Nada El Masriya - Artisic Director

Nada is an Egyptian Belly Dancer living in Canada.
She is the Artistic Director of Hannan’s Belly Dance Studio (Egyptian Dance Academy) and the Rhythm of the Nile Dance Company. With the highest level of dance training in Egypt, she moved to Canada to entertain, educate and enrich people lives with the dance and culture of her home country, Egypt. She has received awards and recognition from some of the greatest living Belly Dancers and is proud to bring true Egyptian Dance and Folklore to Canadian audiences.
FULL BIOGRAPHY

"Nada El Masriya is the Ambassador of Egyptian Dance in Canada." - Fifi Abdou

Daphne

Daphne is originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where her love affair with dance first started. In addition to bellydance she has studied ballet, modern, jazz, salsa and samba. She is a former member of 'Arabesque Dance Company', and has also performed with ‘The Roulettes’. Daphne is a long standing member of ‘The Rhythm of the Nile Dance Company’ as well as ‘Tropicalienté Latin Dancers’ and performs regularly in shows around Toronto.

Tamano

Tamano began her dance training at an early age with Rhythmic Gymnastics, Ballet, Jazz and Hip Hop in her native Japan. After moving to Canada, she started taking classes with Hannan Sultan and soon joined her student troupe, before her obvious talent lead her to the Rhythm of the Nile Dance Company. She has trained with world renowned artists like Aida Nour and Aziza, and brings to the company her vibrant personality.

Lorry

Lorry is known for her highly expressive dance style. Her natural gifts as an actor infuse her performances with a captivating blend of drama, humour and playfulness. She has studied extensively with Nada El Masriya, Hannan Sultan, Abigail and Zahira, and additional training with Aziza, Randa Kamel, Zahra Zuhair and Maja. Her degrees in psychology and education, and background in jazz dance and singing-songwriting facilitate her sensitivity with interpretation and her ability to create exciting and inspiring performances. Selected TV credits include 'Queer as Folk' and 'Little Mosque on the Prairie'.

Natasha

Natasha entered the wonderful world of dance through Latin dance, but her dance passions fully blossomed once she discovered belly dance. Since the spring of 2007 she has been training on an ongoing basis with established instructors such as Nada El Masriya, Hannan Sultan, Emilia, Maha, Abigail and Zahira. In 2010 she became a proud member of the Rhythm of The Nile Company. Natasha has had additional training with Hadia, Randa Kamel, Aida Nour and Lubna Emam. Natasha's dancing is know for being filled with fun and energy, giving enjoyment to those watching her.

Itzel

Itzel started oriental dance at Hannan’s Belly Dance Studio during the winter of 2007. She had the privilege to learn simultaneously from Hannan Sultan, Anuka, Zahira, Emilia, Maha, Abigail and Nada el Masriya.
A very dedicated and enthusiastic dancer, she joined the Egyptian Academy Student Troupe (formerly known as The Sultanettes) in February 2009, a year later she was accepted as an apprentice dancer with the Rhythm Of The Nile Dance Company, and had the honour to perform with the company for Fifi Abdo, Randa Kamel and Aida Nour.

Dr. George Sawa

George, a native of Alexandria Egypt, studied Western music and Arabic music there. He specialized in piano performance and qanun. He came to Canada in 1970, did graduate studies in historical Arabic musicology, and earned a PhD in 1983. He is the author of 40 articles on medieval Arabic music history, 2 CDs and the excellent teaching book Egyptian Music Appreciation & Practice for Bellydancers. He holds now the Noor Visiting Professorhip at York University (2006-2007). He is the recipient of many Canada Council Grants and SSHRCC grants, and an Ontario Arts Council Recognition Fellowship as well as a nomination for a JUNO award.. He has also received the prestigious Life Achievement Award from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture for his research in Arabic music history, and has been honored with the award of excellence for Arts and Culture by the Canadian Arab Federation.

Remond Sarweh

Remond was born in Damascus, Syria, into a well known family of professional musicians. He studied percussion with ‘Abdel-Men‘em Isma‘il, and theory with his brothers Selim and Emile Sarweh, obtaining his Arabic music degree from the Damascus Conservatory of Music. Before immigrating to Canada, he performed in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, with many famous Arab singers and dancers. Acknowledged as a virtuoso tambourine performer, as well as a singer, lutenist and composer, Raymond has performed with Rhythm of the Nile at many Toronto venues including the Royal Ontario Museum.

Suzan Meyers Sawa

Suzanne was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and holds a degree in piano performance from Wittenberg University in Ohio, and Masters degrees in both musicology and library science from the University of Toronto. She has studied classical Arabic at the University of Toronto, and Arabic percussion in Egypt. A member of the Traditional Arabic Music Ensemble since the early 1980’s, Suzanne has also performed in the Canadian and Dutch productions of R. Murray Schafer’s The Litany of RA. She has given numerous papers on Arabic music at international conferences, and has published on Arabic women musicians in the early Islamic period.

Kathleen Kajioka

Based in Toronto, violinist Kathleen Kajioka has established a reputation as a musical multi-linguist, moving easily from the Classical music establishment to the World music scene, from Early Music to New Music to Pop. She has performed in concert series and festivals across Canada, from the Halifax Jazz Festival to the Victoria Summer Chamber Music Festival, and here at home with Tafelmusik, Soundstreams, Toronto Masque Theatre, Maryem Tollar and Maza Mezé, to name a few. Kathleen is bringing all her musical experiences to bear in her role as broadcaster at The New Classical 96.3FM, where she is the weekly host of “In the Still of the Night”.