Annya Ishtara

Annya Ishtara began belly dancing in 1991 in the vibrant, live belly dance music era of the Pacific Northwest. She was instantly hooked on the expressive American Cabaret style, especially veil work. She has also studied Rajasthani Gypsy dance of the Kalbelia people and Ghoomar Ladies dance in Rajasthan, India, and Turkish Roman (Gypsy) dance in Turkey. Annya is also a certified qigong and tai chi instructor. Her belly dance training incudes both dance movement training and studies in the cultural context and background of Middle Eastern dance.

Annya will be teaching Vintage Veil Plus at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Annya’s Workshop coming soon! | https://annya-ishtara-dance.com

Areena Estul

With an intention to respect the origins and cultural context of Belly Dance, and other world dance forms, Areena began studying dance in 1999. She avidly continues taking workshops in Egyptian raqs sharqi and Oriental Belly Dance, Folkloric Dances of the Middle East, Turkish Rom, Classical Persian, Bollywood, Hula, Spanish fusion, Ballroom and Latin Social Dances (salsa, cha-cha, bachata, merengue, kizomba, Brazilian zouk, cumbia and tango).

Areena has been performing "raqs sharqi" and Oriental fusion Belly Dance as a soloist in Santa Fe since 2004, and with the Saltanah Dancers (co-founder, co-director, teacher, soloist, troupe member and co-choreographer) from 2006-2018.

In 2019 she founded Bellyreena Alchemy Dance Association, aka Badass Bellydancers. And in 2024, they began the collaboration project: The Constellation Collective. Areena and Badass Bellydancers sponsor diversity and inclusivity for belly dancers and eclectic performance artists alike at variety shows in Santa Fe. Check out her Youtube channel here.

Areena will be teaching Lucious Lines & Slinky Steps at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Areena’s Workshop coming soon! | www.dreamingolypsis.com

Chani

Chani has been dancing oriental style belly dance for nearly 25 years, and has a 20 year ballet background as well as salsa, modern and jazz styles. She has been studying and teaching in California the past seven years, which has afforded her access to some of the best teachers in the country, in addition to traveling instructors (including many dancers from the country of origin).  Her passion for the dance includes sharing it with others. . . and she loves to teach.

Outside her belly dance skills, Chani has also trained athletes for triathlon, endurance bike racing, and endurance bike events. She is a member of the GAIN (Gambetta Athletic Improvement Network) and has over 20+ yrs of pilates training as well as teaching indoor cycling for 10 years.

Chani will be teaching Fitness for Dancers at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Chani’s Workshop coming soon! | Chani’s Facebook Page

Deborah Newberg

Deborah Newberg is an enthusiastic teacher and performer of a variety of Middle Eastern Dance styles. She is on the dance faculty of Santa Fe Community College since 2008, and teaches at EmiArte Dance studio in Santa Fe and Mendocino Middle East camp. She is excited to participate again in Burque BellyFest!

Deborah will be teaching Traveling Rhythms and Step Patterns for Odd Rhythms at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Deborah’s Workshop coming soon! | www.saltanahstudios.com

Kamala Almanzar

Kamala Almanzar’s Belly Dance career spans 4 decades. She has performed in venues around the world, as well as being featured in movies and television. During her long solo performance career, Kamala performed in nightclubs, restaurants & hotels in many countries, most notably the large Arabic nightclubs in 1980’s Hollywood, London & Acapulco, where she performed nightly with Egyptian orchestras. Based in Los Angeles, California, her family roots come from New Mexico. She currently teaches in the Los Angeles area and online and teaches at festivals around the country. Her students and choreographies have won countless titles at “Belly Dancer of the Universe” and other competitions, including Egyptian, Fusion and Group categories for over 20 consecutive years. She was presented with the first "Teacher of the Year Award 2017" by Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition.

Recently, Kamala is co-producer of The International Raqs Film Festival & Raqsi Awards Show, a virtual festival attracts films from countries around the world. Kamala strives for an artistic presentation of Belly Dance, one that is well informed, yet uniquely her own.

Kamala will be teaching AmCab Demystified at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Kamala’s Workshop coming soon! | www.kamaladance.com

Mariella

Mariella is in love with Dance as Ecstacy. With 10 + years of study in Raqs Sharqi belly dance, she has developed a deep reverence for Middle Eastern dance and culture and invites you to get lost in the music and be set free.

Mariella will be teaching Alf Leila at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Mariella’s Workshop coming soon! | Mariella’s Facebook Page

Myra Krien

Myra Krien is a renowned dance artist, international performer, choreographer, and dance educator. She is known for her elegant and graceful presence as well as her stylistic versatility, from traditional Egyptian (folkloric and modern) Raks Sharqui to classical and contemporary fusion forms.

Based in Santa Fe, NM, Krien directs her school of dance, Pomegranate Studios, Pomegranate SEEDs® (Self-esteem, Empowerment and Education through Dance) a non-profit youth mentorship program, and the esteemed Mosaic Dance Company.

The 2019 recipient of the Santa Fe Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, Krien has performed on some of America's most prestigious stages, toured internationally, performed for PBS and Japanese television, and been reviewed by national publications such as Dance Magazine.

Myra will be teaching Improvisational Musicality and Expression for Taqsim at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Myra’s Workshop coming soon! | www.pomegranatestudio.org

Sadie Adair

Sadie took her first belly dance classes with Diane Eger in Santa Fe when she was 13 years old. After a short break, she went on to study at Pomegranate Studios in Santa Fe, and then Farfesha Studios in Albuquerque. In college, she traveled to festivals out of state to expand her knowledge, which made her fall even more in love with dance. By 2016, Sadie was 26 years old and the new owner of Sirena Studio, previously Farfesha. She can't imagine a world where she doesn't teach dance because she loves it so much!

As a show producer, Sadie has brought several theatrical productions to South Broadway Cultural Center with The Desert Darlings. In 2023, Sadie was selected to perform in Belly Dance Evolution's "The Jungle Book" as an ensemble dancer. She went on to perform two lead roles in Jillina's BDExperience productions. Sadie also had the honor of dancing with Zoe Jakes and Beats Antique twice in 2024 (Meow Wolf and Rise & Vibe Festival). An amazing experience she won't soon forget!

For the past 10 years, Sadie has been a resident dancer at Kaktus Brewing Company (Bernalillo) and Tractor Brewing Wells Park (Albuquerque) with the Desert Darlings. She is also a resident performer with her partner in crime, Lorena, on Sky Railway. Sadie currently teaches multiple dance classes a week at Sirena Studio, as well as online via Patreon.

Sadie will be teaching Layer Lab at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Sadie’s Workshop coming soon! | www.sadieadairdance.com

Surreyya Hada

Surreyya Hada is our special guest instructor from California! Director of the acclaimed Dangerous Beauties dance troupe and Co-director of Troupe Scimitar, Surreyya is an award-winning, international performer and instructor. She sings in English and Turkish, and dances regularly solo as well as with several world fusion and rock bands. She has performed for the cast of Cirque du Soleil and is an annual entertainer for Apple, Sandisk and Yahoo corporations and other national and international festivals. Surreyya is a LEAP program BA awardee via Saint Mary's College of Moraga, CA. She received her Dance Major Degree at CCSF, is a certified Pilates, Barre and TRX Master Trainer and holds a Guinness Book World Record in Roller Skating.

Surreyya will be teaching Sword and Soul (with a performance opportunity at the Saturday night Gala!) at this year’s BellyFest.

Register for Surreyya’s Workshop coming soon! | www.dangerous-beauties.com