::: Histoire et biographie des Bellyqueen :::

Bellyqueen™ Dance Theater is a professional world dance company based in New York city directed by Kaeshi Chai, and co-founded by Amar Gamal. The Bellyqueen dance repertoire encompasses bellydancing in it's traditional "Raks Sharqi" format, as well as Middle-Eastern dance blended with other dance forms such as popping, hip-hop, modern, jazz, ballet, gypsy, flamenco, chinese and afro-haitian. Visit the bio page to find out more about the individual dancers of Bellyqueen.

Based on the strength of their unique vision, body of choreographies and performance history, Bellyqueen was the first established bellydance company asked to perform in Las Vegas at Aladdin's Desert Passage for an extended contract. In 2003, they were asked to join the first full-time professional touring bellydance company in the world, the "Bellydance Superstars and Desert Roses". Since then, they have performed at Lollapalooza, the World Peace Awards in Bali, toured extensively through the US, Europe, Canada, Asia and made numerous television appearances.
>> The Bellyqueen website


	AMAR GAMAL Queen Amar, born in Havana, Cuba began bellydancing at the age of 13 under the direction of Tamalyn Dallal. She won the double title of Ms. America and Ms. World in 1996, winner of Bellydance Breakbeats Competition 2002, and first runner up in the Ms. Egypt competition in Cairo, Egypt 2004. Amar is a principal dancer with the Bellydance Superstars and is co- founder and member of Bellyqueen. Her elegant and unique style has made her a sought after performer and instructor both in the U.S. and internationally.
	ANASMA Half-Vietnamese and half-Tunisian with a dash of Turkish, Queen Anasma was born and raised in Paris, France. Her mixed origins led her to have a diversified background in dance (modern jazz, hip hop, salsa, kathak). She started belly dancing at the age of 14, with Sylvie Abdel Khalek. Anasma and Sylvie worked together for 7 years within the Turquoise Company in Paris, blending belly dance and hip hop, and developing an ethereal belly dance style. Then, Anasma worked with Leila Hassan, Mayodi and Souraya Baghdadi. While pursuing her Business Management studies, Anasma was a belly dance instructor in Egyptian Cabaret style and performed many times before more than 3000 spectators. Anasma appeared in many hip hop festivals, weddings and restaurants as a bellydancer. In 2001, she performed salsa at the Parisian Zenith for the Tribute to Tito Puente. In 2002, Anasma performed before the Cameronese President's wife in Yaounde, Cameroun. In 2003, she performed at the Grand Rex during the opening of the 'Night of the Ad Eaters' in Paris and Lille. In 2005, she trained a group of 11 dancers to perform at the Palais de Congres. In April 2006, she joined Bellyqueen and moved to New York City!
	CARA WEST Princess Cara discovered her passion for middle eastern dance while attending her first class in Torino, Italy. Upon returning to the states (to Portland, Oregon), Cara began to explore Egyptian Cabaret and Tribal styles of bellydance. She studied under the direction of Aziza, Magidah, Jane Archer and the Circle Dance Company. Since relocating to NYC in 2004, she has continued her studies with Kaeshi, Samara, Tarik and several other top middle eastern dance instructors. Cara is also a member of "Mosaic Dance Theater Company".
	ELISHEVA Queen Elisheva is a 2nd generation bellydancer who started her studies as a young artist in Musical Theatre, Drama, and Dance. She began performing jazz, tap, modern and lyrical dance with a children's touring dance troupe located in NY's Catskill mountains for 7 years. She focused on modern dance intensively in Performing Arts H.S. under the direction of original ‘Alvin Ailey 2' Artistic Director Tyrone Aikens and other noted teachers, at NYSSSA, ADF, then went on to finish her dance studies at The Ohio State University where she earned her BFA degree in Dance Performance under the direction of Susan Hadley (Mark Morris Co.), Bebe Miller (Bebe Miller Co.), Rosalind Pierson (Charles Weidman Co.), and Karen Elliot (Merce Cunnigham Co.), all of whom are part of the many important teachers who have influenced her abilities and talent. It was during those years that she challenged her art with an extensive program that allowed her to master choreography and Dance Labanotation©, creative work such as lighting design and extensive music studies, and Movement Theories such as the Alexander Technique©, Pilates©, and Bartinieff Fundamentals©. At the age of 15, she began her professional bellydance career at Lincoln Center's Damrosh Park leading Serena Wilson's and Renate Wallasch's collaborative summer show. Her bellydance training was exclusive with the Goddesses Bas Harem for 10 years and is now performing as a full member and as the Dance Captain of Bellyqueen. Elisheva has studied under the likes of Yousry Sharif, Dalia Carella, Kaeshi Chai, Aziza (C.A.), and is Level 1 Certified in the Suhalia Salimpour format.
	KAESHI CHAI Of Chinese descent, Kaeshi Chai was born in Brunei and brought up in New Zealand and Australia. She co-founded the New York based dance company, Bellyqueen, with Amar Gamal in 1998 and is it's current artistic director. In 2004, Kaeshi also co-founded "PURE (Public Urban Ritual Experiment)" www.puredance.org, a healing dance and music community, which has rapidly spread into many branches all over the US and internationally. Kaeshi has performed and taught all over the world including the US, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Bali, Trinidad, Australia and extensively throughout Asia. In 2003-2004, she performed with the first professional touring bellydance company in the world, the "Bellydance Superstars" and held the position of dance captain for the 2004 US & Canadian Spring tour. She can be seen in the following DVDs, "American Bellydancer", "Bellydance Jam" by Bellyqueen, "Live in Paris at the Folies Begere", and "Crazed: The Bellydance". In her spare time, Kaeshi studies Mandarin, enjoys travelling, and drinking Soy Chai Lattes.
	SANDRALIS A professional bellydancer from the enchanted island of Puerto Rico, Queen Sandralis has over 10 years of diverse dance experience and training, which includes Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Improvisation, African, African-Caribbean, Salsa, and Merengue. Sandralis ' dance experience is versatile and her dynamic performances have captivated an array of audiences in the thriving travel and tourism industry throughout Puerto Rico. Beyond her extensive experience as a performer, Sandralis ' is also a highly regarded, charismatic and dedicated instructor who has taught with several dance companies in Puerto Rico including Oriental Dancers, Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico and Hincapie. Sandralis has also developed and taught numerous classes and workshops through a wide range of school- and community-based dance programs in Puerto Rico and later Western New York, where she moved to pursue graduate studies in Modern Dance in 2004. Sandralis has been the recipients of several recognitions for her bellydance performances including First Runner Up and Troupe of the Year in the 2001 Bellydancer of the Year Pageant.