Latifa
is a popular instructor in the Baltimore-Washington area who is known for her musicality and expression. A life-long student of Middle Eastern studies, she holds a master's degree in Arab Studies from Georgetown University and has traveled to the Middle East several times to study dance, culture, and the Arabic language. Latifa studied with the late Ibrahim Farrah for over ten years.
Banat al-Beled
Latifa’s dance troupe, Banat al-Beled, is one of the most popular Middle Eastern dance troupes in the Baltimore-Washington area. Members are Amira, Anisa, Barjani, Bashusha, Damiena, Geela Harri, Nabilah, Najua, Shahzadee Surayyah, Tahia, and Zareen. Over the years, Banat al-Beled has built a solid repertoire of both folkloric and nightclub-style dances, derived from such different cultural influences as the African-nuanced dancing at traditional Saudi Arabian women's parties, the melding of Spanish and Arabic culture in Andalusian Spain, the proud line dances of the Levant, the night clubs of Cairo, and the 'melting pot' of American belly dance.
Noura
Noura is of Egyptian descent. She began her studies of Middle Eastern dance with Nadirah Nasreen and is currently a member of Yucy El-Banan's Belly Dance for Life Troupe. She is proud of her culture and heritage and continues to cultivate it through the art of dance.
Atef Hassan and Hany Ahmed
Atef Hassan and Hany Ahmed were in the National Folkloric troupe of Egypt when they came to Baltimore in 2005. Atef and Hany have danced their whole lives. They have danced in many countries. Created the Sharm el Sheikh dance troupe which performs at Artscape., at . Atef teaches workshops in the Baltimore area.
Carey
Carey took up belly dancing in 2003, as a response toward the
anti-Middle Eastern sentiments she heard expressed by some people she
knew. Carey dreamed of being a dancer as a child
and is thrilled to have finally found the opportunity. First studying
under MiaNaja and later with Amina Salah, she fell in love with the
dance form and it fell in love with her. She is a member of Mooshkila
and currently
studies under Artemis. Her dancing has been described as
CHOCOLATE......... please welcome Carey to the stage!
Masani
MASANI'S UPBEAT STYLE OF BELLYDANCE HAS BEEN FEATURED AT SOME OF THE REGION'S LARGEST HEALTH & WELLNESS EVENTS. OVER THE YEARS, MASANI'S DANCE HAS BEEN INSPIRED BY MANY LOCAL TEACHERS & DANCERS. THESE EVENTS GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO LINK EAGER AUDIENCE PARTICIPANTS WITH THIS TALENTED POOL OF BELLYDANCERS IN OUR VERY BACKYARD. BALTIMORE BELLYDANCE RAKS AND ITS GOOD TO BE BACK!!
Nina Amaya
Nina Amaya is the hostess of the hafla, and also a local dancer and bellydance teacher. She loves all styles of oriental dance, and enjoys mixing Arabic,Turkish and American styles together in a spirit of joy. She would like to thank the vibrant community of bellydancers and musicians in this area, for their professionalism and dedication, their friendship and their generosity.
