RYT500 Yoga Teacher, Master Teacher/Leader Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance, and Sacred Feminine practitioner. For the past 17 years I have worked as a teacher and performer internationally. I have been dedicating myself to Tribal Bellydance since 2005 and I am known both for my work with the dance company Les Soeurs Tribales, of which I am a founding member, and as a performer of the Gypsy Caravan Dance Company (now Global Caravan Tribe) of which I am a member since 2010, I am Master Teacher and Leader Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance and co-founder and director of the Caravan Project Italia Tribal Bellydance Company, the official Italian dance group Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance, born in 2015.

In January 2018 I started the Asif and Cinzia project in collaboration with my husband Asif. I currently teach and perform as a dancer paired with my husband Asif Qu, as a member of the Global Caravan Tribe, with Les Soeurs Tribales and with Caravan Project Italia. I offer Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance certification programs and Trainings for Tribal Bellydance dance teachers in Italy and abroad. I aim to train Tribal Bellydance Teachers and Instructors with an integral approach, people capable of transmitting the technical, artistic, and philosophical aspects of these strictly connected disciplines with competence and enthusiasm.

In July 2020 I created Adi Sakti Flow ™ a fluid workout inspired by yoga and dance. It is a sequence of movements to celebrate the female body, to deepen the connection with the sacred inner creative power.

I currently teach weekly classes, monthly training, seminars, and workshops of Yoga, Tribal Bellydance, Global Caravan Tribal Bellydance ™, and Adi Shakti Flow in Italy and abroad, live, and online. Up to now I have taught Tribal Bellydance and participated as a performer in many international festivals, including World of Orient, Bellydance Congress, Jewel of Yorkshire, Bellydance Jakarta, Tribal Umrah, Tribal Gathering, GFAD, Rome Tribal Meeting, Jewel of Yorkshire, Tribal Goddess, Tribal Sleepover, Serendipity. I have performed at Tribal Fest 2009, 2010 and 2015, Rome Tribal Meeting, Majma, World of Orient, Bellydance Congress, Jewel of Yorkshire, Bellydance Jakarta, and many other events. Since 2023 Cinzia I am member of the reunited international renowned company Les Soeurs Tribales.

Alexis Southall is an internationally renowned teacher, choreographer, performer, and producer in the field of fusion bellydance. She has had the privilege to be an invited guest teacher and performer in 23 countries to date, and is known for her precise technique, flawless musicality, and her generosity as an instructor.

Teaching dance for over a decade, Alexis has been involved in various projects from writing for bellydance publications such as NADA Magazine and Zameena to choreographing her own theatre show ‘Juniper Ascending’ broadcast live around the world during the pandemic. She produces the annual fusion bellydance festival Infusion Emporium. She is a qualified Pilates and Yoga instructor, runs her dance and fitness business in Wolverhampton, and teaches weekly classes through her online studio.

Angela as Tribe Zuza offers ATS® and World Fusion dance classes in the North East of England. Angela also runs the popular Tribe Zuza store, holidays, and residential. www.tribezuza.co.uk

Anne graduated with a master’s degree in dance and Somatic Wellbeing from the University of Central Lancashire and has 25+ years’ experience in Middle Eastern dance. Anne teaches in the Northwest and in Morocco on desert retreats. Anne is a well-known face on the JoY stage, being our compere for the teacher’s gala show for the last 19 years.

ASIF QU is a percussionist and teacher specializing in Middle Eastern, now based in Italy. Mostly a self-taught musician, he has enriched his training through workshops and private lessons with Faisal Zedan, Tim Garside, Chas Whitaker, Karim Nagi and Issam Housan. Asif has created percussion groups across the UK, and teachers online daily. He has taught and performed at some of the UK leading dance festivals including Jewel of Yorkshire, Majma, Tribal Goddess, Serendipity, Tribal Sleepover, Gfad, events in Italy such as the Milano Bellydance Meeting, Tribal Alchemy in Turin, Laus Raqs Festival in Lodi, and in Switzerland. He is one of the founding members of the band The Nomads alongside Mike Parnell, Mark Carlyon. He teaches and performs regularly with his wife, Cinzia Di Cioccio, and they have formed their own unique style of improvised dance and drum.

Azad last came to JoY in 2015,We can’t wait to have him back.

Azad Kaan is a prof. I graduated as a dancer, pedagogue of dance, and choreographer for contemporary and oriental dance arts from Turkey.
Currently living in Turkey, Azad has started a dance revolution with professional dancers in Istanbul, who are the iconic go-to choreographers and stage skills for belly dancing.

With over 25 years of experience, his expert knowledge of dance makes him one of the most successful and well-known teachers worldwide. His movement repertoire covers a huge spectrum of elements, including jazz dance, modern dance, classical ballet, Latino dance, Flamenco, Hip Hop, and Yoga.

He is not only an impressive and powerful teacher! He is also a very friendly, warm-hearted, and patient teacher with clear didactics. Humor and enjoyment of dance have always been a top priority in his classes. Don’t hesitate to enjoy this Turkish dancer with lots of fun, powerful movements and expressive steps and poses…HE is the “Turkish Delight” of the contemporary & oriental dance scene

Eleanor has had a lifelong passion for belly dance. Currently the director of leading UK belly dance agency Taste of Cairo and Shimmy School, alongside studying for a master’s in dance and Movement Psychotherapy, Eleanor believes everybody can dance.

Fulya is a Bellydance teacher, performer, costumier, and event organizer; for the majority of her 24-year career, this has been her full-time job.  She is well known as a fusion belly dance performer and constantly seeks to push boundaries and redefine her art.

Every aspect of her performance is carefully planned and constructed, from concept to execution; all parts are equally important. Music choice, costume, makeup, and even hair style are all carefully crafted to help tell the dancer's story, and she enjoys every part of the journey.

As a teacher, she is noted for being warm and encouraging. She breaks movements and combos down into easy and manageable chunks with many different explanations, learning methods, and plenty of vivid imagery. Fulya has been teaching since 2000 and holds various qualifications in dance and teaching. 

Fusion is Fulya’s passion.  Burlesque, Flamenco, Samba, Charleston, Tango, Bollywood and Indian Classical dances have all been studied and fused into her dance and teaching. 

She has written articles for various bellydance magazines such as Majency, and Mosaic.

She is a musician / songwriter who, in another life, played in girly jazz duos and an industrial rock band. She is currently working with Constellations, who write and play their own brand of world fusion music. 

In 2013 BDUK.TV asked her to appear on “UK Tribal Fusion Bellydance” a Tuition DVD which also featured; Dawn O’Brien, Alexis Southall, Bex, & Darkstar. 

In 2016 she was asked to Choreograph a Flash mob by Northampton County Council’s disability partnership to raise awareness for “Ipods for Dementia.”  During Lockdown, she ran online shows, workshops, and get-togethers under the Mojo Flowing banner.

With Pete & Kate Chaplin https://www.youtube.com/@mojoflow8982

She runs the Kookie Kaftan Bazaar with her sister Julie. www.kookiekaftan.co.uk She is also the director of Tribal Fusion Troupe Tribe-Ulations which are celebrating 20 years of dancing together this year. This year she will be dancing with horses in the show The Royal Horses of England and Spain with The First Equestrian Theatre. https://www.elcaballodeespana.co.uk/ I'm so excited to be back at JoY! this year.

Helena is an award-winning professional performer and teacher of Egyptian dance based in Leeds. Helena is also the director of the Orientale Dance Company. www.helenabellydancer.com

Khaled (Egypt/UK) Was our headline teacher at the first JoY, blowing us all away with his show-stopping performance. Khaled is making a welcome return to JoY to celebrate our 20th year. Khaled is an Egyptian master teacher who is currently based in London UK. His teaching and performing is very much in demand at festivals around the world specializing in oriental Raqs Sharki style. Although his knowledge is deeply rooted in all kinds of Egyptian folklore, Khaled’s styles are energetic and graceful simultaneously.

Also known as Kleo on stage, is a Manchester-based belly dancer with Taste of Cairo and a maker of bespoke costumes. By day, however, she is a heritage textile conservator in the conservation studio of the People’s History Museum.

Excited to announce that our fantastic Lorna of Cairo is back at JoY.

Lorna has been performing and teaching Egyptian-style Bellydance professionally since 1996. She is currently based in Scotland, UK, after living and performing in Cairo for 10 years!
In Egypt, Lorna starred The Nile Maxim boat, Zamalek. Previously she was the first ever contracted dancer at the prestigious 5-star Fairmont Nile City Hotel, where she performed regularly at the oriental Bab El Nil restaurant. Before that Lorna was the star of the Nile Pharaoh boats from 2006. She also performed at many weddings and parties across the country and has appeared on Egyptian TV.
Lorna’s dance style has developed over years of professional performance in Cairo and internationally. She teaches in festivals, workshops, and private classes to pass on her ‘Cairo knowledge!’
As a teacher, Lorna’s extensive experience has allowed her to develop a unique teaching style like nobody else. Her workshops usually ring with the gasps of ‘Eureka’ moments, and students typically report that their dancing dramatically improves when they leave the class with the inspiration she instils.
Lorna’s workshops are highly accessible but challenging, whether you are a recent beginner, stuck in a rut, or a professional dancer seeking a fresh perspective.
Lorna is an international master teacher who has taught in Egypt, the USA, Canada, China, Australia, Finland, Estonia, Ireland, and the UK in general. She also teaches online classes worldwide and regular classes in Edinburgh.

Maria has been featured in numerous dance magazines such as North African Magazine, MADN, Mosaic, Nada and many more.
This year, Maria will represent the UK in teaching at Raqia Hassan Ahlan Wa Sahlan International Festival in Cairo. She has also previously travelled and represented the UK abroad, both in teaching and performing. She founded Belly Dance Mania Festival, where she hosts National and International teachers and performers. Maria is also trained in Latin, Modern, Ballet, and Drama and uses these as an added skill to perfect her craft and love of belly dance.
Her love and passion for Egyptian dance includes Ghawazee, Saidi, Baladi, Shaabi ,Oriental, Classical and much more.

Milana Lukianchykova has quickly made herself a name as a mesmerizing dancer and a respected sought-after teacher.
This is Milana’s first time teaching in the UK and at JoY, but probably not her last!
She has taught workshops in Ukraine, Europe, Asia, and Egypt. She will be teaching again this year at Randa’s festival.
Multiple World Champion (Egypt, England, Hungary, Croatia, Spain, Italy) European Champion, Champion of Ukraine. Winner of numerous awards & titles. The holder of the crown for : Randa Kamel, Raquia Hassan, Lubna Emam, Wael Mansour, Marta Korzun, Reda Saad, Ossama Shahin, etc.
Also, Milana has been a Judge online and in person in multiple countries.

Nisha is an experienced dancer and choreographer in Bollywood Dance. She also complements her Bollywood Dancing with training in Indian Folk Dance and Classical Styles. She has taught Bollywood around the UK at Dance Festivals and events for over 15 years. She also appeared on Children In Need, teaching Bollywood to the public. Her troupe also participated in the BBC3’s Bollywood Carmen production. Her Indian Dance production, Mehfil, was also part of the Guisley Showcase and Migration Matters Festival. Nisha keeps strong links within the community by providing daytime for community organisations and evening classes in Sheffield.

International award winning bellydancer & teacher.

“Male Bellydancer of the World 2008” and winner of “Brandon Oasis 2006”

Organizer of Rakkas Istanbul International Oriental Dance Festival.

A 10-year-old Turkish boy arrives in Arabic countries. Living there for 3 years, he is charmed by the oriental dances of the Arabic women at their festivities, such as weddings. The sound of their music touches his soul and opens the door to dance. Back in Turkey, he goes deeply into Egyptian and Turkish-style bellydance. The working out process, especially body sensation, muscle control, and lightness, gets its reward when Serkan performs for the first time at the age of 17.

His numerous performances are a great success not only in Turkey but also in Germany, and soon, he decides to share his experience by teaching the dance that has swept away his heart. After developing himself and educating others in Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir, Kusadasi) and Germany, he entered the millennium in Belgium.

He has performed and instructed workshops all over Belgium, Hong Kong, Singapore, Israel, Germany, France, Egypt, England, Austria, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Holland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Sweden, Switzerland, Bosnia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, Russia, USA, Alaska,UK …. And more.

He is teaching Turkish style bellydance, Modern Egyptian style, Baladi, Saidi, Shaabi, Turkish Gypsy style, Veil dance (double and single), His signature “Crazy drum solo’s”, and many more dance styles, …

He is continuing to dance and give workshops all over the world.

In 2009, whilst studying Physical and Dance theatre at Salford University, Sophia discovered Manchester School of Samba. It was then that she truly fell in love with the style. Her father’s career as a Drummer and his taste in Latin music had made more of an impact than she had realised.

Shortly after joining the school Sophia was asked to perform and take part in a variety of events such as Manchester Day Parade, Brazilica, charity fundraising events.

In 2013 Sophia became a principal dancer for Samba Livre and has since been trained under Passistas from Salgueiro Samba Enredo (Rio Samba School.)

Sophia has performed many times with both Samba Livre and Manchester School of Samba at a wide variety of events and carnivals, some of the most exciting of which include Creamfields, Parklife, an Aldi Rio Olympics advert, and Netflix’s ‘Stay Close’.