About Azhia

Award-winning dancer, Azhia, has trained and performed since the age of five in ballet, tap, and jazz at various schools, including Ballet Arizona and Tempe Dance Academy. While with the Tempe Dance Academy, Azhia traveled to Moscow and Leningrad in the former Soviet Union and to Copenhagen, Denmark, to perform and engage in youth cultural exchange.
In 1988, Azhia discovered an affinity with non-Western dance arts and studied Bharata Natyam (South Indian Classical Dance), West African, Flamenco, Filipino folk dances and Polynesian dances. Ultimately, Azhia found her passion and mainstay in Oriental dance, performing and teaching in Phoenix and eventually in Philadelphia, PA, where she attended law school.
Starting in 1998, Azhia performed with the best Middle Eastern musicians in the Delaware Valley as a house dancer at the former Nile Restaurant (adjacent to the legendary Middle East Club), where she cultivated a joy and fluency in performing to live music. This lead to Azhia's "Dancing to Live Music" workshops, a well-attended learning experience for both amateur and professional-level dancers, who practice via live musical accompaniment by Bill Koutsouros of world music ensemble, Animus, and Joe Tayoun, whose well-known family is steeped in Middle Eastern musical tradition.
In 2003, Azhia won the Jewel of the Nile Middle Eastern Dance Pageant, the Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition (BDUC), Universal Category, and People's Choice Award. Azhia was invited to return to the BDUC to judge several categories.
Azhia added makeup artist to her roster of careers back in 2000 with her first bridal assignment: herself. Since then, as Azhia and as co-founder of Arzher Productions, she has transformed many brides, actors, models and performers, on set, on location, in studio, and backstage, with her makeup and hair styling talents. Christine Azhia graduated with 1250 hours from the Jean Madeline Aveda Institute in Philadelphia, PA, focusing on hair styling and skincare. She is excited to participate in the Fall 2008 "evolution" event in Provincetown, MA, developed by The Powder Group. The event receives 20 advanced makeup artists and explores 9 themes over 5 days to further their artistic, technical, career, and personal potentials.
Azhia's first DVD in "The Dancer's Companion" series, "Preparation, Drills, & Cool Down" was released in April 2008 and is available for purchase. Her second DVD in the series, "Basic Makeup Techniques for Performance and Photography" was released in August 2008 and her third DVD "Spins and Turns" will be release sometime in 2009.

A Hands-On Workshop with Azhia
Thurs. August 19, 2010 TIME: 630 to 930pm
Hosted by Sitamun
$35/person pre-registered, $40 at the door (limited spots are available so contact Sitamun to register now!)
*Get the scoop on products & brushes for the most dynamic and durable makeup
*Learn the basics of skin preparation & the 2-part Wrinkle Cure!
*Select & apply flawless foundation
*Create captivating eyes
*Lip & cheek essentials
*Includes 1 set false lashes
*Discounts on DVDs. View trailers at http://www.azhiadance.com/store.aspx

Private Lessons with Azhia!!!