About Aubergine Belly Dance Troupe
Aubergine is a Baltimore, Maryland based belly dance troupe founded and directed by Nina Amaya. We are a joyful group of dancers from diverse backgrounds who perform both Middle Eastern dances and our own style we call Cabaret Fairy Fusion. Belly dance has many messages, facets, even names — Middle Eastern Dance, Oriental Dance, Raqs Sharqi — and we are proud to be ambassadors for this dazzling art form. Founded in 2006 as Belly Dance Delight, Aubergine brings the same sparkling delight to audiences throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
Our colorful, exciting, and sometimes whimsical programs delight all ages, and we have had the pleasure of performing for crowded festivals and intimate gatherings — and everything in between:
Festivals • Corporate Events • Haflas (belly dance community parties) • Baltimore's Flowermart • Smithsonian American Art Museum • The Baltimore Museum of Art • Columbia's Slayton House • Baltimore's Artscape • Chesapeake Pride Festival • Riverfest • Faerie Festivals in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland • Nursing Homes • Red Hat Events and Masonic Orders • Parades • Restaurants • Charity Events • Private Parties
Want belly dancers at your event? Our rates range from $150-$1500, depending on numbers of dancers, distance traveled, and event requirements. Discounted rates are available for charity events, retirement homes, and hospitals.
After your event, you can say, " OMG Nina! We have GOT to have you all back next year. You were so AWESOME! People won't stop raving about the fantastic belly dancers! You and your team totally blew me away!! What do I have to do to make this happen?"-- Joy Halcott of The Multiple Sclerosis Fantasy Ball
Our colorful, exciting, and sometimes whimsical programs delight all ages, and we have had the pleasure of performing for crowded festivals and intimate gatherings — and everything in between:
Festivals • Corporate Events • Haflas (belly dance community parties) • Baltimore's Flowermart • Smithsonian American Art Museum • The Baltimore Museum of Art • Columbia's Slayton House • Baltimore's Artscape • Chesapeake Pride Festival • Riverfest • Faerie Festivals in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland • Nursing Homes • Red Hat Events and Masonic Orders • Parades • Restaurants • Charity Events • Private Parties
Want belly dancers at your event? Our rates range from $150-$1500, depending on numbers of dancers, distance traveled, and event requirements. Discounted rates are available for charity events, retirement homes, and hospitals.
After your event, you can say, " OMG Nina! We have GOT to have you all back next year. You were so AWESOME! People won't stop raving about the fantastic belly dancers! You and your team totally blew me away!! What do I have to do to make this happen?"-- Joy Halcott of The Multiple Sclerosis Fantasy Ball
Nina Amaya, troupe director
Nina Amaya has been studying Middle Eastern Dance since 1997. She has been trained in Egyptian cabaret and folk dance, Turkish belly dance, American belly dance and Bollywood. She has performed at festivals, restaurants, family parties, children's parties, parades, and galas across the region, and has been featured by the local press.
Nina also fuses her background in Middle Eastern dance forms with the world of fantasy in the art of what she likes to call "fairy fusion," performing at fairy festivals and conventions, and even enlivening the local community with giant dancing puppets that are works of art in and of themselves.
Nina Amaya is renowned for her dynamic performances and fun, clear teaching style. Troupemate Elliot says, "Nina's accessible teaching style makes it possible for students to really grasp how to construct a pose, gesture, move, or entire choreography, for beginners as well as seasoned dancers. Her love of life and the arts is contagious, and her sense of adventure inspires her dancers to reach deep within themselves to attempt, accomplish, and master new skills."
Visit Nina's solo website
Nina also fuses her background in Middle Eastern dance forms with the world of fantasy in the art of what she likes to call "fairy fusion," performing at fairy festivals and conventions, and even enlivening the local community with giant dancing puppets that are works of art in and of themselves.
Nina Amaya is renowned for her dynamic performances and fun, clear teaching style. Troupemate Elliot says, "Nina's accessible teaching style makes it possible for students to really grasp how to construct a pose, gesture, move, or entire choreography, for beginners as well as seasoned dancers. Her love of life and the arts is contagious, and her sense of adventure inspires her dancers to reach deep within themselves to attempt, accomplish, and master new skills."
Visit Nina's solo website
Jeannie, treasurer, founding member
Jeannie began studying belly dance in September 2005 at age 50, proving that it‘s never too late! She has studied a variety of styles including Egyptian, Turkish, American Cabaret and Tribal Fusion with Alhena Suhaila, Antonia, Devra Johari, Naimah and Nina Amaya. Additionally, she has taken workshops from Lyra of Kallisi Tribal, Lisa Zahiya, Melina of Daughters of Rhea, Latifia, Shahrzad, Atef and Shems.
Jeannie has been honored to perform at Artscape, Chesapeake Pride, The Baltimore Flower Mart, Fairy Festivals, Haflas, Nursing Homes, Charitable Benefits (ie: A Chocolate Affair, Shimmies for A Cure, Disco Benefit for the Oil Spill, the VA Hospital and Race for the Cure), private events, The Hippo, Arts in the Park, Shiver Me Shimmies, Spring Caravan, Belly Dance Nationals and the Smithsonian Institute’s American Art Museum.
She is a former member of The Ya Yas and Amandari (under the direction of Naimah) and occasionally duets with her daughter as Jeannie and Mischaal.
Jeannie has been honored to perform at Artscape, Chesapeake Pride, The Baltimore Flower Mart, Fairy Festivals, Haflas, Nursing Homes, Charitable Benefits (ie: A Chocolate Affair, Shimmies for A Cure, Disco Benefit for the Oil Spill, the VA Hospital and Race for the Cure), private events, The Hippo, Arts in the Park, Shiver Me Shimmies, Spring Caravan, Belly Dance Nationals and the Smithsonian Institute’s American Art Museum.
She is a former member of The Ya Yas and Amandari (under the direction of Naimah) and occasionally duets with her daughter as Jeannie and Mischaal.
Alizarin, art director
Alizarin began studying Cabaret style belly dance in 2007 and joined Troupe Aubergine (then Belly Dance Delight) in 2008. Her journey into the world of performing arts through Middle Eastern dance has been an exciting metamorphosis from a visual artist (www.joannabarnum.com) more comfortable creating in private to a dancer who is willing to interpret music for an audience, digging deep to reveal emotion and story.
Alizarin is available to perform at your event as a soloist. She is also part of the duet Baba Ghanoush with troupemate Amyfae. You can book Alizarin or Baba Ghanoush via BabaGhanoushbd@gmail.com.
Alizarin is available to perform at your event as a soloist. She is also part of the duet Baba Ghanoush with troupemate Amyfae. You can book Alizarin or Baba Ghanoush via BabaGhanoushbd@gmail.com.
Munani wordsmith, artist
Munani wandered into the world of belly dance on a dare in 2008, and hasn't looked back. A visual artist by trade , and a behind-the-scenes person by nature, she gets a kick out of how much fun performing can be. She truly enjoys her jubilant troupe-mates and the lighthearted camaraderie that the group fosters. (www.elliotazzam.com)
Amyfae, assistant director
Amyfae has been belly dancing for over ten years and has studied and performed in many places, including Maryland, New York, and Japan. Amyfae is a dynamic performer and a gentle teacher, a sorceress of shimmies and a creative choreographer. She joined Aubergine in 2009.
Besides performing with Aubergine, Amyfae also enjoys soloing. Additionally, she explores the silly, joyful side of dance with troupemate Alizarin in their duet Baba Ghanoush. (Tasty on pita!) Feel free to contact them about booking Baba Ghanoush for your event: BabaGhanoushbd@gmail.com
Amyfae currently is the assistant director of Aubergine. She is available for teaching parties and solo performances at your event.
Besides performing with Aubergine, Amyfae also enjoys soloing. Additionally, she explores the silly, joyful side of dance with troupemate Alizarin in their duet Baba Ghanoush. (Tasty on pita!) Feel free to contact them about booking Baba Ghanoush for your event: BabaGhanoushbd@gmail.com
Amyfae currently is the assistant director of Aubergine. She is available for teaching parties and solo performances at your event.
Haleemah Deniz, Social Media Maven
Christina is a joyful belly dancer whose style ranges from American Cabaret, to Tribal Fusion, to Turkish. Although Christina's mother was a belly dancer, it wasn't until she took lessons from Typhrodisia that she discovered her love for belly dance. Christina has also studied with Nina Amaya, Suhaila Salimpour, Petite Jamilla, Latifa, Kami Liddle, Shahrzad, Stacey Lizette, and Naimah. In addition to belly dance, she has competed in ballroom dancing and has studied jazz and ballet.
Christina enjoys performing at festivals, restaurants, and haflas.
Christina enjoys performing at festivals, restaurants, and haflas.
Kalindi, Calendar Control
Kalindi is a baby in the world of belly dance. She has trained under Nina Amaya, and owes the fairies a debt of gratitude for showing her the way. She loves to celebrate the joy and healing power of movement, having expanded to this art form from her teaching of Qi Gong.
Ceydra
Caped crusader by day, bellydancer by night, Ceydra balances many swords in her impressive juggling act that we call life. Watch for her brilliant smile in our veil dances. We are ready for her life as a crimefighter and mom to get easier so we get to dance with her more.
Jem, Assistant instructor
Jem Ben was already an accomplished modern tribal dancer with Gypsy Fusion, when she joined Aubergine. She is also in a performing duet, Cypress. She started studying with Nina Amaya to learn cabaret, and she is amazing at that, too! Jem has wonderful technique, musicality and emotional depth in her performances.
Marya DeLuna
A lifelong dancer by nature, Marya was nevertheless unable to pursue consistent technical instruction until 2011. Well, as the saying goes, "Better late than never!" Always a wellspring of joy for her, Marya has now found increased personal growth through dance and performance.
Throughout her life, Marya often tended to be a tentative conversationalist; but an eloquent writer. However, when even words failed her, she found that she could use dance as the simplest form of communication, emoting through movement. Troupemate Ceydra said it best: "Dancing is about showing your insides on the outsides." As an eating disorder survivor, this has been an unconventional, albeit significant, aspect of Marya's recovery. Because of this, she has now found through dance an increased sense of self-awareness and the beauty of constructive bodily self-expression.
When not shimmying through life, as a passionate person, you may find Marya expounding on animal welfare and supporting LGBT, women's rights, and environmental conservation causes; and in down time, she enjoys photography, horseback riding, preparing delicious vegan meals, reading, writing, and reveling.
Throughout her life, Marya often tended to be a tentative conversationalist; but an eloquent writer. However, when even words failed her, she found that she could use dance as the simplest form of communication, emoting through movement. Troupemate Ceydra said it best: "Dancing is about showing your insides on the outsides." As an eating disorder survivor, this has been an unconventional, albeit significant, aspect of Marya's recovery. Because of this, she has now found through dance an increased sense of self-awareness and the beauty of constructive bodily self-expression.
When not shimmying through life, as a passionate person, you may find Marya expounding on animal welfare and supporting LGBT, women's rights, and environmental conservation causes; and in down time, she enjoys photography, horseback riding, preparing delicious vegan meals, reading, writing, and reveling.
Heather, drummer
Heather has been playing hand drums for fun for a long time and fell in love with the doumbek a couple of years ago. Heather hosts two drum circles including a women's drumming circle in Baltimore besides providing live music for Aubgergine. She has studied some with local drummers and has created a drum song of her own.
Guest Musicians
Allen Brizee
Jonathan Fell
Emyrs Morgan
Jeffrey Murray
Gene Schwartzman
Jonathan Fell
Emyrs Morgan
Jeffrey Murray
Gene Schwartzman
Alumni
Casimira, founding member
Adira, founding member
Zayna Cantara, founding member
Malaika, founding member
Sura Lee, founding member
Kristin
Linden
Rae Sunshine
Zafira Luna
Catriona
Phoenix
Dawn
Adira, founding member
Zayna Cantara, founding member
Malaika, founding member
Sura Lee, founding member
Kristin
Linden
Rae Sunshine
Zafira Luna
Catriona
Phoenix
Dawn
