Sultana Taj Belly Dancer from New York City, NY

Sultana is a popular and exciting bellydancer in New York's and New Jersey's nightclub/restaurant/hookah lounge scene. She can be seen performing almost every night at some of the most well known Arabic clubs such as Horus Ave. B, Hayaty, Le Souk, Falucka, and Layali Dubai just to name a few. She has performed in top restaurants and 5 star luxury hotels throughout the Middle East including Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, and Iraqi Kurdistan. She is a talented and giving performer enlightening those who see her dance with her warm smile and endless energy. In addition to performing weekly for several NYC restaurants, nightclubs, and hookah lounges, Sultana has also performed in top theater productions, special events, and parties including performances for Saudi Arabian Royalty, the grand opening at Le Souk restaurant and nightclub in New York City, NYC's Mercedes Benz Fashion week, movie opening parties for various celebrity audiences, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Egyptian room, world famous nightclub Webster Hall, the popular TV show America's Got Talent, several music videos, a New York Film Academy movie production, and by invitation at the closing gala for the International Bellydance Conference of Canada. Sultana has made appearances with Bellydance America on Fox's Good Day New York, and has had the privilege of doing the introduction to Mohamed Shahin's DVD Dance Like an Egyptian Vol. 2. She also has a featured performance in Jehan Kamal's DVD "Bellydance with Fan Veils". Some of Sultana's theater production appearances include Encore's Zorba! dancing alongside John Turturro at the New York City Center, "Cirque Arabesque - A Caravan of Dreams" at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, "The Pearl" at the Schermerhorn Theater, and "The Choreographer's Canvas" also at the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center. Sultana began her dance training at the age of 5 in jazz, tap, lyrical, character and ballet, performing and competing in Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and New York City. She accredits Michele, Molly, and the late Shirley Larkin of Larkin Dance Studio in Maplewood, MN for the majority of her early training in jazz and tap. She discovered her love of Middle Eastern dance in 2002 and has become dedicated to the art form ever since. Sultana performs weekly at various venues throughout the tri-state area and travels occasionally to the middle east for contracts in hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, and private events She is available for weddings, birthday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, theater and stage productions, family events, corporate parties, and any special event. Her charisma, friendly personality, technical strength, energetic style, and devoted dedication to her art has gained her notoriety among the belly dance community and those who love the performing arts. Sultana accredits the world renowned Jehan Kamal as her mentor and as the woman who helped her to start her career as a belly dancer. Sultana has been greatly influenced by Jehan's style of dance and inspired by her continuous generosity towards her students. Sultana has also studied extensively in the United States, Egypt, and Lebanon with other well known and respected teachers such as Cassandra Shore, Yousry Sharif, Azza Amon, Nourhan Sharif, Ranya Renee, Gamila El Masry, and Egypt's most famous folkloric choreographer and performer, Mahmoud Reda. She has taken workshops and intensive master classes with Randa Kamel, Bassima of Lebanon, Aida Nour, Mohamed Shahin, Karim Nagi, Tito, Nour, Mohamed El Hossaney, Jillina, and many others. In addition to performing, Sultana currently teaches weekly classes at the Bellydance America school and has taught the art of belly dance at other prestigious schools throughout the New York area such as Steps on Broadway, the Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, Queens Community College, and Taliah Performing Arts Center. In addition to dance, Sultana is also a talented theater and film actress and is an active member of Actor's Equity Association. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Psychology.