At Abyssinian Dance Center we take pride in being able to offer classes by many different teachers.  We believe each student should have the opportunity to experience a variety of instructors in order to best define their own personal, unique style.  Our punch card system and schedule allows every student to find the best fit for their own needs.






Read below for more information on each of our instructors!

Amira

Amira is a belly dancer in high demand in the Seattle area. For over a decade, Amira has been pleasing audiences with a unique blend of jubilant energy, passion and grace.  She performs regularly at venues in Seattle as well as nationally, adding up to over 200 performances each year! Amira is also featured in the recent DVD from the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance, released in March of 2007. Amira has been teaching belly dance since 2002 and she currently teaches at the Mercer Island Community Center, Renton Community Center and here at Abyssinian Dance Center in Burien. For more information on Amira, please go to her web page www.amirathebellydancer.com

photo by Casbah Studios


Mirabai

Mirabai's passion for dance became evident at the age of 4 when she began producing recitals for willing family members. Back then, her costuming consisted of either her red nighty or a red fluffy ballet dress and cowboy boots! It wasn't too long after the recitals started that she began training in ballet, tap and jazz....and graduated from her PJ's into a pink tutu and tap shoes. Later, inspired by her mom's long love of Middle Eastern dance, Mirabai's focus shifted to bellydance.

She first began her bellydance journey under the guidance of Linda of Mas Uda of Olympia, then sought instruction from Hasani of Gig Harbor.  Eventually her passion for travel took her to many new places where she studied, taught and eventually performed with many new influences. Currently, her main influences are Yousry Sharif, Amir Thaleb, Saida of Argentinia, Sahra Saida and Leila of Cairo.

Mirabai has been instructing and performing Middle Eastern dance for 18 years. She performs regularly around the Puget Sound area at private and public venues and events. She enjoys serving her community as president of Middle Eastern Arts International (see their link on our "Favorite Links" page!). She delights in bringing the artistry and joys of Middle Eastern dance to all students!

Mirabai is a Tamalyn Dallal certified bellydance instructor as well as a Dancing for Birth certified instructor.

Mirabai recently placed first runner-up in the 2009 Bellydancer USA Competition and first runner-up in the 2008 Emerald Rain Bellydance Competition!

Nadira!

Nadira began her journey as a performer at the age of six. She has studied many forms of dance, from ballet to hip hop to jazz. In 1999, she was introduced to Middle Eastern dance after a car accident she thought ended her dance career, She incorporated her broad dance and musical background with new technical moves and her unique style emerged.

Since then, Nadira has become an accomplished performer, instructor and choreographer. As testament to her expanding dance repetiore, she has laid claim to five national dance titles and has been featured in IAMED's "Bellydance-O-Rama 2" dvd, filmed in Hollywood as well as the performance dvd's "By Dancers for Dancers, Volume II and IV".

As a new West Seattleite, Nadira is excited to be a part of the Abyssinian Dance Center. For more information on Nadira, please visit her website www.nadira.com

Layla


Layla has been bellydancing for several years and began teaching regular classes here at ADC. We are honored to be able to offer her exceptional talents to our students! Her teaching style is incredibly joyful and very approachable to new students. There is always laughter and smiles in her classes!  She continues her education by taking regular classes and workshops and feels teaching is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. Her breakdowns are very specific and "user-friendly" and her teaching is detailed, yet easy to follow, but most importantly, she has an uncanny ability to make each and every student feel special. Layla has been certified as an instructor by Saqra.

Raqs Steady Eddie

Raqs Steady Eddie is a dancer, martial artist and craftsman.  He has been creating art and dancing since he was a child.  Growing up in the 1980's Eddie experienced first hand the birth of breakdanc and popping and locking.  Also in the 80's, Eddie began studying martial arts starting with Karate, touching on Tai Chi and later settling into another discipline, Kung Fu.  Eddie's break dancing later became belly dance and soon after he would blend all of his movement arts into one seamless vernacular of dance, that he performs for audiences today.  Using the strength of martial arts, the grace of belly dance and the comedic timing of popping and locking, Eddie creates a texture of movement that is fresh, complex and enjoyable to watch!

NOOR

Noor began her dance training as a child, beginning with ballet, jazz and tap. As an adult she discovered raks sharqi, also known as oriental dance or bellydance. Upon taking her first class she was immediately enchanted and moved by the music; the lush Arabic melodies, complex rhythms and dazzling big band orchestration captured her heart.

From that experience onwards Noor focused all her energy on learning how to move to this music in the tradition of raks sharqi. She continues to develop her ear, technique, movement vocabulary and knowledge of the dance and its cultural roots to best interpret the music and communicate with her audience

In October 2005 Noor traveled to Egypt visiting Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. During this time she had the opportunity to learn more about the culture from which raks sharqi comes and to study with dancer Diana Tarkhan and renowned choreographer Raqia Hassan.

Shortly after her visit to Egypt Noor moved to Seattle where she currently performs as a soloist at a variety of venues, teaches classes, and continues to develop her craft. Noor recently joined Seattle's bellydance company Fleurs D'Egypte and performed with them in IAMED's 'My Big Fat Bellydance Show' in Los Angeles.

Tayissa Blue

Tayissa began dancing in New Hampshire with a wonderful Egyptian Cabaret instructor named Lorraine Purdy. Her pursuit of dance has gone through many changes over the years. She has explored Cabaret, Medieval, American Tribal Style, Theatrical, Gothic and Tribal Fusion styles. She enjoys exploring thematic concepts in bellydance and costuming. She is a third generation seamstress and places a strong emphasis on costuming in dance as an expression of theatrical concepts.

Currently, she performs and teaches in venues around the Pacific Northwest. She is the director of the Tribal Fusion Troupe, Twilight. They use a combination of Tribal Vaudeville, Gothic, improvisation and choreography to amaze and entertain audiences. Twilight is also pursuing a live music ensemble as part of their troupe. Through further exploration of music, we gain a deeper understanding of the dance we seek to perform.

Tayissa believes that dance is rewarding for women of all ages and body types. Dance improves posture, coordination and provides a deep joy of the world. Through time and dedication anyone can enjoy the myriad of benefits available.