Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Kenzie is a second-generation belly dancer who leads with heart and intention. Her dance journey began with ballet and modern dance classes as a child, and she would often follow her mother to her belly dance classes, rehearsals, and shows just to watch and support.

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As a teen, Kenzie studied ballet and modern under locally-revered instructors Kerry Ring and Lisa Taylor, along with attending summer intensives led by Carolyn Adams (Paul Taylor Dance Company) and Robert Battle (Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre). 

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Kenzie's journey into Middle Eastern dance forms began in her early teen years, and by the age of 17 she was performing professionally at Arab weddings, festivals, cultural events, restaurants and hookah lounges in Buffalo alongside her mentor Faaria.

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Kenzie earned her BFA in Dance from the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she was the recipient of several talent scholarships. 

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After graduating from college, Kenzie invested heavily in her craft, traveling around the world to study with well-respected leaders in Raqs Sharqi and Middle Eastern dance arts. Kenzie's trips to Egypt have been formative in her understanding of the cultural context of this art form & have deepened her love of Egyptian art and culture.

 

Kenzie's infectious energy for the dance has brought her across the world, teaching across the US, in Canada, and in the Netherlands, and performing in several countries. Close to home, she has been invited to perform and teach at Cornell University, University at Buffalo, SUNY Fredonia, Canisius College, and other local schools, and has performed for prestigious local institutions like Artpark, the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and the International Institute. 

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Kenzie has dabbled in the competition space a few times throughout her career, winning 1st place at the East Coast Classic competition in 2017, and taking home the silver medal at the Euro Crown Competition in Thessaloniki, Greece in 2016. In 2025, Kenzie returned to the competition stage and won second place in the professional category of the Raqs Art Awards at Cairo Fest! Budapest. Kenzie is a Bellydance Evolution alumnus and performed in the world premiere of "The Jungle Book" in Hanover, Germany in 2020. Her 2025 film "Msafer" won the "Best Editing" award in the Al Raqs Film Festival in 2026.

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With the strong belief that we cannot separate the dance from its culture, Kenzie makes time to travel to Egypt and actively collaborates with Arab musicians, artisans, and artists as often as possible. Through her efforts, Kenzie strives to support and uplift the cultures to which this exquisite dance form inherently belongs.