Hadia — Jocelyn Chouinard

Hadia, born Jocelyn Chouinard, was a Canadian performer and educator whose career spanned almost four decades. She began dancing as a teenager and eventually entered professional nightclub performance in Vancouver before expanding her studies internationally. Hadia trained with influential teachers including Ibrahim Farrah and spent substantial time researching and studying Middle Eastern dance traditions. She later qualified as a physical therapist, allowing her to combine anatomical knowledge with decades of dance experience. This combination resulted in a distinctive teaching methodology focused on safe technique, efficient movement and long-term dancer health. Hadia became an internationally respected master instructor and teacher trainer before her death in May 2022.