Our Instructors
Kadayif - Artistic Director/ owneror
Kadayif is a well-known instructor, performer and seminar sponsor in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. She currently owns and is the principal instructor for The American BellyDance Studio located in Lutz, Florida
Kadayif began dancing at age five with formal training in ballet, modern and jazz. She later studied Belly Dance with local and international instructors. Her additional dance credits include training in ballroom, country western, clogging, and ice dancing.
She has studied with many local and international instructors in a variety of BellyDance Styles including, Mahmoud Reda, Fifi Abdou, Serena (NY), Suzanna Del Vecchio, Suhaila Salimpour, Horacio and Beata Cifuentes, Kamal, Amaya, Bert Ballentine, John Compton, Dr Mo Geddawi, Rachel Brice, Carolena Nericcio, and many more.
She has danced in nightclubs, on cruise ships in the Bahamas and in Turkey and Egypt, at local and International Belly Dance Festivals and Events, State Fairs, and educational venues. She was named Ms American BellyDance in 1998.
She recently had the opportunity to dance on a video with The Red Elvises to their popular hit "I want to see you bellydance".
She is best known for her elegant, flowing veil performances filled with crisp isolations and rhythmic hip movements. Her ability to move dancers in intricate patterns on stage during precision choreography is also a trademark.
A practicing Registered Nurse, Kadayif has a working knowledge of the human body, which helps her maximize her students talents and abilities. Her greatest teaching tool is the ability to present material in a clear, concise method, which allows students to learn in a fun environment.
A former President of the Florida Association of Belly Dance Artists and the Bay Area Middle Eastern Dance Association Kadayif stays involved in the current world of Belly Dance. Her involvement in these associations as well as the Florida Dance Association and the American Dance Association allows her to promote Belly Dance and to provide knowledge and education about this dance form to anyone interested.
She continues to promote the dance by sponsoring dance seminars and performances throughout the year including a Annual BellyDance Cruise, the Ms American BellyDance Pageant, Spooktacular BellyDance Show, Jingle Hip BellyDance Show, several fund raising events throughout the year and works with the Lutz Civic Association and Greater Womens Club of Lutz to provide dance education and performances in the area.
Kadayif's education doesn't stop and dance and nursing, her other educational pursuits have earned her a Bachelor of Dance, MBA, a Certification in Herbalogy, Aroma Therapy and Crystal Interpretation, and she is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Holistic Medicine.
Kadayif began dancing at age five with formal training in ballet, modern and jazz. She later studied Belly Dance with local and international instructors. Her additional dance credits include training in ballroom, country western, clogging, and ice dancing.
She has studied with many local and international instructors in a variety of BellyDance Styles including, Mahmoud Reda, Fifi Abdou, Serena (NY), Suzanna Del Vecchio, Suhaila Salimpour, Horacio and Beata Cifuentes, Kamal, Amaya, Bert Ballentine, John Compton, Dr Mo Geddawi, Rachel Brice, Carolena Nericcio, and many more.
She has danced in nightclubs, on cruise ships in the Bahamas and in Turkey and Egypt, at local and International Belly Dance Festivals and Events, State Fairs, and educational venues. She was named Ms American BellyDance in 1998.
She recently had the opportunity to dance on a video with The Red Elvises to their popular hit "I want to see you bellydance".
She is best known for her elegant, flowing veil performances filled with crisp isolations and rhythmic hip movements. Her ability to move dancers in intricate patterns on stage during precision choreography is also a trademark.
A practicing Registered Nurse, Kadayif has a working knowledge of the human body, which helps her maximize her students talents and abilities. Her greatest teaching tool is the ability to present material in a clear, concise method, which allows students to learn in a fun environment.
A former President of the Florida Association of Belly Dance Artists and the Bay Area Middle Eastern Dance Association Kadayif stays involved in the current world of Belly Dance. Her involvement in these associations as well as the Florida Dance Association and the American Dance Association allows her to promote Belly Dance and to provide knowledge and education about this dance form to anyone interested.
She continues to promote the dance by sponsoring dance seminars and performances throughout the year including a Annual BellyDance Cruise, the Ms American BellyDance Pageant, Spooktacular BellyDance Show, Jingle Hip BellyDance Show, several fund raising events throughout the year and works with the Lutz Civic Association and Greater Womens Club of Lutz to provide dance education and performances in the area.
Kadayif's education doesn't stop and dance and nursing, her other educational pursuits have earned her a Bachelor of Dance, MBA, a Certification in Herbalogy, Aroma Therapy and Crystal Interpretation, and she is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Holistic Medicine.
Amani Maharet - Instructor
Amani (Elizabeth) began bellydancing almost 20 years ago, at the age of 9. Before branching out into tribal she studied cabaret and cabaret fusion bellydance.
Amani became an assistant instructor and assistant troupe manager of Afet's Dancers of The Desert Sun early in her career.
She has danced at many other well-known events and venues around the country, including Acropolis Greek Taverna, Persia House of Kabobs, The Florida State Fair, MacDill Air Force base, Spirit of The Tribes, ATS Reunion (MO), Cues & Tattoos (WA), Tribal Fest (CA), and the Bellydance Superstars show Club Bellydance.
She is a highly sought after class & workshop instructor, & was a featured instructor at the 1st & 2nd Dance From The Heart bellydance convention here in Tampa, and Festival on he Nile on Orlando.
Amani is continuously pushing herself to learn more about dance & has studied ballroom, ballet, Bollywood, burlesque, hip hop, jazz, Latin, pole, tap & yoga in addition to bellydance.
Outside of bellydance is certified to teach both Zumba & Yoga.
Amani is also an avid workshop attendee & has studied intensively with world-renouned dancers including Amaya, Artemis Mourat, Carolena Nerriccio, Jill Parker, Kami Liddle, Rachel Brice, Suhaila Salimpour, Zoe Jakes, & many more.
Through her rigorous study she has obtained numerous certifications including:
• FatChanceBellyDance® General Skills & Teacher Training
- Amani also has the current honor of being the only official FatChanceBellyDance® Sister Studio in Tampa.
• Suhaila Salimpour format level 1
• Jamila Salimpour format level 1
• Zoe Jakes’ DanceCraft Keys 1 & 2: Diamonds & Spades
• Rachel Brice's 8 ElementsTM phases 1 & 2: Initiation & Cultivation
Amani became an assistant instructor and assistant troupe manager of Afet's Dancers of The Desert Sun early in her career.
She has danced at many other well-known events and venues around the country, including Acropolis Greek Taverna, Persia House of Kabobs, The Florida State Fair, MacDill Air Force base, Spirit of The Tribes, ATS Reunion (MO), Cues & Tattoos (WA), Tribal Fest (CA), and the Bellydance Superstars show Club Bellydance.
She is a highly sought after class & workshop instructor, & was a featured instructor at the 1st & 2nd Dance From The Heart bellydance convention here in Tampa, and Festival on he Nile on Orlando.
Amani is continuously pushing herself to learn more about dance & has studied ballroom, ballet, Bollywood, burlesque, hip hop, jazz, Latin, pole, tap & yoga in addition to bellydance.
Outside of bellydance is certified to teach both Zumba & Yoga.
Amani is also an avid workshop attendee & has studied intensively with world-renouned dancers including Amaya, Artemis Mourat, Carolena Nerriccio, Jill Parker, Kami Liddle, Rachel Brice, Suhaila Salimpour, Zoe Jakes, & many more.
Through her rigorous study she has obtained numerous certifications including:
• FatChanceBellyDance® General Skills & Teacher Training
- Amani also has the current honor of being the only official FatChanceBellyDance® Sister Studio in Tampa.
• Suhaila Salimpour format level 1
• Jamila Salimpour format level 1
• Zoe Jakes’ DanceCraft Keys 1 & 2: Diamonds & Spades
• Rachel Brice's 8 ElementsTM phases 1 & 2: Initiation & Cultivation