Valizan began his journey into Middle Eastern dance in 1995 when he joined The Society For Creative Anachronism, an educational group that learns about the Middle Ages by recreating it. Teachers Rayah Bint Youssef and Moria The Black instilled basic technique, while classes with the sublime Roula Said took him to a new plateau. Current influences include Yasmina Ramzy, FatChance Bellydance, Jillina, Rachel Brice and Francisco Carranza.

He has become a sought after solo performer and teacher for his powerful style and energy. He also heads up his own tribal troupe, Shades Of Araby.

Appearances include Arabesque Dance Company’s productions Asala and Oum, Black Forest Tribal Fest in Offenburg, Germany, The International Bellydance Conference Of Canada, Tribalcon, Sacred Circles, Tribal Camp Oslo In Oslo, Norway, Tribal Revolution in Chicago and Face Zenna at the Royal Ontario Museum. He also headlined In The Heat Of The Hafla in Milwaukee, Belly Boo Bash in Dayton, Ohio and appeared at The Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, NY.

He began teaching American Tribal Style® bellydance at Arabesque Academy in 2004, and became an apprentice in the Arabesque Dance Company in November 2005 when he began training in Egyptian Folklore with master teacher Yasmina Ramzy. He was honoured to be a lead dancer in the Arabesque Dance Company, and in the all-male bellydance troupe, The Righteous Rogues Of Raks.

Valizan holds a degree from The Ryerson School Of Journalism, took the Arabesque Academy Pro Course, is the first male to graduate from the FatChanceBellyDance Teacher Training program and is the first FatChance BellyDance Brother studio.

The learning continues…