About Iona:
​Performer, Producer, & Troupe Director

Iona performs and teaches American & Egyptian cabaret, folkloric, and fusion styles of Belly Dance, also known as Raqs Sharki or Danse Oriental. She is seasoned with a variety of dance props, including candles and candle trays, cane, Isis wings, sword, veil, and zills (finger cymbals). Balancing skills are her specialty, including both sword and petite candle tray. With a background in Theatre production and Fine Arts, Iona takes an artistic and audience-focused approach to every performance. Having graced a muriad of stages in Greater New Orleans, she maintains an intense, yet joyful stage persona that is both warm and family-oriented. Iona's most treasured performances are those dancing with live music, including with bands Ishtar and Pangia, and with musician Thomas Dolby at Tipitina's Uptown. Her name Iona, 'purple jewel', is a tribute to her late grandmother, Iona Meneray, also an Arts enthusiast and New Orleans native.

As a producer, Iona hosts master teachers and workshop events, including ORLEANS RAKS. She also directed and choreographed New Orleans troupe Beledi Jewels and the student troupe in Baton Rouge, Bayou Jawahir. As a troupe leader and instructor, Iona fosters the students' interest and technique with stage presentation, style, and performance. Beledi Jewels have performed in numerous shows and events, including "Southern Voices, dance out loud 5", where Iona was a featured choreographer. Iona gained her own experience belly dancing as a performance member of the Betty Karam and the Desert Dancers ensemble.

Along with dance, Iona works ten months per year as a Speech-Language Pathologist in school and residential settings. She currently holds licenses in LA, NC, and OR. She has national certification in clinical competency (CCC-SLP) and is a professional member of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She has had the pleasure to guest lecture several times at her alma mater, LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.
Iona is excited to have been interviewed for a TV spot about Belly Dance in New Orleans by Mike Jorgensen. Wahoo! He interviewed teachers/performers in the area highlighting Kerrylynn, Krys, and Iona for description and benefits of belly dance. The specialty piece aired in July on "News with a Twist". Visit full page with video and bio at WGNO!
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Photo by Denise Marino

Dance Education and Training

Iona holds Master's level Theatre training with ongoing dance training. She is honored to have taken classes with so many talented instructors!
Stage Movement / Dance Instructors:
​Dollie Rivas, Yvonne Olivier

Local Instructors:
Ayesha Kamm, Medford Oregon
Betty Karam, New Orleans LA
Layla Isis, New Orleans LA
Tamalyn Dallal, Seattle WA/ New Orleans LA

International Instructors:
Ahmed Hussien, Alexandra King , Amar Gamal , Amaya , Amel Tafsout , Ansuya , Artemis Mourat , Bozenka, Ehab Hassan. Eva Cernik , Hadia (of Canada) , Jillina, Lubna Emam, Morocco, Myra Krien , Nourhan Sharif , Rachel George , Raqia Hassan , RoxxanneShellaby , Ryan Guochao , Sahra Saeeda , Sonia , Suhaila Salimpour , Tamalyn Dallal

Percussion instruction:
Ayesha Kamm , Jeremiah Soto , Tobias Roberson , Shelly Plaissance

Iona is especially honored to have had the opportunity to take classes with the late Serena Wilson while in New York in 2004, as well as the late Maria Morca while teacher training with Tamalyn Dallal in Seattle in 2013.

Teaching Experience

Iona has had the opportunity to share her skills by teaching weekly classes at the following studios: 
  • Club Silhouette, Metairie, LA
  • Tulane U's Diboll Mind and Body Studio, New Orleans, LA
  • Namaste' of Metairie, LA
  • Tapas Yoga and Movement Studio, Metairie, LA
  • Crescent Lotus Dance Studio, New Orleans, LA
  • Touro Infirmary's Alternative Therapies Center, New Orleans, LA  
  • Bayou Shimmy Belly Dance, Baton Rouge, LA