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Ya Habibi Dance CompanySHOSHANNA'S YA HABIBI DANCE COMPANY...

Ya Habibi Dance Company, directed by award-winning dancer Shoshanna, draws from traditional sources as well as an eclectic array of inspirations to create vibrant choreographies and improvisational solo work. The group was started in 1998 as part of the HSU Middle Eastern Dance Club and was called Lailaa Chandani Dance Ensemble. Upon graduating from HSU in 2003, Shoshanna brought the group into the local dance community and renamed it the Ya Habibi Dance Company.

Ya Habibi

We perform in theatres, festivals, fairs and parties locally and across the West Coast, and enjoy exploring challenging technique and continuing to evolve in choices of music, costume, and dance styles. We’re rooted in Egyptian Raks Sharqi, but explore everything from Tribal Fusion to Khaliji to Turkish Rom to Bollywood!

Ya Habibi Dance Company has been a great starting place for many professional dancers across the globe, including Nicoliana, Andalee, Ziva Emtiaz, Karolina, Yusefina and more!

That's 13 years of amazing performances! Ya Habibi Dance Company is available to dance at your event, celebration, festival, or party. See a list of ongoing and upcoming shows here.

Some of the great events we've danced at include benefits for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bikes by the Bay, The Emma Center, The Ink People Center for the Arts, and lots more.


Current Members:

Shoshanna SHOSHANNA
Director & founder of Ya Habibi Dance Company... you can find out about me all over this website! :-)
Naia Maheen NAIA
Principal dancer, choreographer, troupe member since 2002. Works at world famous dancewear business L. Rose Designs. Has also been a member of local group Tribalesque.
       
Raquel RAQUEL
Principal dancer, choreographer, member of Ya Habibi since 2005. Works at Moonrise Herbs in Arcata and is studying Herbology!
Estella ESTELLA
Soloist and member of Ya Habibi since 2007, Estella just had a little baby boy in early 2011 and is already back dancing. Yay!
       
Erika ERIKA
Soloist and member of Ya Habibi since 2006. Also a member of local Tribal Fusion group Karmaja since its inception in 2009.
Veronica VERONICA
Ya Habibi member since 2007. Veronica also dances with Brigit Fraga in her Burlesque/ Belly Dance Fusion groups. She loves disc golf and is the cheese manager for the Arcata North Coast Co-Op.
       
Jenny MOLLY
Molly is a student majoring in Art Education at Humboldt State University and is a painter who shows her work in local galleries. Molly joined in 2010.
Amina AMBER
When not onstage you might find Amber shimmying in the aisles of Hensel's ACE Hardware in Arcata, where she is a manager. She is also an herbalist, and helps to keep the flower beds at Redwood Raks pretty! Amber joined in 2010.
       
Jenny NATALIE
Natalie joined Ya Habibi in 2010 and is a student at Humboldt State University. She studied Egyptian dance for a year in the San Diego area before moving to Arcata.
Amina ALISHA
Alisha is an Anthropology Major at Humboldt State University and has danced throughout her life in several styles. She joined Ya Habibi in 2010.
       
Jenny TALISA
Talisa joined Ya Habibi in 2011. She is a student at Humboldt State University and loves working with children!
Jenny TIFFANY
The newest member of Ya Habibi is a dancer, singer, and artist in many mediums, including henna! Learn more about her at her website: www.tiffanybrogdon.com
       
       
       
       
       

 

 

Troupe Alumni ~ Where are they now?

Amina ANNIE
Annie is a multi-talented troupe member who not only dances but is also a professional massage therapist and glass blower! Annie joined in 2010.
Amina AMINA
Amina joined Ya Habibi in 2009. She is an English Major at Humboldt State University.
Jenny JENNY
Member of Ya Habibi since 2007. Jenny just graduated from the Interdisciplinary Dance Major and the Nursing Program at Humboldt State University.
Jenny WILLOW ROSE
Off to adventures.... we hope for an update!
Shoshanna NINA
Off to New York to pursue school and work dreams.... we miss you Nina!
Shoshanna Laura
Graduated from Humboldt State University, now dancing Flamenco and hopefully Middle Eastern Dance in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Karolina KAROLINA
Currently up in Portland, Oregon, dancing up a storm with Soul Fire. A very exciting dancer in many styles. Go Karolina, go!
Ziva ZIVA - www.zivadancer.com
After Ya Habibi, Ziva has been working with famed percussionist Souhail Kaspar in workshops all over the country. She danced & lived in Puerto Rico for a year and is now in Petaluma, CA and teaching!
Bernadette Bernadette
Hopefully coming back to join us soon!
Hadara Hana Hadara Hana
Has now flown away to the land of SALSA... but is welcome back to Middle Eastern Dance anytime!
Andalee ANDALEE - www.andalee.com
Dancing, teaching, directing a dance group and producing events in Tulare, CA.
A fabulous dancer!
WINNER OF THE PROJECT BELLY DANCER TV REALITY SHOW COMPETITION!!!
Sundari Sundari
Has taken an extended break from the troupe but still dances! She works with the great organization Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Nicoliana NICOLIANA - www.nicoliana.com
After Ya Habibi, Nicoliana went to Los Angeles, was a member of Jillina's Sahlala Dancers for 4 years and then moved to Thailand, where she's been dancing and teaching. Check out her website!
Rasheika RASHEIKA - www.rasheikaraks.com
Still a wonderful dancer in Humboldt County, Rasheika teaches in Eureka and directs The Hip Mamas. She's recently branched out into Samba, and is a member of Samba Na Chuva!
Khalila Zahar Khalila Zahar
A marvelous local dancer who has now mostly turned to her full time job working with a local cattle rancher. She's a true rhinestone cowgirl! :-)
Sitaara Katie
Graduated from HSU, then moved off to Boston for her masters degree in children's literature. She's an active dancer in many styles and is a member of the tribal group Vadalna.
Yusefina Yusefina
A true artist of the dance who was one of my orginal dance students. She's traveled across the country studying, dancing and teaching... catch her if you can!
Fifi Fifi
After Ya Habibi she moved to Santa Cruz for college and danced with BellyDance Odyssey. Now she's pursuing Jazz Dance, too, but is still immersed in Middle Eastern Dance.
Binah Binah
A fabulous dancer who moved to San Francisco after her time in Arcata. She's still dancing and making music in the Bay Area and beyond!
Brigit Brigit Fraga
Still local to Arcata, Brigit broke off from Ya Habibi to go Tribal. She directed the group Tribalesque and most recently The Widowmakers. Currently immersed in mommyhood I'm sure she'll be back soon!
Yoshi Yoshi
Yoshihiro Watanabe is a performance artist in Japan... look out for him! He's fabulous. The one male troupe dancer we've had! Director of the Tokoyo Circus!
Shoshanna Lauren
Student at Humboldt State University.
Still dancing when she can!

And I'm not quite sure what these lovely former dance company members are up to.
Let me know if you know! :-)

Lauren
         
Cindy
Vanessa
Rasha
Kristy
Holly
Cindy
Vanessa
Off to India!
Rasha
Kristy
Off to Grad School
Holly
         
Lori
Cecily
Michelle
Jessica
Davia
Lori
Off to Mommyhood
Cecily
Michelle
Still dancing?
Jessica
Photographer
Los Angeles
Davia
Now a nurse!
         
Rochelle
Zamira
Mirabai
Sirena
Misha
Rochelle
Santa Rosa, CA
New Mommy!
Liliana
Dancing and teaching
in Southern CA
Mirabai
Dancing in Big Sur, CA
Sirena
Dancing/Teaching
in Oregon
Misha
         
dancer
Mandy
Trinka
Thaliah
Tiffany
Lindsay
Mandy
Trinka
Sonora, CA - dancing?
Thaliah
Tiffany
Dancing in New York
         
Julie
Mery
Jessie
Tahiya
Melinda
Julie
Now a Ballerina!
Mery
Still in Hawaii?
Jessie
Still Dancing!
Tahiya
Melinda
         
Ya'iel
Galadriel
Jenn
Dancer
Ya'iel
Galadriel
Jenn
Adina Lawson
Drama Teacher at
Eureka High School
Hillary
         
Christiane
Lisa S.
         

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Contact Shoshanna anytime:
(707) 616-6876 •  P.O. Box 1086, Arcata, CA 95518 • dance@shoshannaland.com
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