INSTRUCTORS | The Festival On The Nile

Jasirah

Professional Dancer, International Teacher, Judge & Festival Organizer

Jasirah is an internationally acclaimed dancer, instructor, and choreographer with over 16 years of experience in oriental dance. She has taught and performed in more than 40 countries, captivating audiences worldwide with her powerful stage presence, elegant style, and exceptional technical precision.

With a 10-year background in ballroom dancing, Jasirah has developed a unique artistic expression that blends technical mastery, musicality, and refined elegance—making her style both distinctive and extraordinary.

She is especially renowned for her flawless Drum Solo technique, spectacular Double Assaya Saidi performances, and her innovative fusions of oriental and ballroom dance. As an educator, she is celebrated for her outstanding teaching skills and her ability to communicate complex techniques with clarity and inspiration.

Since 2014, Jasirah has been a member of the prestigious Bellydance Evolution ensemble, performing leading roles in “Alice in Wonderland” during a three-month tour in China, and “Scheherazade – 1001 Nights” on the U.S. tour.

Beyond her artistic achievements, Jasirah is also a visionary entrepreneur and industry innovator:

Founder and organizer of Raks Glam Festival and Raks’N’Roll in Poland.
Creator and owner of Jasirah Boutique, producing professional training sets and props for bellydancers.
Builder of a global online community, offering regular Zoom workshops and in-depth tutorials via Patreon.
Author of “My Inspirational Bellydance Journal” – the world’s first notebook designed specifically for bellydancers.
Producer of the world’s first beauty products created especially for bellydancers: “Gold Plated Skin” shimmering powder and “The Dancer” perfume.

Jasirah continues to inspire dancers worldwide through her artistry, innovation, and dedication—on stage, in the studio, and across her creative ventures.

MOHAMED GHAREB

Master Mohamed Ghareb– Egyptian Dance Luminary
Biography:

Mohamed Ghareb is a world-renowned Egyptian dance maestro, renowned for his lifelong dedication to preserving, performing, and disseminating traditional Egyptian dance forms, particularly Native Raqs Sharqi, Bellydance, Tanoura, and folkloric styles from Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta. Born in Egypt, Ghareb was immersed in dance from a young age, training with some of the most legendary figures in Egyptian folklore and classical dance, including mentors at the Mahmoud Reda private Troupe

Artistic Accomplishments:
Mahmoud Reda Private Troupe Legacy: As a principal dancer and soloist for the prestigious Mahmoud Reda Private Troupe, he helped modernize and stage Egyptian folkloric dance in theatrical settings, preserving its cultural authenticity.

Innovative Choreography: Ghared is known for his ability to blend traditional rhythms and movements with contemporary stagecraft. His performances showcase precise technique, emotional storytelling, and a deep respect for the cultural roots of each dance style.

Tanoura Ambassador: One of the few artists outside religious circles permitted to teach the sacred Tanoura dance (the Egyptian version of the whirling dervish), he is celebrated for respectfully teaching its spiritual and artistic significance to international audiences.
Dr. Zahi Hawass, the world's most celebrated archaeologist and former Minister of State for Antiquities in Egypt, gave Mohamed Ghareb the Nickname (KING OF TANOURA)

Global Impact:
Worldwide Workshops & Tours: Ghareb has taught and performed in over 40 countries, including the U.S., Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

Cultural Preservation: He founded the Ghareb Troupe’s International in Brazil. Chile, Colombia, Japan, and the United States have Ghareb Troupes projects all over the world, which document, archive, and teach endangered regional dance forms from rural Egypt. His research has helped revive dances nearly lost to time.

Mentorship: Hundreds of dancers around the globe credit him as their master teacher. He has trained several champions of international belly dance competitions, all of whom uphold his high standards of cultural accuracy and artistic discipline.

Philosophy:
Master Ghareb emphasizes that dance is not just a performance—it is a memory, a spirit, and an integral part of one's identity. His teachings stress the importance of musicality, emotion, and deep cultural respect. Known for his warmth and discipline, he inspires dancers to seek authenticity over spectacle.

Award and Recognition:

UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

EBONY QUALLS

Ebony has taught and performed in multiple cities throughout Asia, Canada, Europe, South America and the United States. She toured internationally with the world famous Bellydance Superstars and Bellydance Evolution and has performed in and choreographed for Zoe Jake's House of Tarot. She is most honored to be a guest instructor on Rachel Brice's Datura Online, the leading website for belly dance instructional videos.

She is the co-creator of the Black Bellydance Bundle, a project that increases diversity and inclusivity in the bellydance community. She has guest performed with Solstice Ensemble, has directed fusion troupes Raquettes ShimmyPop and Raqs Caravan Urban, and is a soloist at a variety of engagements including restaurants, private parties, weddings, festivals, music videos, concerts and numerous theater performances.

Ebony's playful spirit flavors both her performances and her approach to teaching belly dance since 2003. A combination of strong technique, musicality, and innovation are the foundations of her colorful dance presence. Ebony teaches and performs both traditional raqs sharqi and her own dynamic fusion belly dance style, which is fueled by her background in both oriental and urban dance genres.

Along with her love of dance, Ebony is in love with teaching. A founding instructor of Sahara Dance - Washington DC's Center for Middle Eastern Dance, her students describe her as "approachable" and her classes as "fun" and "challenging". She teaches weekly classes online in both traditional and urban fusion formats. Newcomers to belly dance are Ebony's favorite students, as they are a major source of inspiration to her. Ebony continues her own regular dance studies and has trained with world-renowned master instructors from traditional raqs sharqi and fusion bellydance circuits.

New* JOIN EBONY ON STAGE! Ask about dancing with Ebony Qualls in CrystalFire Rise of the Mythics Full Theatrical Production on August 15, 2026 - Cinematography by Firestorm Productions Inc. 500 Seat theater featuring live performance & filming a movie.

JACQUES AL ASMAR

Jacques Al-Asmar was born in Accra, Ghana. He was raised in Beirut, Lebanon. For the past twenty-five years, he has lived in the United States. He has studied, performed and taught Internationally. His passion for dance was noticed at an early age. Influenced by the legendary Nadia Gamal, Jacques watched his own body move in the same genre as Nadia Gamal. However, his lack of formal training in dance and cultural barriers held him back from pursuing a much-loved art form.

Jacques' formal training came at a later stage of his career. Thanks to the Legendary Amina of the ASWAN DANCERS, who trained, educated and supported Jacques, He became a dance sensation overnight. Jacques is co-founder of the Arabian Knights band and producer of Salamat Sundays in San Francisco, California.

Come early if you want space near the front. Jacques workshops on CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY fill up quickly. Jacques last few workshops in California have been so popular in , they SOLD out!

New* Ask about dancing with Jacques Al Asmar in the Friday Oasis Dream Showcase (Shaabi)

SHAIRA AMON

Shaira Amon is an award winning Arabian professional dancer, teacher and instructor accredited by the CIAD (Confederacion Interamericana de la Danza, or Inter-American Dance Confederation) with more than 18 years in the business. Owner and founder of Shaira Amon Dance Studio, she has performed for the Embassy of Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain and United Arabs Emirates Royal Family. Her breadth of knowledge of multiple Arabic cultural dance forms is amazing.

She has been Featured TV Shows in Lebanon (2011) as a belly dance performer, participated in photo productions by Mike Mercau, worked for the singer Tarek Al Atrash as the model for his musical video clip in Dubai 2013. She was also chosen in 2016 by Martin Prihoda, Vogue Magazine photographer and as a Model in the Burj Arab Dubai beach 7 Stars Hotel.

Shaira Amon was awarded Best Argentine Arabian Dancer by the Argentine Federation of Dance Professionals and the CIAD. She is also a distinguished winner of more than two hundred gold medals and prizes given by the CIAD, among them, Best Dancer and Breakout Dancer in the states of Mendoza and Tucuman.

Some of her successful tours landed in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, areas in the Middle East and Magreb. She has judged international competitions in the following countries: Egypt, Tunicia, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Bangladesh, Maldivas Islands, England, Italy, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Bahrain Kingdom, Abu Dhabi, Dubai.

She was also winner in the 2016 Latina Middle East Beauty Contest in Dubai and awarded as Best Choreographer and Best Instructor by BAILARTE DANCES COMPETITION in Cordoba City.

CASSANDRA SHORE

Saffyre has been a long-time fan of Festival on the Nile International. A few years ago, Saffyre stepped up to become stage manager and lead volunteer for Festival. Last year, she taught her first Sword Zen Warm-Up with the blessing of Belladonna Blade. This year we are happy to announce Saffyre's return as our beloved stage manager, lead volunteer coordinator & warm-up leader!

Join Beach Blades’ Saffyre for a daily warm up at FOTNI 50 to put your best foot forward throughout the day—whatever workshops you will be participating in. Friday we will embrace the Goddess Gaze with facial yoga and intention setting for the weekend; Saturday morning we will experience Sole Serenity with a massage/reflexology session to create balance throughout our bodies starting with our foundation. Sunday morning we will gather for an Oceanic Om and round out the weekend with an overall stretch and engagement of our fascia from our toes to our noses to be able to unlock our potential for a transformative and holistic body rejuvenation!

VANIA OJEDA

Vania Ojeda is a bellydancer, firedancer, flow artist, makeup artist, teacher, and enthusiastic costume maker from Buenos Aires, Argentina, now based in Tampa, FL.

Trained by Amir Thaleb and Emine di Cosmo, Vania began her professional career in 2014 with Mannaz Tribal and the firedance duo Vania & Cassiopeia, performing at medieval fairs and themed events and plays. She later joined the German team Firedancer, presenting dazzling fireshows aboard cruise ships in India and the Caribbean. In 2018, Vania joined the world music band Jirafas en la India as a dancer and musician, playing Moroccan karkabas and tambura.

Now an established performer in the Tampa Bay area, Vania is a resident dancer at Byblos Tampa, where audiences can enjoy her shows every month. Known for her artistry, she blends bellydance, fire, and flow to create unforgettable performances.

As a costume maker, Vania designs and handcrafts her own costumes and accessories, bringing each story to life on stage. She also creates unique embroidered pieces for dancers, available through her online store.

In 2024, Vania co-founded the Sunshine Bellydance Fest, an annual event celebrating bellydance in the Tampa Bay Area.

AMINA GOODYEAR

Amina Goodyear began her performance career in the mid-60's at the Bagdad Cabaret dancing nightly in San Francisco's North Beach district during that city's golden era of Middle Eastern dance. In that era, dancers worked and supported themselves (and their families) solely by dancing. She founded her dance company, Her troupe, Aswan Dancers (1975) perform at parties, festivals, weddings, and educational venues, and workshops.

Amina has founded many musical groups, both informal & professional including the Cairo Cats, now a percussion ensemble led by her daughter Susu Pampanin. She also co-founded The Arabian Knights Band, Karnak, Layalli al Sharq, the Four T’s and Caravan Band, and was a founding member of Aswat and Pasha Band. Today she plays with Aswat (20 years), Georges Lammam's Ensemble (15 years) and most recently Beit el Tarab.

Amina was inducted into the American Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (AAMED) Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement award in New York in 1994. She also received a Humanitarian Award in 2001 from MECDA, a Lifetime Achievement award in 2003 from BDUC in Long Beach and a Lifetime Achievement award in 2015 from Isis and the Belly Dance Chronicles in Texas.

Amina has produced two DVDs: "Hizz ya Wizz," a historical narrative of the first 20 years of the Aswan Dancers, and "Nadia in America," a concert performance featuring Egyptian dancer and almeh Nadia Hamdi.

Amina's dance passions are teaching to the music and lyrics (primarily Egyptian) and staying culturally correct. She spends many hours daily listening to and analyzing Middle Eastern music and trends and loves to study how it is forever changing. Amina's almost daily classes have a "club-like" atmosphere and her group of loyal students learn the culture, the rhythms, a working knowledge of Egyptian "song talk," technique and how to apply dance movements to different genres of music.

New* Amina will be teaching our drumming and rhythms for dancers by a dancer! Bring your drum, rik, zills or tambourine and be ready to play!

SAFFYRE