Artist name: Eeben

Citizen name: Sandra Vokk

Year of Birth: 1987

Education:

2011-2012 MSc in Social Anthropology, University of Oxford

2005-2010 BA in Near Eastern and Asian Studies, Estonian Institute of Humanities, Tallinn University

2002-2005 Gustav Adolf Grammar School

1994-2002 Tallinn English College

Language skills: Estonian (mother tongue), English (advanced), Turkish (intermediate), Russian (basic), Finnish (basic), French (basic)

Dance education:

2019 - 2020 Raqs Sharqi, online classes, Yasmina Ramzy

2010 - Classical Ballet, Tallinn University, Ülle Toming

2006 - Belly Dance, Amrita Dance Studio, Iris Frolov

2003 - 2004 - Belly Dance, Amrita Dance Studio, Liina Remmelg

2003 - 2006 - Belly Dance, Amrita Dance Studio, Pille Roosi

1999 - 2001 - Rhythmic Gymnastics, Gymnastics Club Piruett

Additional dance training:

Pille Roosi (Egyptian rhythms, balady technique, Bollywood choreographies, teacher’s course 2005-2007)
Hannele Aaltonen (American Tribal Style 2006)
Amira (Tribal fusion choreography 2007)
Mohammed El Hosseny (Egyptian Shaaby Technique & Choreography 2007)
Khaled Mahmoud (choreographies: ghawazee, iskandarani, oriental, drum solo 2007)
Sirke Seppänen (Salamitha Oum Hasan choreography 2007)
Saara Soikkeli (Oum Kalthoum choreography + lecture 2007)
Peppina Lindfors (Tunisian Dance Technique 2007)
Jaana Lindroos ("Beautiful Liar" choreography 2007)
Aida Nour (fellahi, siwa 2008; Oum Kalthoum, improvisation, traditional Cairo beledi 2010)
Asmahan (oriental + scarf technique 2008)
Mahmoud Reda (Reda style choreography “Alli Gara” 2008)
Magdy El Leisy (Oriental balady 2008)
Hassan Khalil (Tahia Carioca & Mohamed Abdel Wahab Style, Samia Gamal & Farid El Atrash Style 2008)
Hossam Abdel Ghany (shaabiyat 2008)
Lubna Emam (ghawazee 2008)
Freiz (oriental + scarf technique 2008)
Liza Laziza (khaliji 2008)
Carolena Nericcio & Megha Gavin (American Tribal Style 2008)
Virginia (Oum Kalthoum Choreography 2008)
Patricio Deuma (L.A. salsa, reggaeton 2008)
Outi Boman (Egyptian-style technique tips and tricks, oriental song, shaabi melaya, khaliji 2009)
Nour (saidi with assaya, oriental with veil 2009)
Yasser el-Swery (dabkeh 2009)
Özgen (Roman Havasi or Turkish Gypsy Dance 2009)
Yasser Sarria Terry (Cuban salsa 2009)
Miguel Verdecia (rhythm and timing, Cuban salsa, reggaeton, bachata, salsa tips and tricks 2009)
Carlos Correa Triana (Rueda de Casino 2009)
Heini Keipinen (ndombolo, dancehall 2009)
Soila Sarria (reggaeton, Cuban salsa styling for women 2009)
Mercedes Nieto (contemporary raqs sharqi, dancing to Oum Kalthoum music and to Enta Omri, drum solo choreography, choreography to Akdeb Aleek 2010)
Mohamed Kazafy (Nubian folklore technique and choreography, saidi folklore technique and choreography 2010)
Yahna (Infusion Tallinn Festival 2016)
Piny (Infusion Tallinn Festival 2016)
Mat Jacob (Infusion Tallinn Festival 2016)
Hemant Devara (Rajasthani folk dance kalbeliya 2017, contemporary Bollywood 2022, Rajasthani folklore 2022)
Eman Zaki (Farid El Atrache style technique 2018)
Beata Cifuentes (Drum solo choreography 2018)
Yasmina Ramzy (Dancing with Heart and Soul, choreography creation, Saidi and assaya technique and choreography private lessons 2019)
Zahra Mujunen (Moroccan chaabi 2020, 2024, Moroccan Berber dance 2020)
Maris (Egyptian sh3aby 2020 - lecture and practice; sh3abi power technique 2020)
Jamila (Bollywood choreography 2021)
Safran (khaleegy choreography with veil 2021)
Ruth Maria (classical Indian dance 2021)
Nesma (via Nesma Academy: Introduction to Muwashahat 2024)

Complementary courses and training:

2020 - Pre-training for a beginning teacher by Edumus, Open Mind Institute trainers Koidu Tani-Jürisoo, Ene Velström, Marje Kuslap
2020 - Public speaking master class, Mart Koldits, Anonymous Presenters
2019 - Self-friendliness master class, Helena Väljaste, Vaikuseminutid (Minutes of Silence)
2019 - Special course: Sexuality of the Human Soul, Kristjan Puusild
2017 - Mindfulness: How to build supportive relationships within the family?, Eluned Gold
2017 - Shoonya Yoga Program, Isha Foundation
2016 - Bhava Spandana Yoga Program, Isha Foundation
2016 - Inner Engineering Yoga Program, Isha Foundation
2007 - Acting and dancing on stage, Alexander Rumyantsev
2005 - Egyptian tabla technique, Aladin Abbas

Troupe membership:

Müstika Maagiline Teater (2007 - 2009)
Zahira (2005-2007)

Troupe supervision:

Eebeniõied (2020 - …)
Iiriseõied (2020 - 2022)
Modyduo (2010 - 2011)
Lootos (2008 - 2010)
Müstika Maagiline Teater (2007 - 2009)

Teaching experience (regular classes, academic courses):

2020 - … Eebeniõied
2020 - 2022 Iiriseõied
2018 - 2020 Urban Yogini Õnnelaboratoorium (Estonia)
2013, 2017 - Tallinn University, Department of Choreography
2012 - Oxford Middle Eastern Dance Society (UK)
2010 - 2011 - Curves Alanya (Turkey)
2009 - Kalevspa (Estonia)
2008 - 2010 Lootos dance studio (Estonia)
2007 - 2009 Studio99 / CityFitness (Estonia)
2007-2010 Amrita Belly Dance Studio (later Babylon Dance Studio)

Special projects:

2019 - HOL Festival Tantric Wedding Ceremony (Director)
2015 - KorFest 2015 Choreography BA diploma production KusKus by Kairi Reinvee (Dancer)
2014 - Project TBC (Director)
2006 - Domba en France (Dancer)

Awards

2008 - International Oriental Dance Festival Competition, Tallinn - 1st place for professionals
2008 - International Oriental Dance Festival Competition, Tallinn - International Professional Solo - 1st prize
2008 - Nile Group Oriental Dance Festival Competition, Cairo - International groups - 2nd prize
2010 - Cairo! Festival, Budapest - International professional Egyptian-style solo - 1st prize
2011 - JWAAD Fantasia Festival Competition, London - Isis Award - 2nd prize

Articles

History of Belly Dance and Belly Dance practices in Estonia

Media and Interviews

Huvitaja. Idamaiste tantsude võlu ja valu. (Vikerraadio, 30.10.2019)

Terevisioon. Maagiline kõhutants (ETV, 25.10.2019)

Reporter. Miks on just kõhutants kõige parem trenn Eesti naisele? (Kanal2/Postimees, 2.11.2019)

Huvitaja. Kõhutants. (Vikerraadio, 31.05.2018)

Terevisioon. Kõhutants on Eesti naiste seas aina populaarsem. (ETV, 24.10.2018)

Eeben õpetab Kuressaares kõhutantsu (Saarte Hääl, 19.03.2010)