Thais Banu has danced her whole life - it has always been a driving force and a refuge for her. According to her family, dance is her life ! She first appeared on stage at age four. She has a solid training in Tap, Jazz, and Modern Ballet. Her teachers of Middle Eastern Dance read like a who’s who of instructors. For 30 years, she has devoted herself to exploring different styles of Middle Eastern Dance and will always consider herself a student with a new challenge! The teachers who have influenced her the most are Ibrahim Farrah, Aisha Ali, the legendary Morocco of New York City, and Mahmoud Reda, of Cairo, the founder of the National Egyptian Folkloric Ensemble.

In her long career, Thais, has been a student, performer, choreographer, Troupe Director, teacher, researcher, writer, judge, and seminar sponsor. She has danced at Fairs, civic & cultural events, in Clubs, on TV and on stage. Thais is a very respected and well loved Middle Eastern Dance teacher and Artist. She has performed throughout the Midwest - Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. She has danced for many notable people including a Mayors and an Illinois Governor (who shall remain anonymous)! One of her most enjoyable performances was for the rock band ZZ Top. Some of the interesting patrons in Chicago Clubs included Jesse Jackson and Frank Sinatra.

For five years she produced Unveiled Thoughts - A Middle Eastern Dancer’s Newsletter. When the last issue was retired there were 300 paid subscribers across the United States & Canada. Her articles on Middle Eastern Dance have been published in trade magazines on three continents - the United States, England, France and Australia. Thais has several published research papers on the history of Middle Eastern Dance.

For over ten years Thais was a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. This International group devotes itself to the study of the Arts and Sciences of the Middle Ages. During this time she explored and researched into the history of Middle Eastern dance and the cultures that it came from. Two of Thais’ research papers were completed and published at this time - Dance of 12th Century Ghwazee and 15th Century Anatolian Dance. She received many awards and recognitions for her efforts in this field. She also judged Middle Eastern dance at both the local, regional, and national levels within the Society for Creative Anachronism organization. She traveled throughout the Mid-west promoting and teaching her Art.

Thais Banu has been teaching Middle Eastern Dance for over twenty years. She teaches private & weekly classes and Seminars. She brings an understanding of the culture and history of the dance to her students. Thais’ technique and breakdowns are outstanding layered with her own unique style. For the last five years she has taught locally for the Peoria Park District. She teaches six weekly classes for them. The levels are Beginners, Intermediate I, Intermediate I I, Advance, and Advance Troupe. She is also the Director of Parks Troupe Mirage, a performing group of the Peoria Park District.

Throughout her career, Thais, has believed that the next generation is the future of Middle Eastern Dance. She has strived to educate the general public about her chosen Art and to share it with the children. In 2000, she was recognized by Peoria’s Common Place with their Extra Mile Award, for her teaching Middle Eastern Folk Dances to underprivileged children. To continue in her efforts of quality teaching, Thais, has begun to sponsor instructors into the Peoria Area. In May 2004, she sponsored Blue Lotus Tribe from Chicago, Illinois. The seminar & evening show was such a success that Thais was asked to do more. On May 7, 2005, she sponsored in Odessa from Cincinnati, Ohio, for a full day seminar and an evening show. In April 1 & 2, 2006, Thais is proud to sponsor in the fabulous MOROCCO of New York !

Past Performances & Accomplishments

Founder & Director of Troupe Mirage for 15 years

Owner of Bellydancing by Thais
(10 years and thousands of performances)

Founder & Organizer of Peoria Bellydance Meet-up Group

Featured article on Thais in May 2005 Arts Alive Magazine
(An Arts Magazine targeting Central Illinois)

Danced & donated to Channel 47 TV Auction
(Peoria, Illinois)

Peoria Ethnic Festival
(3 years)

Jubilee Olde English Faire (12 years !)
(A Renaissance Faire held in Central Illinois)

Stronghold English Fair (5 years)
(An Arts Fair held in Northern Illinois)

Brown Bag It
(Peoria, Illinois)

Morton Pumpkin Festival
(Morton, Illinos)

Creve Coeur Days
(3 years)

Dogwood Days
(An Arts festival in Southern Illinois)

Sherwood Forrest Festival
(A Renaissance Fair held in Southern Illinois)

Director of Parks Troupe Mirage
(see attached page)

For further information contact Thais Banu at - e:mail: thais@heart.net