Janaki has studied Indian classical dances as a child and pursued further dance studies in Sydney, Australia. Her belly dancing career started informally in Sydney more than twenty years ago. She has lived in Hong Kong since 1998 and has pursued further studies under many Egyptian, European and American master teachers. She is a certified belly dance and fitness instructor. She has done extensive research in the art of Belly dancing and specializes in Modern Egyptian style Raks Sharqi, Cabaret and Egyptian pop and folk dances. She regularly teaches workshops locally and internationally. She is also a professional performer. She has performed for local and international TV stations and has been featured in many newspapers and magazines. She has performed for many big corporations, performed for members of Saudi Royalty, and as a fund raiser in charity events and in schools. She has performed in Singapore, Bangkok, Taiwan, India, China and Australia. She has choreographed dances for Hong Kong Canto-pop stars Eason Chan, Kelly Chen, Stephanie Chung, Hotcha and Mickey, as well as Mavis Fan from Taiwan. She has also worked as a production assistant to the Michael Jackson "History" tour in Sydney in 1996. She has acted in a few Bollywood movies and the local Hong Kong movie "My mother is a bellydancer". She is the only qualified Hula instructor in Hong Kong and is engaged in cultural studies relating to Hawaii and Hawaiian culture.
Alana Miller is a professional bellydance performer and instructor from Canada, currently residing in Hong Kong.
Alana's dynamic performances combine the best of Egyptian and American Nightclub style bellydance. Her specialty is veil dancing and creating exciting double veil performances! This specialty makes her a much sought after instructor and she regularly shares her knowledge of veil/double veil techniques in workshops internationally. She brought tribal fusion dance to Hong Kong.
Alana also enjoys including Middle Eastern folkloric dances in her performances to provide audiences with top quality entertainment that remains true to the roots of this beautiful art form.
Karen is an esteemed performing artist of Middle Eastern Dance in Hong Kong. Karen began her study in this captivating art form in Canada, and throughout the years has received extensive training from the world’s finest Middle Eastern dance masters in the likes of Madame Raqia Hassan, Dr. Mo Geddawi, Mr. Momo Kadous, Yousry Sharif, Rhanda Kamel, Leila Haddad, Karim Nagi, Amani, Belly Queen's Elisheva, Ava Fleming. In addition to Middle Eastern Dance, Karen also studied jazz and is currently furthering her studies in Bollywood and Hula dance under the guidance of Jenna Janaki.
Karen is a regular performer at corporate events, dance festivals as well as stage productions. She performed as a soloist, and as a leading dancer with Klub Raks for Raks Mistika and Raks Za'faran. For our third annual World Belly Dance Day celebration Raks Baharaat, Karen shared the same stage dancing to the electrically-charged live drumming of Karim Nagi, the world renowned Egyptian drummer, DJ, composer, and dancer.
Karen won first place in the first ever Mahmoud Reda Cup Competition held in Hong Kong in group category in 2010. Apart from performing, Karen continues to make appearances in many local magazines and newspapers in Hong Kong.
Karen’s classes are fun and exhilarating, without compromising detail or technique. Taught in both English and Cantonese, her classes will vary from Oriental dance, to Folkloric dance, to cane and veil dance, and everything in between.
Gaafar is a native Egyptian and a doumbek player. He has worked with a music bands and bellydancers in Cairo, Egypt, before he moved to Bangkok, Thailand. He was a regular performer there. He moved to Hong Kong in 2006. He has conducted doumbek workshops here in Hong Kong before. He has vast knowledge in arabic rhythms. He is also a great dancer. He has immense knowledge of different egyptian dance styles and dancers. Overall is a great source of all kinds of bellydance information.
Tarek Elturky is a native Egyptian. He was a performer in Reda Dance Troupe, a very famous dance troupes from Egypt, for ten years. He moved to Hong Kong in 2007. Tarek specializes in Tannura, Saidi and Tahtib dance. He is also a keyboard player.
Rob is an amateur musician and composer with a keen interest in ethnic music from around the world. He plays hand drums and percussion, doumbek, sitar, guzheng, and keyboards. Rob is a founding member of Raks Rafiki (HK), "Friends of the Dance", a non-profit group whose aim is to spread enjoyment and practice of oriental music more widely in Hong Kong, particularly in support of the dance community. Rob has performed publicly with the Klub Raks band Baladi Beats, and other musicians, and has been a regular support drummer for certain Klub Raks performance classes.