FATEN
"Faten is such an inspiration in my dance. I feel such joy taking her classes. No matter how I was feeling or stressed before her class, I always leave feeling refreshed, happy, with new creative combos and a few 'aha' moments. She is an endless well of Egyptian dance knowledge and is generous with her teaching."
- Lauren "Zaira"
Faten is a generous and enthusiastic instructor, who spent over two decades delighting the international bellydance community. A native Egyptian, Faten began dancing at 11 years of age when she was selected to attend a dance school for children run by country's first-ever national folk troupe, and was one of the first dancers selected for troupe membership. A resident expert on Egyptian traditional dance, Faten offers extensive cultural and ethnographic knowledge and gives her students the ability to create informed folklore presentations.
Faten's classical Egyptian style captures the essence of all we admire in the Egyptian Danse Orientale. While dancing full-time and performing for entertaining heads of state, ambassadors, and royalty across the globe,
Faten earned a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature. With her husband, Shawki Naim, the top soloist in Egypt and the National Troupe choreographer, they created their own troupe, which traveled and performed around the world, and continues to serve as the National Folkloric Troupe of Egypt.
In the tradition of her ancestors, Faten captures the rich treasures of the old world to enrich the culture of her new American home. Her aesthetic is vibrant and imbued with the soulful emotion that is at the heart of this art form. Faten adds to this her very own quintessential feminine grace and passionate love and joy of the dance.
Faten is the founder of Al-Massraweya Dance and currently teaches workshops worldwide and Al-Massraweya techniques and performance classes in Arlington, Virginia.
WAEL
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Wael Mansour, one of the best choreographers and solo dancers of Egyptian dance
Wael is widely acclaimed and recognized worldwide for his technique and his elegance, with touch of modernity in his oriental dance (Elraqs Elsharqi).
Wael Mansour was born in Cairo, studied and graduated from the best folklore schools in Egypt, and in a short time become part of the most famous dance companies present in Cairo in the 90s. He is especially appreciated as a solo dancer.
Wael’s experience has now been enriched by several collaborations in film, theater, television, and participation in quality teaching in numerous national and international festivals in Egypt and across all the world!
He currently lives in Italy where he teaches throughout the country and worldwide. Wael’s goal is to spread a deep knowledge of the innovative Egyptian dance through theatre and educational programs through teaching, professional training, and shows.