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NDA Advisory Committee:

The Niosha Dance Academy is proud to have the following volunteers and dedicated individuals as part of the Advisory Committee. The AC provides NDA with the resources, help, feedback, guidance, and financial and moral support to continue to deliver the greater NDA mission.

Anthony Shay

For over 50 years Anthony Shay, Assistant Professor of Dance and Cultural Studies at Pomona College, Claremont, CA, has been a leading force behind the preservation and passing on of Iranian dance. With more than 200 choreographies, numerous presidential, and national awards, a PhD in the history and theory of dance from the University of California, Riverside, Anthony Shay is easily considered to be one of the top authorities on dance in the US today. He is the author of seven books and is currently editing an Oxford University Press handbook on Dance and Ethnicity. He holds a prestigious James Irvine Choreographic Fellow award.

In 1977, collaborating with longtime friend and master choreographer, Jamal, Shay created the AVAZ International Dance Theater which began it's storied 30-year run and consistently delivered the very best in traditional, folklore, as well as contemporary Iranian dance and dance theater, to appreciative Iranian and American audiences alike.

Ideh Haghiri

My daughter Nava has been a NDA dancer since fall of 2004 (she is now 9 and a half). I came to the United States in1992 and married my dear husband Mohammad TamjNavaidi. My major was Graphic Art and even though I am a stay home Mom, I manage to paint, craft and make fun art in my spare time. Since I love Niosha dearly and also love the fact that my daughter and I are a member of the academy, everything that I make or draw is mostly related to Niosha and her dance academy. It is my honor to be able to help this wonderful academy reach it's future goals and successes. She is a symbol of strength and hope and a messenger of joy and happiness. What she does comes deep from the heart, and goes deep into the heart!

Firouzeh & Massih Sadeghi

Firoozeh Sadeghi began her career in health care industry, she decided to follow her dream and start up her own company. Firoozeh brought her customer-focused philosophy to her management responsibilities which include overseeing Customer Relations, Order Processing, and Facilities. She is a stay home mom now and very active member in NDA.

Masih Sadeghi has more than 18 years experience in operations and management in technology companies in North America. He is serving at AT&T and very active with AT&T Leadership team. Masih's experiences include Product Development for automation services, customer relationship, and professional consulting services. He is a very active member in NDA, Masih received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from George Masson University.

Laurie Vahedi

I have had the extreme pleasure of knowing Niosha since my daughter, Caley, began dancing for NDA in 2004. Niosha has been instrumental in teaching her students self-discipline through the beautiful, artistic expression of Persian Dance. I admire Niosha’s strength, sense of humor, work ethic, and her tireless pursuit of building self-confidence in our girls while simultaneously driving awareness/support for much-needed cancer research. I consider her the best role model Caley and I could have. I am currently a Senior Director in Information Technology (IT) at a large high-tech company headquartered in the Bay Area. My professional career has included positions of increasing responsibility in IT Application Development and Planning as well as Business leadership roles. Spanning a number of diverse business organizations including Services, Personal Systems, and Unix Systems Groups, I have managed direct budgets and resources of $10-$30M and 100-300 resources. I have a B. S. in Mathematics & Economics from the University of New Hampshire.

Michele Latifi

Michele is Co-Founder and Vice President of Aidan AryL Enterprises, LLC. She and her husband Scott are the creators of Heaven’s Alchemy Exquisite PerfumesTM. As a student of Niosha Dance Academy, Michele has had the opportunity to experience the mission of NDA firsthand. Her two daughters, Nadia and Lyra are also students of NDA. “Niosha Dance Academy is a living repository of the treasured traditional forms of Persian Dance. It is also an exhilarating studio of modern innovation that keeps the art form alive and resonating. Niosha teaches dance in this way, but she also teaches courage, commitment, grace of personality, sportsmanship and joy of living.”

Scott Latifi

Scott is Co-Founder and President/CEO of Aidan AryL Enterprises, LLC, and the innovative, elegant Perfume House located in San Ramon, California. Scott is an enthusiastic supporter of the arts and volunteer. His wife, Michele and two daughters, Nadia and Lyra are students at Niosha Dance Academy. “Niosha Dance Academy is a multifaceted institution. It transmits culture and identity; it builds young lives by instilling character, compassion, responsibility and charity. It provides professional training for aspiring artists and provides the moments of beauty that help to sustain us through the difficult times.”

Nadia Latifi

Fardad Jay Jamali

Stage Manager, Supporter, Friend, Husband, Fan. Whichever role Fardad fills is filled from the heart and dedication to Niosha Dance Academy. Obviously biased, Jay learned early on during his first meeting with Niosha, that she is a determined force to be reckoned with.

"My wife is a rare blend of responsible confidence and willingness to learn and improve. She is aware of her community, and is always ready to gain new knowledge, and is constantly looking to improve upon herself."

Bruce Behrouz Bahmani

A long time friend and supporter of NDA, Bruce is a local writer, community organizer and volunteer.

"Niosha is that rare breed of Iranian who not only knows where she is going, but has the temerity, courage, and resolve to get there. Her undeniable drive, and the love and support she has within the Iranian-American community, is very strong and very deep. I have always said, that if Niosha lived in Iran, she would be the President of Iran!"