Spotlight Dancer/Troupe
Banat Tabla, the Daughters of the Drum

Four years ago the organizers of Yuma’s Two Rivers Renaissance Festival contacted Raven asking if she might be able to bring together a group of dancers to perform at the first renaissance faire in Yuma. It was from that request that Banat Tabla, the Daughters of the Drum, was formed. 

Over the last four years, this diverse group of women has combined their love of all styles of belly dance to allow each dancer her moment to shine. Their varied interests from modern belly dance techniques, to traditional elements of the dance from around the Middle East, as well as American Tribal Style gives them an eclectic blend of dances to share with their audiences. 

The dancers of Banat Tabla are a crowd favorite at the Two Rivers Renaissance Faire and have had the privilege of performing for many local events including the Relay for Life, the YAAEA Art Auction, and the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Fairy Party to name a few. 

The dancers of Banat Tabla want to say a special thank you to three dancers, Hessa-ahu, Vasiliki and Sefa who have recently had to leave us due to life, jobs, and relocations. They have helped to make us the troupe we are today. We also want to thank our families for their incredible support that allows us to do what we love so much. Banat Tabla is truly a family affair! 
www.banattabla.com 


Ayanna 
I have been dancing since I began to walk and started performing my freshman year of high school. I started taking belly dance classes two years ago when my sister first took me to a class. I fell in love with belly dance, stuck to it, and am one of the most recent additions to the Banat troupe.

Kalila 
I started taking classes 5 years ago. I always loved to dance any kind of music. I saw an ad about belly dance classes, signed up, and started taking class with Raven. I fell in love with Middle Eastern music. I invited a friend, Zarah, and she started dancing as well. We are a group of women who love to dance and enjoy life. Dancing helps me relax and let’s me be myself. I also enjoy sewing and making my costumes. My son helps me pick my music and my mother helps me pick out my colors and costumes. Performing is the most exciting time for me. You can see all the hard work and time we spend practicing pay off. My family enjoys watching us dance. A special thanks to them because they have been avid supporters of the troupe and are at every show. 

Lisa 
Lisa has been dancing all of her life, but only begun formal dance lessons about 6 years ago. Lisa fell in love with ethnic dancing when, as a child; she would watch Bellydancers on television and in the movies. It wasn’t until many, many years later that Lisa decided to delve into Bellydance, but once she started, she fell in love, and has been obsessed with the art form ever since. Lisa is certified in FCBD/American Tribal Style of Bellydance by the creator, Carolena Nericcio. She continues to train with her at every opportunity. Lisa also trains in the Khalbeliya style of dance of the Northern Indian ‘gypsies’. Lisa, also a jewelry designer, is just as interested in the costuming aspects associated with ethnic dances as with the dances themselves. Lisa is grateful her beloved grandmother taught her how to sew on a machine as soon as she was old enough to reach the foot pedal. Sewing skills are definitely a bellydancers best friend.
Lisa’s dance aesthetic is inspired by the amazing ethnic and folkloric dances around the globe today and from the bygone era of traveling entertainment. She draws on a multitude of vintage and modern sources as inspiration for her journey in Bellydance. Wherever the dance takes her, Lisa knows it will be an amazing journey and is ready to follow along. The dance has brought Lisa much more than she ever expected or anticipated, and she knows it can only hold good things for the future.


Nahid
I have been dancing for about 3 years. I started taking classes with Raven, through Yuma Parks and Recreation, in September 2006. From the first class I was hooked. When Raven invited a small group of dancers to perform at the Two Rivers Renaissance Faire in Yuma, I jumped at the opportunity to perform, even though a part of me was terrified and did not think I was good enough. Now, I love all forms of the dance. I performed my first solo in October 2008. I continues to learn through Raven, workshops and on my own at home with many, many different instructional dvds. I love dancing with veils and sword. I am currently working on my zill technique and have picked up playing the Doumbek. I also enjoy creating my own costumes. Belly dance has become my passion. All aspects, from the moves to the music to the costuming, it speaks to my soul and makes me happy.

Neeka
I started taking lessons with my daughter several years ago. Belly Dancing is my escape – my “me time”- a fantasy to enjoy. I love to sew and create the costumes that reflect my love of the dance. My fellow dancers are the most beautiful group of women I have ever had the pleasure to know. They are talented and gracious and as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

Rabia
Rabia started taking belly dance classes about 5 years ago after being inspired by her favorite singer Shakira and the soap opera El Clon. Over the years she has matured as a dancer and a woman. Rabia is also one of our newer members having danced her first faire with us this year. 

Raja
Raja has been belly dancing for over five years. She feels very connected to her fellow dancers and gets a lot of enjoyment out of dancing. Tribal fusion is her passion, as well as ATS and Indian fusion. Her favorite props include her zills and scimitar.

Raven
Raven is the founder and artistic director of Banat Tabla. She started dancing like most little girls with tap and ballet lessons as a child, moving on to modern dance in her teen years. Shortly after graduation from high school, a friend asked her to go along to try out a belly dance class in Tucson and she hasn’t stopped dancing since. Raven has been fortunate to study with many very talented and knowledgeable dancers over the years and is a self proclaimed “workshop junkie”. Raven’s husband also known as, “Hi Nice Man” and the troupe “camel”, is her biggest fan and supporter as well as the troupe’s official photographer. When asked what her favorite part of dancing is she says “It’s a toss up between that moment when your completely connected to the music and audience as a performer, or that ‘ah ha’ moment when a student finally gets a move they have struggled with”. 


Saba
Saba started dancing about four years ago as a way to exercise. Always ready with a safety pin, eyelash glue, or a smile to calm the nerves, Saba is “Mom” to the entire group. We don’t know what we would do without her!

Sahira
Sahira watched her first performance in Tucson and decided that she wanted to try it. She was lucky enough to find Raven who made it easy and enjoyable to learn. 

Zarah
I started dancing almost 5 years ago when and friend asked me to go to a belly dance class with her. She was so excited about it I thought I would try it too. I never thought I would be performing with a troupe let alone doing solos. I enjoy learning new moves in the different styles of belly dance not only from Raven, our troupe director, but also going to see other dancers at workshops and at performances. It is amazing to be apart of a sisterhood of women empowering each other not only in dance, but in everyday life. I am truly blessed. By the way the girl that ask me to go with her to class? Is none other than Kalila.

Contact Banat Tabla, the Daughters of the Drum:
website: http://www.banattabla.com
email: info@yumabellydance.com

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