Find out the latest news from dancers who have been featured on our DVDs!
Sa'diyya
"Sa'diyya is the 2011 Belly Dancer of the Universe! She won the Universal
Championship, Specialty Prop Championship, Universal People's Choice,
Specialty Prop People's Choice and Universal Congeniality Award.
Sa'diyya competed in the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition on
Saturday and Sunday February 19-20, 2011 in Long Beach, CA, hosted by Tonya
and Atlantis.
In the Universal category, competitors were required to dance in a
preliminary round to 4/4, 6/8 and 9/8 time measures, executing the style of
dance that matched each (usually Arabic, Persian and Turkish dance styles),
all with finger cymbals. Then in the finals round, four finalists were
required to perform to live music with finger cymbals, followed by a live
drum solo never before heard by any of the dancers!
In the Specialty Prop category, competitors could use any prop of their
choosing. Sa'diyya used wings!
Sa'diyya was also chosen as one of the four finalists in the Egyptian-style
category out of 31 competitors by judges like Sahra Saida and Jillina. She
placed 2nd runner up in the Egyptian category."
Filming the Final 6 DVD
From left to right: Yvonne, Shems, Victoria, Andalee, Lotus Niraja, Tanya, Michelle Joyce
Filming The Final 6 DVD after an exciting finale to Project Belly Dance.
Relaxing after the shoot. From left to right: Tanya, Sherena, Shems, Michelle Joyce, Lotus Niraja
February 2011
Ahava
On Feburary 6th 2011, Ahava produced her very first theatrical show titled 'Ana Ra'asa.' The show was comprised of professional Bay Area dancers who portrayed some of the most influential Egyptian dancers from past and present. The show was a great success!
Michelle Joyce
Michelle Joyce just returned from a workshop weekend in Zagreb, Croatia in February 2011.
Below - an excerpt from Michelle's performance and a few other featured Croatian and Slovenian dancers from the show.
Oreet
The women that passed Oreet's SharQui Instructor Training in San Francisco on Feb 18-20. The SharQui™ Technique is an anatomical approach to belly dance that works the entire body so that you can work out safer and smarter. SharQui classes are offered in gyms and studios around the country!
Left: Karolina
doing a photoshoot for an urban SF bike fashion magazine. Right: As a park ranger when she worked at Oregon Caves National Momument.
Namira
Namira dances, teaches, and choreographs several styles of dance. Of course Raqs Sharqi, but also Tahitain dance. Alot of the moves we use in Oriental dance are also used in Tahitain and Hawaiian dance. The ami, for instance, is from Tahitian dance. Namira teaches Ballet, Jazz, Middle Eastern Dance, conditioning for dancers, Zumba, Choreography, Intro to dance, Musical Theater Dance, Hip hop, street jazz, Zills for Middle Eastern dancers, etc....all at Lake Tahoe Community College. On top of all that, you can see Namira skiing for Kirkwood Mountain Resort "The Kirwood Fix", a daily video showing the snow conditions.
5 Layers from the Ground Up!
Nadira's newly released 5-layers DVD! Filmed with Cheeky Girls' Michelle Joyce, Nadira teaches fabulous layering techniques. Everyone can find a
challenge from beginners to seasoned performers with upgrades! Get hooked up with body alignment, layering techniques, combos and added performances. Available through www.nadira.com
November 2010
We did it! After a long weekend at the Belly Dance Nationals filming Project Belly Dance, the judges and volunteers take a moment to relax.
Belly Dance Reality Show
Cheeky Girls Lotus Niraja, Michelle Joyce and Tanya of Las Vegas are featured on this run-away hit!
Sandra
February 2010
Michelle and baby Sienna filmed Volumes 2 & 3 of Belly By Sandra on Valentine's Day.
New Moms
scoll down to see the answers
Combination Nation - Back Stage!
Backstage at the Combination Nation DVD shoot (video by Gilded Serpent)
Zaheea
Zaheea is retired from regular performances, focusing on her Archaeology career.
She currently works for a global Environmental Company, focusing on California Archaeology and is starting on her Masters Degree.
You still may see her performing on special occasions in the Bay Area though.
New Moms (Quiz Answers)
Oreet & Princess Farhana
Oreet at 9 months pregnant.
Oreet has released SharQui Level 1 and Level 2, a unique workout that utilizes her fitness credentials and her fantastic belly dance skills! Available at www.sharqui.com
Princess Farhana will be leading a tour to Cairo this summer along with Zahra Zuhair for the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival, where they are both teaching and performing. Dates are June 25-July 4, 2010, with an optional Nile
Cruise to Luxor and Aswas July 5-9. More info
Stacey Lizette & Michelle Joyce
Stacey just performed at Rakkasah East with Suhaila. Photo: Stacey with two of her biggest influences, Suhaila and Karen Barbee. Suhaila will be in Austin, TX for a L1 Intensive in March 2010.
Michelle at 32 weeks pregnant. Baby Sienna is due Dec 10, 2009. Photo by Michael Baxter.
Nadirah Johara
In March The Johara Dance Ensemble will host the annual "Raks into Spring" workshops and Gala show featuring Hadia of Canada! Left photo: Aside from the art of belly dancing Nadirah is also an artist specializing in watercolors, acrylics and other classic media in which she has won many awards. Center photo: 2010 will also mark one of the first flights of the next generation fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II; an important milestone in modern aviation and a proud moment for Jacqueline (Nadirah) to observe the fruits of her day job as an Aerospace Engineer.
Right photo:
Engineer by trade, artist in MANY other ways!
Maria
Maria wins the title Belly Dancer of the Year 2009!! Left: Ahava (last year's winner) handing Maria her trophy. Middle: Maria poses with Sandra, her longtime teacher. Right: Maria's stunning performance. Photos by Michael Baxter.
Nadira
Nadira completes a mini workshop-tour in Utah (left)
and does hot new photo shooot (right)
Amy Luna
For much of 2007-08, Amy Luna toured various Club Med resorts where she received three scuba diving certifications, including Rescue Diver. She did pop back into town long enough to perform in body paint on the main stage for SF's Exotic Erotic Ball. This year, she's spent most of her free time touring California's national parks on her classic 1985 Honda Rebel "Trinity." Amy Luna has been most recently featured in The Intelligencer, a publication of the San Francisco chapter of American Mensa, of which she is a member.
Sandra
Sandra
Due to popular demand, Sandra will be returning to Japan in
April, 2010, to teach workshops in the cities of Tokyo and Nagoya.
Right: Sandra posing in Tokyo after her performance. Left: Sandra leading her Japanese students through a choreography in Tokyo.
Princess Farhana is off to London for the world premiere of her new movie,
"Stuck!", a black-and-white homage to Cinema Noir vintage women-in-prison
films.
Directed by award-winning film maker Steve Balderson, "Stuck!" will screen
at The Raindance Film Festival Saturday, October 11, 2009
Princess Farhana ( Pleasant Gehman) stars in the movie as "Dutch", a Death
Row inmate in the prison. See the film's trailer and read advance reviews here: www.stucknoir.com
Nanna Candelaria & Princess Farhana
Nanna released her debut DVD in September, 2009. Finally, those of us who have long admired her unique style will have the opportunity to learn directly from her!
Nanna explains the fundamentals in optimizing and maintaining full and lucid shimmies, clear crisp accents, fast paced footwork, and exhilarating rhythmic combinations. Buy it here
Princess Farhana will be leading a tour to Cairo this summer along with Zahra Zuhair for the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival, where they are both teaching and performing. Dates are June 25-July 4, 2010, with an optional Nile
Cruise to Luxor and Aswas July 5-9. More info
Sa'diyya
Sa'diyya Sa'diyya's multiple award-winning troupe, "Danza della Luna" recently took home "Grand Champion" at the August 2009 Choreography Project in Austin, TX. Sa'diyya will be hosting "Sa'diyya's Springtime Show of Stars and Seminar" featuring Gina of Atlanta, GA in a workshop and show on May 1-2, 2010 in Dallas, TX.
Ruby
Ruby
Rubywins the title Belly Dancer USA 2009 in Canyonville, Oregon. The title comes with the honor of being on the cover of Jareeda Magazine.
Ruby also just completed filming the DVD "Flawless Floorwork" with Cheeky Girls. It will be released November 1, 2009. This unique DVD draws on her Pilates background to strengthen dancers for dynamic floorwork.
Michelle Joyce
Left: Adriana, Zaheea Anan, Oreet, Michelle Joyce, Maria, and Sandra. Right: Zaheea inspects Michelle's 7-month baby belly. Photos by Michael Baxter. October 2009
A Few Fun Clips
Michelle Joyce's Perfect Hips and Body By Belly Dance featured on the TV show "View From the Bay"
Filming a freelance DVD with Black Sheep Belly Dance
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Ruby 
