Josephine is one of the world’s top exponents of Egyptian Dance. Her style is known for its authenticity and expression. As a teacher she is in demand around the world for her high technical standards and her knowledge of the interpretation of Egyptian music.

Josephine has danced extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Egypt and the Middle East, including regular functions for Arabic royal families. She has toured the UK with her dance company MASRIAT, and has choreographed works for the theatre and opera in England and France.

Josephine has developed a very distinctive and accessible method of enabling students to understand both the physical technique and the cultural intricacies of Egyptian dance.

Josephine has been a professional dancer and dance teacher since 1978. She first trained in contemporary dance, which she both performed and taught for several years. In 1981 she discovered Middle Eastern and Arabic Dance and trained in England and Egypt over the next 4 years. She began performing in cabaret in 1983 and over a period of many years danced extensively for both Western and Middle Eastern audiences. She has performed to audiences throughout the UK, Europe, Egypt and the Middle East, including regular parties and weddings for several Arab royal family members.

Since 1989, Josephine has returned to her theatrical roots as artistic director of her three dance companies, Sharqi, Masriat and Johara. Masriat Dance Co. toured theatres in the UK with the shows ‘Under My Window ‘ and ‘Beyond the Jasmine Veil’. In 2000/2001 she choreographed the dance sequence and performed the solo in the opera 'Djamileh' by Bizet both at the Royal Opera House in London and Les Azuriales opera festival in Nice, France. Over the past few years Josephine has also been invited to perform and teach at many major festivals in cities around the world.

In 2007 Josephine started a new dance company, Johara Dance, with a repertoire that ranges from the highly dramatic to witty and light-hearted.

Since 1983 Josephine has developed a very distinct and accessible method of enabling Westerners to understand both the physical technique and the cultural intricacies of Egyptian dance (Raqs Sharqi). Josephine is also a teacher of the Alexander Technique and she uses Alexander principles in her dance teaching, particularly alignment of the spine and release in the muscles.

In 1990 she set up the Josephine Wise Academy of Arabic Dance (JWAAD) to promote the highest standards in Arabic dance. JWAAD runs a highly respected Teacher Training Diploma Course and organises the fantastic FANTASIA festival in London, the UK’s largest and most prestigious bellydance event, together with an annual residential Summer School for an intensive and exhilarating dance experience.

Josephine now also runs the International Bellydance Congress, a huge event in the south-east with a galaxy of star teachers and performers from all over the world. The Congress attracts dancers from all corners of the globe to dance, study and watch our amazing international shows. There is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world!