Joharah

BellyUp Creator, Performer, Instructor

Sahar

Sahar became enthralled with bellydancing after taking lessons with several students of Badia Star and Habeeba Hobeika. An interest in tribal fusion led to training with Audra Simmons and Rachel Brice. She focused on Polynesian dance at Pacific Magic and dabbled in hip hop. Eventually, she found Nada Krysko at Hannan’s Bellydance Studio and fell in love with Egyptian Folklore. Since then, she has taken many workshops with Aziza, Randa Kamel, Sahra Saeeda, Amir Thaleb, Aida Nour, and Tito Seif. She recently performed at the Second International Bellydance Conference of Canada and regularly performs at venues across the city. She has completed Hadia’s Teacher Training in Bellydancing and is a Certified Sexy Fitness Instructor through Laura Furtado. Sahar is currently teaching classes in Hawaiian, Sexy Fitness, and Bellydance at BellyUpBellyDance and various locations in Mississauga. Her grace, ability to feel and interpret the music, as well as, engage the audience is appreciated by all who see her.To book Sahar, email info@bellyup.ca  or call 416.414.1115.

RaVan

Lisa Raks

Lisa is best known for her original, sensuous, captivating style and her passionate, powerful stage presence. Her performances take the audience on an exciting journey as she tells her story through emotion, and a powerful show of body movement through dance. Lisa has studied locally with Hannan Sultan, Nada Krysko and Audra Simmons in addition to Aziza, Mira Betz, Ariellah, and Jim Boz. Lisa's offers both Egyptian Cabaret with veil entrance, finger cymbal routine, and a climatic drum solo in addition to Tribal Fusion and raqs gothic performance stylings.  To book Lisa, email info@bellyup.ca or call 416 414 1115.

Valizan

Valizan began his journey into Middle Eastern dance in 1995 when he joined the Society for Creative Anachronism and education group that learns about the middle ages by recreating it. Teachers Rayah Bint Youssef and Moria the Black instilled basic technique while classes with Roula Said took him to a new plateau. Current influences include Yasmina Ramzy, FatChanceBellydance, Jillina, Rachel Brice and Francisco Carranza. Valizan has become a sought after teacher and performer for his powerful style and energy. He also directs his own Tribal troupe called Shades of Araby. Stage performances include Arabesque’s Asala, The International Bellydance Conference, Tribally Inspired, Northern Migration, The Dark Side, and Face Zenna at the Royal Ontario Museum. He also headlined in the Heat of the Hafla in Milwaukee, Belly Boo Bash in Dayton, Ohio and appeared at Cabin Fever and the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, NY. He was honored to be included in the 2007 Men of Middle Eastern Dance Calendar produced by Jim Boz. He began teaching American Tribal Style at Arabesque Academy in 2004, and became an apprentice in the Arabesque Dance Company in November 2005 when he began training in Egyptian Folklore. He is also a lead dancer in Yasmina Ramzy’s latest male dance company the Righteous Rogues of Raks. Valizan holds a degree in Journalism from Ryerson, completed the Arabesque Pro dancer course, and is proud to recently become the first male to graduate from the FatChanceBellydance Teacher Training Program. To book Valizan for an event, contact info@bellyup.ca or call 416.414.1115.

Shades of Araby

Shades of Araby are Toronto’s first American Tribal Style (ATS) bellydance troupe. Sharing the love of the Tribal esthetic in bellydance, Maral, Sofia and Valizan united to form the troupe in early 2006. Since then they have appeared in the International Bellydance Conference of Canada, Tribally Yours in Montreal, Tribal: Pura in Milwaukee, Dark Fire in London, Shimmy for the Cure in Erie, PA and a variety of shows and events in Toronto and Southern Ontario. Please visit Shades of Araby at their web site http://shadesofaraby.valizan.com/