PRINCESS FARHANA
Internationally acclaimed dance star Princess Farhana (Pleasant Gehman) has performed, taught, researched and written about belly dance and burlesque since 1990. She has appeared in Egypt, Turkey, Hong Kong and Australia; toured several times across Europe and The United Kingdom, as well as throughout North America. An artistic chameleon and a boundary-pushing pioneer, she performs many styles of dance with ease, from ultra traditional to contemporary belly dance and burlesque. Her diverse talents encompass visual, literary, musical and dramatic arts as well as dance. She has fronted three bands, and is featured as an actor in several motion pictures and television shows, and has been interviewed for numerous feature-length documentaries, including director Steve Balderson's "Underbelly: A Year In The Life Of Princess Farhana". Trained in Egyptian style belly dance by Zahra Zuhair in Los Angeles and Raqia Hassan in Cairo among many others, The Princess is well known as a theatrical belly dance fusion performer, conceiving and executing fantasy tableaux in minute detail, a dramatically recreating vintage styles of Oriental Dance from the Edwardian Era, the 1920's, The Egyptian Golden Age, and the American Cabaret Style of the Sixties and Seventies She has starred in seventeen instructional and performance DVDs. Her most recent projects include her two new books, "The Belly Dance Handbook" (January 11, 2014) and the memoir "Showgirl Confidential: My Life Onstage, Backstage And On The Road" (published by Punk Hostage September, 2013). Her latest instructional DVD "Strike A Pose: How To Make The Camera Love You", was released in June 2013. The Princess is known for her high-concept, innovative performances, dramatic stage presence, and incredible abdominal work. Her warmth, enthusiasm, extensive knowledge and her adventurous spirit -both on and off stage- captivate audiences worldwide.
AMANI JABRIL
Best known for her fluid and deeply sensual style of dance, Amani Jabril has built her reputation on delivering stellar dance technique combined with the heart and soul of the Middle East. Trained from an early age in dance and drama, Amani has studied and performed extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East and North America. She was honored to have been invited to assistant teach during the 2011 US tour of Master Mahmoud Reda and also to have taught in 2011 and 2012 at the Amani Oriental Festival in Beirut, Lebanon. Awarded 2010 Best NewComer by Nafoura International Bellydance Magazine and featured on the cover the Mazaag debut albumn, Amani is now teaching nationally with workshops scheduled around the United States.
JONATAN GOMES DERBAQ
Brasilian/American Oudist and Mid-Eastern Style Percussionist. Born in a musical family, began playing stringed instruments and percussion since childhood. It is his strong passion and profound respect for the diverse array of Middle-Eastern music and culture that has led him to work extensively with both dancers and musicians for a number of years. He currently resides in Memphis, Tn. where he performs regulary and works as an instructor of musical and rhythmic comprehension for belly dancers and musicians.