Hayet has trained under Habiba of Philadelphia for almost nine years. During this time, she has learned a wide variety of authentic historic folkloric styles, which include the Tunesian Scarf Dance, Moroccan Shikhat, Ghawazee (Egyptian Gypsy), Turkish Gypsy, modern Egyptian Caberet, and modern Turkish Caberet.
Hayet has been a member of the Habiba Dance Ensemble for over eight years of this time, and has performed at various local and out of state venues. They were featured on the local Fox "Good Day Philadelphia" program, danced at the Republican National Convention and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and appear regularly at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology. The Habiba Dance Ensemble has been invited to be on the roster of artists of Young Audiences of Eastern Pennsylvania. This national organization provides top notch talent for concerts in primary and secondary schools.
Hayet performs regularly at local restaurants in Philadelphia, including the Fez, Casablanca (Philadelphia), Casablanca (Delaware), and Pyramids. Her style is playful and energetic, and her zil-playing is spectacular. She's working on balancing acts and floorwork now, having acquired a fancy sword. She has also made several of her own costumes, with intricate beadwork and luscious fabric.
Hayet just started teaching classes, and currently holds weekly lessons at the LA Fitness Center in Bala Cynwyd as well as on the University of Pennsylvania campus, where she and Laila codirect the newly formed Penn bellydance troupe, Yalla.
Hayet means "life" in Arabic.
Hayet's alter ego, Lesley, is a professional research scientist. She received her doctorate in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 and is currently engaged in postdoctoral reserach at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she studies sleep patterns of fruit flies (yes, really). She is extremely happily married to a fellow scientist, Robin, and lives quietly with two cats and nine fish. She also has dabbled in webmastery, and is currently webmaster of not only her own site, but Casablanca Restaurants, Habiba Studio, and her husband's business site, Fish Head Fashions. She also runs a little fan website on the long-forgotten D&D Cartoon of the 80's.
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