Bio

Kiyaana, known for her generous and elegant style, has warmly embraced the music, culture, and history of Middle Eastern dance for over fifteen years. Her focus has been primarily on Egyptian Raks Sharqi and Egyptian folkloric dances. Most recently, Kiyaana spent three years dancing with one of Faten Salama's performance companies at Saffron Dance. She continues to learn from respected local and international workshop instructors and has been guided by weekly intensives with Yasmina Ramzy, Aziza, and Sahra Saeeda.  Other instructors that have helped her grow as a dancer and have influenced her style greatly include Scheherezade, Karim Nagi, Latifa, Kawakib, Lisa Zahiya, and Bozenka.

Kiyaana currently performs regularly throughout Northern and Central Virginia and is a featured performer at Byblos in Gainesville, VA and Natalie's Taste of Lebanon in Richmond.  Her over-500 shows include weddings, various private parties, and Middle Eastern restaurants.  Kiyaana teaches weekly classes in Fredericksburg, Virginia and directs Sameeha Bellydance Collective. She emphasizes using dance to bring joy to one's self as well as to audiences.