Mina is a professional dancer, troupe director/choreographer, and teacher. She has been the Creative Director of The Nile Wind Dance Troupe since 2003. She has found her voice through all types of music and movement. Although most of her pieces are in the Egyptian style of dance, she enjoys choreographing to all aspects of oriental dance and incorporates many forms of music . The Nile Wind Dancers' repertoire includes Egyptian baladi, a veil dance to an Indian love song, a Saidi cane dance, a drum duet, a tribal inspired group number, and a funky urban piece set to contemporary Arab music. Mina loves to watch her dances come alive in her dancers. She gets much enjoyment from working with a group of committed, fun-loving women and has learned so much from them.

Watch Mina: view movie

Drawing on her training in ballet, ballroom, and contemporary dance, Dunya ventured into belly dance in late 2002. She believes that the diversity in styles, costumes and traditions that are found in belly dance make it a particularly accessible dance form for both performers and audience members.

Dunya earned her BA in Theatre from Tulane University in 2002. In keeping with her love of the Arts, she has found great satisfaction in her role as a member of the Nile Wind Dancers. Dunya can also be seen performing at the Georgetown restaurant Mie N Yu.

Drawing on her love of music and dance, Anwaar brings an energetic style to Oriental dance. She likes belly dance because it combines smooth, flowing, and sometimes staccato movements. Anwaar uses her natural rhythm that is well matched to belly dance. She has been belly dancing since 2002 when she moved to the DC area from the Bay Area of California. She performs regularly with the Nile Wind Dancers under the creative direction of Mina.

Anwaar also enjoys singing and holds a PhD in Analytical chemistry and works for the NIH. Can you say "evolved nerd"?! It's that arts and science connection! She has been a certified cardio kickboxing instructor, loves to travel, and SCUBA dives. She also plays sand volleyball and co-ed flag football. She is a new certified personal trainer, too! Anwaar lives in NW DC.

Taja danced her way through her childhood taking classes in a variety of dance forms with teachers in Pennsylvania and New York City. In her late teens, Taja became dazed and confused and floated away from dancing. She did not resume studying dance until she moved to Washington in the 80’s. A chance meeting with Mina drew her into the Nile Wind Dancer fold.

Taja is a management consultant, who spends her free time trying to keep her daughters from becoming dazed and confused, hiking with her curly coated retriever, and roller blading with her friends.

Zaina brings a love of dance to the art of Middle Eastern Oriental bellydance. Dance background includes jazz, tap, lyrical, African, Latin and yoga. Has been studying with Mina in the Egyptian Oriental and Cabaret styles for 3 1/2 years. She has attended various workshops and the M.E.D. Folk Tours learning from many teachers including Artemis, Sahra, Mohamed, Kajira, Karim and Eva with an emphasis on Turkish Oriental, Turkish Romany, Egyptian Oriental and American Tribal.

Zaina performs regularly with The Nile Wind Dancers and occasionally solos with musicians including Stream and The Blue Dragons.

Alston began her dancing career at an early age, attending the NCSA in Winston-Salem for ballet. Deciding to focus more on academics and the pursuit of a stable career, she relegated athletics and other dance forms to extracurricular activities. After moving to Washington DC in 1994 to work for artists, she studied Okinawan Kempo Karate and Ten Shin Ichi Ryu for many years while exploring the Gothic club scene. Craving a greater variety of kinesthetic experiences, she studied Modern, Jazz, and African Dance. After several years, she found that Bellydance was a natural compliment to her inate movements and her joy in the masquerade.

Designer by day, artist/bellydancer by night, Alston is the principal of Studio Red Design in Washington, DC. She has worked for over 13 years in the DC community producing art and print design, opening Studio Red Design in August of 2005. When not working or performing with Nile Wind, she can be found studying multiple forms of yoga.

Farasha grew up in small-town Evergreen, Colorado, where she met her first teacher Sheika. Their troup, the Evergreen Kahia Dancers, took off and became famous in the world of Evergreen, appearing at such events as the local arts festival and the opening of the new gas station!

Farasha moved to the DC area in 2002 to study music and international conflict resolution/peace studies, where she is currently in the process of getting a Master’s degree. She has studied Middle Eastern dance with a number of teachers in the area, including Mina, Yasmin, and Artemis. Farasha is thrilled to be a part of the Nile Wind and brings her knowledge of the dance and culture into her studies in promoting peace.