SHOSHANNA'S YA HABIBI DANCE COMPANY...

Ya Habibi Dance Company, directed by award-winning dancer Shoshanna, draws from traditional sources as well as an eclectic array of inspirations to create vibrant choreographies and improvisational solo work. The group was started in 1998 as part of the HSU Middle Eastern Dance Club and was called Lailaa Chandani Dance Ensemble. Upon graduating from HSU in 2003, Shoshanna brought the group into the local dance community and renamed it the Ya Habibi Dance Company.

We perform in theatres, festivals, fairs and parties locally and across the West Coast, and enjoy exploring challenging technique and continuing to evolve in choices of music, costume, and dance styles. We’re rooted in Egyptian Raks Sharqi, but explore everything from Tribal Fusion to Khaliji to Turkish Rom to Bollywood!

Ya Habibi Dance Company has been a great starting place for many professional dancers across the globe, including Nicoliana, Andalee, Ziva Emtiaz, Karolina, Yusefina and more!

That's 13 years of amazing performances! Ya Habibi Dance Company is available to dance at your event, celebration, festival, or party. See a list of ongoing and upcoming shows here.

Some of the great events we've danced at include benefits for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bikes by the Bay, The Emma Center, The Ink People Center for the Arts, and lots more.

Current Members:

	SHOSHANNA Director & founder of Ya Habibi Dance Company... you can find out about me all over this website! :-)		NAIA Principal dancer, choreographer, troupe member since 2002. Works at world famous dancewear business L. Rose Designs. Has also been a member of local group Tribalesque.
	RAQUEL Principal dancer, choreographer, member of Ya Habibi since 2005. Works at Moonrise Herbs in Arcata and is studying Herbology!		ESTELLA Soloist and member of Ya Habibi since 2007, Estella just had a little baby boy in early 2011 and is already back dancing. Yay!
	ERIKA Soloist and member of Ya Habibi since 2006. Also a member of local Tribal Fusion group Karmaja since its inception in 2009.		VERONICA Ya Habibi member since 2007. Veronica also dances with Brigit Fraga in her Burlesque/ Belly Dance Fusion groups. She loves disc golf and is the cheese manager for the Arcata North Coast Co-Op.
	MOLLY Molly is a student majoring in Art Education at Humboldt State University and is a painter who shows her work in local galleries. Molly joined in 2010.		AMBER When not onstage you might find Amber shimmying in the aisles of Hensel's ACE Hardware in Arcata, where she is a manager. She is also an herbalist, and helps to keep the flower beds at Redwood Raks pretty! Amber joined in 2010.
	NATALIE Natalie joined Ya Habibi in 2010 and is a student at Humboldt State University. She studied Egyptian dance for a year in the San Diego area before moving to Arcata.		ALISHA Alisha is an Anthropology Major at Humboldt State University and has danced throughout her life in several styles. She joined Ya Habibi in 2010.
	TALISA Talisa joined Ya Habibi in 2011. She is a student at Humboldt State University and loves working with children!		TIFFANY The newest member of Ya Habibi is a dancer, singer, and artist in many mediums, including henna! Learn more about her at her website: www.tiffanybrogdon.com

Troupe Alumni ~ Where are they now?

	ANNIE Annie is a multi-talented troupe member who not only dances but is also a professional massage therapist and glass blower! Annie joined in 2010.		AMINA Amina joined Ya Habibi in 2009. She is an English Major at Humboldt State University.
	JENNY Member of Ya Habibi since 2007. Jenny just graduated from the Interdisciplinary Dance Major and the Nursing Program at Humboldt State University.		WILLOW ROSE Off to adventures.... we hope for an update!
	NINA Off to New York to pursue school and work dreams.... we miss you Nina!		Laura Graduated from Humboldt State University, now dancing Flamenco and hopefully Middle Eastern Dance in the San Francisco Bay Area.
	KAROLINA Currently up in Portland, Oregon, dancing up a storm with Soul Fire. A very exciting dancer in many styles. Go Karolina, go!		ZIVA - www.zivadancer.com After Ya Habibi, Ziva has been working with famed percussionist Souhail Kaspar in workshops all over the country. She danced & lived in Puerto Rico for a year and is now in Petaluma, CA and teaching!
	Bernadette Hopefully coming back to join us soon!		Hadara Hana Has now flown away to the land of SALSA... but is welcome back to Middle Eastern Dance anytime!
	ANDALEE - www.andalee.com Dancing, teaching, directing a dance group and producing events in Tulare, CA. A fabulous dancer! WINNER OF THE PROJECT BELLY DANCER TV REALITY SHOW COMPETITION!!!		Sundari Has taken an extended break from the troupe but still dances! She works with the great organization Big Brothers Big Sisters.
	NICOLIANA - www.nicoliana.com After Ya Habibi, Nicoliana went to Los Angeles, was a member of Jillina's Sahlala Dancers for 4 years and then moved to Thailand, where she's been dancing and teaching. Check out her website!		RASHEIKA - www.rasheikaraks.com Still a wonderful dancer in Humboldt County, Rasheika teaches in Eureka and directs The Hip Mamas. She's recently branched out into Samba, and is a member of Samba Na Chuva!
	Khalila Zahar A marvelous local dancer who has now mostly turned to her full time job working with a local cattle rancher. She's a true rhinestone cowgirl! :-)		Katie Graduated from HSU, then moved off to Boston for her masters degree in children's literature. She's an active dancer in many styles and is a member of the tribal group Vadalna.
	Yusefina A true artist of the dance who was one of my orginal dance students. She's traveled across the country studying, dancing and teaching... catch her if you can!		Fifi After Ya Habibi she moved to Santa Cruz for college and danced with BellyDance Odyssey. Now she's pursuing Jazz Dance, too, but is still immersed in Middle Eastern Dance.
	Binah A fabulous dancer who moved to San Francisco after her time in Arcata. She's still dancing and making music in the Bay Area and beyond!		Brigit Fraga Still local to Arcata, Brigit broke off from Ya Habibi to go Tribal. She directed the group Tribalesque and most recently The Widowmakers. Currently immersed in mommyhood I'm sure she'll be back soon!
	Yoshi Yoshihiro Watanabe is a performance artist in Japan... look out for him! He's fabulous. The one male troupe dancer we've had! Director of the Tokoyo Circus!		Lauren Student at Humboldt State University. Still dancing when she can!

And I'm not quite sure what these lovely former dance company members are up to.
Let me know if you know! :-)

Lauren
Cindy	Vanessa Off to India!	Rasha	Kristy Off to Grad School	Holly
Lori Off to Mommyhood	Cecily	Michelle Still dancing?	Jessica Photographer Los Angeles	Davia Now a nurse!
Rochelle Santa Rosa, CA New Mommy!	Liliana Dancing and teaching in Southern CA	Mirabai Dancing in Big Sur, CA	Sirena Dancing/Teaching in Oregon	Misha
Lindsay	Mandy	Trinka Sonora, CA - dancing?	Thaliah	Tiffany Dancing in New York
Julie Now a Ballerina!	Mery Still in Hawaii?	Jessie Still Dancing!	Tahiya	Melinda
Ya'iel	Galadriel	Jenn	Adina Lawson Drama Teacher at Eureka High School	Hillary
Christiane	Lisa S.

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