Teachers
Meet the international teachers taking part in Orientalísimo Weekend 2027.
Ariel Khalih
Festival teacher
Brazilian dancer, choreographer and teacher specialising in oriental dance. Her work stands out for its technical precision, abdominal control and the impactful movements that shape her Drum Power style. Through her own methodology, she seeks to develop powerful, expressive dance built on solid foundations.
Kareem Gad
Festival teacher
Egyptian artist born in Cairo, dancer, choreographer, teacher and musician. Trained from a young age in Egyptian folklore, percussion and stage dance, he combines a deep knowledge of tradition with a contemporary, theatrical perspective. In 2013 he co-founded Bell’Masry, a company devoted to sharing the dances and music of Egypt.
Mohanned Hawaz
Festival teacher
Iraqi-Swedish artist and choreographer born in Mosul, specialising in traditional Iraqi and contemporary dance. His work helps preserve Iraqi choreographic heritage and bring it to international audiences, combining cultural knowledge, research and a personal stage language.
Oscar Flores
Festival teacher
International performing artist, director, choreographer and educator with more than thirty years of experience in oriental dance and musical theatre. His approach brings together technique, musical interpretation and storytelling, using movement to create characters, emotions and stories on stage.
Alessandra D'Ambra
Festival teacher
Italian dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Madrid. Her training spans classical dance, jazz, urban dance and oriental dance, which she deepened during her years working in Egypt. Through D’Ambra Dance Project, she develops a dynamic, contemporary Egyptian style while preserving the dance’s cultural essence.
Althea
Festival teacher
Althea, the stage name of Melpomeni Moschaki, is a Greek choreographer and teacher specialising in Egyptian oriental dance. Her extensive musical training brings particular sensitivity to her interpretation, which she combines with the study of raqs sharqi, folkloric rhythms and choreography.
Aurora Drago
Festival teacher
Italian dancer trained in classical and folkloric oriental dance. From a young age she has earned national and international recognition, including gold medals at world and Italian championships. Her artistic development led her to become the Orientalísimo Weekend Absolute Winner in 2026.
Aline Neves
Festival teacher
Portuguese multidisciplinary artist and award-winning oriental and urban dancer, with experience as an actress and karate practitioner. Her style blends classical oriental technique with contemporary influences, modern fusions and Arabic pop, bringing together precision, energy and a strong stage presence.
Roberta Gazzetta
Festival teacher
Italian dancer, teacher and judge with an outstanding career in competitive oriental dance. A world champion as a soloist and an award winner in group formations, she combines her stage experience with teaching and training new generations of dancers, including Aurora Drago.
Omar Kattan
Festival teacher
Percussionist, composer and teacher of Syrian heritage specialising in darbuka and world percussion. His experience spans oriental, flamenco, Latin and Mediterranean music, with a style closely connected to improvisation and live interaction with dancers and audiences.
Jamilah
Festival teacher
Professional dancer and teacher based in Toronto, specialising in Egyptian-style oriental dance. Her teaching combines technique, musicality and expression across styles including baladi, shaabi, mejance, saidi and drum solo, with a welcoming approach that builds confidence and enjoyment of movement.
Alina Babayan
Festival organizer
Armenian-born artist, choreographer and producer based in Barcelona. She founded Dansa Alina Babayan in 2014 and created Orientalísimo in 2016, from where she develops educational projects and produces Orientalísimo Weekend, bringing together oriental dance students and international artists.
