Our Team

Anna – Lead Instructor

Anna believes DANCE is a metaphor for life. She teaches women every day how to use the transforming power of movement to help them gain better health and build more self-confidence while providing them a way to express themselves in a profoundly beautiful way. These positive benefits often overflow into other areas of their lives. Once they learn to master their bodies, they learn to master their lives.

When Anna was working in IT in Seattle Washington, one eventful day her job had an office party in a Greek Restaurant where she saw her first belly dancer…and she was blown away. She thought it was the coolest thing she had ever seen and she had to start lessons.

Since that first class, she’s been obsessed. Belly dance is all she could think about. It is so much fun, a great escape from the stresses of daily life, and it made her happy. But the journey hasn’t been without its obstacles, Anna had to overcome depression, anxiety, and terrible stage fright in the process.

Learning to move and challenge herself through dance has changed her life and now she is blessed to pay it forward and help others through the transformative process of personal growth through dance.

Anna likes to binge watch Netflix, watch small animal videos on Facebook, and eat stuff she makes from scratch.

THE DETAILS

– Over 20 years of diligent practice and study of Middle Eastern / North African / Near East dances with many world-renown performers and teachers
– Over 19 years of performance experience from informal belly dance shows to professional theater productions…and everything in between.
– Over 18 years of teaching dance and fitness at gyms, yoga and dance studios.
– Featured Guest on Iana’s Belly Dance Life Podcast
– Featured in 2 DVDs produced by Keti Sharif
– Producer of many belly dance shows and events
– Since 2014, co-owner of her own studio – Oriental Phoenix Arts – with her husband, Blue.
– National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer, ENW Certified Nutrition Specialist, and Certified MMA Conditioning Coach.
– Proud teacher of many wonderful, dedicated students!

Kelli – Instructor

Kelli’s favorite part of being a dance instructor is giving her students the opportunity to discover strength and confidence in themselves through movement.

Kelli started her journey in dance as a young child, studying ballet for ten years and performing in professional productions in North Carolina. In college, she continued to investigate various dance styles, including flamenco, salsa, and meringue. As an adult, she went without dance for a long time. Feeling like something was missing, she searched for a new opportunity to get moving again. Belly dance had always intrigued her, so she started studying Middle Eastern dance with Anna and was immediately hooked.

At the same time, Kelli was learning to dance as a child, she was also learning to sew. An avid costumer, Kelli has designed and made costumes for professional theater productions and has won awards for her costume designs. She now teaches dance costuming workshops and guides students in designing and sewing their own gorgeous creations, so they can feel beautiful and powerful on stage.

Feeding a desire to learn about world cultures, her educational background includes two degrees in anthropology of religion, with a focus on rituals. With 13+ years as a professional leadership development trainer and executive coach, Kelli is thrilled to combine her passion for teaching and helping others to improve their lives with this enchanting dance form.

Kelli loves to travel, read murder mysteries, knit, quilt, and spoil her fiancé and cats.

THE DETAILS

– Ahlam Dance Company Alumni
– AAMED Teacher Level 2 Certified
– Award-winning costumer
– Published author
– Grateful for her fabulous students!

Priscilla – Event Volunteer Coordinator

Priscilla’s love languages are quality time and acts of service. She loves spending time with people and coordinating events. Throughout the years she has coordinated outings for friends, holiday and end of year parties for work, and baby/wedding showers. She has also volunteered for the following: FBISD District Diversity Conference, Habitat for Humanity, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Tourette Syndrome Association of Texas, and Vacation Bible School.

Belly dancing has positively impacted her life in various ways. She started the dance journey as a means to stay active and healthy. She achieved that goal, but also gained the confidence to perform in front of an audience. Never in a million years would she have guessed that! Belly dancing has also provided her the opportunity to form strong connections with amazing, talented, fun-loving, and unique women. It has also helped her to see that there is no bias in belly dancing; anyone can learn. She strongly believes that all of these things should be experienced by others, and Ahlam is the perfect place to start a wonderful journey.

When the opportunity to become the Event Volunteer Coordinator arose, she jumped at the chance. She considers it an honor and joy to combine her love languages with the belly dance art form.

Priscilla is a proud Tica, obsessed with sloths, loves chocolate, adores nature, binges on Netflix, enjoys artistic and creative expression, and is the proud mom of 3 furbabies.

THE DETAILS

-Member of Ahlam Student Troupe

-Grateful to Anna, Kelli, and all her dance sisters!

We are looking for great instructors!

Ahlam Academy is always looking for talented, well-qualified instructors to sub or teach weekly belly dance classes. So, what does it take to be an Ahlam Academy instructor?

You must be at least AAMED Teacher Level 1 Certified
You must consistently demonstrate a passion to continue Ahlam Academy’s mission
You must have previous teaching experience or be willing to get the experience through our AAMED Teacher program.

You must be well versed with Ahlam Academy’s curriculum and know the choreographies and/or material of any class type you wish to teach.

Get started on the road to becoming a great teacher! Join our Certification Program.