Celebrating Black Belly Dancers
Amplifying Voices, Showcasing Talent, Honoring Legacy
Belly dance is an art form with deep roots in African and Middle Eastern cultures. Yet, within the global belly dance community, Black dancers often face systemic challenges, including underrepresentation in performances, workshops, and media. They encounter barriers in being fully recognized for their artistry, with stereotypes about body image, race, and authenticity clouding the acceptance of their work.
We can do better.
This article aims to highlight the wonderful Black artists in the belly dance community. The dancers listed below have shaped and are shaping the belly dance world, breaking stereotypes, and showing the power of cultural expression. Whether as teachers, performers, or community leaders, these artists are not only elevating their craft but also creating space for others to follow in their footsteps.
Links to their social media pages, workshops, and events are included throughout this article. Attend their performances, enroll in their classes, or share their content on social media to amplify their voices. By engaging with their work, you’re helping to create a more inclusive and representative belly dance community for generations to come.
Black Belly Dancers - A Directory of Artists
I have attempted to gather a comprehensive list of Black belly dancers from recommendations across social media and my own connections. If you would like to add a particular artist (like yourself!) to this list or correct an entry, please use this form. We will be creating a follow up article with more artists as we get submissions!
Highlighted Artists
Amar Gamal
Amar Gamal, a Cuban-born dancer, discovered belly dance at 13 and trained with the Mid-Eastern Dance Exchange under Tamalyn Dallal. She was a member of Bellydance Superstars and co-founder of Bellyqueen. Amar’s elegant and unique style has made her a sought-after performer, choreographer, and instructor worldwide. Her grace stems from a mixture of pure artistry, strong technique, well-rounded dance training, and her Cuban upbringing.
https://www.amardancejourney.com/
Chudney
Cape Coral, Florida
Chudney is a professional Oriental dance artist based in Cape Coral, Florida, who has competed and performed worldwide, known for her dynamic style and deep understanding of MENAT music and dance. She has won numerous accolades, including East Coast Classic 2015 Cabaret Professional Champion. As the founder of Chudney Raks Online and director of Raks Royale, she shares her passion through teaching, choreography, and innovative performances.
Ciana Ariel
South Florida
Ciana Ariel Boetius is a dynamic belly dancer and instructor blending artistry with athleticism. Based in Florida, she incorporates functional strength training, including Pilates and barre, into her practice to enhance performance and prevent injury. A dedicated artist, she continues to refine her craft, ensuring her dance remains expressive, powerful, and deeply fulfilling.
Donna Mejia
Boulder, Colorado
Donna Mejia is a pioneering dance scholar, performer, and interdisciplinary professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. As the first tenure-track professor of Transcultural Fusion Dance globally, she bridges African and Arab diaspora traditions with contemporary movement and digital culture. Her work champions social justice, gender equity, and somatic healing, integrating mindfulness and embodiment into her pedagogy. Recognized with numerous awards, including a Fulbright honor and the CU President’s Award for Justice, Equity, and Inclusion, she continues to shape the future of dance, scholarship, and cultural dialogue.
Ebony Qualls
Washington, DC
Ebony Qualls is an internationally acclaimed fusion belly dancer known for her dynamic style, playful spirit, and innovative choreography based in Washington, D.C. She has toured with Bellydance Superstars and Bellydance Evolution, performed with artists like Thievery Corporation and Peaches, and is a featured instructor on Rachel Brice’s Datura Online. A passionate educator, Ebony has taught worldwide and co-founded the Black Bellydance Bundle to promote diversity in the dance community.
Frank Farinaro
Denver, Colorado
Frank Farinaro is a pioneering male belly dancer and folkloric fusion artist from Colorado. He has performed across 18 U.S. states and five countries, becoming the first male dancer to perform with Jillina’s Bellydance Evolution and appearing in music videos and concerts. A passionate teacher, Frank showcases African, Arab, and Mediterranean cultures in a positive, contemporary light. https://www.facebook.com/frank.farinaro
Heidi M Hernández
Atlanta Metro Area, Georgia
A proud first-generation Afro-Cuban American, Heidi is a metro-Atlanta fusion dancemaker and dance educator. She is a multidisciplinary dancer with expertise in ballet, jazz, modern, West African, Cuban salsa. She is a full-time instructor, performer, and choreographer, she is known for her fun and insightful teaching style. Heidi loves inspiring students and helping them reconnect with the joy of movement while honoring the cultural roots of the dances she shares. She currently holds the position of diversity consultant for Belly Dance Evolution.
Jacques Al-Asmar
San Francisco, California
Jacques Al-Asmar, born in Accra, Ghana, and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, is an internationally recognized dance artist specializing in Classical Raqs Sharqi, Shaabi, Saiidi, and Mahragana. Inspired by the legendary Nadia Gamal, he began dancing and later received formal training from Amina of the Aswan Dancers. Now a sought-after international instructor, he is known for his expertise in cultural authenticity, co-founding the Arabian Knights band and producing Salamat Sundays in San Francisco. https://www.facebook.com/jacquesalasmar
Khadijah K.S. Smith
Denver, Colorado
Khadijah is a renowned dancer, teacher, and ethnologist specializing in Afro-Arabian folklore, music, and cultural traditions. Of Kenyan descent and born in Saudi Arabia, she is based in Denver, Colorado, where she is a highly sought-after performer and educator. With 22 years of experience, she has gained international recognition for her unique approach to Arabic dance and cultural authenticity. Beyond dance, Khadijah has a rewarding career in emergency veterinary medicine with a focus on neuroscience and neurology, holding a Master of Science in Microbiology.
https://www.thedancerkhadijah.info/
Mel’Keta Ragba
Nashville, Tennessee
Mel’Keta, of Polynesian and Amazigh descent, is a professional belly dancer and instructor known for her dynamic performances across the Northeast, Midwest, and internationally. Originally from New Jersey and now based in Tennessee, she has trained extensively in Raqs Sharqi, Tahitian, and various Western dance forms, studying under esteemed instructors like Zarouhi Otchy and Tashira Awadiya. An entrepreneur, choreographer, and costume designer with dual degrees in accounting, Mel’Keta blends her passion for dance with meticulous artistry.
https://www.melketasraghba.com/
Oreet
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oreet, the creator of SharQui – The bellydance workout®, is an award winning performer, a sought-after choreographer, teacher and fitness presenter based in Philadelphia. Along with teaching, Oreet certifies dancers and fitness professionals in the SharQui format, the only fitness accredited bellydance fitness workout in the world.
Pixie Fordtears
Oakland, California
Pixie Fordtears is a fusion belly dancer from the Bay Area. With a captivating blend of belly dance, waving, hip hop, and yoga, her unique style is a mesmerizing tapestry of movement. She has had the honor of performing alongside renowned acts such as Beats Antique and House of Tarot. Her collaborations with these influential groups have further shaped her artistic vision and expanded her depth as a performer.
https://www.patreon.com/user/about?u=6016812
Sadira LadyLiquid
Oakland, California
Sadira Lady Liquid is a dynamic fusion belly dancer based in Oakland, California, known for their mesmerizing stage presence and fluid movement. A core member of the Beats Antique dance company, they have been captivating audiences for over 25 years, performing across the West Coast with bands like Americano Social Club, Inspector Gadje, and Axon Orchestra.
https://www.sadiraladyliquid.com/
Tarik Sultan
New York City, New York
Tarik Sultan is a pioneering male belly dancer, performer, and instructor with a career spanning decades. Since 1985, he has studied, performed, and taught internationally, becoming one of the first male dancers to grace the stage at Egypt’s Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival. Known for his dynamic style and deep cultural knowledge, he has performed at top venues in New York City and beyond, offering workshops and private lessons worldwide.
Valizan
Toronto, Canada
Valizan began his journey in Middle Eastern dance in 1994 through the Society for Creative Anachronism and developed into a sought-after solo performer and teacher. He founded and directs the troupe Shades of Araby. He has performed and taught globally, taught tribal belly dance, apprenticed with Yasmina Ramzy, and earned recognition as a lead dancer and a FatChanceBellyDance® Brother Studio teacher.
Organizations
But wait, there’s more! I would like to highlight a few organizations and groups that support black belly dancers and dancers of color. Please follow and support these organizations.
Black Belly Dancers - This is a popular Instagram account that highlights Black belly dancers. This is a great follow to learn about up and coming Black belly dancers as well as established artists. Their mission is to promote, curate, and support the art of belly dance through creating opportunities for dancers to excel and inspire the world. Follow the account here.
Essence of Belly Dance Festival - I live in Atlanta, Georgia and have the privilege to be able to attend this wonderful event. It’s a pretty action- packed weekend with workshops, competitions, and live music shows. This festival is hosted by the beautiful and amazing Faaridah, owner of Atlanta Fusion Dance. She does a wonderful job of making sure every lineup features dancers from all backgrounds. Learn more at www.essenceofbellydance.com
Asmara Belly Dance Initiative - The Asmara Bellydance Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) dancers and honors the cultural roots of raqs sharqi (belly dance). Founded by a group of lovely dancers based in Atlanta, GA, Asmara inspires self-expression, supports creative growth, and cultivates an inclusive, empowering space for all. Learn more at https://asmarabellydance.org/
Also check Naimah Loren: Co-organizer of Art of the Belly
And check out Khuzama Lavender