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Meet the Team...
Nothing truly great was built by just one individual and this studio is no different. These dancers are always striving to learn more to give you the best education we can in middle eastern dance. Hats off to my wonderful team of Instructors, Student Instructors and Staff.
Crystos
found his love to dance at an early age and his experience in movement has grown into quite an eclectic one. His love of Latin rhythms, high energy Bhangra, theatrical Bollywood, and the sensual and smooth movements of Bellydance really showcase his diverse education.
Crystos has dabbled in belly dance over many years but he really discovered a passion for it when he found Inara Belly Dance. He was invited into the Beledi Dance Company after a few short years and is now with the Azama Dance Company under the direction of Inara Smith.
Crystos is a solo dancer, artist, and teacher as well as a group/troupe performer and is always expanding his proverbial “Dance Tool Box”. He feels that his dance career has never been more profound or enjoyable than when he started dancing this beautiful dance style.
Being a male dancer in a female dominated industry, truly lets him show off the fact that his hips “don’t lie” and that dance absolutely has no gender.
Phoenix
Phoenix began their dance journey in 2013 when they discovered their love of Bollywood and Bhangra. Studying under Rupa Datta and Rutuja Patil of Dance BFF they were able to hone their craft and perform in several Diwali celebrations.
In 2017 they performed in “Incredible Bollywood.” In 2018, in addition to performing, Phoenix also assisted with choreography and costuming for the “Incredible Bollywood 2” show.
In early 2019, Phoenix walked in to their first belly dance class. From there, it was love at first shimmy. By June, they had their first group performance in the legendary Kanina’s “Night at the Casbah.” Phoenix has studied under Kanina Hague and continues to study under Inara Smith. They have taken classes with Aurel D’Agostino and zill workshops with Nasira. In 2021, Phoenix danced their first solo at Inara Belly Dance’s “Half a Hafla.”
Since that time, they have hit the ground running, or rather, dancing. Phoenix has performed in numerous community events and haflas. In 2022 Phoenix performed in Inara Belly Dance’s “Candy Shop.” They were also invited to perform with the Belly Dance Circle by AKM Productions, which affords dancers the opportunity to perform with live musicians in front of an audience.
As of 2022, Phoenix became part of the Azama Dance Company, holding the position of Secretary and Social Media Maven. Phoenix is always looking for new props to work with, though they hold a special love for sword. Belly dance has also afforded them the opportunity to strengthen their costuming skills and many of costumes worn by Phoenix have been created and embellished by their own hands.
Phoenix appreciates how dance can be used to portray and interpret emotions. Whether jovial, longing, playful, or seductive, Phoenix loves to challenge themselves to embrace the emotion of the music and translate it through dance.
Tejal
Discovered dance as a pathway into self-expression, embodiment, and empowerment. Her movement journey weaves together Middle Eastern belly dance, American Tribal Style (ATS) dance, Indian folk dance, and global movement traditions, creating an eclectic and expressive dance vocabulary.
Tejal discovered her deeper passion for belly dance through Inara Belly Dance, where she found a movement practice that invited both sensuality and strength. She continues to explore and expand her artistry as a member of Inbisat Dance Company under the direction of Inara Smith and Trishula Dance Company founded by Kimberly Johnson and Joanna Pomykala.
For Tejal, dance is more than choreography. It is a practice of embodiment—a way of listening to the body, feeling desire, inhabiting one’s essence, and allowing what lives within to find expression beyond words. She believes movement can become a language for the parts of ourselves that cannot always be spoken.
As a dancer, artist, and teacher, Tejal invites others to move beyond simply learning steps and into a deeper experience of presence, sensuality, and creative expression—discovering what becomes possible when the body is given permission to speak.
Sandra
Began her dance journey about 12 years ago with the Amazing teacher Ameena and the Moondance Collective Dance Troupe. During her dance journey she studied with many Fabulous teachers, Kanina, Holly, Aurel, and currently Inara.
She has also taken workshops with Inara, Christina, AKM Productions and Amity to name a few, each instilling different and wonderful techniques.
Sandra loves the art of the fan veils, the 2-tier tray and Shamadan with a variety of music. She dances to the traditional Egyptian, Turkish and Arabic music as well as Blues, R&B and Reggae depending on what her heart feels at the time.
Sandra is currently an Assistant instructor and Azama Dance Company member with Inara Belly Dance. She has taught fan veil workshops in Detroit, Atlanta, and RI. She has performed as a soloist in restaurants and private venues in Connecticut, Seattle, Detroit, Florida, Atlanta, to name a few and throughout the New England Area and appreciates all the love and acceptance shown to her. One of her passions is performing regularly with the Sacred Flames troupe bringing dance therapy to seniors in day care facilities.
Sandra enjoys performing and bringing out the joy in the audience but most of all she enjoys having fun. It brings me great joy performing and being part of such a spiritual, accepting, and loving community. Blessings”