At Abyssinian Dance Center we take pride in being able to offer classes by many different teachers.  We believe each student should have the opportunity to experience a variety of instructors in order to best define their own personal, unique style.  Our punch card system and schedule allows every student to find the best fit for their own needs.

Mira

Mira dipped her toes into the world of belly dance in the summer of 1996 with her sister's encouragement. Reliving their childhood dream of becoming belly dancers as they spun in circles on the grassy lawn with her mother's tablecloths.  They joined in classes at the Burien Community Center and discovered the joy of earthy rhythms, beautiful music and being graceful.

She continued her classes at the community center and supplemented her training by participating in a variety of workshops and different instructors. In 2006, she became certified by Hadia of Montreal and continues to hone her skill despite her busy schedule.

Mira feels blessed to have the opportunity to work with beginning students and teach them the foundations of belly dance, feeling more like it's a sharing of joy and celebration rather than instruction.  She emphasizes how unique, graceful, beautiful and special each woman is and feels encouragement is a critical aspect of each students experience.

Mira is also a member of the dance troupe "Aura Moon".

Amira

Amira is a belly dancer in high demand in the Seattle area. For over a decade, Amira has been pleasing audiences with a unique blend of jubilant energy, passion and grace.  She performs regularly at venues in Seattle as well as nationally, adding up to over 200 performances each year! Amira is also featured in the recent DVD from the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance, released in March of 2007. Amira has been teaching belly dance since 2002 and she currently teaches at the Mercer Island Community Center, Renton Community Center and here at Abyssinian Dance Center in Burien. For more information on Amira, please go to her web page www.amirathebellydancer.com

Zorina

Zorina has been a popular performer of the Great Northwest for 23 years. She has performed in night clubs with live music as well as festivals, restaurants and private parties for many different occasions.

Throughout her career, Zorina has polished her dance technique with classes and workshops with leading instructors such as Tahia Alibeck, Delilah, Morocco, Hadia, Suhalia Salimpour and others.

For several years she was a regular performer in Seattle's leading live-music nightclubs :George's Bar and Grill, Meenars in Lake City, the India Palace, Epiro's and Kolbeh. For 4 years she performed weekly at Tony's Grill in Kent and as House Dancer, balanced the schedule of  the other dancers. Recently, she has put together shows at Gordon's on the Green in Tukwila with live music by Naseem's Band, and looks forward to scheduling more shows in the near future.

She has been a member of several belly dance troupes and for the past 12 years she's been a member of the professional folkloric troupe Shahrazad Dance Ensemble. Troupe dancing is very different from solo dancing and Zorina loves doing both! She is known for her beautiful veil dances which she performs with poise and grace, and truly expresses her love of the dance.

Zorina began teaching 3 years ago and enjoys the opportunity to share her passion and respect for the dance with new dancers of all ages. For her belly dancing is much more than just dancing itself. It's a world of people being creative, expressing emotions, sharing life's experiences and a sisterhood of love and friendships. It's a dance of life.

Whether performing her favorite veil dance or shaking to an exciting drum beat, Zorina's expressions of the dance and fun loving spirit are always shared with her audiences and her students.

 

As of 9/16/2008 Setsuna has departed to live overseas to participate in a new adventure.  She plans on returning to teach at ADC hopefully by late 2009!  Our love & support goes to you Ms. Setsuna!

Setsuna

Setsuna loves telling stories and creating moods with her dance. Versatility is tremendously important to her as she feels diversity of movement is what keeps us dancing! Setsuna is constantly searching for new ways to express a mood as well as develop the body.

She has studied and can provide knowledge of many dance forms including Hip Hop, Afro-Brazilian, Multi-provencial Chinese, Indian (Odissi), Bollywood and, of course, the many styles of Bellydance. She has also been influenced by short studies in Punjab, Maori, ballet and modern dance. Setsuna has been certified through Saqra's Bellydance Instructor Intensive Seminar.


"I have an avid penchant for life, dance and the interactions between the two. I perform what I feel, teach what I know and study all I can."

With many influences, the heaviest being Saqra and Jaleh, she is dedicated to supporting the dance community as much as it has supported her. She hopes to do this with her presence, good energy and willingness to provide manual labor! Dance is a one stop entity that keeps her mind, body and spirit fit...and also serves as a much needed escape.

Tayissa Blue

Tayissa began dancing in New Hampshire with a wonderful Egyptian Cabaret instructor named Lorraine Purdy. Her pursuit of dance has gone through many changes over the years. She has explored Cabaret, Medieval, American Tribal Style, Theatrical, Gothic and Tribal Fusion styles. She enjoys exploring thematic concepts in bellydance and costuming. She is a third generation seamstress and places a strong emphasis on costuming in dance as an expression of theatrical concepts.

Currently, she performs and teaches in venues around the Pacific Northwest. She is the director of the Tribal Fusion Troupe, Twilight. They use a combination of Tribal Vaudeville, Gothic, improvisation and choreography to amaze and entertain audiences. Twilight is also pursuing a live music ensemble as part of their troupe. Through further exploration of music, we gain a deeper understanding of the dance we seek to perform.

Tayissa believes that dance is rewarding for women of all ages and body types. Dance improves posture, coordination and provides a deep joy of the world. Through time and dedication anyone can enjoy the myriad of benefits available.