# Event Details - **Event Name**: Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance - **Event Start and End Date**: Sun, 16 Aug, 2026 at 07:00 pm – Sun, 16 Aug, 2026 at 09:30 pm - **Event Description**: Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us for a feast for the senses, as we showcase the artistry of talented musicians and dancers who will take you on a journey through the music and dance traditions of the Middle East. You will have the opportunity to be transported to Cairo without the need to get on a plane. FEATURED MUSICIANS - Rachid Halihal - Oud, Violin + Vocals - Nabil Bekkali - Keyboard - Zafer Tawil - Tabla - Said Fahmy - Riq FEATURED DANCERS - Kaeshi Chai - Phaedra Darwish - Salit - Samara - Tarik Sultan SOLOISTS - Lisa Ayleeza - Naomi T - Nadya Noura - Sumbul GROUP PERFORMANCES - Lorena Ayub's Candle Dancers - Salit's Dancers - Tarik's Cane Dancers EVENT DETAILS Venue: Secret Room New York 707 8th Ave (Downstairs), New York, NY 10036 Located between W 44th and W 45th Streets SCHEDULE 6:30 PM: Doors Open 7:00 – 9:30 PM: Show SHOW COST $25 / $30 at the Door / $35 VIP Seat at a Front Row Table Plus 1 drink or food item if seated at the bar, or 2 drinks or food items if seated at a table * Drinks and food are NOT included in the ticket price Tickets are non-refundable TABLE RESERVATIONS Email Jenn at jenn.topolski @ gmail.com with your name, ticket tier and number of people you want seated at your table. MENU https://bellyqueen.com/djam-nyc ................................................................................................... Detailed Biographies (Listed Alphabetically) ................................................................................................... Lisa “Ayleeza” Quattrochi approaches choreography for dance and drums with the same passion she brings to life itself. Her teaching style and performances are infused with spiritual energy and a wide range of emotional expressions! Background; Began Riqq and Tar drumming in 1989. Performed in the “Mob of Angels” with drum teacher and mentor Layne Redmond. Ayleeza began dance training in 1993 studied under notable instructors, including Aszmara, Tava Naiyin, NYC Bellyqueen Elisheva and Brenna Crowley. Currently she’s training with Mercedes Nieto from Hungary. Ayleeza also toured Internationally and in Canada as a belly dancer and drummer with the Middle Eastern band, ISHTAR. www.ayleeza.com ...... Kaeshi Chai is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and producer devoted to connection, creativity, and care for our planet through movement and story telling. Founder of DJAM NYC, she has taught and performed in 48 U.S. states and 39 countries, touring with Bellyqueen, PURE, Bellydance Superstars, Bellydance Evolution, and Bella Gaia, and appearing on Conan O’Brien. She has produced over 600 shows, tours, and events worldwide. Her work bridges art and community — from environmental performance projects like Nature Stories and art-science presentations at the Exploratorium, to Lunar New Year and AAPI cultural programs in libraries and schools, and creative movement education for children through 92NY. Kaeshiis also the director, teacher trainer and instructor at the Bellyqueen School of Dance and part of the Evolutionary Leaders. ...... Lorena Ayub is a New York–based dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist from Barranquilla, Colombia, with Arab heritage. She began her dance training at age four and, at 17, earned a scholarship to study at Steps on Broadway — an opportunity that brought her to New York City and marked the beginning of her professional journey in the U.S. She later continued her training at the pre-professional Ballet Hispánico School in NYC. Her performance career includes appearances at Bogotá’s Teatro Colón, the INT Theater Festival in South Korea, and three seasons of Añoranzas de Colombia at Thalia Spanish Theatre. Lorena has also performed with Ishtar (Alabina) and Los Niños de Sara at the Apollo Theater in NYC. She has trained with internationally recognized instructors including Raqia Hassan and Mohamed Shahin, while continuing her artistic growth through international festivals and workshops with guest artists from around the world. She has also collaborated on projects connected to artists such as Jennifer Lopez and Maluma. A Congo de Oro winner at Barranquilla Carnival and semifinalist on TTMT (Tengo Mucho Talento, Estrella TV, LA), Lorena is currently developing her own creative projects in New York while serving as a teaching artist with Ballet Hispánico Community Arts Partnerships. Her work blends classical technique with contemporary artistry, bringing passion, precision, and vibrant energy to every performance. ...... Nabil Bekkali is a professional Middle Eastern musician based in New York City, renowned for his masterful keyboard performances that blend traditional Arabic melodies with contemporary flair. Originally from Morocco, Nabil has performed with leading Middle Eastern and world music artists across the United States, bringing depth, rhythm, and emotion to every collaboration. His versatile style bridges classical Arabic, North African, and fusion genres, making him a sought-after accompanist for dancers and ensembles alike. ...... Nadya Noura is an Arab American belly dancer whose work is rooted in Egyptian raqs sharqi and folkloric traditions. Originally from Chicago, she draws inspiration from her Middle Eastern heritage and years spent living and performing in Dubai and Egypt. She is passionate about preserving the artistry, musicality, and emotional depth of Egyptian dance. She continues to study Arabic and Egyptian music, language, and culture, bringing authenticity and heartfelt expression to every performance. Known for her elegant stage presence and strong connection to music, Nadya strives to honor the rich traditions of the dance while sharing its beauty with audiences and fellow artists alike. ...... Naomi discovered her passion for Egyptian-style belly dance through her studies with Tarik Sultan. A dedicated student known for her musicality, authenticity, and commitment to the art form, she has earned the distinction of being regarded as one of Tarik's protégés. ...... Coming from a background in instrumental and vocal music and musical theatre, Phaedra Darwish was mesmerized by belly dance and Arabic music after studying different types of dance from around the world. She feels that dance and music are beautiful ways to share the culture of her heritage. She regularly performs and teaches workshops and classes in Chicago and throughout the US, hoping to spread enthusiasm and respect for Middle Eastern dance as more and more people get acquainted with its health benefits and enchanted by its beauty. With its lively music and rich historic tradition, oriental dance, or raqs sharqi, brings with it more than just dance moves. By examining the music, regions, and cultural aspects behind the movement in her classes and performing Arabic dance at a professional level both inside and outside of its traditional environment, Phaedra seeks to fulfill her mission as an artist: to increase cultural awareness, appreciation, and understanding by sharing the dances of her heritage with as large a population as possible. ...... Moroccan-born musician Rachid Halihal began studying music at age 14 at the Conservatory of Music in Fez, mastering voice, oud, violin, and ney while performing with the Andalus Orchestra of Fez. He later toured throughout Morocco, Europe, North America, and the Middle East, performing with renowned artists including Rachid Taha and Mohammed Abdo. Now based in New York, Rachid performs with Layali el Andalus and has appeared at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, MoMA, LACMA, the United Nations, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Brooklyn Museum. A passionate educator, he also teaches Arabic music to musicians and dancers, sharing the rich traditions of Andalusian and Middle Eastern music. ...... Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Said Fahmy has been playing percussion for more than thirty-five years. He has played with dancer Aida Nour and with singers such as Mohamed El Helwa, Ali Haggar, and Iman Darwish, the grandson of the great composer Said Darwish. He has toured with Kazem El Saher, and plays in clubs and on stages from Cairo to New York City. In addition to Tabla, Said is an expert at the Riq, Tabl Baladi, Dof and Sagat. You can find him playing at New York hot spots for Arabic music such as Layaly, the Nile restaurant in NJ and now at the Secret Room in midtown. ...... Salit is a bellydance performer, certified instructor, percussionist, and founder of SHEBA Bellydance. She has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, PIX11’s NY Living, in a Time Magazine Online video feature, and on the A Little Lighter bellydance podcast. Her work has also been featured at events including Festival International in Louisiana, Barbes in the Woods, and the Art of the Belly Festival, where she has taught and performed. Salit performs regularly with Yallah Yallah band and spent eight years as a member of a Lebanese folklore group, performing dabke and drumming at weddings and cultural celebrations. ...... Samara has had a life long commitment to the dances of the Near East. A protége of the late master Ibrahim Farrah, she performed with his internationally acclaimed Near East Dance Group in some of the most prestigious concert arenas in the US, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, New York’s Town Hall, Theatre of the Riverside Church, and the Spoleto Festival. Samara has also had a long and extensive solo career which has taken her all over the globe. She has performed with some of the most famous singing stars in the Middle East and with American artists such as Christina Aguilera at the Radio City Music Hall (MTV Music Awards) and at the Beacon Theater with fusion pop star Alabina. Additional choreographic credits include several off- Broadway productions, the New York International Fringe Festival, Kamatsu Kaoru Arabia Dance Company in Tokyo Japan, and for Broadway star Robert Cuccioli in Elvis Unbound. Samara has been the Artistic Director of Dance and the Choreographer of The Mosaic Dance Theater Company since 2003. As a master instructor Samara enjoys sharing her knowledge and teaches seminars around the world. ...... Sumbul is an Indian bellydancer who made her troupe debut in 2023 with Radiance of Nuria at Bellyqueen. Passionate about growth, she combines local training with international Bellydance festivals —from Greece to Cairo—learning from master instructors and bringing her performance to stages worldwide. ...... Tarik Sultan is one of the World’s best known pioneers of male Oriental Dance,(Belly Dancing). He began his formal training in the dance 1985. In addition to classes, he spent countless hours in the Dance Research Library at Lincoln Center trying to learn as much as he could about the dance, its history and the culture from which originated. In 1988 he traveled to Egypt for the first time and observed the dance in its native homeland, allowing him to distinguish the truth about it as versus many of the popular myths that were created about it in the media. Inspired by his travels, Tarik began teaching his first class in the early '90's, trying hard to convey all that he had learned and observed. Over the years his talent and dedication to the art had earned him a reputation as a dynamic performer, and gifted, inspiring teacher and choreographer. He has taught many successful seminars across the nation as well as internationally in The UK, Japan, Australia, Trinidad and Argentina. Some of Tarik’s international performance credits include the Jerusalem Festival, the Dar America Association in Marrakech Morocco and Alexandria Egypt. In 2003 he became one of the first male dancers to perform at the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival in Cairo, Egypt. Other credits include the United Nations, Lincoln Center and The Museum of Natural History. Tarik holds the distinction of being the only male dancer to be featured in the top venues in New York City such as Casbah Rouge, Mehenata Bulgarian Bar, Babylon, Horus, The Habibi Lounge and Feluca and 1001 Nights in Brooklyn NY. From 2003 to 20014 he was the premier dance at LeSouk in NYC. Until recently he taught regular weekly class in NYC, The Bronx and Jersey City. He is available for private lessons, Zoom classes, private parties and workshops upon request. ...... Jerusalem-born Zafer Tawil is an accomplished Palestinian musician whose areas of expertise include the oud, violin, qanun, and Arab percussion. Zafer performs across the US and in the Middle East and holds workshops in oud technique and Arabic music theory. He was part of the Spirit of Fez U.S. Tour 2006 and has performed with some of the most celebrated world music artists, including violinist and oud master Simon Shaheen and Rai singer Cheb Mami. Zafer is continuously exploring the boundaries of Arab music, and has worked collaboratively on many concerts involving classical Indian and Persian music, as well as Jazz fusion. You can catch Zafer playing one of his many instruments at extravagant private celebrations near his Brooklyn neighborhood, and at cultural centers such as Alwan for the Arts in Manhattan. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/new-york/djam-nyc-arabic-night-with-live-music-belly-dance/200030432989322 - **Event Categories**: music, entertainment, live-music, dance, belly-dance - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 32 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: New York - **state**: NY - **country**: United States - **location**: Secret Room NYC - **lat**: 40.7142 - **long**: -74.0064 - **full address**: Secret Room NYC, 76 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007-1826, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/cdb6fdc0a900deb12c0a19edf5c2783af8bff8779e16285de5cb9b4418b2f00f-rimg-w1200-h600-dce86808-gmir?v=1786612741 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance being held? - **A:** Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance takes place on Sun, 16 Aug, 2026 at 07:00 pm to Sun, 16 Aug, 2026 at 09:30 pm at Secret Room NYC, 76 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007-1826, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance? - **A:** Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance is organized by Djam NYC. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Djam NYC Arabic Night with Live Music + Belly Dance is ideal for live music fans, concert-goers, and anyone who enjoys unforgettable performances from their favorite artists in an electric live atmosphere. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in New York, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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