Sadie Marquardt is a global Bellydance sensation. She has spent the last 10 years traveling the globe conducting workshops and shows in hundreds of cities across 40+ countries. She is the most-watched Bellydancer on YouTube with over 30 million hits on just one video alone.

Sadie is an inspiration and icon to her students and fans around the world and serves to empower people through the captivating art of Oriental Dance (Bellydance). She has produced dozens of bestselling instructional videos. She has represented the art of Oriental Dance in front of millions of viewers on the hit show “America’s Got Talent”.

Sadie is the founder and director of the “Raqs Flow” training program, which enriches students with a strong foundation in technique while keeping them engaged and connected to the dance’s culture and historical roots

Sadie lives in Denver, Colorado.  She loves spending time in nature, hiking, camping and adventuring with her family. Aside from dance, Sadie has a deep passion and commitment to living and creating a holistic, sustainable lifestyle and world

Sadie will share her secrets of amazing shimmies, isolations, and layering with the Year of You program for 2024!

Esmeralda Colabone is taking the Oriental dance world by storm. Esmeralda – Brazilian Oriental Soloist, Master Teacher, Choreographer, Producer and Vlogger –  began her dance journey at the tender age of 4 years old. She studied ballet, jazz, contemporary dance until she began a career as a professional ballerina at a very young age. By her 16th birthday she had become infatuated with belly dancing, she explains “I saw it as representing freedom — it gave me the freedom to express what I wanted, and the way to express it, technically and emotionally.”

In 2002 Esmeralda was signed with prestigious artist agencies La Maison De L’Artiste and Bellydance Brazil. Under her contract, she travelled and performed all over the Middle East – United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah); Oman (Muscat); Qatar (Doha); Syria (Damascus); Tunisia (Tunes); Algeria (Argiels); Morocco (Casablanca). For the next 12 years she performed in some of the top 5 start hotels such as Rotana, Le Meridien, JW Marriot, Crowne Plaza, Fairmount, Dubai Marine Resort, Burj Al Arab, Royal Ascot and Hilton; Esmeralda became one of the most successful Brazilian dancers across the Arab world, South America and the Maghreb. She is also popularly known as the ‘Tunisian Treasure’ for her spectacular performances of traditional Tunisian dance.

When Esmeralda dances, it’s as though she invites the viewer to dance with her – to experience the joy of dance. She moves with grace and purpose and every part of her body relays the feeling of the music.

Esmeralda’s fans believe she is bringing belly dance back to its original artistry. When Esmeralda produced her dance video to Oum Kalthoum’s song Enta Omri (You Are My Life) her popularity sky rocketed. In the black and white video performance Esmeralda perfectly expresses the emotional connection between the music and the dance; the ecstasy of Tarab. Esmeralda’s performances are infused with the classical traditions of Egyptian dance but exude a sassy individualism and spirited exuberance that she executes with effortless flair.

Esmeralda will bring her unique perspective on expression and creativity to the 2024 Year of You program!

DeVilla works as an Emmy-nominated makeup artist working in the film and tv industry. A background in fine arts—including a painting degree and a minor in art history from one of the highest-ranking art schools in the nation—carved her pathway directly to Los Angeles where she paints the faces of Hollywood’s biggest stars on hits like American Horror Story: Apocalypse, Star Trek: Picard, Hollywood, The L Word, and Ratched.

DeVilla is a prolific and multi-award winning Middle Eastern dancer based in Los Angeles, known for her polished and dramatic stage presentations. She has studied dance extensively since childhood; including the Ahla Wa Sahlan Dance Festival in Cairo to learn from Egyptian greats such as Raqia Hassan, Dr. Mo Geddawi, Rhanda Kamel, Momo Kadous, and Diana. She has also trained with renowned dancers in America such as Zahra Zuhair, Helena Vlahos, Kamala Almanzar, Fahtiem, Jillina, Ansuya, and Sadie.

DeVilla’s performances have been said to be dynamic, mixing contemporary raqs sharqi innovation with classical Egyptian inspiration. DeVilla works both locally and nationally as a soloist and troupe leader. She has held the title of Artistic Director for a multitude of troupes, and currently leads Sekhmet Dance Company, established 2010 and named Cairo Shimmyquake Fan Favorite 2021. DeVilla and Sekhmet Dance Company have performed at events such as A Night of World Dance at PCC Center for the Arts, Jillina’s nationally touring show The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and headlined Cairo Caravan on The Queen Mary. Even so, DeVilla and the Sekhmets may be best known for producing the Siren Sundays dinner showcase, which sold out seating for four years at Moun of Tunis Restaurant—a hub for North African culture for over 40 years.

In addition to performing and producing, DeVilla is a seasoned dance educator. For ten years she has been on staff at Dance Garden LA, named “Best Place to Learn the Art of Bellydance” by LA Weekly, 2012. Her expertise has also been sought out for popular festivals such as The Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive and Cairo ShimmyQuake—the largest Middle Eastern dance event in Southern California.

Safe dance practice, strength and flexibility

Is a multi-award winning belly dancer, and is the founder of Greenstone Belly Dance. Her love of music is equaled only by her love of movement, making belly dance her perfect match. Siobhan Camille takes a particular interest in the health, strength and performance of dancers, as she is not only a professional belly dancer, but also an exercise scientist. She conducted the first ever peer-reviewed scientific research concerning injury incidence in belly dancers, and has a decade of experience working with athletes and dancers across the globe, helping them to recover from injury and improve their performance.

Rhythm identification,drum solo performance

In expert hands, the Arab hand drum – known as the dumbek, darabukka or tablah- is an amazingly versatile instrument capable of creating a wide variety of sound and timbres. There are no abler hands than those of Issam Houshan – dubbed the “Wassan Pharaoun” (Pharaoh of Rhythm) with his “magic fingers.”

Born in Damascus, Syria, Issam moved to the U.S. in 1990, became a U.S. citizen, and soon became the leading Arab drummer in the U.S. Issam has worked with an impressive list of singers, dancers, and musical groups, including with Sting for the Grammys when he performed “Desert Rose.” In 2003, Issam joined the Bellydance Superstars as solo percussionist- touring the world performing 400 concerts in 16 countries to over 1 million people. During the extensive touring, he undertook the task of training a number of dancers in drumming technique and now they join him on stage as back up. Issam has become recognized as one of the foremost teachers of the Arab drum in the world. He has released 3 music CDs and a drum solo DVD with Bellydance Superstar Sonia – ART OF THE DRUM SOLO. He is also featured on the Bellydance Superstars DVDs, LIVE IN PARIS AT THE FOLIES BERGÈRE, SOLOS FROM MONTE CARLO, and BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS, VOL. 1.