Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Lisa Zahiya of Asheville!

Lisa Zahiya is an innovative, award-winning performer, in-demand instructor and successful studio owner. Working in the genres of bellydance, Indian dance (Bollywood & Bhangra) and hip-hop dance, Lisa travels nationally and internationally teaching and performing.

Lisa is a alumni of the University of Maryland Dance Team and has a background in musical theater, jazz and hip hop. In 2008, her strong powerful style earned her the title “2008 Tribal Fusion Bellydancer of the Universe” and she went on to win the Alternative Category at the Wiggles of the West bellydance competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lisa’s unique style and fusion dance forms has gained her recognition in the International bellydance community. She travels, teaching workshops, performing and developing curriculum. She is currently developing a fusion dance curriculum for a dance school in San Raphael, France.

At home, she is faculty at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, where she teaches bhangra, hip hop and bellydance. She also serves as an Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica, Asheville.

Lisa is also known for her work with children and women, using dance as a impitus for change. Lisa serves as a Resident Artist with the Lake Eden Arts Festival, working with 1st-8th graders in public housing communities and is also a Guest Dance Instructor with the Buncombe County School System. Additionally, she travels nationally teaching in school systems and for childrens’ organizations. 

She has taught at two eating disorder recovery centers, helping women re-discover their bodies through movement, and teaches at the Swannanoa Correctional Facility for Women.

 Here's what she had to say about NCBellydance.org:

One of the things that is near and to dear to my heart about bellydance is community. This dance brings women (and men) together - and allows us to grow, accept ourselves and dance together.  NC Bellydance is such an amazing resource for North Carolina as it fosters that sense of community across the state.  Not only do we have our local communities, but we are able to easily find out about dancers, classes and workshops across the state.  The website allows me to keep up with what my friends are doing across the state and keep up with all the wonderful happenings here.

For more information about Lisa Zahiya, visit her website.

The Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012!

In December 2012, we held our first photo contest for dancers and photographers in North Carolina.

Hundreds of photos were submitted to our Facebook photo album from all over North Carolina, and hundreds of votes were cast over a 6 day period.

It was an extremely close race, but in the end the winner for Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012 was John Scalcione of Scalcione Photography, and dancer Nayna of Charlotte.  (pictured above).

This photo is being displayed for the entire month of January 2013 on the main page of NCBellydance.org.

Congratulations to John and Nayna!

In second place by only a few votes was John Scalcione again, this time for his photo of Wendy Konzelman:

And in third place was Bonnie Stanley with her photo of Sashame:

Besides creating artistic and pleasing photographs, both photographers really captured the personality and spirit of these three dancers!

Nayna wishes to share her award with her fellow dance sisters, so we will be running the photos of Wendy and Sashame for one week on the main page of NCBellydance.org, starting next week!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated - click here to view all the submitted photos.

The photo contest was such a great success that we plan on making this an annual event!  See you next December!

NC Belly Dance Photo Contest & Album!

We are compiling a "2012 Year In Pictures" photo album for our Facebook fan page and the NCBellydance.org website and would love to include your dance photo!

You can also vote for "The Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012" - the photo that receives the most "likes"  will be displayed on the main page of NCBellydance.org AND the cover page of the Facebook fan page for the entire month of January absolutely free! (regular retail value: $40)

To qualify to be included in the 2012 Year in Pictures Photo Album:

1. You must be a dancer currently residing in North Carolina or a photographer who has taken a photo of a NC dancer.  
2. You must "Like" the NCBellydance.org Facebook fan page.
3. Photos must be no larger than 256k, ideally in JPG format, and emailed to haala@ncbellydance.org
4. Dancers: please include name of photographer (if known) for photo credit.   Photographers: please include name of dancer (if known) and location photo was shot.
5. There is no limit to the number of photos, but they must have been taken between January 1, 2012 and the present.
6. By submitting the photos, you are granting NCBellydance.org permission to display them on Facebook and on NCBellydance.org.  (You continue to retain all rights to your photos.)

We reserve the right to reject any photos that we deem inappropriate for general audiences or that do not meet the qualifications listed above.

Once your photo(s) have been received and added to the online Photo Album, we will notify you ASAP so you can begin getting the word out (sharing on your Facebook timeline, emailing friends and family, announcing in class, etc.)

The contest will close on midnight (Eastern Standard Time), Tuesday, December 18, 2012 and the winner announced on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

For more information on how to vote, visit the Voting Page.

If you have any questions, just reply in the comments field, or email haala@ncbellydance.org.

Thank you for participating, and good luck!

Vote for the Most Liked NC Belly Dance Photo of 2012!

How to Vote:

1. "Like" the NCBellydance.org Facebook Fan Page (if you haven't already)
2. Visit the 2012 North Carolina Belly Dancers: A Year in Pictures photo album and "like" the photo(s) that you want to win!

It's perfectly ok to "like" several photos, if you just can't decide on one :)

Make sure to get your vote in by midnight, Tuesday December 18, 2012!

NCBellydance.org will announce the winner on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.

If you are interested in being included in the photo album, or want more information about the contest, then visit the Contest Page.

For questions or assistance in voting, email haala@ncbellydance.org.

Thanks for participating - tell all your friends!

Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Kaitlyn

After seeing her first glimpse of Indian dance in "Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom" and her first bellydancer in a music video by Prince, the seeds were sewn that would spark the fascination for culture and dance in Kaitlyn's life. 

Growing up, Kaitlyn studied ballet, jazz, tap and gymnastics and dreamed of one day being a professional dancer. It seems that dreams do in fact come true and in the most surprising ways. Little did she know way back when she was just a little girl toting “Dance” magazines to school, that instead of wearing a tutu, she would eventually be donning a coin belt as a bellydancer when her dreams were finally realized. 

Becoming involved in Middle Eastern dance in 2000, Kaitlyn has striven to educate herself and educate and encourage others to help them find the beauty and fulfillment of bellydance ever since. 

Sometimes teacher, sometimes performer, at all times Kaitlyn endeavors to be an advocate for the art of bellydance and stand up for the rights and ethical standards of bellydancers everywhere.

Currently Kaitlyn is performing monthly at Marrakesh in Jacksonville and she is very proud to be the creative director of her student troupe “Apsara”, with whom she hosts the annual “Down East Bellydance & Drum Fest” in New Bern, NC.

For more info: www.kaitlynbellydance.com

Here's what Kaitlyn had to say about NCBellydance.org:

Having been a bellydancer in another state, I was blown away at the amount of organization and professionalism that I found when I was researching the dance community in NC when I had decided to relocate back to my native state. I knew right away that there were some truly amazing things going on and I couldn't wait to be apart of it. What this site does for NC bellydancing is immeasurable and it is the glue that holds us all together.

Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Maysameh!

Maysameh (Candy Heafner) has been belly dancing since 2000.  In 2003, Rhythmic Essence was started in her basement with 10 girls.  Over the years, Rhythmic Essence has grown into a thriving studio located in historic downtown Newton, NC!

She received her American Tribal Style General Skills Certificate in October of 2007 and in June 2009 she was awarded Middle Eastern Dance Leaders Society (MEDLS) "Star Belly Dance Teacher of the Year."

In 2011, she successfully completed Keti Sharif’s international A-Z Original Personal Techniques Course and was one of 8 girls chosen to appear in Keti Sharif's Pulse8 Belly Dance Fitness DVD series recorded in Los Angeles, CA.  In June of 2012, she was featured in Keti Sharif's latest choreography DVD featuring 30 belly dancers world-wide.  She mainly follows under the teachings of Keti Sharif involving concentration in A-Z, A-Z Advanced, AstroBelly and Pulse8 Belly Dance Fitness. 

She takes pride in her studio rules that have kept her classes going strong through the years:  No negative energy, no competition and no drama are allowed.

Prior to owning her belly dance studio, Candy was a certified Personal Trainer and certified in Cardio Kick Boxing, Stability Ball, and other fitness programs. She instructed various aerobics classes, toning classes, Women on Weights and pre-natal. 

She is a mom and a full time nursing student at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, NC.

To find out more about the studio and class offerings, log onto www.rebellydance.com

Here's what Maysameh had to say about NCBellydance.org:

"This site has helped so many people explore the art of Middle Eastern Dance here in North Carolina.  Haala and helpers have invested so much time and effort into making sure the belly dance communities in NC have the most up-to-date information on classes, events, workshops and shows.  I want to express my gratitude for everyone who helps make this site the number one place to go for NC belly dance events!"

Our Featured Sponsor of the Month: Laylianah Mahasin!

Laylianah Mahasin (Layla for short) has been devoted to the art of Belly Dance since the age of 15.  She has studied many styles of belly dance with world renowned instructors including Hannan Sultan, Kasha of Raleigh, Faun Finley, Zoe Jakes, Sadie, and Yasmine just to name a few.

Laylianah is passionate about both performing and teaching this beautiful art form. 

As an instructor, she prides herself on providing a fun and supportive atmosphere for all her students, and loves seeing their self-confidence develop.  She currently teaches at 4 locations in the Triangle Area of NC: Durham, Clayton, Hillsborough and Raleigh.

As a performer, Laylianah’s goal is to embody the music and engage her audience in a captivating story! Her style can be anything from impassioned and dramatic to flirty and fun, but is always family-friendly.  She currently performs Egyptian, Turkish, and American Cabaret styles at private parties, weddings, galas and corporate events.

For more information on Laylianah, email laylianah@gmail.com or call her at 919-886-5890.  You can also find her class schedule on NCBellydance.org (an amazing resource for all things Belly Dance!).  

Friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter for the latest updates on classes and performances.

Here's what Laylianah had to say about NCBellydance.org:

I love NCBellyDance.Org!  I used it before I became a professional dancer as the best site to keep me up to date on what’s happening in the Belly Dance Community.  As a professional dancer, I have definitely noticed an increased amount of exposure.  Most of the calls I get about classes start with “So, I found you on ncbellydance.org…”.  Thanks, Haala for running such a great site!

And thank you, Laylianah, for supporting NCBellydance.org!