Kalilah has been dancing all her life. She started out with Tap, Jazz and Ballet, but found her true love of dance when she discovered Middle Eastern Dance. She started over 25 years ago when she started taking Middle Eastern dance lessons with the Bal Aziza Dance Troupe of Rochester.
During her membership with Bal Aziza, Kalilah has held positions such as Artistic Director, Choreographer, Costume Director, Stage Manager, and Publicist.
Kalilah is now the Artistic Director, Choreographer and Publicist for her own Troupe, Sword and Scarab.
She started her Middle Eastern Dance career with Egyptian Oriental (Raks Sharqi) and Turkish cabaret styles of dance (Danse Tansi). She prefers the more Fokloric aspects to the dance or what is better known as Raks Shaabi. These dance styles would include: Cane (Raks Assaya), Tunisian, Shikat and North African styles of Bedouin Dance.
Kalilah still travels extensively to study with the Masters of the dance. She has studied with Morocco, Serena, Elena, Aisha Ali, Lelia Haddad, Jamilla Al Wahid, John Compton of Habi Ru, Delilah, and many others.
She has been teaching for 17 years and is currently working to educate the public through diversity and cultural awareness.
Kalilah currently teaches at the University of Rochester, guest teaches at the University of Brockport, and is a mentor through Empire State College. She also teaches through Rochester's many Community Centers as well as within her home studio.
Kalilah has received many awards for her teaching, and is highly respected for her knowledge and efforts in supporting the education, cultural and historical aspects of Middle Eastern Dance.
Sword and Scarab has sponsored many events such as The Rochester Raks Series. Kalilah is often asked to be a guest performer in many events. She has even had the pleasure of guest performing with the Belly Dance Super Stars!
Kamira is the Co-founder of Sword and Scarab. She began her Middle Eastern Dance career 11 years ago with the Bal Aziza Dance Troupe of Rochester.
With Kamira's membership with Bal Aziza, she served as the Troupe's Secretary and Web Master. She supported the troupe in many aspects such as costuming, sewing and design.
Kamira enjoys all aspects of Middle Eastern Dance, but has a fondness for the Folkloric styles of Raks Shaabi.
She has traveled to study with the Masters of the Dance such as Morocco, Aisha Ali, Lelia Haddad, Jamilla Al Wahid, John Compton and Domba.
Kamira is currently a student of West African
dance and incorporates those movements into her choreography .
She has choreographed sword routines as well as other styles, and is now branching into other forms of dance outside different Genres which rounds out her dance experience.
SWORD & SCARAB's SULTANAS
