Taletha, Belly Dance Performer and Instructor in Louisville and Souther Indiana

"Beauty" is a word we toss around a lot without really understanding. But sit down and watch Taletha dance, and you will come to understand what beauty truly is." - Aziyade (IN)

Taletha began her professional belly dance career in 2004 and has quickly become one of Kentucky’s most recognized and acclaimed Middle Eastern dance artists. She earns her living as a solo performer and instructor of belly dance (also known as Raks Sharqi or Oriental Dance) in Louisville, KY. In addition to Egyptian style belly dance, her repertoire also includes Central Asian dance, the folk dances of the Middle East, American Cabaret style belly dance, and Gothic belly dance. She is a member of the successful Middle Eastern folk and Central Asian dance ensemble, The Crescent Moon Dance Company (Jo Hadley, Director), as well as co-founder of TL2 Productions, a partnership dedicated to bringing the joy of dance and music to Louisville, KY and Southern Indiana . More recently, Taletha has become founder and artistic director for Middle Eastern and Experimental dance ensemble, Asrar Al Badra, a group which serves to help provide a creative outlet and performance training for her students. She has also put her experience as a classically trained flautist to work as a member of Ahel El Nagam, a music group devoted to playing Middle Eastern music. She is also currently a student at Indiana University Southeast School of Music where she studies Sound Engineering and performs with the IUS Symphonic Band. Taletha’s abilities have earned her the opportunity to teach and perform not only in Louisville, but also in Lexington, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dayton, Columbus, Denver, Reno, and Seattle. Her performances have reached people from all walks of life. She has performed for major corporate functions, museums, cultural events, and even tattoo conventions. These opportunities have given Taletha recognition locally, and are also beginning to get the attention of people on a national and international level. Taletha is available for belly dance workshops in a variety of subjects, private parties, weddings, cultural events, and corporate functions. To see Taletha's booking information, please visit the booking page.
Dance Repertoire
	Central Asia Ferghana (Uzbekistan) Bukharan (Uzbekistan) Tadjik (Uzbekistan) Khorezm (Uzbekistan) Afghani (Afghanistan) Uighur (China) Turkomen (Turkmenistan) Azeri (Azerbaijan)	Middle East/Mediterranean/Iran Khaliji (Gulf Region) Raks Al Assaya (Egypt) Raks Sharqi (Belly Dance - Egypt) Debke (Turkey) Chiftitelli (Turkey) Karshlama (Turkey) Classical Persian (Iran) Badari (Iran)

Some of Taletha’s past performances include: Honors Zaghareet Magazine's Golden Belly Award Nominee for 2008 - Best Ethnic Dancer Hipdrop.com's Featured Artist - April 2005 Personal Best Belly Dance Competition – Second Place, Silver Category (2004) As Instructor and Featured Performer Gothic vs. Egyptian workshop - Beckley, WV (2009) Phenomenal Arms and Gothic Belly Dance Combinations at Purdue University - LaFayette, IN (2009) Phenomenal Arms and I Hate Footwork at Kira's Oasis - Centerville, OH (2009) The Gothalyptic Belly Dance Festival – New Albany, IN and Louisville, KY (2008) Delectably Dark Combinations Workshop at Mecca - Lexington, KY (2008) HOT Combinations and Gothic Belly Dance Workshop at Mecca Dance Studio - Lexington, KY (2007) Zills Drills and Gothic Belly Dance Workshop at Kira's Oasis - Centerville, OH (2007) The Hipdrop Live Tour - Columbus, OH (2006) “Sizzle in the Fizzle” Valentine's Workshop for Beginners - Louisville, KY (2006) As Featured Performer The National Tattoo Association's 29th Annual Convention - Reno, NV (2008) TL2 Productions and Restless Natives Productions present Belly Spell - Louisville, KY (2007) The Red Tour with Snakes Rising and il Troubadore – Louisville, KY (2007) The National Tattoo Association's 28th Annual Convention - Seattle, WA (2007) The White Tour with Snakes Rising and il Troubadore - Columbus, Dayton and Louisville (2007) TL2 Productions Presents Raquy and the Cavemen – Louisville, KY (2006) The 1st International Denver Tattoo Convention - Denver, Colorado (2006) The University of Louisville with Grotesque Burlesque at the Red Barn - Louisville, KY (2006) Victory of Light Festival with Snakes Rising - Cincinnati, OH (2006) Jarfi's Bistro Scherezade Premiere Party – Louisville, KY (2006) Beyond the Nile – Louisville, KY (2005) Art Sanctuary's, "Art Soirée," – Louisville, KY (2005) Mardi Gras Louisville (2006) Phoenix Hill Tavern's Mardi Gras Celebration (2006) Louisville Zoo's International Family Festival (2004) With the Crescent Moon Dance Company World Fest on the Belvedere (2005-2007) The Crane House Asian New Year Festival (2004-2008) Speed Art Museum 1000 Families Family Day (2005, 2007) The Crane House's 20th Anniversary Celebration (2007) With Ahel El Nagam as Musician and Dancer Worldfest on the Belvedere (2008) Middle Eastern Culture Festival at Xavier University – Cincinnati , OH (2008) Repeat performances at Road to Morocco (2007-2008) Repeat performances at Blue Mountain Coffee House and Wine Bar (2007-2008) Harvest Homecoming – New Albany, IN (2007, 2008) With Asrar Al Badra The IUS International Festival - New Albany, IN (2009) The Henry Wallace Brigade fundraiser - Louisville, KY (2007) L'Stylz Magazine's, "Make Room for Love," Dinner Party - Louisville, KY (2008)