Ziah Ali
Bio
Dancer, designer, community builder, director, group choreographer
Ziah Ali, Director of Awalim Dance Company, is an internationally recognized Tribal bellydance performer, instructor, and event producer. Her dynamic style is technically complex, historically informed, musically sensitive, and keeps the pure joy of bellydance front and center in every performance.
Originally studying with Shakira Masood Ali at Sirrom School of Dance Houston, Texas, Ziah spent five years as a true camping nomad, traveling the nation learning from movement teachers. These studies in Persian, Rajisthani, North African, Turkish Rom, and Egyptian styles inform Ziah’s vibrant fusion.
Since putting down roots in Atlanta, Georgia in 1999, Ziah has worked to cultivate a community of well-informed and ethical dancers in the region. This total commitment to professionalism, sustainable technique, artistic discipline, and endurance has shaped the face of Tribal in the Southeast and beyond. On top of her dance company, Awalim, Ziah maintains both an ongoing local teaching practice and a student dance company, Banat Almeh.
She hosts seminars with other notable instructors, and produces ongoing events at the Red Light Cafe, a significant performance forum for professional artists in the region. Her newest love is studying the frame drum and davul, percussion instruments that allow her to stand and move.
Ziah is the founder and producer of TribalCon, her innovative and award-winning annual Tribal festival. Her critically acclaimed “Yalla! Yalla!” DVD features Awalim live at the Georgia Ren Faire.
YIP podcast interview with Ziah
Classes with Ziah
Class begins with drills to connect feet, hands and arm movement together while playing zils. These drills are useful to integrate into your weekly classes. After we are warmed up we will go through breakdown of rhythms and learning appropriate accents within the rhythms to build improvisational skills. All students will be amazed at their zil playing at the end of the workshop.
