ABOUT KANINA
When Kanina began dancing in the 1970s Boston was already a hub for Middle Eastern music and dance in the United States. Club Zahra, one of the nation’s first ‘belly dance’ dinner clubs, opened its doors in the 1950s, attracting a steady stream of musicians, aspiring dancers and excellent teachers to the area. Her early studies in Boston were soon complemented by workshops and seminars with experts in the US and abroad. She has traveled and studied in Greece, Morocco, Istanbul, and Egypt to enhance her knowledge and appreciation of the art.
For the past 50 years, Kanina has dedicated much of her life to sharing her love of dance with her students and the greater New England community.
Since the 1970s, Kanina has taught belly dance to thousands of women, focusing on respect and understanding of Middle Eastern dance, music and culture.
Her numerous productions of Arabian Nights, A Thousand and One Nights, and Night at the Casbah have showcased the beauty and artistry of Middle Eastern dance and music, creating an ideal performance setting for New England audiences.
From 1972 to 2020, Kanina served as director and choreographer of the Beledi Dance Company, which highlighted the cabaret and folkloric dances of the Middle East. In the 1980s, she performed and contributed choreography to the Boston-based Near East Dance Theatre, earning accolades from notable figures such as Mrs. Anwar Sadat during her visit from Egypt. As a soloist, Kanina has graced Middle Eastern night clubs and cultural events throughout New England and was the featured performer at Arabian Nights, Holiday Inn, Aruba, as well as a guest artist at A Tribute to Mahmoud Reda, Boston, honoring the famed Egyptian choreographer.
Internationally, she showcased her talent at the Turkish Delight Festival in Istanbul, Turkey; the Randa Kamel of Course in Egypt; and Journey Through Egypt, Cairo, where she spent a month immersing herself in the local music, culture and dances.
Throughout her extensive career, Kanina has supported local arts, education, medical research, and social service agencies through numerous benefit performances. In November 2014, she produced A Billion and One Nights, a presentation of Middle Eastern dance and music, in memory of her late husband, Bill Hague, raising $10,000 for research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Today, in addition to teaching at her Johnston studio, she continues to attend and support live belly dance performances at area venues and to perform at select events. She has also re-launched the Beledi Dance Company and is excited to see where this new ensemble will take their artistry and creative expression under her direction