Phaedra Darwish:

Bellydancebyphaedra.com

Coming from a background in instrumental and vocal music and musical theatre, Phaedra Darwish was mesmerized by Arabic dance and music after studying different types of dance from around the world. She feels that these art forms are beautiful ways to share the culture of her heritage.

She has been performing and teaching workshops and classes in Chicago and throughout the US for the past 14 years, as well as producing and taking part in cultural events, community fundraisers, and dance festivals as both a musician and dancer. Through active engagement, maintaining a high standard of execution, and participation in quality programming, Phaedra hopes to spread enthusiasm and respect for Middle Eastern dance as more and more people get acquainted with its health benefits and enchanted by its beauty.

With its lively music and rich historic tradition, oriental dance, or raqs sharqi, brings with it more than just dance moves. By examining the music, regions, and cultural aspects behind the movement in her classes and performing Arabic dance at a professional level both inside and outside of its traditional environment, Phaedra seeks to fulfill her mission as an artist: to increase cultural awareness, appreciation, and understanding by sharing the dances of her heritage with as large a population as possible.   

Vanessa Of Cairo:

Vanessaofcairo.com

Vanessa is an international performer, instructor, and award-winning choreographer. A native Texan, she received her BFA in ballet from Texas Christian University, and then went on to live in New York City for eight years, where she continued her studies in dance, acting and musical theater. She was fortunate enough to further her dance education at the Paul Taylor Winter Intensive, Ballet Austin Summer intensive, and the Broadway Theatre Project— where she was able to train with Broadway stars Ann Reinking, Gwen Verdon and Gregory Hines. 

In 2008, Vanessa moved to Egypt, where she became the first and only American woman to own and operate a production company. She and her dance company provided a variety of entertainment in the five star hotels in Sharm El Sheikh—a tourist resort destination. 

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In 2015, Vanessa relocated to Cairo full-time to continue her solo career in classic Egyptian dance and folklore dance. There, she held a 30 month contract at the Sofitel El Gezirah where she and her musicians performed weekly. 

Many dance enthusiasts from around the world would attend Vanessa‘s shows, and invite her to teach and perform in their countries for their dance schools, festivals and events. 

While in Cairo, Vanessa performed as a soloist, as well as acting in plays and theater productions. 

She has performed for the Egyptian Minister of Culture, the King of Baharain, and numerous officials and diplomats. 

Throughout the years, Vanessa has been invited to choreograph, teach and perform at various schools, studios, conventions, events and festivals during her visits back to the USA and Internationally— Including Egypt, Kuwait, Emirates, Estonia, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Portugal, Chile, Mexico, Japan,  Canada and England.

She is thrilled to be back home in the USA, and honored to be Artistic Director of Jawaahir Dance Company.

Vanessa is currently offering online private  coaching as well as teaching in-person workshops and live events Stateside and Internationally

Silvia Salamanca:

SilviaSalamanca.com

Silvia Salamanca is an internationally acclaimed performer, choreographer and instructor from Mallorca, Spain.  A life-long dancer, she graduated at the age of nineteen as a major in ballet and performed professionally as a modern dancer in major Europe festivals with the contemporary dance company of the University of Barcelona.

She started her career as a belly dancer in 2001, when realizing the enormous benefits that this art-form brings in both, body and soul. In her own studio, she keeps observing how women can get closer to their self identity and discover oneself in a new level, increasing self-esteem, and getting deeply in touch with the feminine essence in their soul through bellydance.

As a natural evolution in her journey, Silvia discovered tribal fusion in the USA and combined it with a deep research into her own cultural roots: Arabic and Spanish gitana. Hence with her work in the field of Zambra Mora (spanish gitano-oriental dance fusion), Silvia gained international recognition and is currently invited to teach workshops and perform as a headliner in major festivals world-wide. Silvia is also known for her work dancing with swords, which she feels depicts the strength.

Silvia is also the director of Shunyata Belly Dance, a nationally awarded tribal fusion company and a proud member of Urban Hips, Houston’s premiere ITS troupe.