Teachers and Troupes

Maryland | Virginia | DC | Other

This list of some of the area's Middle Eastern dance teachers and troupes is provided from those who are WAMEDA members. WAMEDA is not responsible for the behavior or professionalism of any of the individuals or groups listed.

Maryland

Adriana - Silver Spring, MD. The legendary, highly acclaimed Adriana is offering private, group, semi-private, and master classes and workshops in all aspects of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and North African dance.  This includes Greek folk dance, folkloric, Egyptian, Romanian Turkish, Lebanese and nightclub (cabaret) styles. Specialties include classical floor work, haunting veil work, cape, routines and choreography for the stage.  She also teaches dance dynamics, finger cymbals, spoons, percussion, and everything else one needs to bring the dance to a higher level in technique, entertainment, and performance.  In addition, Adriana also plays and teaches drum patterns as part of her curriculum.  Inventor of the workshop, Adriana opened the first belly dance school in Washington, DC in 1972.    Call 301-949-6370 or visit http://www.adrianadc.com/

Amara - Gaithersburg and Rockville, MD.  North African/Middle Eastern dance classes at 3 different levels taught in Gaithersburg and Rockville Md.  Student performance opportunities available throughout year. Teaches workshops on Bellydance for EveryBODY, folkloric dance styles,  Costuming on the Cheap and Egyptian Stage Make-Up and on Arabic and Turkish rhythms.  Amara has extensive performing and teaching experience in a wide variety of venues.  She also plas several Middle Eastern percussion instruments and is particularly noted for her skill with finger cymbals. Call 301-515-0003 or e-mail amara@amaraofthemoon.com. Visit http://www.amaraofthemoon.com/.

Artemis - Silver Spring, MD.  Artemis offers all levels of classes, private lessons and workshops in her home studio and throughout the country.  Topics include Turkish (Gypsy) dance and culture, Ancient Dance, dance history, Turkish and Egyptian style Oriental dances.  Email artemisdances@yahoo.com or see www.serpentine.org.  Call 301-565-8891.

Basane - Baltimore/Washington, DC.  Basane Cadiene is the owners of Hips-Etc, providing instruction and performances in Middle Eastern Dance.  She teaches in Montgomery County and specializes in work-place wellness programs.  Email her at basane_dances@prodigy.net or visit www.hips_etc.com or call 240-813-5938.

Camila Karam - Annapolis, MD.  Camila Karam instructs classes in the DC and Baltimore areas. She also conducts Earth Goddess workshops and offers private classes.  Camila teaches veil, zills, floorwork, sword, cane and she offers classes in yoga and Brazilian Samba.  For information, call 410-280-6296 or visit www.camilakaram.com

Cha L'Mar - Clinton, MD. Cha L'Mar operates Dancer, The Unusual Store. She presents an annual student recital and hosts visiting teachers. Her students perform as the Cha L'Mar dancers. Call 301-856-2144 or e-mail dancerceo@juno.com.

Cha L'Mar dancers

Directed by Cha L’Mar. To contact the troupe, call 301-856-2144 or e-mail dancerceo@juno.com

 

Cyra - Columbia, MD. Ongoing classes in all levels. Classes feature a variety of folkloric and Oriental techniques. Focus is on perfecting dance skills, understanding rhythms, and cultural information. Specialties include drum solo, cane, candelabra, sword, make up techniques, and costume design. Director – Maryland Company of Middle Eastern Dancers.  Call 410-997-6975 or email cyradances@verizon.net .

 

 

Frankee Sunshine - Clinton, MD.  Frankee Sunshine & the Jewels of the Sun.   Weekday Group and Private lessons and performance coaching in Maryland and DC at several locations.  Call 301-292-7509 or 301-808-2451 for more information.  Email FrankeeSunshine@yahoo.com

 

Frankee Sunshine

 

Karima Aliz - Upper Marlboro, MD.  Special focus on finger cymbals, choreography,  and basic rhythms for beginners through intermediate students.  Also, Karima Aliz is a costume designer and can do alterations.  Call 301-366-8424 for information or email karimaaliz@cs.com

 

Lusaka - Takoma Park, MD.  Lusaka has over 8 years of experience in Middle Eastern dance and has performed at the Kennedy Center, Publick Play house and other venues.  Lusaka's back to basics course is designed to offer something for everyone from experienced dancers to absolute beginners.  Lusaka teaches classical Egyptian cabaret adapted for group performance including veil and zills.  An effort is made in each class to culminate in a performance opportuntiy. Call 301-891-1477 or email amypolk@starpower.net

 

Lusaka

The Maryland Company of Middle Eastern Dancers- Columbia, MD.  The troupe is a Columbia, MD based group.  The troupe repertoire includes both folkloric and oriental styles of dance.  The dancers perform for civic, religious, and cultural organizations; festivals, senior centers, and nursing homes.  Membership is by invitation or audition.  Contact Cyra at 410-997-6975 or email cyradances@verizon.net

Nadirah Nasreen - Rockville, MD. Nadirah Nasreen placed first in the 2002 Grand Champion category and first in the 2004 Troupe category at the East Coast Belly Dance Classic. She has been featured on Fox 5's morning news, and has regularly been featured at restaurants throughout the DC area.  She has been teaching at her studio in Rockville for 10 years.  Egyptian and Lebanese style, cabaret, zills combinations, phrasing and dynamic rhythm changes are addressed.  Turkish Orienta, sword, cane and veil work are regularly offered.  Call 301-518-1355 or email nadirah_nasreen@yahoo.com

Nadirah Nasreen

 

Queen Sheena - Camp Springs, and Waldorf, MD. Queen Sheena is a performer, instructor, choreographer and event planner.  She also teaches private lessons, and performs in a variety of private events.  When performing she enjoys all kinds of props (zills, cane, veil and sword balancing).   She teaches Egyptian style belly dancing techniques and emphasizes body mechanices and posture, which is a must for dancing.   For more detailed  information about class days and hours or for private events, call 301-461-4434 or email queensheena@gmail.com.  Belly dance is fitness for fun!

 

Queen Sheena

Sahara's Treasure -Baltimore/Washington DC.  Sahara's Treasure is an exciting new bellydance troupe in the greater Baltimore/Washington area.  They perform both traditional and modern interpretations of Middle Eastern Dance and have been featured at local festivals, fundraisers, and other venues.  Email saharastreasure@yahoo.com or visit http://www.myspace.com/saharastreasure

Shems-Baltimore, MD.  Contact shemsdance@gmail.com see http://www.shemsdance.com or call 202-320-8749.

Veda Sereem - Hagerstown,  MD.   Veda teaches all levels as well as the dvd categories on her webpage, plus numerous choreographies.  Veda teaches in her home studio, the Hagerstown and Frederick Rec Departments and at the Hagerstown Community College.   35 years of experience and instruction also available in her book, "Veda Sereem's Quality of Bellydancing."  Well known for high energy performances  and expert zills.  Veda has taught numerous professional dancers in the Washington DC area.  Director  Veda's Mid-Eastern Dance Troupe of Western Maryland.  For information,  email  veda@vedasereem.com  or see www.vedasereem.com

Veda

Amustela - Amustela teaches private and semi-private lessons by appointment in Reston, VA.  Amustela also has ongoing classes through the Reston Community Center in Reston.  Amustela's primary focus is Egyptian Cabaret style, with elements of Turkish and American theater dance to fuse into a full entertainment package.  Amustela is currently one of the house dancers at La Kasbah Moroccan Restaurant in Reston, VA and Pomegranate Grill in Sterling, VA and performs at many other local restaurants and venues.  Amustela has also been featured in film projects such as "Core Training for Bellydancers" with Gerson Kuhr, the Fitness Pharaoh.  Her troupe, "Ladies of Sansar" placed 2nd in the 2005 East Coast Belly Dance Classic.  She has also competed and placed at the East Coast Classic as a soloist and the Jewel of the Nile competitions.  Visit www.amusteladance.com for more information or email amustela@msn.com.

Bella Donna - Manassas, VA. Bella Donna has been teaching cabaret style Belly Dance for 4 years.  She has her own fitness/dance studio in Old Town, Manassas.  Classes are geared toward the everyday woman and range from beginner to intermediate levels.  Class emphasis is on fun, fitness, and form.  Contact her at 703-944-6021 or email andrea@gobeyondwellness.com

Bonita Oteri - is a professional performer and teacher, serving the DC Metro area.  Weekly classes are available in Northern VA.  Primary group class style is  Classical Egyptian.  Group classes may also include oriental pop, Turkish, Veil, Zills, and Cane.  Bonita's specialties additionally include Greek Belly Dance, Latin Arabic fusion and sword balancing.   For more information, contact Bonita at www.raksbonita.com or 703-569-8506.

Nimeera - Operates Cleopatra's Closet Store and Studio.  Instruction in Egyptian style belly dance with elements of Turkish, Central Asian, Persian and Indian dance based on an extensive foundation of study and performance in each of these styles.  Topics include fundamental techniques, proper alignment, expression and the use of various props.  Workshops available on specific topics including Egyptian, Turkish, Persian Social (Bandari), Indian Social (Bangra) and Ethnic Fusion.  Classes at Fitness First Health Club Alexandria and at Cleopatra's Closet in Van Dorn Plaza, Alexandria, VA.   Cleopatra's Closet Studio available for rent on an hourly basis with easy accessibility via both Metro and car.  Call 703-912-6722 or email dance@nimeera.com and see www.Nimeera.com and www.CleosCloset.com

Sandra-Purcellville, VA.  Sandra has been involved in Middle Eastern Dance since 1991 and teaching since 1995.  She is an American Cabaret style dancer but includes ethnic flavors in her performances. Sandra teaches at Ida Lee in Leesburg, VA and at community centers in Purcellville.  Her student troupe, Eastern Breeze, performs several times a year in her haflas and at local events.  Sandra specializes in zills and balancing and is a founding member of the Tiraz Dance Network.  For more information, see www.tirazdancenetwork.com, email sandradances@gmail.com or call 703-772-9647.

Surburban Gypsies-Manassas, VA.  Troupe leader: Andrea Howard.  The Surburban Gypsies is the dance troupe connected to Beyond Wellness in Manassas, VA. We are ladies of varying size, age, and background dedicated to the fun and feminine expression of Middle Eastern Dance.  We perform at community events and enjoy demonstrating that dance is an expression of the beauty in each and every woman. For information, contact andrea@gobeyondwellness.com

Zarifa Sa'id - Gainesville, FL.  An Honorary member of WAMEDA, Zarifa currently teachers beginner through advanced classes, coaching performers and teaching workshops.  She has over 30 years experience and has studied in Egypt and Tunisia.  Her classes include technique and choreographies in both Danse Orientale and folkloric styles.  Call 852-466-4651 or email libbypar@bellsouth.net or see www.globaldancearts.com