New York Performing
Artist Company presents:
Featuring
nine Middle Eastern dancers, plus an on-stage band of three master Arabic
percussionists, Mosaic
boasts as its star performer and choreographer the renowned Samara. Based
in New York City, Samara is one of today's finest, and most sought-after,
international performers of Middle Eastern dance.
A protégé of the late master Ibrahim Farrah, she was a featured
performer with his Near East Dance Group and performed internationally, as
well as at this country’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie
Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the
Spoleto Festival.
As the world grows smaller, our knowledge of international cultures
grows larger. With its vivid choreography, sumptuous costumes, and
remarkable performers Mosaic
offers a unique window on the world of international dance, and is a
perfect addition to a season of diverse, audience-pleasing presentations.
To see more photographs from Mosaic, click
here.
Adriana has been
involved in the Middle Eastern dance world for over 20 years as both
teacher and performer, studying under Mish Mish B'int Amira and Samara.
Adriana was a featured member of L'Orient Danse Troupe and has performed
in a variety of venues with the troupe and on her own including
carnivals, festivals, theatres, restaurants and television in the United
States and the Caribbean. Adriana is also a student and performer of
Hawaiian dance. She holds a Bachelors Degree from Hunter College and a
Masters from Columbia University. 
Nina has an
extensive background in dance, studying tap, Korean folkdance and Tae
Kwan Do from childhood. She was awarded a two-year full time dance
scholarship from Clark Center for Performing Arts where she trained
intensively in Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Dunham (African) dance. She also
studied acting and performed in Equity musical stage productions such as
the King and I and appeared in several videos. Additionally, she
has studied Polynesian dance for many years, touring professionally with
three companies to Atlantic City casinos, museums and colleges as well
as at corporate functions for PepsiCo, Colgate Palmolive, Bristol Meyers
and People Magazine. Nina continues her studies in Hawaiian dance and
recently participated in master classes in Hawaii. Nina studies Middle
Eastern dance with Samara, and has performed at special events, in
theatrical productions and Middle Eastern restaurants in the New York
area. 
Angel began his
dance training in tap dance, and has also training professionally in
many styles of Latin dance, and ultimately specializing in sala. A
native of Puerto Rico who now resides in New York, Angel has traveled
extensively throughout the US and Europe to perform and conduct
workshops in salsa. Additionally, his background includes a musical
career as lead singer, songwriter and bass player. After falling in love
with the passion of Middle Eastern and North African music Angel has
expanded his focus to include studying the various traditional dances of
those cultures. He also performs at area Middle Eastern special events
and restaurants. 
Amir Naoum Chehade
has grown up with a doumbek in his hands. Coming from a musical
family influenced his decision to become a professional drummer. He
attended the Studio al-Fin (The Art Studio), a famous music conservatory
in Beirut, Lebanon. Since coming to the United States more than
twenty-five years ago, Amir has performed for Arabic, Turkish, Greek,
Jewish, Armenian and of course, American audiences. He has performed
throughout the United States and Canada. Amir has performed extensively
in New York City, including all the major middle Eastern nightclubs, the
United Nations, Carnegie Hall, town Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Merkin
Concert hall. Amir's drumming has also been featured on radio, TV, films
and numerous recordings. amir is a master teacher who has been teaching
percussion for twenty-five years in studios in New York and New Jersey.
Many of his students have gone on to become professional drummers. He is
proficient not only with the doumbek, but also with the tambourine,
muzhar and bendir. Amir is a highly acclaimed artist who puts his heart
and soul into his music. 
Maurice
Chedid, a native of Beirut,Lebanon, studied at the Lebanese Conservatory
of Middle eastern Music, where he received a Diploma in the traditional
Mouashahat, Oud Playing and Folk Singing. As a member of the Lebanese
Folkloric Tiuristic Group, he toured internationally for four years as
lead singer and oud player with the ensemble, and was a popular
entertainer in nightclubs throughout Lebanon, where he also composed and
recorded over twenty songs and dance compositions. Emigrating to the
United States in the 1980's, he is a favorite and frequent performer at
Middle Eastern nightclubs and at Arabic Haflas up and down the eastern
seaboard. He has also performed at such important venues as Lincoln
Center, Paper Mill Playhouse, Clark Art Institute, Nashville Institute
for the Arts, Philadelphia Arts Institute, Northeastern University. For
New York Performing Artist Company, he is a company member of Ali Baba
and the Forty Thieves, and was composer and musical director of the
original score foe its story-theater production of Banat el Emir or The
Dancing Princesses, which had its world premiere at the Greenwich Street
Theatre in New York City. 
Ira Weitz plays the
Egyptian Bass Drum known as the dahola. He can be heard playing
for Middle Eastern dancers weekly at several nightspots in New York
City, including L'Orange Bleue and Cafe Figaro. Ira came to Middle
eastern rhythms from the Jamaican world of Reggae Music. With
award-winning Jamaican musician Willie Lindo, Ira has created a CD of
educational children's reggae music, Push for Your Goal, broadcast on children's
radio shows and numerous reggae-style radio and TV commercials. Ira's
non-musical background includes positions as writers at Marvel Comics
and Cracked Magazine, as well as Guidance Counselor and teacher for the
New York City public schools. He is currently creating a CD and book for
children concerning animal rescue.