Katayoun

Katayoun is a nationally recognized author, speaker and instructor specializing in authentic Egyptian dances and the Persian dances of her Iranian heritage. A master teacher, professional performer, and innovative artist, she is a mentor and community leader with over 15 years experience in the belly dance industry. Her newly released book “Oriental Dance Curriculum: A Complete Guide for the Belly Dance Teacher,” is the first curriculum guide for teaching belly dance distributed worldwide.

Promoting teaching standards and education of the cultural roots of contemporary belly dance, Katayoun is considered one of the most respected professionals in the Washington, DC belly dance community. A highly accomplished teacher, Katayoun specializes in multilevel methodologies to simultaneously address the needs and interests of varying levels of experience and ability.

In 2010, she was one of 25 dancers selected from around the world to participate in the first season of Project Belly Dance, the search for America’s Top Belly Dancer, a competition and reality show. Her dance style has been described as “elegant and earthy,” “powerful yet subtle,” with “perfect musicality and interpretation.”

Extensively trained and experienced in Oriental, folkloric and Persian dance styles, Katayoun embraces theatricality and storytelling to embody musicality, aesthetics, costuming and presentation of dance through a contemporary lens. Highly influenced by the cultural insight gained from her Iranian heritage, along with the teachings of masters such Morocco, Zahra Zuhair, Karim Nagi, Aida Nour, Mohamed Shahin, Robyn Friend and Medea Mahdavi, Katayoun aims to present a contemporary vision of dance, inspired by its authentic cultural roots.

Performer requires ipod auxiliary cord to plug into sound system.