teachers

Aya of Istanbul

teaches Bellydance for Beginners

Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, Aya is a professional Middle Eastern Style Belly Dancer, instructor, and choreographer living (mostly) in Atlanta, Georgia. She is known for her authentic style, elegant musical interpretation, magnetic stage presence, and an innate ability to connect with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Aya’s dance background includes Turkish folkdancing and lessons with Sema Yildiz, Birgul Beray, and Zehra Telli of Turkey. She has also studied in Egypt with Mahmoud Reda, Hasan Afifi, Farida Fahmy, Hasan Khalil, Aida Nour, Mohamed Kazafy, Nesrin, Nour, Farouk Mustafa, Khaled Mahmoud, Ahmed Fekry, and in the United States with Jillina, Elizabeth Artemis Mourat, Sahra Saida, Jasmin Jahal, Eva Cernik, Aziza (of Montreal), Ansuya, Hadia, Laurel Gray, and Habiba.

Aya's professional career started in 2002 under the direction of Schadia in the Nazeem Allayl Middle Eastern Dance Company. Since then, she has performed at numerous venues across the U.S. as well as in Turkey, has been featured on PBS, Eleven Alive News, Fox’s Good Morning Atlanta, ATL Scene, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, and Mundo Hispanico, and has been a popular instructor and choreographer. After starting a solo career in 2006, she has continued her frequent travels to Istanbul, which allows her to keep up with the latest dance trends and do research.

Aya’s authentic style and captivating stage presence has made her a favorite within Middle Eastern communities. A requested performer at weddings, anniversaries, galas, openings, cultural and educational events, wrap parties, restaurants and nightclubs, Aya always represents Middle Eastern Dance and Culture with dignity and pride. Her deep connection and commitment to the dance are apparent both on and off stage.

Aya teaches with the same love and skill she performs with. A knowledgeable and sought after instructor, she instills in students the historical background, cultural connections, meaningful expressions, and authentic movement that characterize this art form. Aya is also the founder and director of Ayaat, a student dance troupe which performs regularly in the Atlanta area.

When not performing or teaching, Aya speaks at cultural and educational events and attends question and answer sessions. She is also active in research with a special focus on "The Role of Social Dance in Middle Eastern Communities" and "The Image of the Professional Dancer in Turkish Society".

Aziza Nawal

teaches Bellydance Choreography

Aziza Nawal is has been involved in Oriental Dance (belly dance) for over 15 years. In addition to regular and guest appearances in restaurants and stage shows throughout the U.S., Aziza Nawal was the winner of the Middle Eastern Dance in North America competition in 2002, placed Third at the 2005 Double Crown Competition and finished 3rd Runner-up at the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in 2006. She has appeared on WGCL's “Good Morning Atlanta”, Fox Television's “30 Seconds to Fame” and recently featured on “Yildiz Yagmuru”, a live variety show filmed in Istanbul, Turkey. Aziza Nawal has always continued to enrich her dance education by pursuing many styles and has proven her diversity by becoming member of Awalim Tribal Dance Company in 2009.

As an instructor, Aziza Nawal has taught ongoing group classes and specialty workshops in the Southeastern United States since 1998. She was a featured instructor and performer at the Annual Mabruk Festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has also taught workshops in Seattle, Washington, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Aziza Nawal is a certified fitness instructor, fine artist and web producer. She occasionally performs voice over work for Cox Radio, her daytime employer. An avid fan of science fiction and a movie buff, she often enjoys whitewater canoeing with her husband. Aziza Nawal’s extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern music and rhythms results in her eloquent musical interpretation and dynamic drum solos. She attributes her compelling performance skills to her lifetime love of epic movies and vaudeville.

awards:

• Winner Middle Eastern Dance in North America Competition 2002
• Nominated for Zaghareet Magazine's Best Kept Secret 2003
• Third Place Double Crown Competition in Vancouver, Washington 2005
• Third Runner-up in the Bellydancer of the Universe Competition 2006

Clint Rauscher

teaches Tango Evolution

Clint Rauscher has been dancing Argentine Tango since 2003. He dances both close and open embrace tango and is a founding member of an Atlanta tango social group, Tango Evolution. He loves sharing his knowledge of tango dance and music.

He has studied with master teachers both in the US and Buenos Aires including Homer and Cristina Ladas, Chicho Frumboli y Juana Sepulveda, El Pulpo, Sebastian Arce y Mariana Montes, Facundo y Kely Posadas, Gustavo Naveira y Giselle, Osvaldo Zotto y Lorena Ermocida,  Osvaldo y Coca, Cristina Cortes and Gabriel Glagovsky.

LaWanda Brokenborough

teaches Zumba

Atlanta Native and fitness fanatic, LaWanda Brokenborough is affectionately known by her clients and students as "Sgt LaWanda" for a good reason. With over 9 years of teaching group fitness full time, she demands, and gives, the best physical attention from and to everyone.

As the Founder/CEO of Aerobics Delivered (www.aerobicsdelivered.com), a mobile fitness and dance company based in metro Atlanta, LaWanda teaches an average of 32 group fitness and dance classes per week. In addition to teaching to her classes, she holds over 10 certifications, leads weight loss support groups for teens and adults, trains/coaches other group fitness instructors and conducts fitness & dance choreography workshops and lectures throughout the year.

She is best known for is her high energy, calorie burning, Zumba classes as well as her sexy exotic dance classes. Her self choreographed Zumba classes allows participants to burn up to 900 calories in 1 hour! Other class formats taught by her include step, body sculpting, kickboxing, Turbo Kick, salsa dance, H20, Silver Sneakers, yoga, Pilates, boot camp, BOSU ,cycling and Latin dance for kids.

Mario Diaz

teaches Salsa

Mario Diaz was born of Cuban descent in New York City. He began his career as a dancer, percussionist and MC while attending De Witt Clinton High School. During his high school years he danced, acted, played congas and sang chorus in school talent shows and plays.

Melissa Coffey

facilitates Aerial Jam

Originally a Lingerie, Apparel and costume designer, Melissa let her love of music carry her into dance and ultimately found aerial dance. She now finds herself performing on stages, in theaters, galleries and nightclubs much like the performers she once costumed.

She builds a repertoire of original acts and characters specifically for each occasion. These acts create an atmosphere that goes beyond the typical dimensions of entertainment as they take flight. Styles range from modern movement, vaudeville, cirque, daredevil, fantasy, overt sexuality, to fetish. Her characters have many themes: an organ grinder with her monkey, the preening peacock, flying spirits, sexy aerial go-go dancers, or vaudeville clowns vying for each other’s attention.

Melissa enjoys the spotlight and a breathless audience, hearing the surprise and screams coming from a crowd or watching the lights dance on her skin while she defies gravity. Most of all she aims to be an expression of beauty, music, or theme touching the audience in a striking, memorable and inspiring way.

Onur Topal-Sumer

Onur Topal-Sümer is a Turkish dancer, from Istanbul. She started dancing at an age of 4 with ballet training. Onur graduated from Yildiz Technical University, School of Art and Design with a B.A. degree in Dance. In 2004 she was awarded with a full scholarship from the University of California, Irvine for her M.F.A degree with an emphasis in dance & technology. Onur has performed with several dance companies such as Loretta Livingston&Dancers, Architexture Dance Company, No Dancers Company and Istanbul State Theater. Her choreographic works have been performed in the USA and Europe. Onur is the “Dance Camera Istanbul” International Dance Film Festival director and she teaches modern/contemporary dance, ballet, improvisation, choreography, creative movement, pilates, conditioning & strength training, meridian stretching and creates multimedia video works as an independent artist. She currently continues on dancing with Atlanta based modern dance company Full Radius Dance as a full time company member.

Find out more at onurtopalsumer.blogspot.com.

Rebecca DeShon

teaches Hoopdance

Through hoop dance I have found a calming centering meditation which helps me release the negative energy and make space for prosperity and bliss. Hoop dance builds core strength, tones your entire body, provides an intense cardio workout, increases energy, develops balance and coordination, increases flexibility, clears and quiets the mind, reduces stress, improves self confidence, generates joy and laughter, improves one’s mood, and opens up creative self expression.  After spending time in your hoop will find yourself more joyful with a lot less stress! Hooping is beautiful, transforming and mesmerizing ...you just may find yourself hooked!!! Your hoop is a useful tool for fun, fitness, meditation or playful sensuality! The possibilities are endless for body, mind and spirit to reconnect in the infinite circle.

Hula hooping has changed my life in so many ways. I never thought it could ever have such a profound impact on my life! It went from something I once perceived as a gimmick to a true healthy obsession in my life! It has lifted me out of the depths of self loathing depression by opening up my heart and mind to creative self expression! The hoop is such a soothing rhythm, it quickly turned into my ‘moving meditation’. it helps to center my energy and gives me time to clear my head and focus my energy.

I began hooping in the summer of 2008 and through constant practice and effort, acquired my Hoopnotica Certified Teacher certificate in the late fall of that year. I had been teaching and performing in NY until home called me back to Atlanta in the winter of 2009. My life hasn’t been the same since; I want to share the beauty I have found in hoop dance with everyone I meet.

Shelley Brooks

teaches Argentine Tango

Shelley Brooks has been dancing Tango since late 2004, and enjoys all styles of the embrace. She is a committed and active member of Tango Evolution, and believes that you dance with your community as well. She brings with her years of classical ballet training, as well as jazz, modern,tap, African, hip-hop, and Salsa, and studies in choreography, kinesiology, music, dance history, and has taught various dance/exercise programs over the years.With the understanding that technique and body mechanics are of utmost importance, you must never forget the dance, the energy, and how you move through space to the music.

Shelley has studied with masters from the States and Buenos Aires, most notably: Guillermina Quiroga, Gustavo Naveira and Giselle Anne, Fabian Salas and Carolina del Rivero, Miguel Zotto, Osvaldo Zotto and Lorena Ermocida, Nancy Louzan and Damian Essel, Fernanda Ghi and Guillermo Merlo, Silvina Valz and Oliver Kolker, Adrian and Amanda Costa, and Roberto Reyes. It has been a privilege to be around, and a joy to share.

Suhad Nassr

teaches Bellydance Cardio

Suhad Nassr is an Bellydance Cardio instructor in the Atlanta International Community and has been teaching in the United States for 10 years. Suhad provides personal dance training to women and their families... especially those who desire that all important cultural touch to their events and holidays. As a native Arabic speaker born in Palestine she also provides music and lyric translation to all her students. Suhad's classes are designed to condition a dancer’s body for endurance and to produce a well defined feminine frame. Students often report weight loss and better health after completing just a few classes.

Andye-Andinha Niakan

assists Suhad with Bellydance Cardio

Andye-Andinha Niakan is an ethnic dance instructor and event review writer with Raqs al Sharqi International. After spending years with her cousins from various parts of the world she began teaching the many dances seen throughout the Middle East and Asia. Her specialties include Persian Bandari, Raqs Sharqi and Sha’abi as well other genres of ethnic dance from the Far East. She is multilingual with French, Portuguese and English as her main languages and primarily teaches men.

Teejei

teaches Tribal Style Bellydance

Teejei is a principal dancer with the Awalim Dance Company, Atlanta's premier Folkoric fusion and Tribal Bellydance company. She originally discovered bellydance through the videos of Fat Chance Bellydance in 2004, and self-trained till she could grab the nearest class. She began classes with Egyptian style instructor Zarifa, and in May of 2005 moved to Atlanta to study with Ziah Ali of Awalim.

She joined Awalim in 2006, and continues her study of movement and music through workshops and research. She is a strong proponent of ATS and was present at the first-ever ATS intensive, FCBD's Tribal Pura. She completed the General Skills for ATS program in 2007, and Teacher Training in 2010. She was also a dancer-chosen finalist for the 2006 Bellydance Superstars Embedded Reporter contest, and is an annual Drum Instructor and Print Designer for the southeast's annual TribalCon.

Teejei is a Graphic Designer and Illustrator, and is working with Carolena Nericcio to develop anatomy resources for bellydance. She is also studying Middle Eastern percussion, and values her musical technique as a part of understanding the dance.

Theshay West

teaches HipHop

Born in Atlanta, Theshay started his Dance career at Dekalb School of the Arts and since has been trained in Latin, Ballroom, Modern, Jazz, Ballet, and Hiphop. Theshay has had the privelage of studying under the great Ana Llorente and dancing with her company; they have since competed all across the country. Also, Theshay recently danced and choreographed with the Ballethnic dance company. Theshay has taught all over Georgia — at Georgia Tech, Ballethnic, Academy Ballroom, Daza Dance and more. He brings a passion to his dance that cannot be forgotten and loves to share his gift with his students.

Syrens of the South

teaches ABC's & 123's of Burlesque

The Atlanta based production company Syrens of the South was started by two ladies with a common vision. Katherine Lashe and Talloolah Love met while performing burlesque in 2004 and were so often mistaken for each other they decided to start a sister act. In 2007, they toured with their duet all over the USA. In the span of three months, they traveled to and performed in Boston, Hollywood, Charlotte, Atlanta, Nashville and at The Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.

Find out more at http://syrensofthesouth.com/

Zoetic Dance

teaches Zoetic Open Contemporary

Zoetic Dance Ensemble is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting the quality of the human spirit through the athleticism and artistry of dance to a wide audience by creating and producing innovative and accessible choreographic works. Zoetic Dance Ensemble was created to give voice to the extraordinary potential of the human body and spirit. Coming from the Greek word zoe, zoetic means living, vital and animated which accurately describes the company’s approach to movement. Zoetic is committed to training, performance, innovation and collaboration.

Find out more at http://www.zoeticdance.org/