PROMOTING THE DIVERSITY OF MIDDLE EASTERN AND RELATED FORMS OF DANce and music



2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS



Tonya Ketza



President



Tonya first started learning and fell in love with middle eastern dance as a teenager. She enjoyed performing with a troupe in northern California for several years where she learned and performed with many great artists. She enjoys folkloric and ethnic styles of dance, infusing these into many of her performance pieces. Outside of dance, she works in the environmental field and is a proud mother of two boys that keep her very busy. This is her second year on the MEDAH board and looks forward to helping to provide members with opportunities to connect with each other's artistry.



Natashia Shiraishi



Vice President



Natashia is a hobbyist dancer from Honolulu, Hawaii. She enjoys gracing the stage with her creative veil work and theatrical drum solos. In addition, she loves “dum-teking” acapella with her finger cymbals. Natashia’s dance performances are memorable for her ability to emotionally connect with her audience. When Natashia is not dancing, she enjoys working out and trying out new restaurants. Natashia’s goal for MEDAH in 2023 is to provide more dance opportunities and possibly host non-local instructors to our small dance community.



Kornélia Szauter



Treasurer



Nelli started bellydancing with Jean Yanagawa. She has an extensive background in costume design, and helped Shakti Dance Movement and the Devi Dance Company with their costumes when they ventured to Tribalfest.



Frances Diocares



Secretary



Kind, polite introductions for me typically call me experimental, dynamic, and unique, which I accept. More hilarious, less polite, maybe whispered introductions for me might call me ‘that one weird dancer that does weird stuff all the time, and goes crazy with the costumes.' Which I also accept.


My name is pronounced ‘FRAN-SES DEE-OH-KAH-RES’, and I am a born-and-raised local girl. Lived here in Hawaii my whole life and have consistently taken bellydance classes since 2017, which was my gateway to Middle Eastern Dance Artists of Hawaii.


I am a performing artist that has bellydance in my arsenal of creative skills including singing, acting, costume creation, cosplay, metalwork, crafting, voiceover and speech, writing, and now film editing.


I live with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and depression, and while this does affect my life and everyone in it, I am giving my best to all the things that keep me happy and going. This includes MEDAH, which I have been associated with since 2018, and I have no intentions of giving up a community around a culture that has interested me since childhood. I am happy to serve on the board, and will help MEDAH however I can. Shukran to all that recommended and nominated me, and here’s to a successful and safe 2023!



2023 MEMBERS-AT-LARGE



Denise Anderson



I grew up in Japan and the Philippines, and have lived in Hawaii for 40+ years. I love dogs, surfing and dance! I have been taking bellydance for 6+ years, learning a variety of styles including Cabaret and Tribal Fusion. Dance has been my therapy, and I enjoy the friendships developed in the process. I was Medah secretary for the year 2020, and am happy to now join Medah as a member at large.



Chelsea Briggs



Chelsea grew up Hula and Tahitian dancing. She started belly dancing in a school club while attending the University of Hawaii West Oahu. When she first started belly dancing three years ago, she found her new passion. As a full-time student in Clinical Psychology, belly dancing allows her to relieve stress, bond with friends, and express herself.



SaLydia Galang



SaLydia is a belly dancer originally from Jacksonville, Florida. Florida is where SaLydia started her dance career in 2013. Since then SaLydia has competed and won several competitions in both classical and fusion categories. She has taken many workshops with world renown master teachers. She has experience in both restaurant and wedding dancing. She started teaching beginner/basics belly dance in San Antonio, Texas in 2018 at the YMCA and the San Antonio Ballet School. Also in Texas is where SaLydia found her true love and place in fusion dance performing alongside legendary fusion dancers, drag performers, aerialists, and many more.


Now in Hawaii, SaLydia has found a new love for Raqs Sharqi, inspired by the new cultures, friends, instructors, and fellow dancers. She hopes to continue her dance education in hopes to learn more about herself and the ever changing world of Belly Dance.



Samantha (Sammie) Giridhar



Sammie is a belly dance instructor and performer on the island of Oahu. She directs anywhere from 3-5 performance troupes, and has had the honor of serving as Middle Eastern Dance Artists of Hawaii (MEDAH) President from 2019-2021. She currently serves as a member-at-large for 2023.


Sammie's love for belly dance began when she joined the student organization, Hill and Veil at Virginia Tech in Spring of 2007. For the rest of her time as an undergraduate and graduate student, Sammie remained involved with belly dance as a way to stay active, relieve stress, and make lifelong friendships - things that she hopes to provide to all of her dance students. Her somewhat atypical journey through dance has played a starring role in her perspective and development as a dancer, as well as her priorities when teaching.


In her other life, Sammie holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction (another unique factor impacting her teaching style), and is a professor for University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu. As a dancer, Sammie continually seeks to challenge herself through participating in workshops and classes with a variety of instructors, creating new choreographies, and performance! She has taken a wide variety of workshops with instructors in many different styles - all of which have played a role in her dance journey.



Miko Ries



Dr. Miko is a former president of the Middle Eastern Dance Artists of Hawai’i. He has been playing percussion since 1978 and has headlined in Honolulu, New York City, Chicago, Beijing, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seville, Seoul, Mexico City and New Orleans to list a few. His Spirit Drum approach has been featured live at the Blue Note, Hard Rock Café, Honolulu Academy of Arts/Doris Duke Theatre, Bar 35, and Sakura Arts Center. His beats have been featured in several, national level, B-boy breakdance competitions and can often be found working the crowds in nightclubs that offer Electronic Dance Music or Deep House. Dr. Miko founded Beats Generation and Habibi Racoon-- both improvisational collaborations with contemporary musicians. The Reverend Doctor is also a Clinical Psychologist in his spare time, and hosts a weekly, live, call-in radio hour with an international following. He serves as chairperson for the Hawaii State Council on Mental Health, and in recent years, as the Behavioral Health Subject Matter Expert for the Honolulu Mayor’s City and County Medical and Public Health Advisory Board for COVID-19. He likes to say his heart in a drum. You're invited to listen!



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