Show Program:
SAMAR Gala featuring Zara
Friday, August 8th 2025 7:00 pm
Meet the talent behind our Gala Show.
Musicians
Oud & Musical Director
Ayham Kardouh
When he plays his oud, Ayham feels like he is still home in his native Syria. Growing up in Damascus, he first played his instrument when he was 7 years old and learned from his brothers. He is in love with Arab music and has had his own band for years and years. He doesn't have a favourite composer because he enjoys the variety music can offer: fast, slow, old, classic, new, etc. Every experience is different. His favourite Raqs Sharqi dancer is Katia of Russia who worked for many years in Cairo. One of his favourite sounds from ordinary life is the sweet song of small birds chirping. Tonight, he dedicates his talents to all those who shared their passion, technique, and artistry for this stringed instrument with him.
Keyboard
Fadi Attileh
At 17 years old, Fadi first picked up the keyboard in his native Syria. He immediately feel in love with the feel of the keys beneath his finger tips. His friend, Nazih taught him and he greatly admires Wasim for his immense professionalism. His favourite composers are Shaabi style (Egyptian street dance) so it’s no wonder his preferred Raqs Sharqi dancer is Fifi Abdou. His skills include playing the trumpet as befits a man born on the first of January! When he’s playing music, Fadi feels relaxed and happy. Can you believe his favourite everyday sound is the roar of cars and the rip of motorcycles. If you order a shisha for him, make it Double Apple.
Singer
Maan Salim
Our singer tonight, Mann Salim, is originally from Syria, and this performance marks his debut with the Samar band. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Samar stage.
Darbuka
Ahmed Al Auqaily
Our lead percussionist tonight, Ahmed Al Auqaily, began playing percussion at the age of 13 in his native Iraq. He studied for three years at the Baghdad Youth Music School, where he learned tabla under an Egyptian teacher and riqq under a Syrian master. His passion and talent soon led him to a teaching position at the same school, and before long, he was performing in nightclubs, hotels, and restaurants across Iraq. In 1984, he was awarded Best Drummer at the Iraq Youth Music Festival. Ahmed plays a wide range of Arabic and Khaleeji percussion instruments and has performed alongside some of Iraq’s most celebrated singers. Since immigrating to Canada, he has continued his vibrant musical career, performing with international artists at venues such as the University of Alberta, MENAME, and local nightclubs, and sharing his knowledge through music education. For Ahmed, music is a language of love, rhythm, and connection. He is inspired by the beat, the collaboration, and the joy it brings to those who listen and dance. “Music is just like love. You just feel it. You don’t know why, you just do.”
Drum
Rami Albakri
Percussionist Rami, originally from Iraq, contributes energy and texture to this evening’s performance. This performance will be his first with the Samar band. He brings a rich wealth of knowledge of Arabic rhythms to the ensemble.
Tabla
George Kardouh
He feels the joy of journeying into another world when making music. George started playing at age 15 while growing up in Syria. He also plays the trumpet and the trombone but his preference is for the tabla. Not surprising;y, he likes melodies that have rhythm. He acknowledges Egyptian percussionists Saeed Aratasit and Kaid Silawi as his teachers. While he doesn’t name a favourite composer, he shares a fancy for Iraqi singing and old songs. He recommends listening to Iraqi singers Hatem Al Iraqi and Yass Khader. Sadly, the war interrupted his studies and plans to learn the Greek bouzouki stringed instrument and also the violin. He is optimistic for the future.
Dancers
Calgary
Amarna
Amarna is the Artist Director and principal dancer of Daughters of the Nile Middle Eastern Dance Academy. She has been performing and studying Raks Sharki for 24 years and has studied with world renowned instructors in the art of Oriental Dance. Amarna has a passion for performing and teaching and is available for lessons and performances.
Calgary/
Edmonton
Maya
Maya Christina celebrates the 36th anniversary since her first professional performance this month. She has trained extensively in dances from the Middle East and North Africa as well as flamenco, reggaeton, and the Indian classical dances of bharatanatyam and kathak. She currently dances in Edmonton where she performs and plays percussion with MENAME, the University of Alberta's Middle Eastern and North African Music Ensemble and is the artistic director of Belediyya Dance Company. When she is not dancing, she spends her time as a professional geologist, paleontologist, and marine biologist. Maya believes that to understand the heart of the people or a culture, one should experience their art, dance, and music, and so is the eternal student of world music and dance.
Vancouver
Chrystina
Chrystina is a plus-sized dancer who teaches out of Squamish, BC. She has been dancing since 2009 and loves to use dance to tell stories, connect with others, and embrace self-expression. Chrystina is so grateful to the Samar team for hosting Zara and organizing such a lovely weekend of workshops and dancing
Cairo, Egyot
Zara
Zara is a beloved international belly dancer based in Cairo, Egypt and London, UK. She is a dynamic dancer who is half Egyptian and half English. Zara is featured in various music videos and bollywood films. Most recently, in Egypt she starred in a film with famous shabbi singer Shaaban Abdel Rahim and in a Ramadan special TV drama featuring Dina and Haifa Web. Her dancing has taken her around the world - Zara has performed not only in the UK and Egypt but also East Africa including: Kenya (in both Nairobi and Mobassa) and Tanzania (in both Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar). Other countries she has worked in include Pakistan and Malta. ​Zara is a popular bellydance teacher regularly booking sold out workshops across the world. She specializes in Egyptian Baladi, Raqs Sharqi, Oriental, Fellahine, and Saidi. People especially love her Shaabi and Fego street dancing style. She teaches online on through her YouTube Show “Yalla Nor2os”.
Calgary
Keemia
Dance has been a part of Keemia’s life from an early age, with some of her first memories being of dancing with her mom. At the age of nine, she and her mom began taking belly dance classes together.
Keemia’s passion for belly dance deepened in 2006 when she attended a gala show featuring internationally acclaimed dancers, whose captivating performances left a lasting impact. Keemia has competed in both the United States and Canada, including her first international competition in 2018 in New York, where she earned a spot as a finalist in her category. Over the years, she’s continued to grow as a dancer by attending workshops and studying with master teachers.
For Keemia, dance is more than just an art form, as it’s become a source of healing and self-expression.
Calgary
Moselle
Moselle is a professional bellydancer specializing in Egyptian-style raqs sharqi, with over 17 years of experience and training under some of the world’s most respected masters. She is a respected figure in Calgary’s bellydance community, known for her ability to improvise live to both traditional and contemporary Arabic music.
Moselle has trained extensively under Rahel Claman and studied with international masters such as Mohammed Shahin, Sahar Samara, Kareem Gad, Shahrazad, Vanessa of Cairo, and many others. She has performed at high-profile events in Canada, Egypt, Australia, and Italy, sometimes for audiences over 2,000, in addition to her regular appearances at local festivals, private events, and restaurant gigs.
Her passion for live music collaboration led her to perform at the 2021 “Dance Like an Egyptian” Intensive in Cairo, and co-organize this “Samar” showcase alongside Nico and Hala Jamal, starring Calgary’s top Arabic musicians.
Passionate about culturally sensitive, accurate representation, Moselle collaborates with peers across Alberta and BC to strengthen technique, foster community, and honor the rich cultural heritage of the art form.
Calgary
Nico
Nico began her dance journey in early 2011 after the birth of her first son. Looking for a way to reconnect with her body, she stumbled on the TV show 'Shimmy' and decided to follow along- and that was it; love at first step. After a year of dedicated home practice, Nico headed out to find her first dance teacher- enter Minya of Jumping Camel. Nico continued regular weekly classes with Minya (from 2012 until her retirement from teaching in early 2022) and quickly joined the performance troupe in 2013, and then started teaching in 2016. She has since continued to learn with teachers from all over including Amarna (Calgary), Rachel George (USA), Ashley Rhianne (Van, BC), Nourhan Sharif (USA), Karim Nagi (USA, Egypt), Dr George Sawa (Canada), Johara of Belly Up (Canada) and Shahrzad (USA, Egypt).
Nico took over Jumping Camel Belly Dance in early 2022 as Artistic Director and owner and has been working on creating a place where people can go to learn about this rich dynamic dance and have fun.
Banff
Hala Jamal
Hala Jamal of Banff Bellydance is known for her fluid and graceful style and her playful performances. A natural performer hopelessly in love with Egyptian and Greek dance, she dances with clean technique, charming charisma, and joyful elegance. Hala simply loves to dance!
She has been performing weekly at restaurants for over two decades. Currently, you can see her at the Balkan Restaurant in Banff, Mama’s Greek Kouzina in Strathmore, and other dinner show venues by request. She also enjoys dancing for private functions, weddings, festivals, and community events. She is the main choreographer for her troupe, Banff Bellydance, and enjoys dancing as a soloist, duet, or group member in both Raqs Shaqi and Folkloric styles.
She is grateful for all the women who contributed to her knowledge and skills, from her first teacher, Shadia, to her mentor, Hadia, and intensive studies with Aziza, Natalie Lebel, Yasmina Ramzy, Shahrzad, and others. She also recognizes the important role colleagues, friends, and students have had in her development too. Lastly, she has a special fondness for all audience members who generously offer their attention.
403-688-4252
