The 2026 Annual Bazaar will be held February 28, 2026 at the Wyndham Indianapolis Airport Hotel (2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis). We’re excited to welcome raqs sharqi/MENAHT folkloric dancer Tina Maric as this year’s headliner!
Tina started her belly dance training in 2015 under the instruction of Zhenna in her hometown of Muncie, and has studied under more Indiana greats including Donna Carlton and Bette Lucas, and was part of Bette Lucas’ troupe The Caravanserai Dancers. Tina continued her studies in Charleston, South Carolina, as a student of Beena Mokuti and now, while based in Orlando, Florida, Tina is honored to study under Egyptian Dance Master Mr. Ahmed Hussien.
At the beginning of Tina’s dance journey, she was president of Ball State University’s belly dance club during her undergraduate studies, and later started a belly dance club as a graduate student at IU Bloomington, where she earned her M.A. in Hispanic Literatures and Cultural Studies. With the experience of teaching and performing with her club members, Tina later taught weekly belly dance classes while based in Charleston and returned to give workshops in April 2025. Tina is very grateful for the amazing, hardworking, and dedicated students she has had the opportunity to teach, build community, and dance with over the years.
Tina is an award-winning performer in Raks Sharki, Folklore, and Drum Solo with Live Drummer Improvisation from the L.A. Bellydance Competition 2024 in Los Angeles and Sweetheart Bellydance Festival and Competition 2024 in St. Augustine, Florida. She is also a company member of ERA Entertainment, based in Orlando, and was part of the stage show Echoes of Time: A Celebration of Culture and Sound, which the group has performed at venues including Mango’s Tropical Café. Tina is also a regular performer at several Greek and Mediterranean restaurants in Orlando and central Florida.
Tina’s performance style has been described as the “life of the party,” and audiences appreciate her crowd interaction and distinctive way of elevating the atmosphere of the room for a memorable and fun experience.
Check out some of Tina’s performances using the links below:
- Tina’s Instagram Chanel
- 2024 Raks Sharki Spectacle – Winning Performance
- 2024 MENAHT Folklore – Winning Performance
We don’t have the 2026 webpage up yet, but you can get an idea of what to expect from last year’s page here.