Under Construction - This is a new page dedicated to the Members of Ya Amar!
Dear Members & Alumni of Ya Amar!, (and project Casts) please E-mail me your photo & 25-100 word insert (bio, current projects, introduction...) and the years you were in YA and the large shows you were in. If you happen to want to also send me a memory of when you were in YA (that is printable, or not), please do.

Thanks,
Sahra C. Kent

Cast Lists already up for:
2002 - Project Cast for "RA -The Eclipse of the Sun" 2002 (photos & bios of full world dance cast, includes YA members and guest dancers) RA 2002 cast
2007 - Project Cast for "RA -The Eclipse of the Sun" 2007 (list of full dance cast, includes YA members and guest dancers - no photos or bios yet) RA 2007

1995
Ya Amar! was founded as the Dinner Show for Luxor Night Club & Restaurant, OC, California
Founding members: Alexandra, Alnisa, Cindra, Kelly (Farrah Farnoush), Laurie "Ki" Buenefe, Mary (Marina Saeeda), Sahra "Saeeda" Kent - Director, Linda Gibson - Assistant Director & MC

Sahra had just returned from 6 years performing in Egypt and was approached by the management of Luxor to create a Dinner Show similar to the one she had directed from 1979-1983 at Cascades. Having just arrived, Sahra did not yet know the currant dancers of the area. She asked Alnisa to be in the troupe, then sent out announcements of the auditions.

Later, while still at Luxor, Susan (Amira Maleke), Roxxanne Shelaby, and Soledad joined.

1997
Ya Amar! joined "The Sahra Show" (live musicians, singer and one male folklore dancer from Sahra's show in Cairo) on some of the states of the Tour
"The Sahra Show" was made up of Sahra and members of her Cairo show (Tarik Imad - singer, Al Sayyid Joker - folkloric dancer, Ashraf Zakaria - Music Director / Keyboard, Kamal - Violin, Hassan - Dumbec, Hassan Tura - Sagat / Tura). For 8 weeks they toured the US, joined by Ya Amar! in Los Vegas and California shows.

Ya Amar! who appeared with "The Sahra Show" Tour were: Alexandra, Alnisa, Cindra, Karin "Lilla" Varese, Kelly (Farrah Farnoush), Laurie "Ki" Buenefe, Mary (Marina Saeeda), Sahra "Saeeda" Kent, Soledad, Susan (Amira Maleke)

"Ala Nar"
"Ala Nar" ("On Fire") Ya Amar! Repertiore 1996 - present
In photo, clockwise from left:
Marina Saeeda, Laurie Ki Buenefe, Roxanne Shelaby, Ravenn, Farrah Farnoush
"Ala Nar" Started as a solo for Sahra 1989 in her Cairo show (video "Sahra-Direct from Cairo" 1991), 1993-1995 it was a Saidi duet (video "Ahlan, Ahlan" 1995), Y
Ya Amar! group 1995 - present (video "Al Dunia" 1999).
Dancers names? who have ever danced this staple Sf YA repetoire? Scores! to many to count!

1999
"Al Dunia" Theater Show (Brea, CA & Hollywood, CA) Award winning show & video

"Al Dunia"

 ("The World")
Hollywood & Brea, California, 1999
In photo, clockwise from front left:
Marina Saeeda, Farrah Farnoush, Alexandra, Ravenn,
Roxanne, Ilene, Petra, Laurie Ki Buenefe, Amira Maliki, Karen
Also performing in show:
Gary Eldred, Jocelyn, Malik, Sahra, Rodrigo
Ya Amar! members perform with Komatsu Dance Co. in Tokyo, Japan

1999

2000
Ya Amar! in "Rivers of Light" production
Learning Light Center, Anaheim, California, 2000

"Rivers of Light"
In photo, clockwise from left: Nadia, Roxanne, Sahra, Seiko, Irani, Cheryl
Also performing in show: Alexandra, Katia, Lauie Ki Buenefe, Marina Saeeda, Maxine, Sophia, Sophie

2001
Ya Amar! opens the 2nd International Conferance on Middle Eastern Dance with a multi-media tribute and introduction to Mahoud Reda and Farida Fahmy, appearing again in the Gala Show.

2nd International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance

"Layali Zaman"
Gala Concert, 2nd International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance, May, 2001
Standing from left; Katia, Seiko, Roxanne, Nadia, Sophia, Genie
Seated from left; Maxine, Sahra, Irani
"Ya Gharieb el Dar"
Presentation of Farida Fahmy & Mahmoud Reda, 2nd International Conference on Middle Eastern Dance, May, 2001
On screen: Original Reda National Folkloric Company of Egypt
Live: Ya Amar! Dance Company members:
Genie, Irani, Katia, Maxine, Nadia, Roxanne, Sahra, Seiko, Sophia,with guest dancers: Kimala & Latifa

2002
Sahra & Ya Amar! presents "RA - The Eclipse Of The Sun" a theater dance-drama set in mythic Pharonic times. 41 person cast representing many forms of World Dance.

RA - The Eclipse of the Sun
Announcement of show - Original page (Original date Sept 19, 2001)
Cast of RA - Photos & Bios
Story Board - with "in studio" photos
Journal - Sahra talks about her feelings & thoughts as RA was developing, then having to be postponed for a double tradgety

2003
Ya Amar! recieves Gamal Awards; from The Giza Academy of Music and Legends of Dance for their "Nubian Joy" performance in "Sixth Awards of Belly Dance" Video, Producer: Suzy Evans-IAMED, 2003

"Nubian Joy"
From Left: Sahra, Kathryn Sanders, Rhonda Williams, Roxxanne Shelaby, Senaca Moore, Melina Mosana (Pamme Turner), Sahearani (Ursula Mencini), Salwa Yamine (Michelle), Anna Dispensa, Amina (Amy South), Lola Archibald, Seiko Alonzo
"Nubian Joy", a medley of "Ah el Nuba" "A Girl's Prayer" & "Mambo Sudani" was performed & filmed at the "Sixth Awards of Belly Dance" Video, Producer: Suzy Evans-IAMED, 2003. Ya Amar! was awarded a Gamal Award; from The Giza Academy of Music and Legends of Dance for this performance.

Photo left: backstage IAMED show

Dancing in that performance: (Clockwise from Left) Sahra Saeeda, Roxxanne Shelaby, Salwa Yamine (Michelle), Kathryn Sanders, Sahearani (soloist in "A Girl's Prayer"), Lola Archibald, Sashi, Amina (Amy South), Melina Mosana (Pamme Turner), Seiko Alonzo.

2005
Ya Amar! in "Journey Through Egypt" production

2006
Ya Amar! in "Anniversary Show - Looking Back at 10 Years" production

2007
Ya Amar! and guest dancers in 2 upcoming productions! May 11-13, 2007: "A Weekend with Aszmara" & "Mahrajan - Celebrating Danse Orientale" co-sponsored with Angelika Nemeth. June 9, 2007: "RA - The Eclipse of the Sun" sponsored by MECDA to be the featured performance at Cairo Carnival.
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Sahra C Kent 2001
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