April Monique -
Bio:
Fusing her love of bellydance with all her other well-loved dance forms, April Monique - from Havre de Grace, Maryland - dances as a world fusion soloist, a member of troupe Amandari Amethyst, and as a core member of the Rogue Swan Theatre Company. April teaches bellydance at Beach Bee Yoga in Havre de Grace, MD and at Harford Community College, teaches SharQui fitness at Cecil College, and runs the Moonshine Bellydance shows. She has trained under many talented instructors, but primarily with her friend and mentor, Naimah, as well with Zoe Jakes (live and online). Besides bellydance, she has had training in Jazz, Modern, African and theatrical dance styles taught by a variety of instructors, but primarily with her friend and sister-in-law, choreographer Katie Gordon. In addition to her experience in dance, April has spent her life studying visual art, costuming, acting, singing and every other interesting thing she can get hold of!
Catrice Fairuza, is a multi-awarding winning dancer, choreographer and, teacher located in Upstate New York. She/They are also the co-owner and co-head designer of Mischief Maker Couture Costumes alongside Natasha Tripi. Mischief Maker Couture Costumes was started to because Catrice and Natasha saw the lack of diversity in the costuming world. The sheer lack of representation for all shapes, sizes and skin tones that were not catered to, or if they were occasionally featured those differences caused a significant upcharge. Mischief Maker does not believe that being Plus, Size or having a different skin tone should not be seen as a challenge. It is a part of who we are and should be celebrated loudly. Catrice Fairuza is truly living out her dreams when she sees her creations on dancer, brides and anyone who entrusts her to create across the globe. We at Mischief Maker Couture Design have a passion for creating uniquely beautiful designs that truly speak to the soul of the individual regardless of their color, shape, or size. Dreams are made to come true; you just have to add a little bit of Mischief.
Amustela is an award-winning American Cabaret belly dancer, master instructor, choreographer, producer, and historical lecturer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Formerly from the Washington, DC area, she enjoyed a successful career performing in restaurants, nightclubs, festivals, and special events, while also appearing for many years at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. With more than three decades of teaching and performance experience, Amustela is recognized as a leading authority on American Cabaret belly dance, specializing in the history, evolution, and performance traditions of the style in the United States. She is passionate about preserving the rich legacy of American Cabaret through engaging lectures, workshops, and archival research featuring rare photographs and vintage film footage. As a sought-after instructor, judge, and performance coach, she has inspired dancers nationwide with her expertise in classic technique, musical interpretation, and stage presence. Whether performing or teaching, Amustela brings history to life while celebrating the artistry and enduring legacy of American Cabaret belly dance.
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Angel Bellydance is a classically trained dancer of many styles including Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Latin Dance, Flamenco and Belly Dance. Angel began her dance training in elementary school, and this summer, Angel completes her 33rd year as a professional dancer and dance instructor. Angel's experiences include teaching dance in numerous dance studios and performing in countless cruise ships, hotels, resorts, movies, TV commercials and music videos. She is the founder and former president of Dance and Arts Masters Inc., currently located in Puerto Rico and was named "Teacher of the Year 2003" at The Bronx Dance Theater. Angel has had the privilege of performing and teaching in various countries and cities such as Argentina, Spain, NYC, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Denver, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Austin (TX), Houston (TX), Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Washington DC. Angel is well known for utilizing her classical dance training along with her cultural dance training. Her goal is to always bring together students and pro dancers of different genres and cultures to appreciate each other through the passion we ALL share…dance!
Naimah is an award winning belly dancer from Baltimore, MD and director of award winning troupe, Amandari. She has a background in ballet, modern, hip hop, African dance, and fine art. Her style is best described as eclectic and eccentric. She teaches online classes on a multitude of topics pertaining to belly dance, including history, culture, strength, flexibility, and more. She calls this format "Multiversal Movement" as belly dance, and performance art in general is multidimensional. She is also a certified group fitness instructor and burlesque performer. Naimah has produced many shows in Maryland and is currently the co-producer of Maryland's largest belly dance festival, "Art of the Belly" in Ocean City, MD.
Maia Alexandra is a multi-award winning Belly Dance performer and teacher based in Buffalo, NY. A dynamic dancer with a flair for fun, Maia is best known for her on stage charisma and technical ability. She has been a featured dancer and instructor at many prestigious festivals and curated events including the Art of the Belly festival, Raven's Night, Ascension, all three Rakkasah festivals, the Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive, Unmata’s Blood Moon Regale, and many more.
Maia’s style is best described as “Modern Vintage”. This blending of West Coast dynamics and solid technique is her specialty. She brings back the old school American cabaret feel with a fresh new perspective, bridging the gap with a sense of humor and savvy moves! She is a big believer in Love, Breath, Darkwave, Chocolate Chip Cookies and the Muppets. She's currently patiently waiting for Art to take over everything. That would be awesome.
Oreet, is the creator of SharQui – The bellydance workout. She has over 25 years of experience in fitness and dance, and grew up with Israeli folk dance, Yemeni and Oriental dance. She is an award-winning performer and holds the titles Bellydancer of the Year, and Middle Eastern Dance Champion of North America, to name a few, and SharQui has been featured on NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN, among other outlets.
Her passion is educating the world about Mizrahi dance and its relevance in Arabic Culture. Oreet also mentors instructors to create classes that not only brings in students with a format that works, but brings back the fun and inspiration into to their teaching businesses.
Elisheva is a Hartford, Connecticut–based dancer, choreographer, and teacher celebrated for her riveting stage presence and warm, thorough teaching style, bridging technique with deep emotion. Elisheva is the creator of StackableDrills.com, an innovative online practice tool for dancers. She is the founder and director of the New England–based semi-professional troupe, Troupe Bellysheva and an alumni cast member of Bellydance Evolution. Beyond her active national teaching and workshop schedule, she is dedicated to fostering her regional dance community through event production and instruction. Elisheva’s work has been featured across television, film, podcasts, and print publications.
Megan Lee is a certified Datura Style teacher currently residing in St. Mary's County, MD who specializes in folky fusion, group improv, and cabaret styles of bellydance. She began learning modern Middle Eastern bellydance in 2005 and practiced on-and-off for several years before discovering the wealth of dance inspiration (like Sadie, Aziza, and The Indigo) located on YouTube. In 2011, she joined her first official troupe and has been learning, performing, and teaching ever since. In recent years, Megan has performed at various Renaissance and fairy festivals, cultural and Pride events, restaurants, and private parties. She currently teaches weekly in-person classes at Vertical Dance Co in Callaway, MD, as well as online classes and performance projects with students from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York. She is currently a member of Wildlight (a dark fusion troupe), the founder of the brand new Datura Stramonium (a Datura Style improv troupe), and the leader of the Shimmy Circus Sirens (an eclectic group of bellydancers, flow artists, and fire performers).
Liora is a Middle Eastern, Fusion, and FCBD Style® instructor, performer, choreographer, and costumer based in Austin, TX. With early training in ballet and jazz, she has been a student of Bellydance for nearly 25 years. In addition to Raqs Sharqi, Fusion, & FCBD® Style, she has received additional training in Hula, Bollywood, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak, and Tanoura. She has toured extensively with Bellydance Evolution, performing as one of the tribal ensemble dancers in Fantasm: Odyssey of Dreams, on their Atlanta, East Coast, and European Tours. More recently, she performed a lead role, the Mad Hatter, in BDEx’s Alice in Wonderland in Melbourne, Australia. She also toured with Myra Krien’s The Radiant Tarot and The Return shows, having the honor of performing in every show of the latter. Overall, she has performed in five different countries. She has taught regular weekly classes for over twenty years, specializing in Fusion and FCBD Style® (certified instructor in 2019). She directs her own company, Mayura Blue, as well as directs the Hands of Fatima, a music and dance ensemble that performs annually at Sherwood Forest Faire in Texas. She has performed with Silvia Salamanca as part of Shunyata at the Texas Renaissance Festival and with April Rose as part of Perennial Dance Company. Finally, she is a founder and the president of the Migrations Dance and Music Festival, held annually in Austin, TX.
ALEESA
Since discovering belly dance in 2008, Aleesa has been captivated by the rich traditions and cultural diversity of folkloric dance. Splitting her time between Western Maryland and South Florida has given her the opportunity to study with a diverse range of instructors over the years, cultivating a special passion for Turkish spoon dancing and Tunisian-inspired pot dances.
Known for her energetic spoon work, playful stage presence, and appreciation for traditional movement, Aleesa enjoys bringing lesser-seen folkloric styles to modern audiences. Her performances blend musicality, technique, and cultural inspiration, celebrating the vibrant traditions that continue to influence belly dance today.
Whether clicking spoons, balancing pottery, or sharing her enthusiasm with fellow dancers, Aleesa believes folkloric dance should be both educational and joyful-a celebration of culture, community, and a little bit of sass.
Debbie Despina Cartsos is a Greek dancer, educator, designer, professional patternmaker, and founder of ASTERIA Dance. With more than 20 years of belly dance training and a professional career in apparel design, she brings together extensive dance experience with formal design education and industry expertise.
A second-generation designer, Despina studied apparel design and patternmaking in Greece before graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she received the Jean Yu Critic Design Award and Intimate Apparel Council Merit Award. She went on to design intimate apparel for industry leaders including Hanesbrands and Warnaco, specializing in garment construction, corsetry, fit, patternmaking, and product development. Her design and styling work has been featured in Dark Beauty Magazine, Elléments Magazine, Prestige International Fashion Magazine, Papercut Magazine, Eluxe Magazine, Visual Artistry, and Bare Necessities.
She is the founder and designer of D.Webb Designs, a female-owned and operated New York City–based alternative lifestyle and dancewear brand committed to ethical production, slow fashion, and body positivity. Despina leads a talented team that includes Donna Eileen Manalo, Graphic Designer and Content Creator, and Shionie Ansusian Vidalo, Sewing Operations, bringing together design, craftsmanship, and creative collaboration.
As a dancer and educator, Despina is a licensed Salimpour Fundamentals Instructor and certified FatChanceBellyDance® instructor. She continues her studies through the Salimpour School and has studied under mentors including Suhaila Salimpour, Dalia Carella, and Donna Eileen Manalo. She is a member of the Dalia Carella Dance Collective and has performed with Bal Anat.
Born in the United States to Greek parents and raised in Athens, Greece, Despina’s work is shaped by her Greek heritage, musicality, and deep respect for the cultural traditions of belly dance. She teaches and performs in New York City and throughout theUnited States.
Yamê is a belly dance performer, teacher, and founder of the SharqiDance school of belly dance where she teaches weekly belly dance and darbuka lessons at the NJ shore and online.
Born and raised in Brazil, she began her belly dance journey 19 years ago in New Jersey, where she fell in love with belly dance and Arabic music. She kicked off her professional career 15 years ago, being featured in a World Dance New York DVD, Sarah Skinner's Belly Dance Shimmy Workout, and eventually becoming a teacher herself. She has been teaching weekly belly dance classes consistently for more than 10 years in person, and more than 5 years online, sharing her passion for this art form with clients all over the country and throughout the world.
To see her work or learn more from Yamê, visit sharqidance.com or follow her on social media: Instagram @SharqiDance, @yameyameyame, and facebook.com/sharqidancebellydance and youtube.com/c/sharqidance
Khuzama
Representing the Delaware and Philadelphia dance community, Khuzama is an award-winning Egyptian dance
performer, instructor, and director of KDC Dance Company with over 20 years of experience. Known for her expressive musicality, powerful stage presence, and deep connection to the art of Raqs Sharqi, she has taught and performed across the United States while sharing her passion for Egyptian dance and culture. Khuzama blendselegance, emotion, and authenticity into every performance, creating an unforgettable
experience for audiences.
KAMRAH
Viral TikTok star, teacher, performer, and more, Kamrah is known for his dark fusion, creativity, “killer” isolations, and theatricality. He currently teaches and performs all over the world, headlining festivals throughout the USA and internationally. He has trained extensively with Zoe Jakes and Suhaila Salimpour and holds certifications in DanceCraft (Diamonds and Spades) and Suhaila level 1 and 2, and Jamila level 1 and 2, and has performed with Beats Antique and Bal Anat, the longest running belly dance show in the world. As an instructor, his approachable, inclusive teaching style, informed by his training in science, anatomy, and massage therapy, enables him to coach students to dance powerfully, safely, and sustainably.