About the Teacher
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Yamê is a professional belly dance instructor, performer, choreographer and owner of SharqiDance, a business that empowers women to find inner joy, confidence & self-love while building a supportive community through the practice and study of belly dance.
Born and raised in Brazil, Yamê moved to New Jersey as a teenager and began practicing belly dance when she was twenty years old after a lifetime of fascination with the beauty of sinuous body movements and the almost magical way that belly dancers could move their hips as if they had a life of their own. Having started her belly dance studies learning an ATS-inspired fusion style with Ashtar of the Daughters of Sophia (with whom she also took a few years of adult ballet classes in her mid-twenties), she quickly found herself being more drawn to the Middle Eastern roots of belly dance, particularly the classic and modern Arabic styles of the dance. She then went on to study American Cabaret and Egyptian style belly dance with Zarouhi Otchy, Gia al Qamar, and later Tashira Wadiya, some of the best instructors to be found in New Jersey. She is especially grateful to Tashira who became her “belly dance mom,” a mentor in belly dance and in life now for over a decade. She is also proud to learn from the internationally-acclaimed master instructor Ahmed Hussien every year. |
Yamê kicked off her professional belly dance career around 2010-2011, when she got to be part of the Belly Dance Shimmy Workout DVD by World Dance New York, and since then she has performed at restaurants, parties, weddings, festivals and belly dance shows all over the state and across the country. She currently owns and manages SharqiDance, through which she offers weekly belly dance classes and coordinates regular workshops and shows. Her annual Spring Into Dance event has brought world-renowned instructors such as Cassandra Fox, Karim Nagi, and Shahrzad to the NJ shore, and as choreographer and director of SharqiSquad (the SharqiDance performance troupe) she has coordinated group performances at events and festivals all over the state.
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She credits her love and commitment to belly dance for saving her life. This dance is more than just a beautiful art form and way to express our femininity or learn about Middle Eastern culture. Belly dance is also a powerful tool that can help us overcome negativity, heal trauma, get through obstacles, love ourselves and enjoy life. That is why Yamê is so passionate about sharing her knowledge and skill with others; it can literally help people heal their lives and thrive.
For Yamê, belly dance is a lifelong journey and a never-ending study. Her ongoing studies include taking classes on Ju Marconato’s therapeutic belly dance method, as well as embarking on a 200-hour yoga teacher training that will enable her to continue to improve on her mind, body & spirit philosophies and holistic approach to the practice of belly dance.
For Yamê, belly dance is a lifelong journey and a never-ending study. Her ongoing studies include taking classes on Ju Marconato’s therapeutic belly dance method, as well as embarking on a 200-hour yoga teacher training that will enable her to continue to improve on her mind, body & spirit philosophies and holistic approach to the practice of belly dance.