Kharis learned the dance initially in Manchester, travelling nationwide to learn her craft in specialised workshops with master teachers. Her speciality is teaching Egyptian dance technique, and her patient and informal methods ensure that her classes and workshops are at once fun and informative. With a ballet background, and strong belief in the importance of posture, grounding and technique, Kharis specialises in teaching these foundation movements and believes that everyone has the ability to physically master Middle Eastern dance...it is the training of the mind as well as the body that is important in learning the dance.

"Often, people struggle and struggle to master the movements. They fret and worry that they will never dance like their teacher, or their friend, or other students in the class. I tell them, 'you will never dance like anyone else. You will only dance like you.' As soon as the mind accepts this lesson...the body begins to learn."

By coaching other professional dancers, Kharis passes on all she has learned as a performer and believes that no one, no matter what level of experience, has learned everything there is to learn. "There's always something new to learn in this dance...always fresh horizons and challenges. It's what makes it so diverse. Why it's so hard to pin down and pigeonhole. For me, It has a depth and emotive intricacy unlike any other dance form"

Kharis has trained with some of the finest Middle Eastern dance teachers in the world. As a performer, she has been inspired by the Egyptian greats of belly dance, Naime Akif, Fifi Abou, Mona Said and Lucy. Her style is relaxed, adept and elegant, and is typically Egyptian. In a dance career spanning over a decade, Kharis has gleaned valuable experience working 'in the field' as a professional time served dancer. Working closely with dancers, MIchelle Pender and Tracey Gibbs, she is founder member of MIchelle's North African Drum and Dance Collective - Caravanserai, and helped form the Taste of Cairo Dance Agency with Tracey. She is a regular performer at large Middle Eastern events, working closely with musicians and drummers.

A skilled and experienced performer in restaurants, weddings and corporate events where she is much in demand. Kharis designs and makes all her own costumes.