gozo annual Arabian event)
• Lejlet Lapsi
• Notte Bianca
• Iljieli Melliehin
• Indipendenza
• UHM Festival
• Opening of Bizazza street
• Opening of St.George’s square in Valletta
• Carnival of Malta
• Mosta fest

Cora has worked and studied with several top belly dance artists, researchers and choreographers including:

• Sadie(USA)
• Lucy (Egypt)
• Prof. Dr. Hassan Khalil (Egypt)
• Alaa Abo Lelah (Egypt)
• Ozgen(Turkey)
• Sherry Mizrahi (Israel)
• Rajaa Ben Moussa(Morocco/Switzerland)
• Mona Ghazi(Syria/Egypt)
• Maya Gaorry(Brazil/Italy)
• Ehab Gadalla (Egypt)
• Dandash (Egypt)
• Saad Ismael(Egypt)
• Fatima Hazer (Tunisia/Egypt)
• Bernard Schembri, Oriental Darbouka artist of Dumtak (Malta)

Testimonials

I met Cora at the Lelah Masriya International Dance Festival in Cairo 2012, I found her a very nice person besides that she is a true artist of oriental dance. I liked her style in arabic dance which was very original. She showed a good experience in technique and performance, with her flexible body, very sophisticated movement and a hint of a sexy attitude. She has an arabic spirit and she really impressed me. besides her dancing, she gave a very good class at the workshops in the festival.

Mona Ghazi