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Lisa Zahiya began the study of bellydance in 2000, and immediately fell in love with the dance, it's history, and the large and diverse bellydance community. Before beginning her study of bellydance, Lisa studied ballet, jazz and hip hop dance. She was a member of the University of Maryland dance team.

Lisa began her career in the Baltimore/DC metropolitan area, where she had the privilege to study with Autumn Ward, Laurel Victoria Gray and Artemis Mourat.

She moved to Baltimore and studied intensively with 2nd generation bellydancer, Piper Reid Hunt. Lisa was a member of the Daughters of Rhea performance troupe and is certified LEVEL II dancer in the Piper Method of American Belly Dance.

In the end of 2005 she moved to Asheville, NC. She joined Baraka Mundi, one of the south east's premier tribal bellydance troupes, in March of 2006.

Lisa also teaches and performs hip hop dance. She is known for her fusion of hip hop and bellydance.

In 2008, Lisa travelled to Long Beach, CA where she won the title of Tribal Fusion Bellydancer of the Universe. She also recently completed a week long professional and teacher training program with Aziza.

Lisa now teaches and performs as a soloist. Lisa is an in demand workshop instructor and is grateful to be able to travel and teach bellydance.

Lisa lives in downtown Asheville, NC where she teaches bellydance and hip hop dance.

Lisa performing at the Bellypalooza Gala Show, 2007 in Baltimore, MD

photo by Michael D'Elia