Award-Winning Belly Dance by Ionah
Ionah is a professional, multi-award winning belly dance performer, choreographer, instructor, event producer and troupe director based in Syracuse, NY. Audiences, professional dancers, judges and students praise her for musicality, passion, strong technical skill, and cultural awareness of this amazingly rich and beautiful art form. One of the most sought-after performers and instructors in the region, she can be seen regularly at local and national events including shows she hosts with her dance partners, Hannah and Tessa of the 3 Early Girls. She is also frequently seen performing with her dance company, the talented Head over Heels troupe based out of her studio in Syracuse, NY.
A passionate and powerful performer described as blending solid technique with unparalleled emotion, Ionah leaves audiences awe-inspired and always wanting more. Read more about her below or check out her testimonials page to see more about what people have to say about her!
A passionate and powerful performer described as blending solid technique with unparalleled emotion, Ionah leaves audiences awe-inspired and always wanting more. Read more about her below or check out her testimonials page to see more about what people have to say about her!
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PERFORMANCE
Want to hire a multi-award winning belly dancer to make your next private event/fundraiser a special hit? visit Ionah's Booking Page 
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More about Ionah
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A multi-faceted and well-versed dancer, Ionah is known for her passion and musicality on the stage and in all of her performances. She brings joy as well as emotion to each show and gig. Second only to that is her technical precision. She's extremely dynamic, commanding and powerful, pulling her audience in with each movement. Blending technique with passion, Ionah has earned a reputation - and many awards - for her dance. She placed 1st Place Queen (Pro Category) at the Return of the Kings Festival in New York City in June 2016 and was invited back to teach at this international gala event. She was also praised at NYCairo 2014 by the esteemed panel of judges, including Tito Seif and Mercedes Nieto, for her choreography to "Btwannes Beek". Her other awards include 1st Runner-Up in the 2014 Boston Grand Diva (Pro) Competition, 1st Runner-Up in the 2014 Pittsburg Bellydance Competition (Pro Category), and Finalist in a general talent competition in NY in 2015 competing against other non-bellydance performers across the state. Additionally, she competed at Blowout 2017 Freeform, a Fantasy Hair Show Competition, in which her modeling and dancing was the winning performance of the annual event, taking home the trophy.
Ionah's the most sought-after performer in Syracuse, and arguably the region, is invited often to perform at gigs, restaurants, shows, events and to teach classes and workshops throughout the area. Her extensive performance experience is highlighted on her events page and the many accolades she has received can be read about her on her testimonials page.
Ionah's the most sought-after performer in Syracuse, and arguably the region, is invited often to perform at gigs, restaurants, shows, events and to teach classes and workshops throughout the area. Her extensive performance experience is highlighted on her events page and the many accolades she has received can be read about her on her testimonials page.
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Based now in Syracuse, NY, she has studied regularly with top dancers in the field, most notably Ahmed Hussien. In 2004, she began her belly dance career in the "Mecca of American Belly Dance": San Francisco, CA first studying with the internationally renowned Suhaila Salimpour. This gave Ionah her famed technical foundation in dance and strong Orientale-style dance vocabulary that she carries with her in her performance as well as her teaching. It wasn't long after that the Middle Eastern dance and music community recognized Ionah's talent and she started performing regularly at Sinbad Mediterranean Cuisine in San Mateo, CA with world-renowned musicians Nazir Latouf and Mary Ellen Donald! |
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For many years, Ionah studied ballet, tap, jazz, fusion, Irish step, hip hop and other styles of dance, but her love of Middle Eastern Raqs Sharqi is what made her return to her home style. A renaissance dancer who does it all, she is truly a specialist in Egyptian Orientale, but is well-versed in Modern Orientale as well Vintage Cabaret, Folkloric, Turkish Oryntal, and more and incorporates into some performances veils, zills/sagat/finger cymbals, fan veils, wings, swords, assaya (cane), and other props as the music and mood fits! Since this time, she has studied extensively with her mentor Ahmed Hussien, Fahtiem, Mercedes Nieto, Leila Haddad, and other great Egyptian artists, often travelling nationally to study with the top master instructors in the field.
Prior to her forray into Middle Eastern dance, Ionah studied ballet, jazz, some contemporary, and even was a multi-award-winning competitive Irish step-dancer! After returning to Syracuse as a Middle Eastern dancer, she founded Hipsanity! with her then dance partner and friend, Julia. Today she is the Director of the Head over Heels Dance Company as well as the co-founder of the 3 Early Girls with Hannah and Tessa. The 3 Early Girls produce the largest events in the CNY area including having hosted Ava Fleming in 2013 and 2016, Amanda Rose in 2014, Anjelica Scannura and Jill Parker in 2015, Michelle Sorensen in 2017, and Ruby Beh coming up in 2018 as well as annual Holiday Shows since 2014. She's performed from New York to California, Florida to Massachusetts, Pennsylvania to New Jersey and in between and some of her performance credits include working with live musicians including Rob Bridge, Mary Ellen Donald, Nazir Latouf, the prestigious LA-based Layali Zaman Orchestra, dummer Issam Houshan, and singers George Wazen, Tony Mercho, and Ali Prestige! Continue through the website to learn more about Ionah, peruse her photos, and watch clips of her dancing!
Sign up for belly dancing classes with Ionah in Syracuse or visit her booking page to hire her for performance at your next event!
Belly Dance Areas served: Syracuse Auburn Oswego Fulton Rochester Buffalo Binghamton Elmira Cortland Ithaca Utica Rome Hamilton Watertown Camillus Fairmount Onondaga Cayuga Madison Oneida Central New York Upstate New York
Prior to her forray into Middle Eastern dance, Ionah studied ballet, jazz, some contemporary, and even was a multi-award-winning competitive Irish step-dancer! After returning to Syracuse as a Middle Eastern dancer, she founded Hipsanity! with her then dance partner and friend, Julia. Today she is the Director of the Head over Heels Dance Company as well as the co-founder of the 3 Early Girls with Hannah and Tessa. The 3 Early Girls produce the largest events in the CNY area including having hosted Ava Fleming in 2013 and 2016, Amanda Rose in 2014, Anjelica Scannura and Jill Parker in 2015, Michelle Sorensen in 2017, and Ruby Beh coming up in 2018 as well as annual Holiday Shows since 2014. She's performed from New York to California, Florida to Massachusetts, Pennsylvania to New Jersey and in between and some of her performance credits include working with live musicians including Rob Bridge, Mary Ellen Donald, Nazir Latouf, the prestigious LA-based Layali Zaman Orchestra, dummer Issam Houshan, and singers George Wazen, Tony Mercho, and Ali Prestige! Continue through the website to learn more about Ionah, peruse her photos, and watch clips of her dancing!
Sign up for belly dancing classes with Ionah in Syracuse or visit her booking page to hire her for performance at your next event!
Belly Dance Areas served: Syracuse Auburn Oswego Fulton Rochester Buffalo Binghamton Elmira Cortland Ithaca Utica Rome Hamilton Watertown Camillus Fairmount Onondaga Cayuga Madison Oneida Central New York Upstate New York