About Spirit of the Lotus
Spirit of the Lotus Dance Company was formed in August 2007. While the troupe is fairly new, all members have performed professionally together for the past seven years. Spirit of the Lotus performs a wide range of bellydance styles, with our specialties in Egyptian and Fusion bellydance. On the stage, the troupe has an unique energy and a welcoming vibe for all to enjoy. We're excited to announce that our troupe has been nominated "Best Kept Secret" by Zaghareet Magazine for 2008!
Be sure to read about each member below.
Victoria - Instructor
Photo by jawileyphotography
Despite having the self-proclaimed attention span of a gnat, Victoria took her first bellydance class in 2002 under the instruction of Yasmine. The confidence she found caused her to fall in love with the art form and she hasn’t stopped dancing since. An original member of Magic Hips, she has performed in numerous venues, provided workshops on costuming and performance preparation and is well known at Lotus Dance Studio for her catering, exceptional checklists and making somethin’ outta nuthin’ – hence the Mrs. MacGyver nickname. She is most proud of being a founding member of Spirit of the Lotus.
Those who have interacted with her will tell you that Victoria brings an element of joy and lighthearted humor to both her instruction and her performances. She is personally inspired by the amazing dancers Tamalyn Dallal, Gina, Aziza, Bozenka and Suhaila Salimpour.
She is married to Mr. MacGyver and is the mom of a very witty son.
Naima - Lead Instructor, Raks Sultana
Naima has been a national performer, choreographer, and teacher of Middle Eastern dance for over a decade. A student of dance since age 3, she has studied ballet, jazz, and modern variations with the Richmond Ballet as well as with Marian Meese, giving her technique the framework of western dance and the substance of Middle Eastern Orientale. As a former principal with the Pyramid Dance Co. in Memphis, TN, and with the Lotus Dancers of Omaha, NE, she was most recently a member of Yasmine’s Charlotte-based Magic Hips until 2006 and is a founding and current member of Spirit of the Lotus. Although best known for her articulate performances to the Egyptian classics and for her elaborate veil work, Naima has also researched and brought traditional folkloric elements from North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Turkey into modern stage choreographies. For more information, please visit www.rakssultana.com.
Nayna - Lead Instructor, Bellydance By Nayna
Photo by jawileyphotography
Nayna is a multifaceted dancer who brings warmth, excitement, power and playfulness to every performance. She fell in love with bellydance in 2002 while learning from Yasmine (Charlotte, NC), and quickly progressed to the professional level of performance and teaching. Dedicated to continuously improving and evolving in her art, Nayna draws upon the influence of a diverse array of master dancers such as Rachel Brice, Saida, Bozenka, and the guidance of her mentor, Suhaila Salimpour. As a result, she is comfortable and proficient in the Egyptian, American Cabaret, and Tribal Fusion styles of bellydance. In addition to dancing, she has acquired a strong interest in fire arts and enjoys fire spinning (poi) and incorporating other fire props (such as fire fans) into her performances.
Iona - Lead Instructor, Lotus Bellydance
Photo by jawileyphotography
Iona discovered bellydancing in July 2002 and hasn't stopped since. Content with just being a student, she started taking classes with Yasmine to get fit and surprise her husband. He insisted that she continue to dance, and she happily agreed. The dance had become a part of her life, and before she knew it she'd was asked to join the Magic-Hips Dancers, a professional troupe based in Charlotte. She is currently one of the founding members of Spirit of the Lotus Dance Company, is the Lead Instructor for Lotus Bellydance and teaches various bellydance workshops at Central Piedmont Community College throughout the year. Through the years she's participated in various workshops to help strengthen her dance, and found her inspiration in Bozenka and Rachel Brice. Iona's warm smile and energy on the stage captivates her audience instantly! Because percussion instruments were a major part in her life growing up, she naturally gravitated to zills and various hand drums, and finds major inspiration in Issam Houshan and Karim Nagi (Turbo Tabla).
Iona is married to honeydo Maurice and a proud Mother of one daughter.
Spirit of the Lotus Dance Company was formed in August 2007. While the troupe is fairly new, all members have performed professionally together for the past seven years. Spirit of the Lotus performs a wide range of bellydance styles, with our specialties in Egyptian and Fusion bellydance. On the stage, the troupe has an unique energy and a welcoming vibe for all to enjoy. We're excited to announce that our troupe has been nominated "Best Kept Secret" by Zaghareet Magazine for 2008!
Be sure to read about each member below.
Victoria - Instructor
Photo by jawileyphotography
Despite having the self-proclaimed attention span of a gnat, Victoria took her first bellydance class in 2002 under the instruction of Yasmine. The confidence she found caused her to fall in love with the art form and she hasn’t stopped dancing since. An original member of Magic Hips, she has performed in numerous venues, provided workshops on costuming and performance preparation and is well known at Lotus Dance Studio for her catering, exceptional checklists and making somethin’ outta nuthin’ – hence the Mrs. MacGyver nickname. She is most proud of being a founding member of Spirit of the Lotus.
Those who have interacted with her will tell you that Victoria brings an element of joy and lighthearted humor to both her instruction and her performances. She is personally inspired by the amazing dancers Tamalyn Dallal, Gina, Aziza, Bozenka and Suhaila Salimpour.
She is married to Mr. MacGyver and is the mom of a very witty son.
Naima - Lead Instructor, Raks Sultana
Naima has been a national performer, choreographer, and teacher of Middle Eastern dance for over a decade. A student of dance since age 3, she has studied ballet, jazz, and modern variations with the Richmond Ballet as well as with Marian Meese, giving her technique the framework of western dance and the substance of Middle Eastern Orientale. As a former principal with the Pyramid Dance Co. in Memphis, TN, and with the Lotus Dancers of Omaha, NE, she was most recently a member of Yasmine’s Charlotte-based Magic Hips until 2006 and is a founding and current member of Spirit of the Lotus. Although best known for her articulate performances to the Egyptian classics and for her elaborate veil work, Naima has also researched and brought traditional folkloric elements from North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Turkey into modern stage choreographies. For more information, please visit www.rakssultana.com.
Nayna - Lead Instructor, Bellydance By Nayna
Photo by jawileyphotography
Nayna is a multifaceted dancer who brings warmth, excitement, power and playfulness to every performance. She fell in love with bellydance in 2002 while learning from Yasmine (Charlotte, NC), and quickly progressed to the professional level of performance and teaching. Dedicated to continuously improving and evolving in her art, Nayna draws upon the influence of a diverse array of master dancers such as Rachel Brice, Saida, Bozenka, and the guidance of her mentor, Suhaila Salimpour. As a result, she is comfortable and proficient in the Egyptian, American Cabaret, and Tribal Fusion styles of bellydance. In addition to dancing, she has acquired a strong interest in fire arts and enjoys fire spinning (poi) and incorporating other fire props (such as fire fans) into her performances.
Iona - Lead Instructor, Lotus Bellydance
Photo by jawileyphotography
Iona discovered bellydancing in July 2002 and hasn't stopped since. Content with just being a student, she started taking classes with Yasmine to get fit and surprise her husband. He insisted that she continue to dance, and she happily agreed. The dance had become a part of her life, and before she knew it she'd was asked to join the Magic-Hips Dancers, a professional troupe based in Charlotte. She is currently one of the founding members of Spirit of the Lotus Dance Company, is the Lead Instructor for Lotus Bellydance and teaches various bellydance workshops at Central Piedmont Community College throughout the year. Through the years she's participated in various workshops to help strengthen her dance, and found her inspiration in Bozenka and Rachel Brice. Iona's warm smile and energy on the stage captivates her audience instantly! Because percussion instruments were a major part in her life growing up, she naturally gravitated to zills and various hand drums, and finds major inspiration in Issam Houshan and Karim Nagi (Turbo Tabla).
Iona is married to honeydo Maurice and a proud Mother of one daughter.
Feel free to send email
or call 980-428-6396.
