Top 5 Dancers to Look out For in MENA

There are so many ways to express oneself - painting, singing, playing instruments, but my favorite will always be dancing. To be able to express yourself through movement, through a flow that translates to everyone in your presence, will always leave me in awe.

Dancers are communicators and energy carriers, and we have so many MENA talents doing this exceptionally well.

Let’s hear from the top 5 dancers in the region that you should look out for:

Waleed (TheWXB) – Egypt, 29

You know that person whose presence you feel before they even walk into the room? That’s Waleed. When it comes to his style, he refuses to box himself in, blending Freestyle, Hip-hop, and experimental movement. His dance comes from lived experience, so one category just wouldn’t make sense. But the style closest to his heart? Freestyle. It’s the honesty of it - how it reflects exactly how he feels regardless of the mood. Whether it’s aggression, chaos, calm, or control, freestyle translates it into movement without any filters.

When asked about his biggest milestone, you might expect a battle win, but Waleed points to building the Freeflow Dance Community. It allowed him to study hip-hop culture and expand his art. From his POV, performing is vital, but creating a space where dancers feel seen, respected, and pushed to grow hits differently. Watching dancers evolve through something he helped build is something he doesn’t take lightly. For upcoming talent, his belief is simple: “Don’t chase validation, chase mastery.” As the region grows, he urges dancers to stay patient, consistent, and fully respect the culture. He’s proud to be part of a generation changing the narrative - showing that dance isn't just entertainment; it’s a profession, a voice, and a cultural force.

Essam Khaled – Egypt, 23

I remember seeing Essam on my explore page and thinking, this is one hell of a talented dancer. No beat is missed and his expressions? They say it all. For Essam, Hip-hop is the undisputed favorite. It’s where he expresses himself with the utmost honesty, creating a world that intertwines freedom and strength. It’s his way of telling his story and turning raw emotion into movement.

The milestone that impacted him most was his three consecutive wins at Clash Nation, where he took both the hip-hop and popping categories. That win made him realize his limits have no end, pushing him to a new level both physically and artistically. Having been in the space for 11 years, his advice to young dancers is to protect your passion with everything you have. Rather than being affected by societal judgment, focus on building your own identity. Every dancer has a unique journey, and real growth comes from staying true to yourself. Looking at the MENA scene, he’s proud of how it’s uniting dancers from different countries, creating a space for collaboration and shared development.

Nader – Jordan, 32

When dancing runs in the family, it hits different. Nader started at a very young age, and over the past decade, he has focused his energy on House dance. For him, House is about a deep connection - to the music, the energy, and the moment. It’s a spiritual and flowing experience that contrasts with the physical, execution-heavy nature of his earlier breaking days.

Nader has repped Jordan on massive stages, from the Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals in Japan to South Africa. But his most meaningful milestone was hitting the Top 24 at Summer Dance Forever in the house category. It’s one of the toughest competitions in his journey, and he proudly represented MENA in the House dance category on that international stage. His advice for the next generation? Stay open and keep exploring. Trying different styles and listening to diverse music helps you grow not just as a dancer, but mentally and personally. He’s incredibly proud of the growth in the MENA community, seeing dancers with strong foundations who are finally willing to explore beyond their own styles.

Zouba – Egypt, 23

Zouba is a force in Hip-Hop, a style she connects with because of its power, nerve, and attitude. What makes her presence so impactful is that she is a hijabi and modest performer, proving that you can stay entirely true to your identity and faith while still pursuing your passion. Within her style, she’s deeply drawn to Popping, constantly studying its foundations and supporting the community. Her long-term vision is to grow as a choreographer, which keeps her hungry to explore new movement languages.

Her milestones are stacked - competing in Red Bull Dance Your Style, winning the AUC dance competition twice, and battling internationally from South Africa to Germany and Dubai. However, her biggest milestone wasn't a trophy; it was creating her own crew. That experience taught her leadership, responsibility, and the art of presenting a collective vision. Her advice to those coming up is to do what you truly love and never stop training. Training builds more than just skill - it builds character and discipline. Even when the path feels unclear, she believes consistency and experimentation will eventually lead you to your purpose.

Akram Shah – Saudi Arabia, 30

Akram’s style is a unique blend of Hip-Hop and experimental, abstract movement. His freestyle approach allows him to stay rooted in the rhythm of hip-hop culture while exploring new ways for the body to communicate emotion. That balance between structure and experimentation is where he feels most at home.

A standout milestone for Akram was being selected to present his work at the YSA’25 Art Exhibition in Jeddah. This was a major shift, as it allowed him to share movement within a formal art space, affirming his path as a local artist and showing how dance can exist beyond the traditional stage. For upcoming dancers, Akram encourages them to take the time to find their own voice. Explore different forms, enjoy the journey, and never forget that dance is art. He’s particularly proud of the rapid growth in Saudi Arabia, where a new generation is building platforms and opportunities. With the support of the Ministry of Culture, he’s proud to be part of the movement pushing dance culture forward both locally and globally.

The shift we are seeing in the MENA region is more than just a trend; it’s a cultural reclamation. These five dancers represent a movement where heritage and modern expression don’t just coexist, they thrive. From the industrial energy of Cairo to the artistic evolution in Jeddah, they are proving that the region is no longer just watching the global stage, it is leading it.

Whether it's through community-building or the powerful visibility of a modest hijabi performer like Zouba, the message is clear: the MENA dance scene is professional, authentic, and undeniably here to stay.

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