Meaghan Shields

Meaghan Shields is a fresh initiate to the world of professional dance and performance. As an emerging artist, Meaghan has focused her dance training in the last year and a half on learning the movements and traditions associated with bellydance.

Building on thirteen years of training in classical Vagonava-style ballet, Meaghan has studied bellydance primarily under the tutelage of her mentor Roula Said. She is currently both a student and teacher of Roula’s new Om Laila bellydance format.

Meaghan has also studied various other dance and movement forms such as Ashtanga Yoga, Nia, Hip Hop, Jazz, Afro-Caribbean dance and ecstatic (free) dance. She also has community theatre experience, notably having attending the Theatre Aquarius summer program, and having been featured as a principle dancer in over fifteen ballets.

Meaghan has an avid appreciation for all types of music and is currently taking dumbek lessons with Suleiman Warwar.  

Zahira (Thania)

ZAHIRA is a dancer popular for her charisma and powerful stage presence.  Her contact with dance started at an early age, learning the fundaments of Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance and Mexican Folklore. She began her Oriental Dance training in 2002 and has been practicing it obsessively and diligently ever since.

She studies intensively with Hannan Sultan, Roula Said and Nada Krysko in Toronto and has developed an impressive c.v. of dance training including notable influences from Shazadi of Mexico, Saida and Amir Thaleb of Argentina, Aziza, Yousry Sharif, Rachel Brice and many more luminaries. She periodically takes classes and workshops with various teachers in a wide range of styles and has completed Hadia's Level 1 Teacher's Training Program.

Zahira’s wide knowledge of art and culture, her background in music and drama and her great love for Oriental Dance enrich her dance interpretation and fill her performances with excitement and delight.

As a soloist, she performs regularly at weddings, private functions, festivals and corporate events. She is also a member of The Sultannettes faculty troupe at Hannan's Bellydance studio, and of Rhythm of the Nile Dance Company led by Nada Krysko formerly from the Reda Troupe of Egypt; she also occasionally performs with The Roulettes led by Roula Said.