Main Stage Performances
Hungarian-Canadian Cultural Centre
April 19th & 20th, 2007

Admission price included in Conference Package.
Tickets: $25 per evening for those not registered with the conference.

SOLOISTS ••• DUETS ••• ENSEMBLES

DUETS & ENSEMBLES

Dance Poi • Nervine & Serena Kerbes • Bellyqueen • Shades Of Araby • Leyla Zahar Troupe • Rhythm Of The Nile
• Les Trib'elles • Raqs Sahara • Habeeba Hobeika Egyptian Dance Ensemble
• Fringe Benefits • Sultana Dancers • Arabesque Dance Company Men's Corps

DUETS

Dance Poi
Alberta

Aurora is one of the founders of the edVenture Arts Academy, which focuses on dance and vocal training.

Among many other dance forms, Aurora’s dance training and performance history includes Middle Eastern dance at Arabesque Academy and Company.

Anita and Aurora both currently teach and dance in Edmonton, Alberta. More information can be obtained at www.danceaurora.com.

Anita and Aurora have fused the beautiful movement repertoire of Middle Eastern dancing with the spectacular circles of poi; to create a new dance form Anita has titled Dancepoi.

The layering of two dance forms creates numerous new complexities for the dancer.

Anita's exposure and training consists of Jamaican, Latin, Contemporary, Middle Eastern and Ballet.

Nervine Kerbes & Serena Kerbes
Alberta

ENSEMBLES

Bellyqueen
New York

Bellyqueen Dance Theater, directed by Kaeshi Chai, and co-founded by Amar Gamal, encompasses bellydancing in it's traditional Raks Sharki format, as well as Middle-Eastern dance blended with popping, hip-hop, modern, jazz, ballet, gypsy, flamenco, Chinese and afro-Haitian.

Based on the strength of their unique vision, body of choreographies and performance history, Bellyqueen was the first established bellydance company asked to perform in Las Vegas at Aladdin's Desert Passage for an extended contract.

In 2003, Kaeshi and Amar joined the Bellydance Superstars and Desert Roses. Since then, they have performed at Lollapalooza, the World Peace Awards in Bali, toured extensively through the US,

Shades Of Araby
Ontario

Shades Of Araby is the first American Tribal Style (ATS) bellydance troupe based in Toronto. Sharing a love of the Tribal esthetic in bellydance, Maral, Sofia and Valizan united to form the troupe in early 2006.

Since then, they have appeared at Tribally Yours in Montreal, Cabin Fever in Buffalo and a variety of shows in Toronto.

In addition to their troupe work, each dances as a solo artist.

Valizan's training began with Moria The Black in 1995, and continued with Roula Said, Rachel Brice, Fat Chance Bellydance and Yasmina Ramzy.

Maral started dancing in 2003 and studied with Alexis Yael and a variety of teachers at Arabesque Academy including Valizan.

Sofia started dancing in 2001 and learned from Alexis Yael, Valizan and Les Trib'elles.

Leyla Zahar Troupe
Puerto Rico

Les Trib'elles
Quebec

Founded in 2003, this Montreal-based troupe aim to explore and develop their own unique interpretation of American Tribal Style.

Inspired by the beauty and mystery of the dances of the Middle East, India, Spain, Turkey and the Roma people from around the globe, they are "sisters" in dance.

Chanty discovered oriental dance in 2000. At first self-taught, she joined the Kali Gadji troupe in 2002 and experienced a fusion style: Gypsy dances and Rom from Eastern Europe, flamenco and India dance styles. Chanty also perfected her technique by attending workshops with Jalilah, Meissoun, Elizabeth Artemis Mourat and Laurel Victoria Gray.

Marthyna started training in oriental dance with Claudette Biron (Alia) in 1997 and was a member of Les Roses Des Sables troupe for two years. She took classes and various workshops with Dalia Carella, Elizabeth Artemis Mourat, Jalilah, Helen Eriksen, Ansuya, Aziza, etc. and started taking coaching sessions with Eva Cernik in 2006.

Marie-Chantal began oriental dancing in 1997 with Claudette Biron. Since 2004, she has taken classes with Aziza and numerous workshops with Rachel Brice, Meissoun, Elizabeth Artemis Mourat, Jalilah, Jillina, Dalia Carella and HÈlËne Eriksen. Besides oriental dance, she studied Bharatanatyam (India classical dance) with Ginette Dion from 2001 till 2004.

Rhythm Of The Nile
Ontario

born and raised, she was dancing professionally in Egypt at age 17, with the famous Reda Troupe. Rhythm Of The Nile is co-produced by Hannan Sultan.

Rhythm Of The Nile’s main goal is to present authentic Egyptian folklore and Bellydance in Canada.

Rhythm Of The Nile Dance Company presents Egyptian folklore and Egyptian-style Bellydance right from the source.

All performances are choreographed, composed, directed and produced by Nada Krysko. Egyptian-

Raqs Sahara
Washington, DC

dance styles” (THE WASHINGTON POST) are grounded in the traditional techniques of Raks Sharki, but are enhanced by contemporary influences, folkloric elements, and the diverse dance backgrounds of its dancers and choreographers.

Since 2002, Raqs Sahara has offered audiences the opportunity to experience raqs sharqi as a theatrical art.

Raqs Sahara’s “enthralling, sensuous Middle Eastern

Habeeba Hobeika Egyptian Dance Ensemble
Ontario

Egyptian-born Habeeba Hobeika is the choreographer and artistic director of the Habeeba Hobeika Egyptian Dance Ensemble, and Director of Habeeba's Dance Studio.

An accomplished soloist herself, Habeeba is a much celebrated Egyptian dancer and choreographer throughout North America and the Middle East.

Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, She spent

Fringe Benefits
Illinois

They have performed all over the U.S.A, Canada, and in May of 2007 Stockholm, Sweden!

Fringe Benefits troupe members: Erin Beckman, Heather Hydzic, Rocio Jiminez, Rita Pensa, Chellcy Reitsma, Joanna Roguska, Diana Sanabria, Julia Worries, and Nicole Zafer.

Fringe Benefits international student troupe is an eclectic group that celebrates diversity. They perform a myriad of dance styles including Egyptian cabaret, Arabic folk dances, and Latin fusion.

Fringe Benefits is directed by Chellcy Reitsma and they perform her choreographies.

Sultana Dancers
Michigan

fusion pieces. They respect the traditional origins of the dance and always strive to educate their audience about the culture, art, and beauty of the Middle East and its dances.

The Sultana Dancers are not just a performing group, they are a sister hood of many remarkable women united by the love of dance.

The Sultana Dancers are an acclaimed Middle Eastern Dance troupe based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Established in 1974 by Lynese Hoogerhyde, the artistic director and choreographer, The Sultana Dancers are dedicated to learning, preserving, and performing traditional forms of Middle Eastern Dance as well as exploring the boundaries of modern and

Arabesque Dance Company Men's Corps
Ontario

The male dance artists of The Arabesque Dance Company take the stage to perform Tahtiib, a martial-art stick dance from Upper Egypt.

Arabesque Dance Company Artistic Director Yasmina Ramzy trained the men's corps in a number of folkloric

dance styles including Port Said, Saidi and Hagallah.

After a number of appearances, from the Premiere Dance Theatre to corporate parties to festivals at Fort York, these dances were featured in her most recent stage production, Asala.