Melinda Marie Heitzman

Dance Conditioning

THE BODY CLASS!

Melinda began dancing at the age of 2.5 when a dance teacher spotted her boogieing in her stroller. With that start, she quickly discovered her passion and it was only a matter of time before she was in a youth ballet company, competing every weekend, taking yoga and Pilates classes, and passing on her love for movement to younger students. Melinda has performed both nationally and internationally as a dancer, singer, and actress and she has earned numerous titles in the competitive dance world. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors degree in Performing Arts from Oklahoma City University, where she was the director/choreographer of the Pep dancers at sporting events. She was also a featured performer and the elected liaison between faculty and company members for the American Spirit Dance Company during her years in OKC. Melinda performed last Fall in the New York Jazz Choreography Project and has appeared in various TV shows including Gossip  Girl, Cupid, and Law and Order. She currently lives in Astoria, though she works as the director and producer of a popular recurring show in Manhattan called Break the Mold which promotes collaboration among some of the country's finest up-and-coming artists. She also judges dance competitions in the U.S. and Canada in her spare time.

Nourhan Sharif

Belly Dancer Extraordinaire!

Nourhan is devoted to teaching Middle Eastern dance as an art form~ as opposed to a form of exercise!   Ms. Sharif is a popular teacher both for her technique and her personable way of communicating with students! Her class design is unusually comprehensive including: technique, musicality, cultural awareness, context, costuming, & stage presence. Knowledgeable and accessible, she is a leading instructor in New York City, where she prepares students to perform Mr. Sharif's choreographies & Perform to Live Music.  Nourhan has  taught on nearly every continent and has performed globally to acclaimed audiences.  She is a faculty member of the Arab Dance Seminar which presents annually and is the Executive Producer  of the Sharif Annual Weeklong which takes place in NYC every summer. This summer 2010 Nourhan is managing Egyptian Superstar Mohamed El Hosseny on his first North American 10 city  Tour!                    
Nourhan is frequently engaged as a workshop instructor nationally and internationally, but is currently focusing on her New York projects with regards to teaching. She is intent upon presenting Egyptian properly, as it should be conceived, taught, and performed. Considered the perfect expression of Yousry Sharif's complex technique and eloquent style, she gives her dance students a solid foundation for growth in Middle Eastern dance technique.      
All Nourhan's endeavors are designed to further, and disseminate, the art of Middle Eastern dance. She believes that Middle Eastern dancers are most successful when they know the cultural foundation of the dance and its music: Audiences respond best to dancers who are aware of Middle Eastern culture, those who are well-versed in the folkloric genres that gave rise to the Oriental style. She strives to impart her knowledge of the culture and folklore to her students, knowing that this awareness gives the dancer longevity and makes him/her stand out!  Thus, Dancers currently trained by Nourhan  are the best Egyptian Dancers NYC  has to offer!  Nourhan is currently writing a book as well and training the next generation of Egyptian Dancers!

Irena Meletiou

ZUMBA

 Zumba/dance Instructor and Professional Dancer

She received her professional training while earning an Associate ISTD in modern dance(England-Greece), as well as at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Ballet Arts and Broadway Dance Center

Irena teaches all over the NY Tristate area...
Synergy Fitness, Evolution Fitness, New York Sports Clubs, Plus 1 fitness, Reebok Fitness, LA Sports Club

She also has an extensive curriculum in TV...
Chris Willis (recording artist) tour: dancer/ assistant choreographer
VH1 Salt and Peppa Reality show: dancer
Maxim Magazine 2006 Special Party-dancer
Hugo Boss Celebrity Fashion event-dancer
Copa Cabana night club(NY)-dancer
Casbah- Taj Mahal /AC- dancer
Overseas Musical production "Pygmalion"- dancer
KTU beatstock 2005-dancer
Mary J Blidge "Family Affair" music video- model