ANUKA

An elegant and engaging dancer, Anuka shares her love of music by making it a visible entity.  Drawn to express the richness and variety of Middle Eastern music, she studied intensively with Hannan Sultan and Mayada, and has also taken classes and workshops with Yasmina Ramzy, Roula Said, and other Toronto teachers. 

Anuka takes several workshops with world-class instructors every year to broaden her dance knowledge. Dancers she has studied with include Aziza, Bozenka, Aida Nour, Randa Kamel, Tito, Jillina, Ansuya, Hadia (Level 1 teacher training), Sahra Saeeda, Nath Keo, Rachel Brice, Sharon Kihara and Sarah Skinner.

She frequently dances at public and private events throughout the GTA and has been teaching specialty workshops and weekly classes for over four years with meticulous attention to technique. She was an instructor at Hannan's Bellydance Studio from 2007 to 2009, and at the Om Laila studio with Roula Said in 2010. 

Anuka is the choreographer and artistic director for her troupe Mirage, creating original dances every year for a variety of shows.

Anuka’s  Website...

ZAHIRA

Zahira, owner and artistic director of Dragonfly Dance is best know for her charisma, powerful stage presence and engaging performances.  Possessing quality technique, musicality, captivating expression, and excellence as an entertainer, Zahira is a well known sought after instructor and performer in the Toronto bellydance community.

Zahira has a strong background in drama, music and movement.  She is a protégé of Hannan Sultan and Roula Said and since falling in love with bellydance in 2002, she has developed and impressive C.V. of dance training with some of the world’s best teachers.   Notable influences include: Shazadi of Mexico, Aziza, Jillina, Saida and Amir Thaleb or Argentina, Randa Kamal, Aida Nour, Tito, Yousry Sharif, Rachel Brice, Hadia, Ariellah, Mira Betz, and many more luminaries.

Zahira was a founding Faculty member at Hannan’s Bellydance Studio, where she shared her passion for dance for over 4 years (2006-2010),  creating a dedicated following of numerous students.  She has also taught at OmLaila Bellydance.

Zahira was also a founding member of the Sultannettes Troupe, collaborated with Roula Said’s Roulettes and was a lead dancer with Rhythm of the Nile Dance Company, under the direction of Nada Krysko.   Zahira appeared in the two major Rhythm of the Nile theatrical productions to date (2007 and 2009), and was featured in the role of the legendary Badia Masabni in the company’s latest production “Ayyam Zaman”.  Today she dances regularly with Mirage and she is proud to have had an important hand in the training of beautiful new talents including members of Rhythm of the Nile, the Sultannettes and other upcoming talents.

She holds an MA in Art History and she is a PhD candidate with a focus on dance and musical performance in al-Andalus.  Zahira’s extensive knowledge of art and culture and her great love for dance permeate and enrich her interpretations, filling her performances with artistry, excitement and delight.

Zahira has performed at events such as Luminato, the Taste of the Danforth and the International Bellydance Conference of Canada.  As a highly sought-after soloist she performs at private functions, weddings, restaurants, festivals and corporate events. 

                                                                                            Zahira’s  Website...

LISA

Lisa is best known for her original, sensuous, captivating style and her passionate, powerful stage presence. Her performances take the audience on an exciting journey as she tells her story through unique audio/visual performances, emotions, and a powerful show of body movement through dance.

As an instructor Lisa understands that belly dancing is a mind, body, and soul experience. She knows that women and men start their journey in Middle Eastern dance for a variety of reasons, and she accepts them all with compassion, patience and a sincerity to share this empowering art form. From fun and fitness, to gaining self awareness and confidence – Lisa can help each student achieve their goal. She combines her passion for fitness and this dance art form to get the full physical benefits from belly dancing for overall health, assisting in child birth, improving muscle tone, its cardiovascular benefits and above all strengthening the spiritual connection between the mind and body through movement.  In her quest to perfect her dance, she also includes weight training which helps to increase stamina, endurance and muscle controlled isolations. Her teaching technique is clear and concise, fun and engaging. 

Lisa has studied belly dancing at one of Toronto's premier studios led by Hannan Sultan and she is mentored by Zahira.  She has also enriched her training through classes with local instructors Nada Krysko, tribal fusion artist Audra Simmons and workshops with renowned international artists Aziza, Ranya Renee, Jim Boz, Ariellah, and Mira Betz. She is also a former member of The Sultanettes troupe.

One of her favourite inspirational quotes is,

“Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals.” ~Charles Baudelaire

LIsa’s  Website...