Christine Yaven has always been passionate about dance as an art form.

Educated at international schools and universities overseas, she learned traditional Balinese dance, Scottish Highland dance and performed on stage at a young age. She eventually moved on to Ballroom and Latin dance, studying under professional instructors in Australia.

After obtaining the Bronze and Silver Medal assessments in Latin dance, she felt drawn toward bellydance for it's creativity and freedom of expression. With bellydance, Christine finally found her calling.

Bellydancing since 2001, Christine first started training in Australia at the Newtown Middle Eastern Dance Centre (NMEDC) and continued refining her techniques with internationally renowned Master Teachers including Tamalyn Dallal (Mid-Eastern Dance Exchange), Mahmoud Reda (Founder of The Reda Troupe), Raqia Hassan (Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival), Yousy Sharif (Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance), Dr. Mo Geddawi (Founder of Hathor Dance Troupe), Momo Kadous (Studio Arabeska) and many more.

Serious about increasing her knowledge of this dance form, she continually upgrades her technique and style through workshops and intensive studies with world famous master instructors and choreographers.

After returning to Indonesia, she wanted to share her love and passion for bellydance by teaching and building a supportive community of fellow enthusiasts. To this end, she underwent teacher training sessions to equip her with proper instructional skills.

In 2006, she set up the organization Bellydance Jakarta, the first authentic bellydance center in Indonesia. Teaching weekly classes, she also regularly invites qualified international instructors to conduct workshops with her students to expand their knowledge and exposure to the international Middle Eastern dance scene. Christine also trains the Bellydance Jakarta Dancers, a Middle Eastern dance troupe consisting of her advanced students who perform at corporate functions, product launches and high society events.

In 2007, Christine participated in the Ahlan wa Sahlan Intensive Teacher's Training course in Cairo to become Indonesia's first certified Middle Eastern dance instructor.

To spread her knowledge of authentic Middle Eastern Dance, Christine has also been invited to outstation towns to conduct workshops for ladies who reside there.

In some cultures, bellydance is considered to be a seductive and sometimes taboo dance. Christine is working hard to change that image. Teaching an elegant and refined style based on Egyptian techniques, she maintains high standards for herself and her students, while building a cohesive community of bellydancers who support and nurture each other on their journey into the world of Middle Eastern Dance.