Sharaqa Shimmers is Phoenix’s Professional Performance Dance Troupe. The troupe consists of a group of beautiful performers who share their love for the dance. The troupe is nationally known with performances at the Hawaii Bellydance Convention, Rakkasah West, KC Raqs, Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive and more.

Phoenix and Sharaqa Shimmers are available for hire and offer a variety of performances. Contact Phoenix to hire the troupe for your event.

See Phoenix’s Media pages to see photos & videos of the troupe.

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Troupe Bios

Thana Tarab

Thana Tarab is an accomplished belly dancer with over two decades of performance experience, having begun her dance journey in 2001. She specializes in American Cabaret, Vintage Cabaret, Oriental, and Egyptian folk styles, with a movement quality shaped by cross-training in Persian dance, ballet, and contemporary dance. Her work reflects a deep respect for the cultural roots of the art form while maintaining a polished, expressive, and engaging stage presence. Thana has trained extensively with respected mentors including Katayoun of Northern Virginia and Sherena of Canton, and her career includes numerous competition awards, a national audition for Bellydance Superstars, and an appearance on Season 2 of Project Bellydance. In addition to performing, she has a long history of teaching and is an avid belly dance historian. Whether on stage or in the studio, Thana brings clarity, authenticity, and a deep love of the art to everything she does.

Naomi

Naomi started dancing at 5 with Highland dance and took a hiatus from dance for 15 yrs. In her early thirties she decided to revisit dance and her childhood joy of dancing with swords! Naomi has a background in Lebanese, Egyptian and fusion belly dance styles.

Naomi teaches in Castle Rock Colorado at Castle Raqs Dance Studio. Naomi gives her student and fellow troup members a positive environment for personal expression, body positivity and confidence.

Molly Tsunami

Classically trained in Egyptian and Turkish style Cabaret Belly Dance, Molly Tsunami will enchant and entrance you with serpentine movements, fusion dance styles, and fire performance. By day she’s a tattoo artist that owns her own shop, Stargazer Tattoo, as well as a budding cosplay prop making shop, by night she performs dance, sideshow, and fire!

Lauren

Lauren has over 18 years of experience bringing vibrant, expressive movements to the stage. For more than a decade, she has performed with Sharaqa Shimmers at local and national venues, sharing the joy and artistry of dance with her fellow belly dance sisters. Her style blends American Cabaret, classic Egyptian, jazz, and modern to create performances that match my playful and dynamic personality.

Kristen

Kristen discovered her love for belly dancing in 2005. A coworker of hers had started teaching a belly dance class. She asked Kristen to join her class every day for about three months, to which Kristen always replied, “No, I’m way too shy to be a belly dancer.” Kristen eventually gave in and signed up for one six-week session. At her very first class, Kristen immediately knew she was a belly dancer. The moves just felt right in her body, and the rest was history.

Kristen has trained with many different belly dance teachers across many different belly dance styles and has taught her own belly dance classes in Denver, Colorado and in Ankara, Turkey. She enjoys cabaret, ATS, and fusion styles. Here in Denver, Colorado, she has danced with Sharaqa Shimmers (a cabaret focused troupe) since about 2009, and with Batavia (a fusion and improv focused troupe) since about 2012. When she was living abroad, she danced as a soloist in Ankara, Turkey and in Lyon, France, and as both a soloist and as a troupe member of Tatsu (a fusion focused troupe) in Wrocław, Poland.

Belly dance has taught Kristen many things, but the most important gift that belly dance has offered her has been a sense of self confidence, a feeling of comfort in her own skin, and an amazing community with great friends.

Sarah

Sarah began her dance training in childhood, beginning with ballet, tap and jazz. She transitioned to belly dance during her college days in 2007, and then with Phoenix of Denver and the Sharaqa Shimmers since 2008. Sarah has performed around the country with with Sharaqa Shimmers. Sarah loves to add her classic background to fun music such as metal. This hardworking single mother of one works hard in IT, goes to the gym, walks her dog, and spends lots of quality time with family and friends. She continues to share her love for dance with the troupe and subbing for Phoenix’s classes at times.

Jessey

Jessey is one of the original members of Sharaqa Shimmers. With an extensive background in dancing, she enjoys the theatrical side of dance. Jessey offers a variety of self-help workshops and coaching options for individuals.