Albuquerque & Metro Area
Belly Dancers listed are members of New Mexico Belly Dance and adhere to the principled ethical standards of the association.
Adriana - ABQ
Style of Dance: American/Egyptian Cabaret, traditional Raq Sharqi, Folkloric
Available for: In-Person and Group Classes at Sirena Studios, Private Individual Lessons, Private Group Lessons, Public Workshops, Events
Adriana started studying Raqs Sharqi in 2009 and hasn't stopped since as she fell in love with Middle Eastern music and loves the wide range of rhythms, emotions and styles it encompasses. She is an award-winning choreographer and performer. She currently teaches regularly on Saturdays out of Sirena Studio in Albuquerque, directs and is lead choreographer for troupe Raqzia Raqs Sharqi and is the dance manager and performer at Pars Cuisine in Albuquerque.
You can follow her on Facebook @Adriana Sandoval or on Instagram @adrianasandoval.sirena.
Rubi - ABQ
Style of Dance: American/Egyptian Cabaret, traditional Raq Sharqi, Mahragant, and Shaabi
Available for: Online and In-Person Classes, Group Instruction, Private Instruction, and For Hire as a Professional for Private and Public Performances
Rubi is a captivating belly dancer who is trained in fusion belly dance, theatrical belly dance and Raqs Sharqi. She began her belly dance journey 5 years ago with the Raqs sharqi student troupe, Mermaid Muse, under the direction of Adriana Sandavol. After two years of Mermaid Muse, she ventured into theatrical belly dancing and joined the Desert Darlings. She has traveled to Egypt for independent study and trained with Ghawazee and Saidi instructors, as well as with local Egyptian dancers including Zara, Sharazad, and Passant. She is now a member of Raqzia dance troupe, reigniting her flame for classical Egyptian belly dance. Whether performing a classic Egyptian routine, a dramatic fusion piece, or an energetic and playful Mahragant piece, Rubi connects with her audience through her smile, extensive hip movements and her passion for dance.
Amaya - ABQ
Style of Dance: Fusion, American Cabaret
Available for: Online Instruction, Group Instruction, In-person Instruction, Private Instruction, Events
An internationally acclaimed dance performer, Amaya, also known as the Gypsy of the Desert, has danced all her life and in many facets of show business, even “running away to join the circus” (Circus Conelli in Zurich, Switzerland). In the early stages of her career, Amaya won First Place in a competition in Cairo, Egypt. She has also won Dancer of the Year/ International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance Award.
Amaya produces her Annual Wise Woman Retreat every summer dedicated to all kindred dance spirits from throughout the world, held in Albuquerque, NM.
She was the first in the U.S. to introduce the fusion of her loves, the Spanish dance flair with her Arabic moves. Her dance is an unusual showcase of Spanish/Arabic styling with soul-stirring taksims (slow, dramatic dance). This fusion expresses the heart of Andalucia with the spirit of Arabia.
Thirty+ years of teaching has helped Amaya in expertly instructing the beginning dancer to the professional dancer by incorporating basic level steps to “super-embellished” moves while using dynamic music---all mixed with a healthy dose of humor and life philosophies.
Enchanting Erica- ABQ
Style of Dance: Raqs Sharqi
Available for: Events
Enchanting Erica began her belly dance journey in 1999. She has been a regular performer with Bad Weather Burlesque, Vixen Variety Shows, Kismet, Mistryl Shimmy Guard, and the Flaming Hips. Erica was an active part of the local Fargo, ND dance community. She was the 2013 Fargo sponsor for Club Belly Dance, and a Shimmy Mob Team Leader in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, and 2022.
Her mission is education and cultural appreciation of Middle Eastern Dance, and she has given talks and demonstrations for community groups, library programs and even Head Start.
Enchanting Erica moved to Albuquerque, NM in 2016 and has been studying and dancing with the wonderful community here. She is an advisory board member for New Mexico Belly Dance.
When not dancing, Erica is sewing costumes both for belly dance and for cosplay, baking yummy treats, playing board games, and acting as masquerade director for a local anime convention, Con-Jikan.
Emily- ABQ
Style of Dance: Transnational Fusion
Available for: Group Instruction, In-person Instruction, Private Instruction, Events
Emily has been belly dancing since 2001, focusing primarily on group improvisational (also known as tribal) style for most of her belly dance career. Other styles include ATS, fusion, and various fun props such as sword and basket. Her teachers include Flo of the Rogue Bindis, Krissy, Suhaila, Michelle al Farfesha, and Sadie of Sirena, among others. Emily is currently the Troupe Director of Mahatma Tribal, teaching weekly, and performing regularly in the Albuquerque area.
Mahatma Tribal consists of Emily, JoDell Montoya, Cynthia Koenig, and Taren Hill. Collectively, these dancers have several years of experience and enjoy dancing together and bringing their diverse experiences into their performances.
Mariella Qetesh- ABQ
Style of Dance: American/Eqyptian Cabaret/Traditional Raq Sharqi/Trance/Transnational Fusion
Available for: Events, Private Parties, Group Instruction, Private Instruction
Since a young age, Mariella has been moved by the freedom of dance as ecstasy. Her dance, over the years, has blossomed into a complete expression of joy. Mariella has been dancing since age 2 in her own way and form, and she strives to embody the old expressions of dance before modern times. She is passionate about World Folk and Trance Dance and how it has developed into the Raqs Sharqi and Transnational fusion that we have today.
Mariella has been studying and performing Middle Eastern Dance for 10 years. Four of those years were spent intermittently touring with a live Middle Eastern band across the East Coast, dancing at festivals and gatherings. Another five has been spent in New Mexico dancing for restaurants, events, and community happenings.
Her intensive dance experience has cultivated deep ease, musicality, and fluidity in her dance and she is always seeking to invite her students (The Ilahi Dancers) and patrons to delve deeper into the ocean of dance as a transformation.
Michelle al Farfesha- ABQ
Style of Dance: American/Eqyptian Cabaret/Traditional Raq Sharqi
Available for: Private Instruction, Events
Michelle is a dynamic instructor, able to break moves and concepts down in many different ways so that every student is able to learn.
She has also taught at Leyla Jouvana's International Oriental Dance Festival in Germany, one of Europe's largest belly dance events, Amaya's International Shake & Bake, and the southwest's biggest festival Ya Halla Y'all in Dallas.
Michelle was the founder and director of Farfesha Studios and Farfesha Dance Troupe, one of the longest running troupes in New Mexico!
RaqsZia- ABQ
Style of Dance: American/Eqyptian Cabaret/Traditional Raq Sharqi
Available for: Events
Raqzia is a professional dance troupe out of Sirena Studio in Albuquerque directed by Adriana Sandoval and Sadie Adai. The troupe specializes in Egyptian Raq Sharqi, Oriental and cabaret style of belly dance.
Sadie Adair- ABQ
Style of Dance: Transnational Fusion, Raqs Sharqi
Available for: Online Instruction, Group Instruction, In-person Instruction, Private Instruction, Events
Sadie Adair is the Director of Desert Darlings Belly Dance, Co-director of student company Wicked Muse Dance Project, and Owner of Sirena World Dance Studio, LLC.
She began her studies in Egyptian Style Belly Dance with Diane Eger when she was 12 years old after seeing belly dancers at a Gypsy Festival in Madrid, NM. From there she went on to learn Tribal Style Belly Dance at Pomegranate Studios in Santa Fe.
Sadie has traveled to California, Texas, Nevada, and Illinois to study with dancers such as Mira Betz, Ashley Lopez, Zoe Jakes, and more. Sadie has completed Level 1 of Dance Craft with Zoe Jakes in Oakland, CA.
Theresa- Rio Rancho
Style of Dance: American/Eqyptian Cabaret/Traditional Raq Sharqi
Available for: Group Instruction, In-Person Instruction, Private Instruction
Theresa has over 15 years of belly dance experience in traditional Egyptian and American Cabaret styles of Belly Dance and is the founder of New Mexico Belly Dance.
She is a member of Farfesha, an internationally recognized Belly Dance troupe and founder of New Mexico Belly Dance.
International instructors she has studied with include Aziza (Canada), Ansuya, Amaya, Nourhan Sharif, Kamala Almanzar, and Devilla. However, Michelle al Farfesha has been her mentor, advisor, teacher and sometimes counselor in the Belly Dance world.
Most importantly, Theresa considers herself a forever student of the art form. She is passionate about helping others discover Belly Dance and is committed to the belief that Belly Dance is for every BODY!