Biography

Elizabeth Mahina was raised as a dancer from the time she was 4 years old and began performing as a Polynesian dancer professionally by the age of 6.  She studied ballet & jazz throughout her childhood & during her college years in Santa Cruz she began to study belly dance. 

In 2003 Elizabeth started taking tribal style from Ayse Cerami, director of Sundara Varna. This was the beginning of a friendship that has been a major influence in her dance career. Since then she has been able to fine tune her varied dance and artistic background into a cohesive belly dance fusion style. In January 2007 she completed Basic Skills Certification in ATS by Carolena Nericcio. She continues to take classes and workshops from as many teachers as possible.

Elizabeth has taught workshops at Tribal Ford, U.K.; Tribal Caravan, Los Angeles; the IBDC in Las Vegas; & Bedouin Bazaar, San Diego.  She directed Raks Ohana, a dance troupe using Polynesian and Belly Dance influences.  She has performed with and assisted in directing the Conejo Valley chapter of the Sisterhood Dance Collective and is currently director for the newly formed Los Angeles dance troupe Nataraja and co-director of She'enedra along with Ayse Cerami.

She teaches and performs nationally & internationally as a soloist as well as dancing with her troupes.