The
Isis Foundation Hall of Fame
It is our honor to acknowledge and thank the following individuals for their outstanding contributions in promoting the art of Middle Eastern Dance and Music. Awards were presented by Isis and the Isis Foundation Board of Directors representing The Belly Dance Chronicles Magazine.
 Harry Saroyan |
2004 Lifetime Dedication, Achievement and Contribution to the Art of Middle Eastern Dance and Music for His Exceptional Voice and Personal Support of this Art Form; and for the Production of Quality Essential Performance Elements |
| Harry Saroyan | |
 Mahmoud Reda |
2005 Cultural Ambassador Extraordinaire for a Lifetime of Dedication to Enriching the World with the Teaching and Performing of His Choreographies, and the Knowledge He Willingly Shares on the Art of Middle Eastern Dance |
| Mahmoud Reda | |
 Tambra, Director of Egyptian Connection |
2005 In
Recognition of Her Continuing Contributions to
American Belly Dance by Giving Thousands of
Dancers an Unparalleled Opportunity to Study
with the Incomparable Mahmoud Reda |
| Tambra - sorry, but there are no longer any active links | |
 Morocco |
2006 Master Artiste in Ethnic Dance from the Near/Mid East in Recognition of Her Lifetime Dedication to the Study of Ethnic Dance and Rhythms of the Near and Mid East |
| Morocco and the Casbah Dance Experience | |
 Bert Balladine |
2007 Lifetime Achievement Award as Grand Dance Master in Recognition of His Contribution as an Originator of the Middle Eastern Dance Movement in the United States and for His Cultivation of the Positive within the Middle Eastern Dance Community |
| Bert Balladine 'Tales of a Lifetime' | |
 Eddie "The Sheik" Kochak |
2008 In Recognition of His Lifetime Dedication and Contribution to the Art of Middle Eastern Music and Entertainment; and for His Creation of the "Ameraba" Sound that has been and still is, an Inspiration for the American Belly Dancer |
| Eddie "The Sheik" Kochak Bio Discography | |
 Jamila Salimpour |
2009 Lifetime Achievement Award as Master Innovator of Middle Eastern Dance in Recognition of Her Contribution as an Originator of, and Her Lifetime Dedication to, the Art of the Middle Eastern Dance in the United States |
| The Legacy of Jamila Salimpour | |
 Serena Wilson |
2009 Lifetime Achievement Award in Recognition of Her Contributions to Middle Eastern Dance, both as a Writer and Publisher, and as an Exceptional Dancer, Performer, and World Wide Recognized Instructor |
| Serena's Biography | |
 Tamalyn Dallal |
2010 Lifetime Achievement Award in Recognition of Her Lifetime Contribution by Instruction, Performance, Authorship and Benevolence to the Art of Middle Eastern Dance |
| Tamalyn Dallal | |
 Tonya and Atlantis of Belly Dancer of the Universe Competitions |
2011 Award of Excellence Dance & Music Hall of Fame in Recognition of their Accomplishment of Twenty Years of Dedication to the World of Middle Eastern Dance in the United States by the Production of this Highly Esteemed Competition |
| Belly Dancer of the Universe® Competitions | |
 Shukriya of Rakkasah West, Rakkasah East, Spring Caravan, Winter Moon, Middle Eastern Festivals & Fantasy Bazaar |
2011 Award of Excellence Dance & Music Hall of Fame in Recognition of Her Accomplishment of over Thirty Years of Dedication to the Art of Middle Eastern Dance in the United States by the Production of the Most Attended Event(s) in the History of this Art Form |
| Rakkasah Middle Eastern Dance Festival | |
 Marta Schill |
2012 Lifetime Achievement Award, Master
of Middle Eastern Dance, Dance & Music Hall of Fame in
Honor of your 45 Years of Immersion in the
Middle Eastern Dance Community, marking a
lifetime of involvement as a Dancer,
Choreographer, Instructor, Author, Producer, and
Publisher. As Co-Founder of the prolific
organization, M.E.C.D.A., you helped give
thousands of dancers and musicians an
opportunity to expand their horizons, and we
honor your dedication to continue to share your
wealth of knowledge of this incredible art form |
| Cairo Shimmy Quake | |
 Mary Ellen Donald |
2013 Lifetime Achievement Award, Dance & Music Hall of Fame in Recognition of your outstanding accomplishment of over thirty years of dedication to the art of Middle Eastern Percussion as an instructor, author, performer and producer of Middle Eastern music and dance events. |
| Mary Ellen Donald | |
 Dr. Samy Farag |
2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, Dance & Music Hall of Fame in Recognition of your outstanding accomplishments and dedication to the art of Middle Eastern Music, as an award-winning composer, who is known internationally for his exceptional musical compositions. Dr. Samy is not only a respected physician, he is the founder of Sphinx Records, and his music has been featured in movies, television, videos, and major stage productions. We honor Dr. Samy, not only for his achievements, but also for his passion in continuing to produce and compose. |
| Sphinx Records | |
 Amina Goodyear |
2015 Lifetime Achievement Award, In honor of your outstanding years as a dancer and musician, and in recognition of your innumerable contributions to the Middle Eastern Dance community - including founding The Aswan Dancers, founding The Cairo Cats Band, co-founding The Arabian Knights Band, creating The Giza Club, the production of numerous albums and videos, and so much more. From those early days on the stage of The Bagdad Cabaret to today, you have inspired thousands of dancers and musicians to find “the heartbeat and the soul of the dance” in the music, and to express it in dance.
|
| Aswan Dancers | |
 Amaya |
2016 Lifetime Achievement Award, Dance & Music Hall of Fame, In honor of your outstanding dedication to preserving Middle Eastern Dance. From her days as a performer with Circus Conelli in Zurich, to her role as a featured performer in Salome in Germany and her award-winning performances in Cairo competitions, to becoming an international instructor, Amaya has made an indelible mark on the world of Middle Eastern Dance. Amaya's video, American Belly Dance Legends, preserves our history for future generations and she continues to share the dance as a teacher and event & video producer. As her mentor, dance partner and friend Bert Balladine once said, "Amaya is a jewel in the crown of the Oriental World." We thank you Amaya, for letting that 'Jewel' shine bright for us all! |
| Wise Woman | |
 Carl F. Sermon & Ma*Shuqa Murjan |
2017 Lifetime
Achievement Award, Dance & Music Hall of Fame,
In honor of their lasting legacy, Carl F. Sermon
and Ma*Shuqa Murjan have dedicated, together,
more than 70 years to the international belly
dance community. Between Ma*Shuqa's years of
teaching, performing and writing about the dance
and music, and Carl's hundreds of thousands of
photographs chronicling the dance, they, as a
couple, have truly created and captured that
"golden ya habibi moment" time after time. Their contributions to the art of belly dance, to Yaa Halla, Y'all, to The Belly Dance Chronicles and The Isis Foundation, place them forever among the brightest of stars in our constellation. |
| Carl F. Sermon Ma*Shuqa Murjan | |
 Zahra Zuhair |
2018 Lifetime
Achievement Award for International performer,
luminary instructor, and choreographer, Zahra is
globally renowned for her knowledge,
authenticity, and dedication to the art of
Middle Eastern dance. From the time she first
discovered the dances of North Africa and the
Middle East in the 1970s, these have been the
hallmarks of Zahra Zuhair. As a performer, a teacher and, yes, a student of dance, Zahra embodies the essence of elegance and style at the heart of our beloved art. Zahra’s certification program, Artistry In Motion (AIM), has been created with her passion for the continuing development of oriental dance excellence.
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| Zahrah Zuhair | |
 Dalia Carella |
2019
Lifetime Achievement Award for International
performer for more than 35 years, Dalia Carella
has used her talents and her skills as a
teacher, choreographer and performer to bring a
world of dance to students and audiences around
the world, working both in a wide variety of
existing dance forms and through her own dance
form, “Dunyavi Gypsy (Roma) Dance.” As a teacher and as founder and artistic director of the Dalia Carella Dance Collective, she has added immeasurably to the rich and diverse culture of dance, and in recognition of her ongoing contributions, the Isis Foundation presents her with this award.
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| Dalia Carella |