Meet the Rising Phoenix Dancers

Who's Who

The Rising Phoenix Dancers include (left to right in top photo) Pari, Marn, Rubesca, Laurel, Sherezzah, Ludmilla, Akasha, Katina, and Adena. Other active members are Joani, Chandani, Lynne, Nitzah, and Gloriana. Chennaiya and Ludmilla are currently on leave of absence.

Former members include Shakti, Fairuz, Mona, Asifa el-Bah'r, and Marila (you may find them mentioned elsewhere on the site).

Member Info

Here's some info about individual troupe members. Check out our photo gallery for more pictures of our dancers.

Sherezzah Bint al-Waha- Troupe director, she has a separate web page.

Adena Bint Sherezzah Bint al-Waha- Adena started taking classes with Sherezzah in 1995, and joined the troupe shortly after. She's a solo performer and sometime-teacher, hoping to teach more after son Andrew starts school. Other favorite pastimes include going to the beach, reading, beading, sewing, and cooking.

Akasha Bint al-Waha- Akasha is currently mother to 5 feathered children, one of whom has learned to zaghareet to Middle Eastern music. Besides being a dancer, Akasha is also a singer, and has been learning some Arabic songs. She's also recently started teaching the dance and has her own web site.

Chandani- Chandani had done disco and ballroom dance for a long time, but never thought she'd be doing belly dancing until she started classes in October 2002. She joined the troupe in February 2004 and had her first performance with us two months later. She enjoys shopping, scuba diving, other cultures, singing, decorating, sewing, travel, and her dog Mr. Pugly. Chandani also vends as "Moonlight Diva," selling bellydance costumes and other goodies.

Gloriana- Having taken tap and ballet lessons when very young, and modern dance in high school, Gloriana first began belly dancing with a small troupe (and a snake) in the mid-80s. She had to stop for a while, but started up again when she started taking classes with Sherezzah and joined the troupe in 2006. She enjoys all kinds of animals in addition to snakes.

Joani Bint al-Waha- An accomplished solo performer and teacher, Joani is also a web designer and graphic artist. Originally from Wisconsin, Joani lived in several other states (and was a member of several other dance troupes) before she settled here in Florida.

Katina Bint al-Waha- We think of Katina as our "fabric queen." Her part-time job in a fabric store helps feed her addiction (and ours!) Katina's house is usually home to an assortment of critters, including snakes.

Laurel- Having returned to the US after many years in Israel, Laurel had her first performances with us in February 2003. She's a licensed world tour guide, and has traveled extensively. She enjoys community theatre, both onstage and backstage, along with salsa dancing and reading books. She also does solo performances and teaches in addition to performing with the troupe. Check out her web site.

Lynne- Lynne had been taking classes with Sherezzah for several years before she finally decided to join the troupe in the Summer of 2004. She had her first performance with us in October of that year.

Marn- Marn is originally from Thailand. In addition to sharing her cooking skills with us, she also enjoys quilting, flower arranging, and her Korat cats.

Nitzah- Nitzah began studying Near Eastern dance in 1994 when she lived in Iowa, and continued to take classes when she lived in Tennessee. She found Sherezzah and the Rising Phoenix Dancers via the Internet when she moved to Florida, started practicing with us in the Fall of 2004, and had her first performance with us that same December. Nitzah's other interests include Latin dance, international travel, reading, sewing, and exploring nature.

Pari- Born and raised in Iran (Persia), Pari performs and teaches Persian dance and has been helping us add some Persian dance into our repertoire. She also teaches and performs Orientale ("belly dance") as a solo artist, in addition to dancing with the troupe. She likes to paint if she's not dancing.

Rubesca- Rubesca's name is Latin for "like a ruby"--fiery, passionate, and energy-enhancing. She started dancing before she could walk, and has also studied Flamenco along with salsa, merengue, and other Latin dances in addition to Middle Eastern dance. She also enjoys crocheting and knitting. Rubesca joined us in the Summer of 2003.

In case you're wondering about the significance of the "Bint al-Waha" in several of the member names, it's a sort of tribal surname for devotees of Oasis Dance Camp.

Members on Leave

	Chennaiya- Chennaiya joined our group in 2000. She's also interested in science fiction and creative anachronism, and has an attraction to sparkly things that she claims is genetic.
	Ludmilla- Ludmilla had her first performance with us in September 2002. Born in Russia, she has been interested in the exotic culture of the Middle East since she a little girl visiting her relatives in Turkmenistan on the border with Iran. She went on to major in Turkish studies in college.

Return to Rising Phoenix Dancers Home

	Sherezzah Bint al-Waha- Troupe director, she has a separate web page.
	Adena Bint Sherezzah Bint al-Waha- Adena started taking classes with Sherezzah in 1995, and joined the troupe shortly after. She's a solo performer and sometime-teacher, hoping to teach more after son Andrew starts school. Other favorite pastimes include going to the beach, reading, beading, sewing, and cooking.
	Akasha Bint al-Waha- Akasha is currently mother to 5 feathered children, one of whom has learned to zaghareet to Middle Eastern music. Besides being a dancer, Akasha is also a singer, and has been learning some Arabic songs. She's also recently started teaching the dance and has her own web site.
	Chandani- Chandani had done disco and ballroom dance for a long time, but never thought she'd be doing belly dancing until she started classes in October 2002. She joined the troupe in February 2004 and had her first performance with us two months later. She enjoys shopping, scuba diving, other cultures, singing, decorating, sewing, travel, and her dog Mr. Pugly. Chandani also vends as "Moonlight Diva," selling bellydance costumes and other goodies.
	Gloriana- Having taken tap and ballet lessons when very young, and modern dance in high school, Gloriana first began belly dancing with a small troupe (and a snake) in the mid-80s. She had to stop for a while, but started up again when she started taking classes with Sherezzah and joined the troupe in 2006. She enjoys all kinds of animals in addition to snakes.
	Joani Bint al-Waha- An accomplished solo performer and teacher, Joani is also a web designer and graphic artist. Originally from Wisconsin, Joani lived in several other states (and was a member of several other dance troupes) before she settled here in Florida.
	Katina Bint al-Waha- We think of Katina as our "fabric queen." Her part-time job in a fabric store helps feed her addiction (and ours!) Katina's house is usually home to an assortment of critters, including snakes.
	Laurel- Having returned to the US after many years in Israel, Laurel had her first performances with us in February 2003. She's a licensed world tour guide, and has traveled extensively. She enjoys community theatre, both onstage and backstage, along with salsa dancing and reading books. She also does solo performances and teaches in addition to performing with the troupe. Check out her web site.
	Lynne- Lynne had been taking classes with Sherezzah for several years before she finally decided to join the troupe in the Summer of 2004. She had her first performance with us in October of that year.
	Marn- Marn is originally from Thailand. In addition to sharing her cooking skills with us, she also enjoys quilting, flower arranging, and her Korat cats.
	Nitzah- Nitzah began studying Near Eastern dance in 1994 when she lived in Iowa, and continued to take classes when she lived in Tennessee. She found Sherezzah and the Rising Phoenix Dancers via the Internet when she moved to Florida, started practicing with us in the Fall of 2004, and had her first performance with us that same December. Nitzah's other interests include Latin dance, international travel, reading, sewing, and exploring nature.
	Pari- Born and raised in Iran (Persia), Pari performs and teaches Persian dance and has been helping us add some Persian dance into our repertoire. She also teaches and performs Orientale ("belly dance") as a solo artist, in addition to dancing with the troupe. She likes to paint if she's not dancing.
	Rubesca- Rubesca's name is Latin for "like a ruby"--fiery, passionate, and energy-enhancing. She started dancing before she could walk, and has also studied Flamenco along with salsa, merengue, and other Latin dances in addition to Middle Eastern dance. She also enjoys crocheting and knitting. Rubesca joined us in the Summer of 2003.