Resume
SUMMARY STATEMENT
Drawing on more than a decade of intensive training in Middle Eastern music, dance, and culture and her extensive performance experience, Jacinda “Aliya Dalal” aims to share joy and delight through her art and to promote awareness and appreciation for Middle Eastern music, dance, and culture. Aliya Dalal is an international award-winning professional belly dance performer and instructor based in Washington, D.C. She specializes in classical and modern Egyptian Raq Sharqi, Folkore, and Vintage Orientale (“American Cabaret”), as well as Turkish Oryantal and Lebanese Oriental styles. She is skilled in the use of many popular dance props such as veil, finger cymbals, cane, and sword. Aliya Dalal also teaches tailored belly dance classes and workshops focused on exploration, enjoyment, and empowerment for adult and teenage students from all backgrounds.
AWARDS
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Regularly-Scheduled Restaurant Performances
Festival Performances
Gala Showcases and Special Events
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Dance Teaching
Pilates Teaching
Sample Course Offerings
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Dance Education
Fitness Education
Academic Education
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Drawing on more than a decade of intensive training in Middle Eastern music, dance, and culture and her extensive performance experience, Jacinda “Aliya Dalal” aims to share joy and delight through her art and to promote awareness and appreciation for Middle Eastern music, dance, and culture. Aliya Dalal is an international award-winning professional belly dance performer and instructor based in Washington, D.C. She specializes in classical and modern Egyptian Raq Sharqi, Folkore, and Vintage Orientale (“American Cabaret”), as well as Turkish Oryantal and Lebanese Oriental styles. She is skilled in the use of many popular dance props such as veil, finger cymbals, cane, and sword. Aliya Dalal also teaches tailored belly dance classes and workshops focused on exploration, enjoyment, and empowerment for adult and teenage students from all backgrounds.
AWARDS
- 1st Place, Oriental Dance Competition. Ishtar International Congress. Mövenpick Hotel - Ibn Battuta Gate, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. February 21, 2020
- 2nd Place, Kaua’i Polynesian Festival Dance Competition. Kaua’i, Hawai’i. 2012
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Regularly-Scheduled Restaurant Performances
- Cazbar Turkish Restaurant. Columbia, Maryland. 2019-present
- Sahara Restaurant and Lounge. Sterling, Virginia. 2019-present
- The Shisha Lounge. Germantown, Maryland. 2019-present
- Layalina Restaurant & Lounge. Arlington, Virginia. 2019-present
- Yayla Bistro, Arlington, Virginia. 2019
- Byblos Taste of Lebanon. Gainesville, Virginia. 2018-present
- Cazbar Turkish Restaurant. Baltimore, Maryland. 2018-present
- Mazadar Restaurant. Fairfax, Virginia. 2018-present
- Hookah Zone Café, Manassas Park, Virginia. 2018-2019
- Caspian House of Kabob. Gaithersburg, Virginia. 2018-2019
- Anatolia Turkish Restaurant. Greensburg, Pennsylvania. 2018-2019
- Bhima’s Kitchen & Bakery. Germantown, Maryland. 2018
- London House of Curry. Alexandria, Virginia. 2018
- Levant Restaurant & Lounge. Vienna, Virginia. 2018
- Backyard Hookah Lounge. Alexandria, Virginia. 2018
- Exhale Lounge. Gaithersburg, Maryland. 2018
- Pasha Land Restaurant & Lounge, with musicians Shawkat Sayyed and Nazira. Gaithersburg, Maryland. 2017
- Kaarma Indian Restaurant. State College, Pennsylvania. 2014-2016
Festival Performances
- H-Street Festival. Washington, D.C. September 2019
- Lebanese Mahrajan Festival. Wheeling, West Virginia. August, 2019
- State College Cultural Crawl. State College, Pennsylvania. October 7, 2018
- Arts All Night. Washington, D.C. September 2018
- Central Pennsylvania Festivals of the Arts. State College, Pennsylvania. 2013-present
- First Night State College Festival. State College, Pennsylvania. 2013-present
- Pennsylvania Organic Farm Fest. 2013-present
- People’s Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts. Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. 2012-present
Gala Showcases and Special Events
- Star Night Gala Shows at the Ishtar International Congress. Mövenpick Hotel - Ibn Battuta Gate, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. February 15-22, 2020.
- Guest performer at The Greek Restaurant, State College, Pennsylvania. August 2, 2019
- School Assembly. Middle Eastern Music and Dance Performance and Instructions at “Cultures Day.” Harrold Middle School, Greensburg, Pennsylvania. May 7, 2019
- 2018 New Year’s Eve Celebration of the American Druze Society, with singer David Hakim and Al Nojoom band. Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina. December 31, 2018
- Shaharzad of Cairo Gala Show. The Union Project, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. December 16, 2018
- Luna of Cairo in Washington, D.C. The Serpentine Dance Studio, Bethesda, Maryland. November 17, 2018
- Cairo Cabaret, State College Theatre and Dance Festival. The State Theatre, State College, Pennsylvania. June 22, 2018
- Cairo Raqs - A Night Of Egyptian Dance. Indigo Night Club, State College, Pennsylvania. April 7, 2018
- Gala Showcase in Honor of Madam Raqia Hassan. Maza Middle Eastern Cuisine, Whitehall, Pennsylvania. November 11, 2017
- Welcome Party in Honor of Madam Raqia Hassan. Aladdin Restaurant, Allentown, Pennsylvania. November 10, 2017
- Global Connections Women’s International Night. State College, PA. November 2, 2017
- Jewels of the Orient Bellydance & Wellness Festival. Claymont, Delaware. May 25-27, 2017
- Elements of North Africa Showcase Featuring Aisha Ali. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. March 31, 2017
- Poetry from the Edge Showcase. State College, Pennsylvania. March, 2017
- Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County Service Auction. State College, Pennsylvania. January, 2017
- Full Circle Center. Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. February, 2017
- Poetry and Protest Showcase. State College, Pennsylvania. November, 2016
- Zeno’s Pub Holiday Performance. State College, Pennsylvania. December, 2015
- The Greek Restaurant Holiday Show. State College, Pennsylvania. December, 2015
- Kaua’i Polynesian Festival Dance Competition and Festival. Kaua’i, Hawai’i. 2012
- Guest performer at numerous shows, events, haflas (Middle Eastern dance), and lu’au (Hawaiian and Tahitian dance) in Philadelphia, Central Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. metropolitan regions. 2008-present
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Dance Teaching
- Belly dance instructor. Washington Sports Clubs – Georgetown. November 2020 – present
- Belly dance instructor. Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. April, 2019-August, 2019
- Teaching topics include “Improve your Belly Dance with Pilates,” “Using Veil in Belly Dance,” “Introduction to Belly Dance,” “Introduction to American Tribal Style Belly Dance”
- Belly dance instructor. Day of Dance, Pennsylvania State Altoona. Altoona, Pennsylvania. June 28, 2019
- Dance instructor for 10-12 years-old children. Happy Valley Chinese School. State College, Pennsylvania. September, 2018-December, 2018
- Belly dance workshop instructor. Centre County Women’s Resources Center. State College, Pennsylvania. January 22, 2018
- Belly dance instructor at Full Circle Center. Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. Fall, 2017
- Special topics instructor and teaching assistant at weekly beginner’s level belly dance classes. Black Cat Belly Dance School. State College, Pennsylvania. 2015-2019
Pilates Teaching
- Pilates instructor. Yates Field House at Georgetown University. Washington, D.C. January, 2020-present
- Pilates instructor. Washington Sports Clubs - Georgetown. Washington, D.C. October, 2019-present
- Pilates instructor. The Yoga Center of Columbia. Columbia, Maryland. August, 2019-present
- Pilates instructor. YMCA of Centre County. Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. March, 2018-August, 2019
- Pilates instructor and fitness coach. Thrive Pilates, Corps Pilates, Brazen Boxing & MMA, freelance. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 2010-2012
- University course teaching assistant and instructor. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania. 2016-2017
Sample Course Offerings
- Beginner Mat Pilates
- Intermediate-Advanced Mat Pilates
- Improve your Belly Dance with Pilates
- Belly Dance Veil Work
- Introduction to Belly Dance for Beginners: Foundational Skills and Techniques
- Introduction to American Tribal Style Belly Dance: Fun with Group Improvisation
- Introduction to Vintage Orientale Belly Dance: American Cabaret Style
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Dance Education
- Yasmin Henkesh. Serpentine Dance Studio, Bethesda, Maryland. 2019-present
- Artemis Mourat. Totally Turkish Intensives, private instructions. Silver Spring, Maryland. 2019-present
- Kamilia of Lebanon. Private instructions. 2019-present
- Nazira and Shawkat Sayyad. Private instructions. Gaithersburg, Maryland. 2017-2018
- Pepper Lotus Dance Ensemble & Black Cat Belly Dance School (Director: Shannon Bishop). Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, Egyptian Folklore, American Tribal Style Belly Dance. State College, Pennsylvania. 2012-Present
- The Habiba Studio (Teacher: Habiba). Egyptian Raqs Sharqi. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 2011-2012
- Riskallah Riyad. Middle Eastern Bellydance. Danbury, Connecticut. 2010.
- University of Pennsylvania Middle Eastern Dance and Drums Ensemble and various teachers in mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, including Riskallah Ryad, and Nadirah Nasreen. 2008-2011
- Attended workshops and classes in multiple aspects of Middle Eastern, North African, and Turkish dance and studied with internationally-renowned teachers including Raqia Hassan, Faten Salama, Aisha Ali, Sahra Saeeda, Artemis Mourat, Leila of Cairo, Karim Nagi, Luna of Cairo, Vanessa of Cairo, Shahrzad of Cairo, Nada El Masriya, Katerina Shereen, Ranya Renee, Sahar Samara, Angelica Jordan, Kaeshi Chai, Gigi Dilsah, and many more. Thousands of hours. 2008-present
- Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian Dance. Tepua Hio Hio performance and training school. Arlington, Virginia. 2019-present
- Hawaiian Hula and Tahitian Dance. Halau (school) Hula O Ke Anuenue Panahule (Teacher: Kumu Hula Cherry Paulani M. Nutting). Fairfax, Virginia. 2011-2012
- Trained in other Hula and Tahitian classes and workshops in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas.
Fitness Education
- Advanced mat Pilates Certification. FiTour. Washington, D.C. January, 2020
- Group Fitness Instructor Training Program. Georgetown University Yates Field House. Washington, D.C. September – December, 2019
- Power Pilates, Intermediate Mat Pilates Instructor Certification. Balance Your Pilates, Yoga & Gyrotonic Studio. Bethesda, Maryland. March 2012
- Power Pilates Beginner Mat Pilates Instructor Certification. Urbanfront Pilates. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. September, 2010
Academic Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Human Development and Family Studies with minor in Nutritional Sciences. The Pennsylvania State University. 2019
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Human Development and Family Studies. The Pennsylvania State University. 2014
- Bachelors of Science (B.S.) in Economics with concentration in Marketing and Communication. Minor in Nutrition. The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Professional fashion and commercial print model with over 10 years of experience
- Certified freelance Pilates and fitness instructor
- Trained in boxing and mixed martial arts
- Fluent in Mandarin Chinese