Mr. OZgen
Özgen is a professional Turkish style oriental dancer and instructor, and has performed, taught, choreographed and directed for the last 18 years. His reputation as a performer and teacher has taken him across the world. In Istanbul, he joined the cast of Night of the Sultans combining contemporary dance, ballet and oriental dance. Özgen taught for several years at the Tolgahan Dance School in Istanbul, and is now based in London, teaching and performing Turkish Oriental & Romani dance internationally.
Özgen was honored to have been recently awarded the Best Champion of Turkish Cypriot Culture 2017 by the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations in Britain, at the recent Turkish Cypriot 2017 awards gala. Nowadays as well as touring with his musicals "Ashk ' (Love)" AND "Tales of a Sleeping Man" . Also opening his non profit organisation to Support Art and Diversity in the UK.
Özgen was honored to have been recently awarded the Best Champion of Turkish Cypriot Culture 2017 by the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations in Britain, at the recent Turkish Cypriot 2017 awards gala. Nowadays as well as touring with his musicals "Ashk ' (Love)" AND "Tales of a Sleeping Man" . Also opening his non profit organisation to Support Art and Diversity in the UK.
Moria Chappell
Moria Chappell is a world renown Bellydance Superstar who has traveled to 60 countries teaching, performing, and researching ancient dance. An innovative performing artist, Moria crafts a unique blend of fusion from her studies in ancient temple dances of SE Asia, bellydance, hula, Indian Classical Dance, and more over her 25 year dance career.
Jasmine
Jasmine is a multi-award-winning belly dancer based in Phoenix, AZ. She first fell in love with belly dancing in Ava Fleming's beginner Raqs Sharqi class amidst pursuing an engineering degree. With over a decade of dance experience, Jasmine has made a name for herself in the dance community, winning both the Professional Raqs Sharqi Solo Star and Drum Solo Star awards at Yalla Raqs the Palace in 2023 as well as the prestigious Belly Dancer USA title in 2024.
Hilary morvoren
"Hilary Morvoren is an award-winning Raqs Sharqi dancer, known for her Fusion performances and elegant, emotional style. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, she travels nationally as a performer and instructor, sharing her passion for Raqs Sharqi and cross-cultural fusion dances. Starting her career with Ava Fleming’s Black Opal Collective, Hilary is now a founding member of the award-winning Raks à la cARTe Dance Company, and is a company member of Ghazaal Beledi World Music and Dance, performing regularly at the Arizona Renaissance Festival. After winning 1st Place Professional Fusion at the renowned Belly Dancer USA Competition in 2024, Hilary Morvoren is honored to be returning as a teacher and judge in 2025, and looks forward to spending time with the wonderful BDUSA community."
Gameela
Gameela is a multi-award winning powerhouse from Sacramento and has been dazzling audiences in Northern California and beyond for many years. As a past BDUSA winner, she is excited to make her return to the Pacific Northwest!
Nilay
Nilay was born and raised in Turkey, yet began Middle-Eastern and Oriental Dance studies in the US. She studied and worked with many accredited teachers worldwide. She is in love with the passionate and versatile Turkish style, but performs a variety of many different styles. She teaches in California and performs, competes and judges across the States and internationally. She holds 86 awards in various belly dancing categories including Belly Dancer USA, Belly Dancer of the Universe Hall of Fame and Folkloric Champion of Belly Dancer of the World.
Mychelle Crown
Mychelle Crown is an award-winning Bellydancer and Rehab Specialist from Sacramento, CA. She is the owner of Thrive Movement Arts Bellydance and Mobility Studio and producer of the highly successful Capital City Raqs Festival in Sacramento, CA every March. Mychelle is so excited to dance with the Pacific Northwest dance community at the spectacular Belly Dancer USA event! Visit mychellebellydance.com to learn more about Mychelle Crown.
Jen kent
Dancing for over twenty years with a foundation in Amy Sigil's ITS, Jen enjoys many facets of the dancing world. Though she often dances with groups, she also loves soloing with her ooey gooey unique style. With a strong background in art, she is often creating during her down time as she continues to dance and work on opening a new community space on the Oregon coast for the many people of the creating world. She is honored to have been asked to judge at Belly Dancer USA and looks forward to seeing all the hard work brought to the beautiful stage that Cassandra, Alira and her Rose Crew have created.
Laura Ayllón
Laura Ayllón is an award winning dancer who has worked as a teacher, director and event producer. Originally a California girl she has spent most of her dance life oscillating between the SF Bay Area and Humboldt County, dancing to live music late at night in tightly packed city restaurants, to large dusty outdoor venues in the hot sun of the redwoods.
Now a resident of Willamette Valley in Oregon with her husband and daughter, Laura is excited to be teaching classes in Corvallis. She loves to build community through dance and is excited about all the opportunities the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
Now a resident of Willamette Valley in Oregon with her husband and daughter, Laura is excited to be teaching classes in Corvallis. She loves to build community through dance and is excited about all the opportunities the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
nefabit
Nefabit is a lifelong student of dance who hails from Spokane, Washington. A second-generation dancer, she has studied belly dance with her mother Delilah Ra, as well as classical and cultural dance forms from an early age. Nefabit performs and teaches nationally and internationally, and has become known for a powerful, maximalist style. She is the director of Northwest Bellydance Academy, and professional entertainment troupe Northwest Bellydance Company. Since 2021, she has been touring the country with Bellydance Evolution in their production of The Jungle Book. She has won dozens of prestigious national and international titles, including Bellydancer of the Universe 2021, and Bellydancer USA 2022! Bellydancer USA is her favorite annual event, and she is thrilled to return to judge and perform this year.
Gabriella
Gabriella is an award winning dancer and choreographer from Salem, Oregon. She took her first bellydance class at the age of 14 through Rose Empire Dance Company where she is now the Co-choreographer and Co-director as of 2021. Gabriella’s passion for bellydance was deepened by her love for middle eastern music as a musician herself. She started studying music at the age of six, learning to play various string and percussion instruments, in addition to vocal studies. Her musical background led her to study middle eastern percussion more in depth, as well as specializing in finger cymbals.
The love and enthusiasm Gabriella has held for this art form has opened up many doors over the years from competing and performing, to teaching, choreographing and directing. Gabriella was crowned the Ambassador of Belly Dance in 2019. She was also cast as one of the lead roles in Jillina’s BDExperience: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as the Tin Man in 2023.
The love and enthusiasm Gabriella has held for this art form has opened up many doors over the years from competing and performing, to teaching, choreographing and directing. Gabriella was crowned the Ambassador of Belly Dance in 2019. She was also cast as one of the lead roles in Jillina’s BDExperience: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as the Tin Man in 2023.
Nemra Khan
The Iconic and Award winning Nemra Khan began her career in the Greek nightclubs in the Portland area in the 70's, specializing in Badawia's flamboyant style, which later became known as American Cabaret! She has continued to teach, coach, choreograph, perform, trying to keep alive the Amcab style, and judge competitions in the Pacific Northwest. She is very proud of her award winning students, (including her daughter, Tamara Khan) many who have gone on to become performers and/or teachers themselves. She is honored to be invited to judge this fantastic Bellydance USA Competition !
Elena Villa
Elena Villa is a dance professional and community college instructor based in Portland, OR. A member of the Northwest dance community since 1998, Elena is known for her fusion of Flamenco and MENAT dances. Elena’s dance journey began in the late 1970s with belly dance, and in the early 1990s she embraced flamenco. As a lifelong dancer and student of dance, Elena deeply values the opportunity to study with source dancers and to travel to experience music and dance in their cultures of origin. Recent travels to Southern Spain and North Africa provided valuable opportunities for study and reaffirmed the strong connection between dance, music, and cultural identity. A longtime dance teacher, performer, and choreographer, Elena is also the Performance Coordinator at the Oregon Country Fair’s Caravan Stage, which is one of the longest standing venues featuring live Middle Eastern music and belly dance on the West Coast. For Elena, sharing the stage and creating in the moment with fellow professional artists is one of the greatest joys in life. Elena is looking forward to returning to BD USA as a judge, performer, and workshop participant. www.elenavilladanza.net
Heather Louise
Heather Louise is a raqs sharqi (belly dance) performer, teacher, and life-long student based in Portland, Oregon. She is known for her intuitive musicality, soulful movement quality, natural playfulness and charm.
A dedicated enthusiast of the art of raqs sharqi, Heather studies regularly with the top dancers in the world and has traveled to Egypt to deepen her understanding of the music and culture. She aims to raise the bar for raqs sharqi in the Pacific Northwest by hosting world-class talent and by collaborating with like-minded dancers and musicians in the region. You can find her sharing the bill with Ritim Egzotik, House of Tarab, Raqs Ayana, and the newly formed Al Wadi Dance Company.
With a keen eye for movement, Heather has become a sought after teacher, workshop instructor, and competition judge. Whether she is in the dance studio or filming content for Datura Online, she brings a sense of "serious play" to her classes and coaching sessions. She is honored to be able to help dancers grow at any stage of their dance and is delighted to offer feedback in this year's Bellydancer USA competition.
A dedicated enthusiast of the art of raqs sharqi, Heather studies regularly with the top dancers in the world and has traveled to Egypt to deepen her understanding of the music and culture. She aims to raise the bar for raqs sharqi in the Pacific Northwest by hosting world-class talent and by collaborating with like-minded dancers and musicians in the region. You can find her sharing the bill with Ritim Egzotik, House of Tarab, Raqs Ayana, and the newly formed Al Wadi Dance Company.
With a keen eye for movement, Heather has become a sought after teacher, workshop instructor, and competition judge. Whether she is in the dance studio or filming content for Datura Online, she brings a sense of "serious play" to her classes and coaching sessions. She is honored to be able to help dancers grow at any stage of their dance and is delighted to offer feedback in this year's Bellydancer USA competition.
Claudia
Widely regarded as an expressive and powerful dancer, Claudia has devoted over 20 years to this passionate, musical, technical and living art form! Claudia is a beloved dancer in the Portland area but has brought her unique style to many dance events nationally and internationally. She has taught and performed in places as far as Turkey, Japan and Egypt!
In addition to her achievements as a performer, instructor and choreographer, Claudia hopes to expand her contribution to dancers and non-dancers alike, inspiring understanding and appreciation of this beautiful dance.
In addition to her achievements as a performer, instructor and choreographer, Claudia hopes to expand her contribution to dancers and non-dancers alike, inspiring understanding and appreciation of this beautiful dance.
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