Photo by Alan Louie

Janna

Janna (aka Janet Mueller) has been studying and performing Belly Dance since 1998. In 2004, when her teacher and the founder of Egyptian Breeze, Ray-Anne, moved out of state, Janna became the Director of the troupe and began teaching. She never expected to teach belly dance, but has found that it has been a great joy to share this dance with women of all ages. Her teaching style is one that offers lots of encouragement and support. She wants her students not worry about being perfect belly dancers, but instead have fun, accept themselves and dance. She teaches classes for those new to belly dance, intermediate students, teens, and a special class for Moms and daughters. (see Classes section for more details.) Janna has had a love for performance her whole life. Growing up she performed in many schools plays and in college she was in a mime troupe. She feels lucky that she has found a creative outlet for herself. While she gets a great joy from performing and teaching, it is the friendship and connection with other women that has kept her dancing all these years. In addition to teaching and performing with the troupe, Janna is available for private events. For more information contact Janna at dancewithjanna@yahoo.com.

Kalila

Kalila has been bellydancing since January, 2005, when she joined a bellydance class at Wright State University thinking it would be a great way to exercise, and found a new passion. Not only does she love the dance, but she cherishes the friendships she has made with the other members of her troupe.

Kalila began dancing at age 4. Her mother taught her to love music and movement, always spinning her around the living room and encouraging her by taking her to dance lessons throughout her childhood. In college, Kalila joined a clogging troupe, Petticoat Express, with whom she enjoyed performing and traveling. She also enjoyed moving to music as an aerobic dance instructor for 16 years. Despite all the joy Kalila has experienced through dance, she has never experienced anything as fun and beautiful as bellydance.

Karen

While walking through the streets of Yellow Springs, Ohio, Karen saw two flyers in a store window advertising dance classes; one for African dance, the other for belly dance. Karen a long time lover of dance and its various styles wanted to experience a new style and found herself at a crossroads as the classes were scheduled at the same time in different locations. Which one to pick? She had taken and loved ballet, tap, and jazz in her home town of Springfield and was a student at Wittenberg University with a dance minor. Studying dance in a classroom opened her eyes to the various aspects of dance - the history, ethnology, famous dancers and choreographers, how to choreograph her own dances and she learned two new dance styles; modern and Chinese. She took out her pen, wrote down Ray-Anne's phone number and has been belly dancing ever since.

Ray-Anne, a beautiful and wonderful dancer, inspired Karen to continue her study of belly dance, become a member of Egyptian Breeze and express herself through performances.

Karen spent a year studying abroad in Mexico, where she continued her study of ballet, took classes in hip hop dance and learned the powerful, passion filled Flamenco dance.

Three years in Germany gave Karen the opportunity to study with Reyhan, a graceful Egyptian style belly dancer. Karen also taught beginning and intermediate dance to the women of the Mannheim Army Base Community.

Karen has built her dance skills by attending workshops with belly dance greats and has had the opportunity to perform at several festivals and events in the Yellow Springs area as well as many private performances.

Currently living in Columbus, Ohio, Karen will soon be teaching belly dance classes there and is available for private parties and classes. Email Karen at hipnoticmessages@yahoo.com.

Mezzelli

Photo by Alan Louie

Mezzelli started dancing at age 5 and has been dancing ever since. Of Romanian and Turkish descent she comes from a long line of musicians and entertainers who fostered her creativity and love of dance. She has a background in ballet, jazz, gymnastics, hip hop and yoga. In high school she was on the cheer dance squad where she competed on the National level in Florida and Hawaii. Her love affair with belly dance started in 2001 where she began studying with Ray Anne of Egyptian Breeze. Mezzelli is currently teaching in Tipp City at two different dance locations. She has studied intensively with Cassandra, Sahra Saeeda, and Aziza. Continuing education is important to Mezzelli and has studied under such big names as Tamallyn Dallal, Kaeshi of BellyQueen, Ava Fleming, Bahaia, Cheryl Bushey, Conchi and Deniz Miller. She appreciates all styles of oriental dance but does not claim to have a speciality. She is skilled in American Style veil work and is currently studying hoop and poi arts. If you are interested in taking classes with Mezzelli or would like to hire her for an event you can contact her at Mezzelli@gmail.com.

Siaya Anna

Photo by Kyle Truitt

Siaya Anna began her dance career at a tender age, first learning tap with her sisters. While in high school, she participated in a Ballet and Modern curriculum and knew dance would be an integral part of her life. Siaya Anna attended Arizona State University (ASU) and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.

While at ASU Siaya Anna had the opportunity to study with Bill Evans Dance Company. From Arizona State she performed at Central State University, Ohio, prior to auditioning and earning a spot in Philadanco Dance Company, Philadelphia, Pa. While a student at Philadanco, Siaya Anna had the privilege of studying with educators from Alvin Ailey's Dance Company.

From Philadelphia, Siaya Anna moved to Seattle, Washington
where she continued to study with Bill Evans. After living, dancing and working in Seattle, Siaya Anna returned to Ohio.

She returned to performing and choreographing at Central State University. At Central State, Siaya Anna toured secondary schools in the greater Dayton area,performing and giving lecture demonstrations on various Dance forms. Siaya Anna taught for the National Youth Program.

Siaya earned a Master of Science in Sports Studies from Miami University of Ohio. There she met her Dance mentor W. Eric Aikens. Mr. Aikens invited Siaya Anna to co-direct his Dance ensemble "One Nation Performance Ensemble" whose mission was to dance for social justice and social change. Siaya Anna co-directed the company with Mr. Aikens, choreographed pieces for One Nation, served as a rehearsal mistress, and performed with the company for over ten years.

In 1992 during her tenure at One Nation Performance Ensemble, Siaya Anna began performing and choreographing at Antioch College in Yellow Springs,Ohio. She also performed in, and provided choreography for several University of Dayton Dance concerts during the 1990s.

Siaya Anna was fortunate to be able to teach Dance as an adjunct for Sinclair Community College for almost ten years. In addition to her teaching responsibility, she choreographed and performed for the Sinclair Dance Concerts.

Siaya Anna is the Artistic Director and founder of "Valdance1(dans)", which she founded in 1997. Siaya Anna provides opportunities for students young and older to learn the art of Dance. Siaya hosts,choreographs and performs in her annual Community Dance Concert which has become a tradition in the Yellow Springs community.

In 1998 Siaya Anna co-founded a movement cooperative,the "Yellow Springs Moving Arts Studio" with three other artists. She stayed with the cooperative for almost five years.

In addition to her accomplishments and community involvement as a dancer, choreographer and performer,Siaya Anna has worked with children of all ages. She substitute taught for five years in the Yellow Springs Exempted Village School District, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She also participated in assistant coaching a children's soccer team, was a football mom, and served as a chaperone on any and almost all of her son's field trips. She is a friend and "Mom" to dozens of young people.

Siaya Anna performed in various musicals and has performed with her mother as a singer during her lifetime. Siaya Anna choreographed several Yellow Springs High School musicals and performed in several as well. She served as the Drama Club adviser. Siaya Anna has performed in three Cincinnati, Ohio Contemporary Dance Theatre's "Choreographers Without Companies" Dance concerts. For three years Siaya Anna was an invited guest at the Contemporary Dance Theatre's Performance and Time Arts (PTA) Series.

Siaya Anna began her Belly Dance career three years ago. After watching Egyptian Breeze Belly Dance Troupe perform on her annual dance concerts each year, she promised herself she would learn this beautiful art form. Siaya Anna has not looked back. Belly Dance is one of her favorite forms of movement. She enjoys the expressiveness, the technique, and the joy of Belly Dancing. Siaya Anna is very happy to be a member of Egyptian Breeze and feels blessed to have wonderful friendships with the ladies of the troupe.

Photo by David Mollenhauer

Sophia

Sophia first discovered the joy of dance with ballet classes in 1995, while attending college. Since then, she has studied ballet, modern, belly dance, and Jewish dance. Sophia has been studying Middle Eastern belly dance since the year 2000. She has danced primarily with Dayton dancers/instructors Ray-Anne and Deniz. She has also attended workshops with many specialty instructors including Karim Nagi Muhammed (Debka), Aziza (Orientale), Yousry Sharif (choreography), Sonia (Polynesian), and Amel Tafsout (Sufi/Trans). Sophia extends her cultural dance experience with Jewish dance studies including Yemenite, Sephardic, and Israeli folk dance.



Sophia has been a member of Egyptian Breeze Dance Troupe since 2002. She regularly performs with Egyptian at annual festivals and venues around the Dayton and Yellow Springs areas. She loves to see the joy that beautiful music & dance bring to the audiences. Sophia is also a solo performer and enjoys dancing at special events and private parties. She has over 10 years of teaching experience and is currently teaching belly dance at Wright-Patterson AFB in the Wright Field Fitness Center on Thursdays 7-8 PM (drop-ins welcome).



Through dance, Sophia wishes to promote health, happiness, and cultural diversity. For more information on performances, party classes (belly dance or Israeli folk dance), or weekly classes offered by Sophia email dmollenhauer@woh.rr.com.

Zattana