FESTIVAL TEACHERS     Mohamed Shahin   Mohamed Shahin is an inspirational instructor,world-renowned performer and challenging     choreographer of Egyptian Oriental Dance (Raqs Sharqi) and Egyptian/Middle Eastern   Folkloric Dance.     Hir powerful technique, magnetic personality and masterful knowledge of all styles of Middle     Eastern Dance has turned Mohamed Shahin   into one of the most sought after dance instructors and performers in the word today.   http://mohamedshahin.net/  Aisa Lafour   Aisa Lafour is an internationally sought after bellydance teacher and performer. She is     travelling around the world to teach and perform on international bellydance festivals and     important events. She was the winner of the Bellydancer of the world contest 2008 and is one   of the dancers of Jillina (Bellydance Evolution Show, with whom she toured in the US, Europe   and Morocco.   Aisa Is a diplomated danceteacher and is the founder of the A.L Bellydance Company, the       BDeyy el Amarb ensemble and is the organiser of the Orientalicious Bellydance Festival. In   her classes and shows you will feel her passion for Oriental dance and it technical, musical,   emotional and cultural background.   http://www.aisalafour.com/   Maria Aya   Maria Aya is a greek origin teacher and choreographer based in Athens Greece.    Teaching workshops in all Greece & International (Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Serbia, Egypt,   Estonia, Malta, Cyprus, Italy)   and taught at NileGroup Festival of Cairo on November 2010.   Director of the oriental charity group "Malema's Banat"   Have produced with director Tasos Horrus, the first DVD in Greece with Theatrical Oriental   (The Lost Hamsa) Co-Director of the greek "Kazafy Troupe" for 2010   Her students have won April 2009 the first prize at the NileGroup Festival for group category.   Teaching oriental styles from all arab world, specialized in folklore and cultural dances and     also the greek (tsifteteli) oriental style.   Is also judge in National and International Oriental Competitions   Travelling every year many times in arab countries to search more into the culture of the dance   and music.   Known for her deep emotional connection with Tarab music and sense of humor   (Baladi Kitchen)   http://facebook.com/Malema  Stella Zahir   Stella Zahir was born in the early 80s in Greece. Her first dance experience was at the age of   3 in typical Greek folkloric dances. Until the age of 15, she danced throughout Greece   regularly in folkloric dance ensembles.   At 15, she started to transform her passion for dance into oriental dance. From that time she     start taking courses with teachers like Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Aida Nour, Suha Deep,   Jillina, Kazafy, Khaled Mahmoud, Nour, Tito, Serkan Tutar, Soraya, Leila of Cairo, Amani,   Zadiel, Hale Sultan, Yasmina, Lubna and Ousama Emam and many more. With most love,   she took a lot of influence from Madame Raqia Hassan. Stella Zahir has performed in several   countries including Japan, Germany, Egypt, Italy, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Turkey.   Now she is in her seventh year of teaching and has organized many shows. In December   2009, she instigated her big festival that will take place every year.   http://www.cairobynightfestival.webs.com/   Alba Hayal   Alba Hayal is teacher and international bellydancer.Director of her academy in Mataró   (Barcelona), beside directing, producing and choreographing her shows.She gives courses and   performs in recognized festivals of oriental dance all over the world (Czech Republic, Egypt,   Holland, France, Hungary, Germany ...) and cities of the whole Spain (Tenerife, Valencia,   Sevilla, Madrid, Castellón, Malaga, Tarragona, Girona ...).   She has been formed with big teachers as the Egyptians: Raqia Hassan, Mahmoud Reda, Dr.   Mo Geddawi, Dina, Randa Kamel, Momo Kadous...   She takes part in the International Festival of Cairo "Ahlan wa Sahlan" since 2007 and in 2009   she was invited by the great Raqia Hassan to dance in the Teachers ' Show, the show of the     teachers of the most important festival in the world.   Alba Hayal has studied overcoat with Egyptian teachers and has developing an own, very   personal style, strong, sweet and full of feeling.   Nowadays she is one of the most recognized bellydancers in Spain and Europe.   Chosen by Jillina (USA BellyDance Superstar) as dancer of her new project of oriental dance   "Bellydance Evolution" beside organizing the European casting.   Organizer of the International Festival in Mataró, "Bellydance Mataró" which includes contest,   workshops and international show.   Nowadays she prepares with her bellydance company "Ballet árabe de Cataluña" her new and   innovative theatrical show "The swan lake", adjustment of the recognized classic work.A really   new project that will take undoubtedly the oriental dance to another level.   http://www.albahayal.com/   Anusch Alawerdian   Anusch (originaly Armenian) is an internationally acclaimed oriental dance performer,   instructor & choreographer based in The Netherlands. Her lifelong romance with dance   radiates in her magnificent shows, enchanting audiences in many parts of the world and   rewarding her with thunderous applause.   For the past 10 years, Anusch has been giving spectacular performances throughout the     Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the USA. She has dance and rhythm in every vain and   her happy heart is reflected in her radiating dance, captivating audiences with her sensitive   and musical approach to Bellydance.   In the last 2 years, the United Arab Emirates has been her home where she dazzled the     stages of the best 5 star hotels in the region, such as Al Diar Siji hotel (Al Fujaira), Fairmont     Hotel, Intercontinental, Hilton Hotel, Studio Masr Abu Dhabi, Wafi Dubai(Baladna), Al     Awtar(RAK) and many others.   Before enchanting the Middle East with her superb performances, Anusch worked in The     Netherlands.  She opened her own oriental dance school “Arevik” in 2002 and taught and     inspired hundreds of students while also performing in a significant number of her own dance   productions. She has trained a team of highly-qualified assistants who run the school when   she is performing abroad.   Anusch Alawerdian is the founder of International Summer Bellydance Festival.   http://www.anusch.nl/  Nelly   Nelly is one of the most famous Greek bellydancers.   She started attending ballet classes from a very young age and   she finally realized that dancing is her pure passion and pursued   a professional training and studies. She has a master degree in Ballet and Latin.   Today she lives and works in Austria, at the same time she gives and   organizes seminars and workshops around Europe.   She is the artistic director and choreographer of NellyRaks Group.   She took part of the show of Bellydance Superstars and  Bellydance Evolution European tour.   The last years is performing as the only Greek Bellydancer in Middle East.   Her unique memorable style and her "Doubble Assaya" brought her as a teacher in the     biggest Festival ,   Ahlan Wa Sahlan,which was also invited as a performer in the closing Gala.   Nelly is known for her talent to dance with live music and especially drum solos!   She keeps on travelling all around the word, not only to attend worldwide  dance seminars and   contests, but also to expand her visions as an artist and as human.   http://www.nelly-dance.com/   Eileen   Professional dancer and instructor   Started her dance studies since she was 6 years old in ballet, jazz, mexican folklore dance   and polinesian.   At the age of 15 during a trip to Egypt discovered oriental dance and began studying it, in   2006 she moved to Argentina to continue studying in the Arabian   Dance School directed by Amir Thaleb and soon she was invited to join the Arabian Dance   Company, Amir Thaleb's ballet, palce that allowed her to travel   around argentina performing and learning from the best teachers in bellydance.   Now she lives in Mexico teaching and performing around the world!   She has an impecable techinque and a unique style that makes her a great dancer !!!   Eliana   Born in Russia, Eliana started bellydance after she moved to Germany. Eliana owes her   dance competence today to numerous internationally renowned     teachers, who gave a lot of dance and artistic qualification to her   (Said el Amir, Djamila, Jillina, Momo Kadous, Sharon Kihara, Samantha Emanuel).   She successfully completed the jomdance®- and ESTODA®- dance education. Eliana is a   creative, versatile and experienced artist, specialized in tribal fusion   dance. She is one of the top bellydancer in Germany and well-known in Europe.   2010 she won Bellydance Evolution Show competition in Europe and was on tour with BDE in   Germany, Budapest, Morocco, Taiwan. She danced one of the   leading parts – the Oracle Part -  in the BDE Show in Beijing / China. She was also engaged     as Jillinas co-trainer for BDE tour in Taiwan and China.   Since January 2011 Eliana is a proud member of jomdance®-company, created by   Said el Amir.   Eliana travels a lot, teaching seminars and performing in shows. She is known as inspiring   teacher, spectacular dance artist and as a charming, nice person.   www.eliana-dance.de