Empress Dance Collective
Sadie Marquardt
Director & Dancer
Sadie considers teaching her true passion! She has had the honor and privilege of working with thousands of students, from all walks of life and cultures, around the world giving her great insight as an instructor. Her students comment on her down to earth, witty teaching style that breaks down her movements in a way that literally anyone can understand and work with. Arguably the most prolific content creator in the educational space of Bellydance. Sadie is featured on dozens of best selling instructional videos and now has the largest online school in the world for Raqs Sharqi Belly Dance, World Dance and Fitness www.RaqsOnline.com. Raqs Online currently boasts over 500 classes and counting with dozens of source teachers from around the world, who are all experts in their dance craft and fitness genre. Stay up to date with Sadie and her latest happenings at www.SadieBellydancer.com and www.RaqsOnline.com or join her for one of her famous destination retreats! And don’t miss the chance to see Empress Dance live!
Carlyn
Dancer
Carlyn has been studying the art of belly dance for 17 years and performing/ teaching for about 10 of them. When she is not dancing she is spending most of her time being a mom to her 2 kids and working as an Activities Director for an assisted living and rehab center.
Carrie
Dancer
Carrie discovered bellydance in 2008 and has been infatuated since her first class. Her study of the dance has taken her all around the Denver metro area and to several states with many amazing artists. When she is not hanging out, sipping wine with her husband, kids and dogs, she may be seen dancing with Empress Dance Collective or Smooth Edges.
Jeannie
Dancer
Jeannie Landry started dancing 10 years ago. She has studied under Phoenix, Joynan and Sadie. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and taught for Denver Public Schools. She holds a second degree black belt in Taikwondo and is currently an Employing Realestate Broker. “Dancing feels so freeing, peaceful and full of joy. I am grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with Sadie Marquart, who is a sensational dancer, choreographer and person”
Jia Dakduk
Dancer
Jules
Dancer
Jules has been a student, teacher and enthusiast of Samba, Salsa & Belly Dance for the past 8 years. She brings to the stage her classical dance background and passion for connection, recognizing the power dance has to evoke emotion in others.
IG: @BesosJules
Julia Bramante
Dancer
IG: @djewelia
Venmo: @juliabramante
Kristina
Dancer
A lifelong student of dance, Kristina has an extensive and varied history of study. Her personal style and intentional fusion work are primarily influenced by her experience in Belly Dance, Polynesian Dance, Hip Hop, Ballet and Jazz. Catch her performing around Denver with Empress Dance Collective as well as Kalama Polynesian Dancers.
Liz Azi
Dancer
Liz Azi is an award-winning professional dancer based in Denver, Colorado. Her movement specialties include several styles of Raqs Sharqi, known in the United States as “bellydance”, theatrical and folk dances stemming from diasporas of the MENAHT region, burlesque, and Transnational Fusion. She takes an anthropological approach to dance, with a focus on history, culture, and contextualization to inform her movement while also exploring modern archetypes, evocative presentations, and the liminal spaces between historical and contemporary dance aesthetics. Liz Azi has performed and taught at dance conventions and festivals all over the United States and abroad. She has toured both regionally and internationally with Blue Star Turkish Folk Dance Troupe performing a variety of traditional Turkish folk dances. She has also been a cast dancer in Zoe Jakes’ House of Tarot and a featured dancer in cabaret, vaudeville, and dance shows all over the country.
Omoladun
Dancer
A trained musician from a young age, Omoladun brings vibrant musical expression to her dance. Omoladun performs Egyptian raqs sharqi (bellydance), folkloric dances from the MENA region, and sometimes dabbles in fusion. Always striving to learn, Omoladun continues her studies with world-renowned dancers and musicians. Currently based in Denver, Colorado, Omoladun teaches online classes with Sahara Dance in Washington, DC and with Sadie‘s Raqs Online.
IG: @omoladun.dances
Venmo: @Omoladun
Malea McKeown Nicholson
Dancer
Malea is one of the founding members of Empress Dance Collective who brings her passion for dance and the arts to the stage and surrounding community.