Biography
Mark Balahadia is a dancer and singer specializing in the dances and music of
the Arab World. Currently, he is based in the New York City area but travels
frequently to the Middle East for research.
Mark is well known for his authentic interpretations of Arabian Gulf dance
(raqs khaleeji), Iraqi "radah" dance, and belly dance. He is also versed in
Moroccan sheikhatt, Lebanese dabke, and has recreated the dance of Al-Andalus,
when the Iberian peninsula was under Arab rule.
As a singer, Mark has worked with Rachid Halihal on Khaleeji music and is a
chorus member of Rachid's Andalus Ensemble. The ensemble specializes in the
"Andalusi Nouba," a music suite derived from the music of Andalus, along with
North African folk music. Mark is also a chorus member for the New York Arabic
Orchestra under Bassem Saba. Their repertoire covers famous Arabic singers like
Feyrouz, Wadi el Safy, and original compositions by Saba.
To learn more about Mark Balahadia's training and performance history,
check out his CV.
To book Mark for a performance or workshop, check out his
booking page.