Born in Brooklyn, now on Staten Island, NY, Naja (Maria Richardson) has been belly dancing since 2002. She has studied under Mariyah of Brooklyn, NY, and from 2004 -2006, was a member of the Alchemy Tribal Collective directed by Sarah Johansson Locke, formerly of Gypsy Caravan of Oregon. Since 2006, she has been a core member of Manhattan Tribal, directed by Mimi Fontana, NYC’s first and only American Tribal Style belly dance troupe and Fat Chance Sister Studio. In 2009, Naja created and is Director of Tribe Hamsa, Staten Island's first ATS belly dance troupe. Tribe Hamsa was granted Fat Chance Sister Studio affiliation April, 2010.

Naja has performed at LeSouk, NY; Lafayette Grill, NYC; Jebon, NYC; Dance Parade 2007 -  2009,  Rakkasah Spring Caravn 2007 – 2010, the northeast’s largest Middle Eastern festival; and many other venues throughout the tri-state area. In January, 2010, she travelled to Paris to perform with Manhattan Tribal at Festival Bellyfusions. She is Certified, General Skills (2009) and Teacher Training (2010), by Fat Chance Belly Dance of San Francisco. Naja holds weekly classes teaching American Tribal Style Belly Dance on Staten Island, NY, and is available to teach at workshops and festivals.

When not teaching or performing with Manhattan Tribal or Tribe Hamsa, Naja is a Records Information Management professional at a major international law firm.

Meet the other Members of Tribe Hamsa.

Click here to contact Naja.

updated: June, 2010