Jalila
Co-Artistic Director
Jalila began her young dance life at the age of five, standing at the foot of her parents' bed, demanding they wake up and take her to ballet class. Her study of Middle Eastern dance began in 1988 with Yasmina Ramzy. In 1989, she toured with Yasmina and her company to Syria and Jordan. She has been a full time member of the Arabesque Dance Company since the very beginning and has performed in pretty well everything.
Denise
Co-Artistic Director
Denise Mireau began her study of Middle Eastern Dance in1987 with Dancegpyt in Saskatchewan. She moved to Toronto a year later where she began training with Yasmina Ramzy. Since 1992, she has been a lead dancer with Arabesque Dance Company, performing in productions of Descent of Ishtar, Dance of the Almeh and Isis, as well as performances in New York, LA, Greece and Lebanon. Denise has been teaching Middle Eastern Dance since 1996 at Arabesque Academy. Over the years with Arabesque, Denise has acted as costumier, rehearsal coach and Co-Artistic Director for the Company. Her love of dance and curiosity has led her to explore many other forms of dance such as Modern, Flamenco, African, Brazilian, Improvisation and Yoga, which continue to inspire her. Currently her passion is studying Tai Chi and Pilates as well as training to become an Alexander Technique Teacher.
Samara
Lead Dancer
Samara is a graduate of Ryerson University's Dance Program in the teaching stream. This follows a long history of dance training, having studied various dance forms such as ballet, modern, tap and jazz since the age of seven. Samara began studying Middle Eastern dance with Yasmina Ramzy in 1998 and became a member of Arabesque Dance Company in 2000. She also enjoys choreographing and teaches hip-hop, jazz and creative dance, as well at art classes.
Suzanne
Lead Dancer
Suzanne has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Wilfred Laurier University, and has appeared in university, community, and professional venues. off stage, she has experience teaching grades 6-8 in absurdist theatre, as well as faciliating mask workshops for 'high-risk'teens. Suzanne has been studying Middle Eastern Dance with Yasmina Ramzy and is now a member of the Arabesque Dance Company. She has dabbled in jazz, tap, and ballet, and is currently teaching Latin and ballroom dancing.
Emese
Lead Dancer
Emese started her formal dance training at the age of six and since then has studied the forms of jazz, Hungarian, Middle Eastern, Flamenco, Latin, and Brazilian Dance. Her love for the stage has also led her to partake in theatre, voice, and movement classes at Young People's Theatre, and with Leah Poslun's Theatre Program. Emese began her Middle Eastern dance training with Meagan Browne and Yasmina Ramzy in July 2000, participating since then in several performances with Oasis Dance Troupe, and later with Arabesque Dance Co. for the first time in July 2001 in the company's performance of Descent of Ishtar.
Maya
Lead Dancer
After many years exploring ballet, jazz and modern dance, Maya was introduced to Belly Dance in 1996 and has been doing it obsessively ever since. Over the years, she has had the honour of studying with some of the world's best belly dance artists including Roula Said and Yasmina Ramzy (Toronto), Hadia (Calgary), Suhaila Salimpour (San Francisco), Ansuya (Miami) and Elena Lentini (New York).
As a soloist, Maya performs regularly at weddings and parties as well as at a number of Arabic restaurants in and around Toronto. She has also been a proud member of Arabesque Dance Company since 2003.
Maya has appeared in a number of productions including the music video "Soul For Sale" by Rusty; a film entitled, "Rated X" with Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez and most recently she was featured on a documentary program on Toronto's CityTV.
Karima
Lead Dancer
Karima's passion for performing started with Latin and Brazilian dance, which she studied with various teachers in Toronto, Chicago and Paris. Kairma began her Middle Eastern dance training with Yasmina Ramzy in 1999 and has performed with the Arabesque Dance Company at corporate galas, and events such as fFIDA, the Dance Ontario Dance Weekend, and the CNE. Karima continues to explore different creative styles by participating in workshops with noted artists such as Hadia, Magdy El Leisy, Rachel Brice, Momo Kadous, Aziza, Amir Thaleb, and Randa Kamel. She has also taught technique, and variety classes such as Salsa Bellydance at Arabesque Academy.
Saba
Lead Dancer
Saba was moved by the beauty of music, dance, and different cultures since her childhood in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia. This led her to be bent on the exploration of various dances as well as the preservation, creation, and fusion of African dance forms. With a background in Ethiopian dance, Saba has furthered her training and performing in dance forms such as Congolese Soukous & N'Dombolo, West African, hip hop, and bellydance with Franklin & Marshall College African Dance Group (USA). Imani Edu-tainers (USA), Arabesque Academy, DLM, Cottage dancers, and more. Saba is currently a dancer and performer for Nouvel Expose Dance Troupe, as well as an apprentice with Arabesque Dance Company.
Mary
Lead Dancer
Mary's interest in bellydancing began at a young age while attending Greek bellydance dinner theatre performances with her family. Mary has studied Middle Eastern dance exclusively at Arabesque Academy with teachers Audra Simmons and Mayada. Mary trained intensively with Yasmina Ramzy, participating in classes, workshops and Teacher Instructional programs. Mary is a member of Arabesque Dance Company and fulfills her passion for teaching Middle Eastern dance at Arabesque Academy.
Melissa
Lead Dancer
Melissa began her formal dance training in Ballet with six years of study at the Canadian Conservatory of Dance in Toronto. Her love of dance has led her to explore various dance styles such as Folk, Latin, Modern and eventually classical Raks-Sharqi. Melissa began training in Middle Eastern dance at the age of 16 with instructor Raven Crow and is continuing to refine and master her technique at Arabesque Academy with instructors Yasmina Ramzy, Emese and Mary. She has also had the pleasure of studying with famous Egyptian dancers Momo Kadous, Tito, and Aida Nour. Her newest venture in Middle Eastern arts is learning to play the Dumbek (Arabic drum) with instructor Suleiman Warwar. Melissa started her apprenticeship with Arabesque Dance Company in 2005, and was proud to be a part of their most recent production, Asala.
Voula
Lead Dancer
Voula's solid background in Greek dance inspired her to explore music, dance and culture of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Her journey began in 1998 with her focus on different styles of Bellydance. Since then, Voula has had the privilege to study with renowned dancers in Egypt, Turkey, Greece and mainly with Canada's Yasmina Ramzy. Becoming a member of Arabesque Dance Company in early 2004 and an established soloist in Toronto, Voula continues on her path in the pursuit of endless dance experiences.
Rosanna
Rosanna started bellydancing in 2002 with Amelia Moore of Seattle and continued studying with Yasmina Ramzy in 2003. She joined the Arabesque Dance Company and started teaching at Arabesque Academy in 2006. Rosanna studies Suhaila Salimpour format and has become particularly interested tribal fusion style bellydance, which she enjoys choreographing and performing. She has been particularly inspired by Rachel Brice, Sharon Kihara, Ultra Gypsy, Frederique, and Unmata. She has also been a guest teacher at Mad for Dance Studio and choreographed the Miss World Canada 2006 Pageant.
Irina
Inspired by her travels and her love of music, Irina discovered her passion for Bellydance in 2003. Determined to explore the power and beauty of dance, she began her studies at Arabesque Academy, and since then has been studying with teachers Denise, Mary, and Artistic Director Yasmina Ramzy. Realizing how empowering this art form is for women, Irina decided to change the focus in her academic studies from film to women's studies and anthropology, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Arts at York University. She recently became part of Arabesque Dance Company, and also teaches and performs as a soloist in venues around Toronto.
Sumayah
Sumayah began her formal dance training in ballet at the tender age of five. She studied at the National Ballet School of Canada as well as the Children's dance program at York University's Fine Arts Department. After falling in love with Middle Eastern Dance, she began studying exclusively at Arabesque Academy in 2003. Over the years she has had the privilege of studying with Momo Kadous, Yasmina Ramzy, Audra Simmons, Denise Mireau, Emese Dosa, Mary Petsoulas and Aida Nour. Sumayah is thrilled to be part of Arabesque Dance Company.
Marilou
Marilou discovered the beautiful art of Middle Eastern dance three and a half years ago when she stumbled into a workshop hosted by the University of Toronto dance club. She was inspired and awed with this form of dance and has continued with it ever since. She has trained under many of the talented dance instructors of Arabesque Academy as well with Hannan Sultan. Recently, she has been accepted as an apprentice with the Arabesque Dance Company led by artistic director Yasmina Ramzy.
Laura
A graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Laura first discovered Middle Eastern Dance when she was fifteen. Her love of this art form has taken her to Turkey, India, and all over Canada. She has studied with renowned artists including Aziza, Suhalia Salimpour and Ansuya, having been most influenced by Hadia and Yasmina Ramzy as well as Arabesque's Mary, Emese and Denise. Laura also continues to explore Latin, Hip-hop and Odissi Indian Classical Dance. Performance highlights include the Miss Pakistan World Competition, performances in Istanbul and India, and many weddings, restaurants and events in Toronto as well as Nova Scotia.
Tim
Tim is a dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor. He began training at the Alberta Ballet School and received his Bachelor of Arts at the York University as a Dance Major. Having since joined the Newton Moraes Dance Company, Tim has performed in Montreal, Toronto, Germany, and Brazil. He has danced with the Free Flow Dance Company, William Yong Dance Company, Kaeja d' Dance and is a prominent member of Arabesque Dance Company. Tim is a founding member of the Chimera project and has appeared in all of its productions. Tim's choreographic work was performed in fFida 1998 and 1999, Residance, and the Launch Pad.
Khaldoun
Khaldoun joined the Arabesque Dance Company team as an apprentice in January 2006. Although he had minimal dancing experience, the Arabic music tunes were familiar to him. That, along with the direct training by Yasmina and repetitive practice, allowed him to be a part of several Toronto based shows. He was born in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula and lived most of his life there. He moved to Canada in the summer of 1999 and one of his early encounters which reminded him of his homeland, was the Arabesque Dance Company board just outside the dance school. However, he was so into achieving his goal, that is, pursuing his medical research career through involving in the Master of Science, MSc program and now the Doctor of Philosophy, PhD program at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine. Right now he is closely involved in medical research to find new targets for cancer therapy and an enthusiastic dancer in the Arabesque dance team.
Valizan
Valizan's dance experience began nine years ago in the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval recreation group that seeks to learn about the past by reliving it. It was in that open environment that the belly dance obsession began. Lessons from Rayah Blackstar, Moria The Black and Donnallain were the launch pad to classes with the sublime Roula Said. Valizan has also taught frequently within the SCA context. Current influences include Mohammed Khordadian, Jillina, Fat Chance Bellydance and Rachel Brice.
Kwasi
Born in Trinidad, Kwasi McKnight came to Canada at the age of seven. Being from a country that celebrates music and dance so abundantly, music was an art that always moved him and rhythm was always a close friend of his. Believe it or not, he started his dancing as a child with line dancing at his community school. Since then Kwasi has been trained in modern, swing, cha cha cha, cumbia, buchatta, hip hop, and African. Apart from performing with Nouvel Expose and Bollywood Grooves, Kwasi is extremely excited and enthused to be a part of Arabesque Dance Company, which brings diversity and culture to his dance styles and lifestyle. This is an opportunity that Kwasi relishes and appreciates a great deal.
Robert
Robert was born in Toronto but raised in Unionville. He is very happy to be in Canada as he has worked abroad for 5 years. His American credits include, Ailey II, the Fred Benjamin Dance Company, Adams Company Dance, Copacabanna (Mill Mountain Theatre), and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Denver Cast). More recently he has been performing as animals with the renown productions of THE LION KING on the Westend (London, UK) and this summer with a production of CATS (Drayton entertainment). Robert is also an avid practitioner of various holistic arts, personally and professionally.