Members
Su'ad | Hijara| Rayya | Astrea | Khalisa | Noor | Elena | Nadia | Safiya
Su'ad - Artistic Director(Nancy L. Barrett)
Su'ad is the Artistic Director and has over 20 years experience in Near and Middle Eastern Dance as a performer, choreographer and teacher
She first learned this dance in Madison, WI where she was a co-founder and co-director of troupe Hazet Helwa. After moving to Connecticut in 1987, she performed at Main Street USA in New Britain in 1988 and 1990, and the New York Festival of Belly Dance in 1990.
She currently teaches through Life Learn, the West Hartford Continuing Adult Education program, and at the Arthur Murray studio in Glastonbury. She also teaches at many one-day events through the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a historical recreation group
She has sponsored ME dance events, co-teaching with Jameela of Buffalo, and Farasha of New Jersey. She co-sponsors seminars in CT and NJ with Farasha. Together they have brought many internationally known artists to the east coast. She has done extensive historical research in Near and Middle Eastern dance and costuming, and has received the highest arts award from the SCA.
Hijara (Tony Leshinskie)
For over 18 years, Hijara has been instrumental in introducing New England audiences to the masculine side of the art of Middle Eastern dance.
As part of Desert Moon Dancers since its start, he specializes in the tahtib (traditional Egyptian stick dancing). He also teaches beginner ME dance classes at Manchester (CT) Community College.
Rayya (Melanie Estes)
Rayya began studying Middle Eastern dance in 1990 and is one of the original members of Desert Moon Dancers. After a break to pursue ballroom dance, she rejoined the troupe in 1998 with renewed zeal. Along with being one of the senior dancers in the troupe, she is also active in theatre. She recently performed in "Night Must Fall" with The Players in Providence, RI.
With her ballroom experience, she brings a refinement and joy to the dance. Rayya has a wonderful sense of theatre and loves trying to sculpt her talents into new forms. Her humorous performance of "Seaside Rendezvous" is beautiful and funny.
Astrea (Kirsten Rourke)
Astrea has been involved in Middle Eastern dance since she began with the troupe in 1991. Her dance specialties include working with veil and teaching veil technique. Her background includes theatrical presentation and art. She has begun branching into choreography and will be performing an original choreography with the troupe at the Amaya seminar.
She has designed costumes for Su'ad and other troupe members. She has also done research into Near and Middle Eastern art, including calligraphy and illumination. In the SCA she has taught movement classes and basic painting (Introduction to Illuminated Manuscripts), and has begun teaching 15th Century panel painting and introduction to egg tempera.
Khalisa (Stacy Vanderveer)
Khalisa has been with DMD since 2000. She is a beautifula and talented dancer, who is a total babe! She is very skilled with veil and mastering new choreography.
Noor (Lynn Roth)
Noor has been a member of DMD since 2000. She has been insrumental in getting costimes together and helping Su'ad and Astrea on the road.
She loves the dance for how it makes her feel and feels most at home when listinging to beladi.
Elena (Helen Rose)
Elena has been with DMD since 2000. Her talents with yoga help with the chalenging moves that Su'ad can create. She loves persforming and wearing evening gowns and putting on the glorious makup.
She says she's still working on getting over her shyness, though you wouldn't know it from seing her on stage.
Nadia (Nedra Dunton)
She had been with dmd since 1997. Profile will be up soon.
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Safiya (Annette Guidone)
Profile will be up soon.