Directory
Dancers
The professional people layer of Raqs Atlas — performers, instructors, choreographers, schools and the legends who shaped the art form.
205 profiles · showing 97–120
All Dancers
Dancer · Brazil
Linda Hathor
Linda Hathor began studying belly dance in Brazil in 1998 and developed into a professional performer, instructor and choreographer. She achieved official professional registration as a dancer in the early 2000s and became director of the Hathor Group. Her…
Cairo · Egypt
Lucy
Lucy emerged as one of Cairo's major Raqs Sharqi stars during the 1980s and 1990s. She became particularly associated with the Parisiana nightclub, where she developed a strong reputation as a live performer. Her career also expanded into acting and singing…
Dancer · Brazil
Lulu Sabongi
Lulu Sabongi began her professional career in 1984 at Khan El Khalili in São Paulo and became one of the most influential teachers in Brazilian belly dance history. During the following decade she helped build an exceptionally large professional education…
São Paulo · Brazil
Mahaila El Helwa
Mahaila El Helwa began studying Oriental dance in Brazil in 2000 and quickly entered professional training. In 2005 she achieved a major international milestone by winning at the Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival in Cairo. That success helped establish her as one of…
Dancer · United States
Mahin
Mahin is an American professional belly dancer whose work combines dance technique, Arabic music education and physical conditioning. She spent many years performing with live bands in the Phoenix area and developed strong knowledge of finger cymbals…
Legend · Egypt
Mahmoud Reda
Mahmoud Reda was one of the central architects of modern Egyptian theatrical folk dance. He co-founded the Reda Troupe in 1959 and developed choreography inspired by field observations of dances and movement traditions from across Egypt. Rather than simply…
Dancer · United States
Mardi Love
Mardi Love is one of the artists who helped define the early vocabulary and visual identity of Tribal Fusion belly dance. She began studying belly dance in San Diego and was strongly influenced by American Tribal Style before joining Heather Stants' Urban…
Athens · Greece
Maria Aya — Malema
Maria Aya, also known professionally as Malema, is a Greek Oriental dance artist with a strong focus on cultural education and folkloric knowledge. She founded and co-organised the MOSAIC Oriental Festival in Athens. Maria is also the founder and artistic…
Dancer · Russia
Marina Shishkova
Marina Shishkova is a Russian Oriental dancer who became particularly visible through the international competition and festival circuit. Her competitive record includes titles and awards obtained in several European countries as well as events connected with…
Cairo · Estonia
Maris Abe
Maris Abe, known professionally as Maris, is an Estonian Oriental dancer, instructor and recording artist based in Cairo, Egypt. She began studying belly dance in Estonia in 2005 and started teaching regular classes in 2012 before taking her professional…
Toronto · Ukraine
Marta Korzun
Marta Korzun began her professional Oriental dance career in Ukraine in 2006 and quickly became highly successful in international competition. She won major titles, including a world championship in 2011, before expanding into teaching and coaching. Marta…
Nicosia · Cyprus
Mary Vatyliotou
Mary Vatyliotou is a Cypriot belly dancer, choreographer, instructor and dance-school director based in Nicosia. She began dancing at the age of five and trained across a broad range of movement disciplines, including ballet, contemporary dance, belly dance…
Dancer · Italy
Maryem Bent Anis
Maryem Bent Anis, professionally known by that stage name, is an Italian dancer, educator and researcher specialising in the dances of the Arab world. Her professional experience spans more than two decades. She combines practical performance with research…
Dancer · India
Meher Malik
Meher Malik is one of the artists most responsible for bringing belly dance into mainstream public awareness in India. She spent much of her childhood in the Middle East and later returned to India, where she eventually chose dance over a conventional design…
Augsburg · Germany
Melli Sarina
Melli Sarina is a German fusion dancer whose wider movement experience spans more than two decades. She began dance as a child and discovered Tribal Fusion as a teenager after encountering the work of artists such as Sharon Kihara. Her subsequent training…
Budapest · Hungary
Mercedes Nieto
Mercedes Nieto began studying Oriental dance in Hungary in 1997 after earlier experience with jazz ballet and flamenco. Her artistic focus gradually became strongly connected with Egyptian Raqs Sharqi and Arabic music. She founded the Nymph Oriental Dance…
Los Angeles · United States
Mésmera
Mésmera has spent approximately five decades working professionally in belly dance, theatrical movement and related performance arts. Her career developed during a period when American belly dance was still heavily connected with live Middle Eastern music and…
Berlin · Egypt
Mo Geddawi
Dr. Mo Geddawi developed his dance career in Egypt during the formative years of the Reda Troupe. He became connected with the company during its early history and gained extensive experience in Egyptian staged folklore. After relocating to Germany in the…
Dancer · Egypt
Mohamed Kazafy
Mohamed Kazafy is one of the major Egyptian master teachers specialising in theatrical folklore and the Reda tradition. His professional background includes extensive work with the Reda Troupe in Egypt and on international tours. Over several decades he…
New York City · Egypt
Mohamed Shahin
Mohamed Shahin was born and raised in Cairo and discovered Egyptian dance as a teenager. He later moved to the United States and developed a full-time international teaching and performing career. His repertoire includes Raqs Sharqi alongside a broad range of…
Dancer · Iraq
Mohanned Hawaz
Mohanned Hawaz was born in Mosul and began performing at local festivals at approximately seven years old. By fifteen he had joined the Iraqi Artists Union of Nineveh and received formal training in dance, stage presentation and costuming. His teachers…
Legend · Egypt
Mona El Said
Mona El Said became one of the major Egyptian Raqs Sharqi stars of the 1970s and 1980s. She began dancing professionally while still very young after leaving Suez for Cairo. Her career eventually took her to prestigious venues in Egypt, Lebanon and Europe…
Dancer · United States
Moria Chappell
Moria Chappell began her belly-dance career in Atlanta in 2001 and later moved to San Francisco for intensive training. She studied within the Salimpour environment and joined Bellydance Superstars in 2005. Chappell eventually became an artistic director for…
Cairo · France
Morjana
Morjana is a French professional dancer who established her artistic life in Egypt and built a multidisciplinary career around dance and music. She works as a performer, choreographer, instructor and researcher while also playing darbuka and participating in…