Rockin' Raqs 2022 Performers
ANUKA
Anuka is an Oriental (Raks Sharki) dancer who is based in Toronto. She is the choreographer and artistic director for her troupe Mirage. Anuka was a core faculty member at Hannan’s Bellydance Studio (2007 to 2009) and Dragonfly Bellydance Studio (2010 - 2019), teaching multiple weekly classes and specialty workshops.
With roots in both Egyptian and American Cabaret Bellydance styles, she has developed a signature dreamy and flowing interpretation of Bellydance. Her peers have nicknamed her the “Queen of the Veil” for her skills with veils of various fabrics, double veils and fan veils. In addition to performing traditional styles, Anuka enjoys opportunities to have fun with fantasy characters and non-traditional music choices. Mirage has done several shows as mermaids, and had two memorable performances as green Orion Slave Girls.
For more information about Anuka’s shows and workshops, visit www.anukabellydance.net and follow her on Instagram @anukadance
HEATHER LABONTÉ
Heather (she/they) has been dancing for 25 years, and divides their time between Toronto and DC. They train in contemporary dance, jazz, and belly dance, among others, and are well-known throughout Canada and the US for their technique-forward fusion style. Their work aims to explore both universal and intimately personal connections through lenses of contrasting beauty and discomfort.
Heather is creator of four dance films (coexist, the pot, heat light purpose form, spectrophobia) and choreographer of the act-long shibari and dance fusion work repair.
HOUSE OF SHIMMY
House of Shimmy, Toronto’s unique fusion bellydance duo known for their undeniable synergy and magnetic movement, are delighted to once again bring their strange and captivating charm to Rockin' Raqs! This duo makes art like lives depend on it, so come see what House of Shimmy has created for you and see for yourself this 'strange beauty in motion.' They're sure to serve up another live genre-defying and mesmerizing performance!
CLAUDIA
Claudia’s love of bellydance led her to study the art of the dance with talented instructors and artistic directors at Arabesque, Hannan's, Dragonfly and recently, at Ya Amar. In addition to attending regular classes, she has welcomed the opportunity to take workshops with well-known local and international dance artists. Claudia's curiosity for other dance styles developed while studying bellydance, learning the fusion styles of Bollywood and LatinBelly. Taking her to perform at various festivals, event venues, and student showcases with Arabesque Student Troupe, Dragonfly Student Troupe, Arabesque Folklore Troupe, Arabesque Dream Company, Ya Amar Performance Troupe, and as a soloist partnering with other dance artists and musicians.
RIANNAGH
Riannagh is an award winning bellydancer known for her deeply personal and heartfelt performances. There is a uniqueness to her work which is rooted in over a decade of traditional bellydance training and continues to evolve through her studies in Modern, Contemporary, and Hip Hop styles. As an artist, she endeavours to express raw, organic yet elegant storytelling through life-inspired choreography. Riannagh currently teaches from her home studio in Toronto.
Class info contact: riannaghbellydance@gmail.com
Insta: @riannagh.van.dee
THE GEMS
The Gems are an eclectic group of dancers specializing in traditional and fusion styles of dances. Their debut at Rockin Raqs marks an exciting reunion for this group, who met and bonded over belly dance in the spotlight of the Egyptian Dance Academy. Trained in both classical oriental and traditional folklore, The Gems members have an impressive history dancing together as part of both the Egyptian Academy Student Troupe and the Egyptian Dance Company. In the aftermath of the last few years, the group found their way back together through their shared love of dance and they are thrilled to be making a return to the stage together!
ISHRA
Ishra is an award-winning, multi-dimensional performer and instructor. Her Professional approach and undying thirst for movement and knowledge make her a sought-after workshop leader and dance instructor, as well as a traditional and pioneering fusion performer. Since beginning her bellydance training in 1994, she has been a member and teacher with several innovative dance companies across `
She currently teaches in Guelph, Ontario, offering a variety of in-person and online classes, delving into the realms of both dance and spirit. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Invoketress Dance, a troupe of strong, bewitching women who embody Ishra's philosophy of celebrating individual diversity and beauty.
INVOKTRESS
Celebrating our 20th year, Invoketress is an award-winning sisterhood of strong, creative and talented women known for their versatility, innovation, impactful imagery and evident joy of dance. They frequently perform at a variety of events all over Ontario, Quebec, the United States, and globally virtually. Embodying decades of ongoing dance training, performance experience, and deep rooted friendships.
Come out for our 20th Anniversary Show Nov. 4, "Dynamic Equilibrium" at the River Run Centre in Guelph.
NORTH STAR BELLYDANCE
North Star Bellydance is an emerging dance troupe consisting of performers who met while dancing at various studios, and whose friendship and dance style crystalized during their time at Dragonfly Bellydance. This diverse group of dancers, proficient in both traditional and fusion dance styles, create unique and engaging performances that capture an audience's imagination. They are excited to showcase their creative artistic vision and see where this new dance journey leads!
AZAR
Azar has been a part of the belly dance community since 2007 when she began classes at, what is now, Egyptian Dance Academy. Her love of the dance style quickly grew and she eventually became a founding member of the Women of the World troupe. Azar had the privilege of dancing with the Dragonfly Student Troupe at Dragonfly Bellydance and is now an independent performer.
She became involved in the backstage assistance early in her dance career. Whether acting as stage manager, stage hand, or front of house for Egyptian Dance Academy and Dragonfly Bellydance student and professional productions, Azar was able to learn other aspects of the dance community, eventually bringing that knowledge together to form Rockin’ Raqs.
STACIE NOEL
Stacie Noel is a Toronto based performance artist who specializes in fluid movements and prop manipulation. She fuses her love for bellydance with elements from street dance and circus to add a dynamic flare and theatrical touch to her performance.
STACEY HELLAS
Stacey accidentally stumbled into a bellydance class 15 years ago and it stuck. Since then she's shimmied her way across Toronto and a few other cool cities with various troupes and as a soloist, spreading happiness and glitter. She's grateful to have had the honour to dance with an amazing array of very cool artists, many of whom have even become friends. She's particularly jazzed to be performing in her very first real live in person show since quarantine began and is looking forward to more real live in person dance.
AMUSE BOUCHE
The ladies of Amuse Bouche met during the heart of the French Revolution while they were busgirls at the iconic Moulin Rouge. The three were quickly promoted to circus performers when they were discovered
balancing dishes on their noses--a habit they picked up to compensate for the restaurant's tiny dish rack. By the late 1920s Amuse Bouche was in regular circulation through Europe's most infamous burlesque clubs. The trio is thrilled for their North American debut at Rockin' Raqs.
YA AMAR STUDENT TROUP
The Ya Amar Student Troupe is a diverse group of dancers, brought together by their love of Raqs Sharqi and Egyptian folkloric dances. Directed by dancer and choreographer Melissa Gamal, the troupe enjoys sharing their passion for dance and with audiences across Toronto and the GTA.
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ESHE & STEEL CITY SLITHER
Eshe is a dance teller and creative being born in Hamilton. She most often performs a fusion of waacking, waving, burlesque & bellydance. She's the director of Steel City Slither a multidisciplinary baddie troupe as well as dance academy run out of Defining Movement Dance.
She's graced the pages of many magazines, most notably fashion giants Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. She's shimmied across stages in Denmark, Turkey, Australia, America, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia. She has titles from Tokyo International Bellydance Competition as a director & Star Bellydancer Canada as a performer. She's taught sold out workshops in Canada, America, Japan and South Korea.
She guest hosted a national radio program on TBS eFM in Seoul. She's appeared on several national television programs in Seoul and Tokyo. She's taught everyone from actresses preparing for major film roles to Kpop stars.
In 2019 she won the Established Artist award in Dance and Performing Arts at the Hamilton Art Awards. She has twice returned as a Hamilton Art Awards juror. In 2020 the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce recognized her community work at the Outstanding Business Awards.
2021 saw her judging competitions in Norway and Japan, and performing as the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz in Copenhagen's famed Danish Open. She appeared virtually in Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Norway and The Netherlands and worked with companies like Nike.
In 2022 she formed Steel City Slither. They've been booked back-to-back at Supercrawl, Hamilton's premier music and arts festival. They've headlined Hamilton Pride as well as 905 Fest. They appear monthly at Glitter, Hamilton's longest running serial event & variety show, hosted by Eshe. Running since 2007, this show now occurs at The Well in Hamilton where she is also known as "The First Lady of The Well."