About Anja

With a successful career spanning two decades
Anja is an Award Winning Performer, Instructor, Choreographer and Costume Designer.

Anja took her first belly dance lesson at age 7 which sparked a passion that led to a successful career in Middle Eastern dance.

In her teens, Anja was a troupe member of Ali Baba in Phoenix, Arizona. She began performing professionally at parties, special events, local restaurants and nightclubs.

Anja designed and created her own belly dance costumes. She wore all of her own designs. One day a colleague, Sakti, said, “I love your costume! Can you make one for me?” That began her business in Belly Dance Costume Design.

In Phoenix, Arizona Anja founded A.M.E.D.A (Arizona Middle Eastern Dance Association) a well-known and respected organization which united the Arizona dancers and whose bimonthly newsletter functioned as a networking tool for Middle Eastern dancers. The newsletter evolved into a magazine (“Aladdin’s Magic Journal”) that was distributed to subscribers in the 4 corner states- Arizona, Utah, California, and Oregon.

Successful in Arizona, Anja nonetheless had one dream unfulfilled: To belly dance on a major stage in Los Angeles, CA. Following her dream, she moved to CA with her 5 year old son. The dream was quickly fulfilled and 'metamorphosized' into a full time multifaceted career as Anja became one of the most “working” dancers in Los Angeles, ultimately developing a major following not only as a dancer, but as a teacher, choreographer and costume designer.

As a performer, Anja danced in the top Greek and Persian Nightclubs and was in demand at parties and special events. Though she continues to perform, it is as an instructor and choreographer that Anja’s true mission and purpose is expressed.

As an instructor and choreographer, Anja openly shares her knowledge and experience. From a modest beginning with one class attended by thirteen students, she now teaches several classes three nights a week. Her classes are frequently sold out and several have waiting lists. She currently teaches over a hundred students per week.

Anja’s Court is a performance group that is an extension of those classes. Members of Anja’s Court are select members of Anja’s performing class who have demonstrated competence and commitment and are united in their shared desire to dance and to share their love of performing with audiences. Anja’s Court won first place in the “Group” category at the prestigious 2006 Belly Dancer of the Universe Competition in Long Beach, CA- where they also took home the coveted People’s Choice Award. Anja’s Court regularly performs at local parties and events including Anaheed’s Belly Dance Swap Meet and Cairo Carnivale, a yearly MECDA event. Twice yearly, during the Holiday Show and Spring Show when Anja’s students get to perform for family and friends in a festive atmosphere, Anja’s Court is a featured attraction.