Middle Eastern Dance:
Dancers' Directory - Alphabetical: U - Z

U

Ana Urrechaga
7751 SW 146 Road
Miami, FL 33183 USA

Beledi Dancer.

Uzbek Dance and Culture Society
PO Box 65195
Washington, DC 20035-5195

V

Vera Van Den Berghe
Amana Dance Theatre
Vaart 10
B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Email: a@skynet.be

Oriental belly dance.

Vashti (Cathy Selford)
56 Wymering Rd.
London W92ND, England
071-286-7059

Vashti
6300 Northaven Rd.
Dallas, TX 75230-3014 USA
phone: 214-373-1901

Performer, instructor, seminars. Available for private instruction.

Vashti
Oasis Dance Camp
PO Box 585
Vashon, WA 98070 USA
phone: 206-463-3627

Performer, instructor.

Veiled Threats

See under Troupe Wasila, Veiled Threats.

Visionary Dance Productions
Delilah
P.O. Box 30797
Seattle WA 98103 USA
206-632-2353
Website

"Delilah is an internationally recognized performer and instructor of bellydance. She is a partner in Visionary Dance Productions which has produced her series of instructional and performance video tapes. Delilah holds an annual bellydance retreat in Maui, where all aspects of bellydancing, including dancing in nature, are studied and experienced." Her videos have been recommended on the Medance list and by others; they include Instructional, performance, and makeup/costume videos. See Middle Eastern Dance - Video page for more information.

Viviane Hamamdjian
Viviane's Arabic Dance Theater
Beverly Hills, CA
phone: 310-274-3143

(From a flyer) "Teacher, choreographer, and performer of Egyptian Folkloric Dance. Viviane Hamamdjian is well known throughout the Middle East as a choreographer and performer. She has served as soloist and choreographer for the National Ensembles of both Egypt and Lebanon and with the Sabah Ensemble. As director of her own company, she has toured leading theaters and opera houses in Egypt, Lebanon, Australia, Bahrain, Iran, THe United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Viviane currently directs a new company in the Los Angeles area comprised of dancers of both Arab and non-Arab backgrounds. For information on classes or to book Viviane's Arabic Dance THeater call [the above number]."

"Viviane knows not just 'belly dancing' but all forms of Arabic dance including debke, dances from the Ghawazee and Saidi styles, in addition to all music from these areas and the languages...Several UCLA grad students have studied with Viviane as part of their specialization in Middle Eastern dance, some of which have published and/or presented papers to ethnological journals and conferences. As someone with a musical theater background, my experience with Viviane's choreography has led me to dub her 'the Bob Fosse of the Middle East'." --Alana

W

Washington Area Middle Eastern Dance Association (WAMEDA)
c/o Dancer (a store and studio)
8010 Old Branch Ave.
Clinton, MD 20748 USA
phone: 301-856-2144
Website: http://www.clark.net/pub/fleur/wameda/

Contact them for info about goings-on in the DC area. As an alternate address, you can try: WAMEDA Newlsetter Editor, PO Box 75165, Washington DC 20013, voicemail: 202-488-8026, Jaka (editor): 703-502-9845. Their website lists dancers, restaurants, events, etc.

Liza Wedgewood
1 Holly Cottages
Ley Green, Kings Walden
Hitchen
Herts., SG4 8LX, England
phone: 01462 768668

Liza is a Dance/Choreographer/Teacher of the Hilal School. "I have just attended a Raqs Sharqi workshop with [her...she] has a lovely way of teaching, trying to bring out in each of us the basic 'key' to the dance." --Kate P.

Susan Wilson
Tucson, AZ

See under Nefisa.

Wiporwil
Noelle Smith
370 Sycamore Dr.
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
phone: 205-383-1094

Josephine Wise
Josephine Wise Academy of Arabic Dance
11 Dumont Rd.
London N16 0NR
phone: 10276 507251

Josephine runs the Josephine Wise Academy of Arabic Dance (JWAAD), dedicated to raising awareness of raqs sharqi in Britain. JWAAD runs classes, workshops, performances, teacher training and a highly successful annual summer school. For further information please telephone Margaret Krause at the number above.

"Just returned from a great hafla and workshop in Newcastle [England] held by Jo Wise. Good fun and great workout with feedback [always important] Jo, together with teacher Maggie Caffrey run a recognised teacher training course. It consists of 4 components including teacher support workshops, attendance of workshops or summer residential school, intensive teacher training and private tuition. For further info send a self addressed[and stamped]envelope to Josephine Wise or Maggie Caffrey." --Ruth

The Women of Selket
ME Dance Troupe
PO Box 36806
Richmond, VA 23235 USA

Erna Woo
HCR2 Box 14028
Keaau, Hawaii 96749 USA
808-966-6370

Oriental and Hawaiian dance instructor and performer. Producer of "The First Hawaii Oriental Dance Festival"; ran the "Hot Lava Festival" (1995?) featuring belly dance and hula, on the Big Island.

World Jam Ethnic and Tribal Dance Troupe
Debra Jakubcin
PO Box 510718
Key Colony Beach, FL 33051 USA
phone: 305-289-9647

Performance and instruction. Belly dance, Tribal, Egyptian Cabaret, Afro Caribbean, Tahitian, Gypsy.

X

Xanadu Dance Studio

See under Kathryn Ferguson.

Y

Zuhela Yamir
Millie Blonder
PO Box 773
Ocala, FL 34478 USA
phone: 352-622-2233
Email: Zuhela@aol.com
Website: http://member.aol.com/Zuhela

Teaches private in her studio and gives group classes at the Community Technical & Adult Education. Director of the Benat Shakien Troupe and performs with her sister Maia (The Yamir Sisters).

Jean Yanagawa
Moiliili Community Center
Honolulu, HI
808-988-3710

Tuesdays: 6:30-7:30; Thursdays: 6:30-7:30 beginners, 7:30-8:30 advanced.

Yasmin
19220 17TH Ave. NW
Shoreline, WA 98177 USA
phone: 206-542-3444 evenings/weekends or
206-684-1714 weekdays
Email: skeeter12@juno.com

Let Yasmin of Seattle give you and your students a wonderful experience dancing to live percussion because it is so different from dancing to tape music!!!! Yasmin has 24 years of experience teaching dance and percussions with the Belly Dancer in mind. Yasmin is also a performer as a belly dancer and a percussionist. Yasmin is willing to travel to your area and play for your students. Dumbek, and finger cymbal instruction is also available. Reasonable rates. Yasmin teaches at: Ballard Day Spa Center on Thursday evenings (call Kim at 206-783-1968); Capitol Hill on Wednesdays (call ASUW Experimental College at 206-543-4575 or 206 68-LEARN); and Shoreline Recreation Center (call 206-546-5041).

Yasmina
Pam Parker
PO Box 42273
Mesa, AZ 85274-2273
602-834-8345
email: parker@syspac.com
Website: http://www.syspac.com/~parker

Performer, instructor, TV Hostess of The Joy of Belly Dancing. Her website includes other info about ME dance in Phoenix as well.

Z

Zahava
The Daughters of Peace Middle Eastern Dance Ensemble (Benat al Salaam)
27645 Berkshire
Southfield, MI 48076-4955
phone: 810-357-2397

Za'hra & Troupe Ta'amullat
1586 Sheffield
Ypsilanti, MI 48198 USA
phone: 313-482-3341 (Mary) or 313-427-6592 (Pauline)

Jamila Zahran
PO Box 378
Boonville, IN 47601 USA
phone: 812-897-5330

Teacher, performer, artistic director of Nejoum el Raks.

Katarina Zaina
Kathie Cantone
1122 W. Lunt #7A
Chicago, IL 60626 USA
phone: 312-743-3258

Founder Folklife Center, Performer, Educator, Dance Coach.

Zeba Dancers

See under Soroya School of Belly Dance.

Zeina
Dee Birnbaum
2359 S. Strathmore Ct.
Memphis , TN 38112 USA

(From medance list) "She travels to Egypt and/or Turkey annually." Recommended as a teacher. On the subject of teaching "real Gypsy dancing": "[she] has also gone to Turkey, to Sulu Kule, and has Rom and Turkish Gypsy friends, and teaches 'the real thing'. They are very respectful to the cultures, and very careful...[she] tours and teaches seminars...[she is a] fine teacher in any sense of the word. I am very picky about who I call a 'fine teacher'. They have to make my top 20 in the world first. Enough said?"

Zeina
Jean Zwicky
102 Pine Tree Lane
Anderson, SC 29625 USA
phone: 803-225-8977

Performer, seminars.

Zenuba
Troupe Name: Beledi Magic
PO Box 720312
Norman, OK 73070-4234 USA
email: pdc@cyberhall.com

My dance experience includes 20 years of extensive study, performance, choreography, directing, and teaching. I teach weekly lessons at two locations in the Oklahoma City area: Prairie Dance Theatre Studio at Omniplex Science Museum, 2100 N.E. 52 St., Oklahoma City, OK 73111, and at Oklahoma City Community College, 7777 S. May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73159. I teach groups as well as private coaching. My styles include both cabaret and ethnic dance genres, which incorporate props such as cane, veil, sword, candelabrum, and zills. I am the founder and director of dance troupe "Beledi Magic."

Zerehade
Marietta R. Bishop
911-B S. Second St.
Austin, TX 78704 USA
phone: 512-444-1048

A performer of Middle Eastern dance for 8 years; teaching for the last 5 years. Specializing in Ethnic/Tribal style live music and dance performances.

Zahra Zuhair
10153 1/2 Riverside Dr. #568
Toluca Lake, CA 91602 USA
email: zahra@aol.com
Website: http://members.aol.com/zahra/

Performing and teaching for over 20 years, she frequently teaches seminars around the USA. Her webpage lists her seminar schedule, as well as biographical and other information.

Zuhela Yamir
Millie Blonder
PO Box 773
Ocala, FL 34478 USA
phone: 352-622-2233
Email: Zuhela@aol.com
Website: http://member.aol.com/Zuhela

Teaches private in her studio and gives group classes at the Community Technical & Adult Education. Director of the Benat Shakien Troupe and performs with her sister Maia (The Yamir Sisters).

Zuleka Studio of Arabic Dance
8548 E 18th St.
Tucson, AZ 85710-5914
520-795-2001

(Excerpted from the yellow pages) Zuleka teaches choreography and free-style lessons, and sells a variety of costuming supplies. I believe she also teaches a variety of middle eastern dance styles. This studio sponsers the yearly Arizona Middle Eastern Dance Festival, held in Tucson.

Last Modified: 1 Feb 1998