About Aliya Dalal
Aliya Dalal is a professional belly dance performer and instructor currently based in Washington, D.C., United States of America.
Aliya began her study of Middle Eastern music and dance in 2008 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and continuously strives to deepen her knowledge of and connection to this beautiful, expressive art form and the cultures from which they derive. She has trained with many internationally-renowned experts including Kamilia of Lebanon, Artemis Mourat, Yasmin Henkesh, and Raqia Hassan to name a few. Known for her gracefulness, expressiveness, and professionalism, Aliya brings joy and passion to every event. She has performed in many local establishments and restaurants, showcases, festivals and celebrations throughout the United States of America as well as in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. In 2020, Aliya won 1st Place in the Oriental Dance competition at the Ishtar International Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Aliya is also a certified Pilates and fitness instructor. She regularly teaches dance and Pilates classes in Washington DC and online for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Aliya also offers special instructional workshops tailored for a variety of settings such as yoga studio, healing centers, and community centers. |
Training
Aliya has trained extensively with the Black Cat Belly Dance school of State College, PA, in Egyptian Raqs Sharqi (belly dance) and Shaabi (street-style dance) as well as the folkloric dances of Egypt and the Middle East, including Saidi, Khaleegy, Melaya Leff, Ghawazee, Nubian and many more. Both with the school and on her own, Aliya also engages in in-depth study of Arabic music and music theory, history and culture of the dance, improvisation and choreography technique, as well as basic Arabic language skills for music.
As a lifetime student of Middle Eastern dance, Aliya is continually expanding her repertoire. She trains diligently in many styles of belly dance, including Vintage Orientale, Turkish, Lebanese, American Tribal Style, and Meghreb dances. She furthers her training through workshops and intensives on Middle Eastern dance and music as well as the history and culture of the art form with many of the top professionals in the field, including Yasmin Henkesh, Artemis Mourat, Raqia Hassan, Aziza of Montreal, Aisha Ali, Sahra Saeeda, Leila of Cairo, Karim Nagi, Vanessa of Cairo, Shahrzad, Katerina Shereen, Ranya Renee, Riskallah Riyad, Habiba, and many more.
Aliya Dalal is a Pilates instructor and received her certifications with Power Pilates. She has worked with a diverse group of students from beginning exercisers to professional athletes. Aliya is known for her compassionate and nurturing teaching style combined with the ability to give students a challenging and effective exercise session. Aliya has created her own fusion format that uses mat Pilates exercises to cross-train for belly dance.
In addition to studying and performing Middle Eastern dance, Aliya also studies Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian dance. She has trained with Kumu (teacher) Hula Cherry Paulani M. Nutting of Fairfax, Virginia at the Halau (school) Hula O Ke Anuenue Panahule in hula music and movements as well as Hawaiian history, language, and culture. In 2012, Aliya traveled with the Halau to the beautiful island of Kaua’I for a Hauka’I (cultural trip to Hawai’i) and to participate in the Kaua’I Polynesian Festival dance competition. The competition involved extensive historical research for each chosen song, designing and sewing era-appropriate costuming including the proper lei and head adornment, and historically-correct execution of the gestures and steps. The Halau won second place in the Na Wahine Group Kahiko division of the competition.
Research
Outside of dance, Aliya is also a scientist. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the Pennsylvania State University with a minor in Nutritional Sciences. Aliya's research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, focuses on long-term physical and mental health of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Aliya aims to apply her scientific training in early-life trauma and healing to explore the use of a variety of dance forms as mind-body approaches to self-care, resilience, and thriving for trauma survivors. She also uses her dance as an advocacy platform on behalf of girls and women who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation, with a special focus on refugee and immigrant populations.
Other Information
Aliya is a fitness instructor and a fashion and commercial print model.
Currently, Aliya performs regularly throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area restaurants, festivals, gala shows, and parties. She also travels within the United States and abroad to perform, teach, and study at dance festivals, conferences, and special events.
Aliya has trained extensively with the Black Cat Belly Dance school of State College, PA, in Egyptian Raqs Sharqi (belly dance) and Shaabi (street-style dance) as well as the folkloric dances of Egypt and the Middle East, including Saidi, Khaleegy, Melaya Leff, Ghawazee, Nubian and many more. Both with the school and on her own, Aliya also engages in in-depth study of Arabic music and music theory, history and culture of the dance, improvisation and choreography technique, as well as basic Arabic language skills for music.
As a lifetime student of Middle Eastern dance, Aliya is continually expanding her repertoire. She trains diligently in many styles of belly dance, including Vintage Orientale, Turkish, Lebanese, American Tribal Style, and Meghreb dances. She furthers her training through workshops and intensives on Middle Eastern dance and music as well as the history and culture of the art form with many of the top professionals in the field, including Yasmin Henkesh, Artemis Mourat, Raqia Hassan, Aziza of Montreal, Aisha Ali, Sahra Saeeda, Leila of Cairo, Karim Nagi, Vanessa of Cairo, Shahrzad, Katerina Shereen, Ranya Renee, Riskallah Riyad, Habiba, and many more.
Aliya Dalal is a Pilates instructor and received her certifications with Power Pilates. She has worked with a diverse group of students from beginning exercisers to professional athletes. Aliya is known for her compassionate and nurturing teaching style combined with the ability to give students a challenging and effective exercise session. Aliya has created her own fusion format that uses mat Pilates exercises to cross-train for belly dance.
In addition to studying and performing Middle Eastern dance, Aliya also studies Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian dance. She has trained with Kumu (teacher) Hula Cherry Paulani M. Nutting of Fairfax, Virginia at the Halau (school) Hula O Ke Anuenue Panahule in hula music and movements as well as Hawaiian history, language, and culture. In 2012, Aliya traveled with the Halau to the beautiful island of Kaua’I for a Hauka’I (cultural trip to Hawai’i) and to participate in the Kaua’I Polynesian Festival dance competition. The competition involved extensive historical research for each chosen song, designing and sewing era-appropriate costuming including the proper lei and head adornment, and historically-correct execution of the gestures and steps. The Halau won second place in the Na Wahine Group Kahiko division of the competition.
Research
Outside of dance, Aliya is also a scientist. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from the Pennsylvania State University with a minor in Nutritional Sciences. Aliya's research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, focuses on long-term physical and mental health of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Aliya aims to apply her scientific training in early-life trauma and healing to explore the use of a variety of dance forms as mind-body approaches to self-care, resilience, and thriving for trauma survivors. She also uses her dance as an advocacy platform on behalf of girls and women who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation, with a special focus on refugee and immigrant populations.
Other Information
Aliya is a fitness instructor and a fashion and commercial print model.
Currently, Aliya performs regularly throughout the Washington D.C. metropolitan area restaurants, festivals, gala shows, and parties. She also travels within the United States and abroad to perform, teach, and study at dance festivals, conferences, and special events.