Audra Simmons

Audra Simmons began studying traditional belly dance extensively with Yasmina Ramzy at Arabesque Academy  in 2000, and began teaching there in 2001.  Today, she continues her studies with Rachel Brice, who she has studied with since 2004. She holds several certifications in music and dance, including grade 9 piano, with honors, from the Royal Conservatory of Music, General Skills from FatChanceBellydance, Level 2 from the Suhaila Salimpour School of Bellydance, and Initiation and Cultivation certifications in Rachel Brice’s 8 Elements™.

She is the artistic director and lead instructor at The Dark Side Studio, which she founded in 2004.  The Dark Side Studio was Canada’s first studio dedicated to tribal and tribal fusion belly dance, and has become a central hub for study of this style for central and eastern Canada.

In 2007 she formed Lavish, which performs bellydance with a twist, presenting a diverse repertoire to audiences in their pieces as well as full length productions.  Her second production, Affogato, which she created, directed, choreographed and performed in, toured Ontario and Quebec in the summer of 2011.

In 2012, Audra launched the Dark Side Dance Program which is a 5 level certification program in belly dance. The Dark Side Dance Program is a series of intensive workshops designed to provide a comprehensive, multi-stage dance foundation for belly dancers of any style. Its dual pronged approach, with focus on both technique and musicality, aims to provide students with the ability to practice, create and perform belly dance, with individuality, confidence and versatility.

Audra also regularly produces events which showcase local non-traditional bellydancers, as well as hosting widely known instructors such as Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Carolena Nericcio, Heather Stants, Suhaila Salimpour, Sharon Kihara, Mira Betz, Ariellah, and Ansuya, to teach and perform in Toronto. In September of 2012, she hosted the Dark Harvest Festival, a 6 day festival dedicated to non-traditional belly dance.