Banat el Kamar Teachers
Zafira (Nancy Mikrut)
Nancy Mikrut has two years of training in ballet and 13 years training in Belly Dance. She has studied with
Leyla Zahar of Puerto Rico, Cassandra Shore, Aliyah Sahar, Mary West, Anne Farrington, Margo Abdo Odell,
Barb Fulton, Mirah Ammal, and Sybil Luft.
Nancy Teaches belly dance and Latin Heat at La Fitness in Brooklyn Park, New Brighton and Blaine. She also teaches belly dance at Studio K
in Andover and Pratt Community Ed and has taught at Yoga Prairie. Nancy currently performs and teaches at the Shorewood Restaurant in Fridley.
Nancy and her husband Mike are professional photographers specializing in wedding, portrait and senior photography. Their photography site is Blue Diamond Photo.
Learn more about Nancy on her Facebook page.
Iscah Paquin
Iscah Paquin began studying Middle Eastern dance in 2004
through the Banat el Kamar Program. She has since traveled the country studying from master teachers and performers.
Iscah is full company member of Al-Bahira Middle Eastern Dance Theater. In addition she is a featured soloist at restaurants and private events.
She has been teaching with the Banat el Kamar program since 2008.
Iscah also is a practitioner of Dancemeditation, a movement meditation practice based in Sufism. Her study of Sufism has created deep connections to the spiritual and cultural significance of Middle Eastern art, poetry, and music. It has harbored her deep love for traditional folkloric and sacred dances. Iscah’s class focuses on oriental and folkloric dance technique, cultural education and understanding, and increasing mind-body awareness and connection. Iscah also maintains a regular yoga practice.
For more information on Iscah please visit her website.
Yoninah
Yoninah began bellydancing over four years ago at the Coon Rapids YMCA. She soon joined the troupe Dance Caravan that later became Dalal wa salaam. She is currently artistic director and choreographer for Dalal wa salaam who perform locally at haflas and open stages. Yoninah is also a featured dancer at local restaurants and performs regularly at open stages, festivals, and haflas. Her primary instructors are Cassandra Shore and Melanie Meyer; she has also taken classes from local instructors Barb Fulton, Aliyah Sahar, and Mirah Ammal. Yoninah has also been privileged to take workshops from legendary dancers Jillina, Isidora Bushkovski, Morocco, Sharon Kihara, Shira, and Dina of Cairo.
sabine
Since 2003, sabine has studied at the acclaimed Cassandra School. On top of this strong foundation,
sabine has embraced the stylings of Dark Fusion to become the Dark Fusion pioneer in the Twin Cities.
Following the teachings of Ariellah, Zoe, Rachel Brice and Sharon Kihara, sabine combines elements of
other styles, including Indian and hip-hop, to create a dynamic, enigmatic, earthly energy on the stage.
