Janelle is a talented, fun loving, American-Palestinian national touring artist, choreographer, performer, certified Yogini and nutritionist. She is best known for her contagious laugh and her sultry elegance on the hit U.S. show “So You Think You Can Dance” Season 9 as the top 6th female finalist and the only classically trained bellydancer ever to hit the stage.

From the age of four Janelle was protege to “Aziza of Birmingham,” studying Classic Egyptian Bellydance, and continued to learn other forms through various outlets throughout her youth. Later she attended the University of Alabama and accomplished her BA in Dance Performance learning under Cornelius Carter of Alvin Ailey and well as her Nutrition degree.

Currently Janelle travels teaching with “Showstoppers On Tour,” and just recently debut in her first international T-Mobile commercial with artist J.Balvin! In 2018 she moved to NYC is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Alvin Ailey influencing more beautiful minds in the Art of Bellydance each week! If you want to experience her heartfelt Yoga classes you can find her at several of the Crun1ch Signature Gyms around the City! She recently performed on Good Morning America with Derek and Julianne Hough while working with Tabitha and Napoleon and you can also find her in the video of the new hit single “YOGA” with Janelle Monae. She was featured in B-metro Magazine and in the Birmingham Magazine for her choreography and performance for St. Paul and the Broken Bones music video, "Call Me;” and check her out in the February issue of Dance Spirit Magazine talking about "The Bellydance Difference."  Janelle choreographed and performed on a show called Super Dancer Born Tonight; a spin off of So You Think You Can Dance with many renewed choreographers.

Her love for the art of choreography is clear when watching Janelle teach; her unique style of intermingling elements of Classic Egyptian Bellydance with other forms drives her to create exciting innovative work. Her heart-felt work does not stop there; she has extensively trained in multiple genres of dance including; contemporary, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, Bollywood, modern, tap, salsa/ partnering, and more. Her training at the University of Alabama, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Birmingham has lead her to teach and perform all across the United States, while making unforgettable memories along the way.
Janelle has her own line of Janelley Belly Dance Wear and has become a pioneer in the commercial dance world broadening the minds and limitations of those she teaches by bringing in her love for the art of Belly Dance and all that comes with it.

Make sure to check out her “Signature BellydanceBURN, Fusion Choreography” for a one of kind experience!

Stay up to date with Janelle and her local classes on instagram @Jbellyburn
Videos and Choreography www.youtube.com/janelleissis