Biography:

Born in the USA and trained by master teachers in New York City and abroad. Currently based in Turkey and online, Athena has travelled the globe dancing. She lived for nearly a decade in Athens, Greece, where she currently co-organizes a successful annual International Belly dance and music event, Habibi Tsiggana Festival, and is also a founding member of Kazafy Troupe Greece, works created by Reda-Style dancer from Egypt, Mohammed Kazafy. Athena’s dance background began from childhood with years of dedicated training in Classical Ballet and Modern Dance, graduating from the famous Performing Arts High School Walnut Hill as Dance major. Her education continued with sp ecial training at Laban Centre London and at New York University, from which she holds both a Bachelors (BA) and a Masters of Arts (MA) degree in Dance & Culture (Performance Studies).

Athena has been awarded First Place prizes in International bellydance competitions throughout Europe and in Egypt and is now frequently invited to teach workshops and judge/evaluate amateur dancers and aspiring professionals. Athena performed on-contract in several Arabic countries, working with one of the most reputable entertainment agencies in the Middle East. (Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain) and as resident dancer in several top touristic Turkish Night stages in Istanbul. She travels often to teach at international festivals and performs in the public entertainment and tourism sector as well as for special private/family/corporate events.

You can find her on Insta: @athena_najat_bellydance or @learn_bellydance

Or on Facebook: Athena Najat – Oriental Dance or Athena Najat