Hafla Night (Belly Dance Show) with Murjanah April 25, 2009

Murjanah has a very eclectic dance background. She has 8 years of ballet, tap, jazz, and hungarian experience, 2 years of experience in swing dance, and also loves to Flamenco, Salsa, and Irish dance.

Murjanah was first exposed to belly dance by her beautiful, award winning sister, Deirdre of North Carolina. Deirdre and Murjanah unfortunately live far from each other, so in order to teach her sister, Deirdre started to teach Murjanah to belly dance through a series of rigorous “family vacations,” where they would meet when Murjanah was off of school and dance until they could not anymore. Deirdre took Murjanah to her own teacher, Graelin, then encouraged her to find a teacher in her area where she could learn at a more relaxed pace. Murjanah found Piper, followed by Antonia, and now Shems. From the start, Murjanah was extremely drawn to belly dance, and wanted to share what she had learned with as many people as possible. So, Murjanah started the Belly Dance Club at her high school and began instructing, teaching the basics of posture, isolations, and fitness. Her sponsor then referred her to the studio Dance Connection, where she taught Belly Dance for Fitness for a year. Murjanah then went to college and began instructing at the campus gym, where she currently teaches a variety of fitness classes, including Belly Dance. She is AFAA Group Fitness Certified.

Murjanah’s first student, Alice, is now the President of Yalla, UPENN’s belly dance troupe. Alice is now instructing and performing professionally in cabaret and American Tribal Style troupe dance.

Murjanah has taken lessons from Graelin of North Carolina, Deirdre of North Carolina, Aziza of Montreal, Antonia of Baltimore, Piper of Baltimore, and currently with Shems of Baltimore.

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