Linda Riyad
Nashville, TN
Middle Eastern/Oriental Belly Dance Artist & Instructor – Since 1998
Phone: (615) 482-6429
www.lindabellydance.com
linda@lindabellydance.com

Belly Dance Styles : American cabaret, Egyptian Raks Sharki, Lebanese cabaret, Turkish cabaret, Egyptian Folk dances: Saiidi, Malaya Leff, Beladi, Lebanese Debkeh, Egyptian Wedding Zeffa, Khaleegy (Arabian Folkloric).

Special Abilities : Zills/Sagat (finger cymbals), sword balancing, fire balancing, veil, double veil, floor work, cane/stick dancing
*Signature Belly Moves: Rolls, isolations, and flutters; Signature “Belly Button” moves: slides- horizontally, vertically, circles- clockwise, and counterclockwise.

Industry experience
Production

  • Belly Dance Superstars workshops featuring Jillina, Issam, and Rachel Brice- 2007
  • Vanderbilt’s Middle Eastern Student Association: student performance Choreographer/production manager- 2007 & 2008
  • Belly Dance Superstars workshops featuring Bozenka, Sonia, and Issam- 2006
  • Nashville Amateur Belly Dance contest series- 2005 to 2006
  • Vanderbilt University Dance Group: Belly Dance Coordinator, 2004 Co-Choreographer and Coordinator- 2005
  • “Belladonna’s Tribal and Cabaret Workshop” and Belly Dance performance, Nashville, TN- 2004

Special Performances

  • Nashville Opera’s production of Samson & Delilah- Middle Eastern Dance choreographer, coordinator, and principle dancer- 2007
  • Invited Guest performer, International Belly Dance Conference of Canada, 2007
  • Celebration of Cultures, hosted by Nashville’s Metro Parks and Recreation, Nashville, TN- 2007
  • Middle Eastern Cultural Festival, hosted by Festival of the Nations- 2007
  • Middle Eastern Night, hosted by Vanderbilt’s Middle Eastern Student Association- 2006, 2007, 2008.
  • International Day presentation, Nashville State community college- 2006
  • “Hezz Ya Wezz” Belly Dance Show, Arabesque Dance Acadamy, Toronto, Ontario, Canada- 2005
  • Featured Performer for Oojami, Internationally acclaimed music group US tour- 2005
  • Nashville Tsunami Benefit, 2005
  • All About Women Benefit, 2004
  • Lion’s Club of Cusco, Peru, 2001
  • Second Harvest Food Bank Harvest Moon Ball, 2000

Other Appearances and Events

  • Regularly Featured Performer at Aladdin’s Restaurant, 2007-present
  • Regularly Featured Performer at Fattoush Restaurant, 2008-present
  • Invited Panelist, International dance representative, Nashville Arts Summit- 2007
  • Invited Panelist, International Bellydance Conference of Canada, April 2007
  • Regularly Featured Performer at Parisa’s Restaurant, 2005-2007
  • Invited guest soloist at Belly Dance shows in Nashville, TN, Memphis, TN, Knoxville, TN, Clarksville, TN, Dayton, OH, Greensboro SC, Huntsville, AL, Atlanta, GA, & Toronto, OT
  • Private parties, weddings, renaissance festivals, restaurant performances, and corporate functions in the US, Canada, and Peru, since 1999

Instruction Experience:

  • Ongoing Guest instructor/choreographer/demonstrator for Davidson County public schools 1999-present
  • Instructor/choreographer for Middle Eastern Student Association of Vanderbilt 2006-present
  • Belly Moves and Undulations Workshop, Atlanta, GA, 2008
  • Belly Moves Workshop, Memphis, TN, 2007
  • Folkloric Dances of the Middle East Workshop, Clarksville, TN- 2007
  • Belly Moves and Oriental Choreography Workshop, Knoxville, TN- 2007
  • Teacher Training workshop for Metro Public Schools, Global Education Center, Nashville, TN- 2006
  • Belly Button Moves and Floor Work, Arabesque Dance Academy, Toronto, Ontario, Canada- 2005
  • Total Veil Workshop and Performance Secrets Workshop Nashville, TN, 2005
  • Instructor to several other prominent performers and teachers in Nashville, Knoxville, and surrounding areas.
  • Studio employment: Dance with Stacy, Smyrna, TN; Body, Mind, and Spirit, Clarksville, TN; Green Hills School of Dance, Nashville, TN; Studio Mills, Kingston Springs, TN; Dancer’s E.D.G.E., Brentwood, TN

Middle Eastern Dance Education: Personal instructors

  • Yasmina Ramzy, Amar Gamal, Azur Aja, Laylia, and many others

Other performance experience

  • Vocalist: Classically trained Soprano, Broadway-style show choir member; award winning tours in Canada, Bahamas, England, France, and US 1996-2000
  • Honors: Soprano section leader, choreographer, dance and voice soloist
  • Instrumentalist: Piano, Violin, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, orchestra percussion, Middle Eastern Finger Cymbals, and Egyptian Tabla (Dumbek)