Performers (Listed Alphabetically)

Audie

Audie is a professional Egyptian belly dance style Performer and Instructor who has been sharing her love of dance for over 20 years. BellyRhythm.net  

Gabriela Figueroa

Gabriela Figueroa’s passionate journey with Middle Eastern dance first began in 2011. She studied with Natalie El-Ghoul, a Middle Eastern and contemporary choreographer at La Fábrica in Guayaquil, Ecuador and also with certified somatic teacher Carolina Cruz, from Quito, Ecuador at Frente de Danza Independiente.

In 2015 Gabriela became a member of Natalia Nazario's multiple award-winning troupe Raks Al Zahra troupe and in 2018, she completed the Bellyqueen Teacher Training Course led by Kaeshi Chai.

Gabriela continues to grow each day by studying different styles such as Middle Eastern folklore, Romani, Flamenco and other modalities contributing to her versatility as both a performer and choreographer. As a proud member of the Bellyqueen school faculty, Gabriela's teaching focuses on history and culture, creating community and integration of mind and body through dance.

Jaida

Jaida is a New York City based dancer. She credits her love and inspiration for dance to Master Yousry Sharif and loves to share this beautiful art form.

 Jaida has taught countless workshops both nationally and Internationally in Egypt, Japan, Taiwan, Italy, Mexico City, Argentina and New York City.  She currently teaches weekly classes in Brooklyn NY.

Past performances include performing for the Saudi Royal Family and the New York Arabic Orchestra. Private events include celebrations with superstars Jay Z, Beyoncé, Mary J Blige, Anita Baker and Lady Gaga. Jaida was also a featured dancer on the Nile River in Cairo, Egypt along with a traditional Tanoura Show.

Kaeshi Chai

Kaeshi Chai, an artist, educator, and producer, founded Djam NYC in 2007 for dancers and musicians to create and play together. With a rich background in dance, choreography, design, and event production, she has left her artistic imprint globally. She has directed the professional Bellyqueen Company and school for over 25 years. As a member of Bellydance Superstars, Bella Gaia and more, Kaeshi has performed in 48 states and 39 countries. Her current projects include "Nature Stories," bridging art and science for environmental awareness, and "Becoming - Exploring Identity." Kaeshi also contributes to events by Unity Earth, Purpose Earth, and the Global Peace Tribe, showcasing dance and movement meditations. Notably, she performed in the contemporary dance piece "Wildfires" by Spector Dance and created an immersive performance about forest root systems for the Exploratorium Museum. Kaeshi is a proud member of Evolutionary Leaders, a circle of forward-thinking individuals committed to human, social, and planetary transformation.

Lotus

Lotus is an Egyptian-American belly dancer based in NYC. Her love for dance stems from her cultural roots. Growing up watching Egyptian films with her family that includes belly dance scenes,dancing with her family members at social gatherings and weddings. Her style is rooted in social dancing elements, acting training which reflects her facial expressions and gestures in her moves and, her love of watching her favorite Egyptian dancers who have inspired her. One of them being her dance coach, Zara Egyptian International Superstar. Training private online classes has helped enrich her technique and knowledge in the Egyptian style belly dance known as Raqs Balady.

Mariyah’s Students

Mariyah is a professional belly dance artist, performer, and instructor offering exhilarating event entertainment and belly dance classes and workshops in the NYC area and beyond. Her students will debut a special candle dance tonight titled “Luminescence”.

Maurice Chedid

A native of Beirut, Lebanon, Mr Chedid studied at the Lebanese Conservatory of Middle Eastern Music, where he received a Diploma in the traditional Mouashahat, Oud Playing and Folk Singing. As a member of the Lebanese Folkloric Group, he toured internationally for four years as lead singer and oud player with the ensemble, and was a popular entertainer in nightclubs throughout Lebanon. Emigrating to the United States in 1988, he soon became a popular singer/musician at weddings, festivals, and cultural events all over the US. He has been a headliner in Arabic nightclubs, and has performed in many prestigious venues, including the United Nations, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. As a member of Atzilut, a ten-piece band which features Arabic and Jewish music, he travels to Europe every year to play in distinguished theaters such as the Royal Opera Theater in Denmark, and in many famous music and cultural festivals throughout Europe in the Concerts for Peace program. A prolific composer, he has composed and recorded many songs and dance compositions as well as the original musical score for the story-theater production of Banat el Emir or The Dancing Princesses. Mr. Chedid’s theatrical credits as a musician also include Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves for Lincoln Center. He is also the musical director and featured musician for Mosaic Dance Theater Company.

Melissa Amernick

Melissa has studied belly dance for almost 20 years, mainly in classic Menaht styles. Over the past five years she’s added Fusion to her practice and greatly enjoys all styles of belly dance. She is a proud member of Gabriela Figueroa’s The Hadarians Troupe and is very excited to dance for you all tonight.

Nabila

A lifelong dancer, Nabila moved to NYC to pursue a vocation in dance and has been performing in the New York area for over 25 years. She holds a BFA in dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and has extensive studies in several dance forms. A tireless performer, Nabila takes pride in bringing joyous, engaging dance performances to live audiences in a diverse range of settings. "Movement and physical expression, in any mode and done for any reason--artistic, therapeutic, or recreational--is part and parcel of who we are as humans, and everyone benefits from it, whether participant or observer." 

NABIL BEKKALI

Nabil Bekkali is a professional Middle Eastern musician based in New York City, renowned for his masterful keyboard performances that blend traditional Arabic melodies with contemporary flair. Originally from Morocco, Nabil has performed with leading Middle Eastern and world music artists across the United States, bringing depth, rhythm, and emotion to every collaboration. His versatile style bridges classical Arabic, North African, and fusion genres, making him a sought-after accompanist for dancers and ensembles alike.

Phaedra Darwish

Coming from a background in instrumental and vocal music and musical theatre, Phaedra Darwish was mesmerized by belly dance and Arabic music after studying different types of dance from around the world. She feels that dance and music are beautiful ways to share the culture of her heritage. She regularly performs and teaches workshops and classes in Chicago and throughout the US, hoping to spread enthusiasm and respect for Middle Eastern dance as more and more people get acquainted with its health benefits and enchanted by its beauty.

With its lively music and rich historic tradition, oriental dance, or raqs sharqi, brings with it more than just dance moves. By examining the music, regions, and cultural aspects behind the movement in her classes and performing Arabic dance at a professional level both inside and outside of its traditional environment, Phaedra seeks to fulfill her mission as an artist: to increase cultural awareness, appreciation, and understanding by sharing the dances of her heritage with as large a population as possible.

Ranya Renee

Ranya Renee, of New York City, has been dancing since 1990, and teaching oriental dance and performance skills since 1996. Her approach has been shaped by coaching from Egyptian masters in classic oriental and awalem styling (especially Mona el Said, Nany, Nelly, Dandash, and Eman Zaki) and in modern and folklore styles (especially Mahmoud Reda and Yousry Sharif), as well as through her studies in alignment-focused yoga and Pilates (which she also teaches). Her method supports a healthy, centered, grounded way of dancing, to feel good, execute movements well, and protect the body from injury by using muscular support for the joints used in traditional movements. Ranya is known for her instructional DVDs (Bellydance Egyptian Style: The Baladi, Bellydance Egyptian Style: Modern Oriental, and Bellydance Taqasim: Improvisation Skills & Drills), international workshops, and online programs and performance coaching series (https://gingercity.com). She also gives free talks for dancers in her Facebook group (Ginger City Community). Ranya holds a bachelor's degree in theatre and linguistics, and a master's degree in cognitive psychology.

Said Fahmy

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Said has been playing percussion for more than thirty-five years. He has played with dancer Aida Nour and with singers such as Mohamed El Helwa, Ali Haggar, and Iman Darwish, the grandson of the great composer Said Darwish. He has toured with Kazem El Saher, and plays in clubs and on stages from Cairo to New York City. In addition to Tabla, Said is an expert at the Riq, Tabl Baladi, Dof and Sagat. You can find him playing at New York hot spots for Arabic music such as Layaly, the Nile restaurant in NJ and now at the Secret Room in midtown.

Vin

Vin Iyer has been active in the dance and fitness industry since her twenties. She has certifications and experience in almost every area of fitness – Pilates, strength classes, personal training, and dance and fitness dance. She was crowned Ms Senior New Jersey in May, 2025.

Zafer Tawil

Jerusalem-born Zafer Tawil is an accomplished Palestinian musician whose areas of expertise include the oud, violin, qanun, and Arab percussion. Zafer performs across the US and in the Middle East and holds workshops in oud technique and Arabic music theory. He was part of the Spirit of Fez U.S. Tour 2006 and has performed with some of the most celebrated world music artists, including violinist and oud master Simon Shaheen and Rai singer Cheb Mami. Zafer is continuously exploring the boundaries of Arab music, and has worked collaboratively on many concerts involving classical Indian and Persian music, as well as Jazz fusion. You can catch Zafer playing one of his many instruments at extravagant private celebrations near his Brooklyn neighborhood, and at cultural centers such as Alwan for the Arts in Manhattan.