Drawing from an extensive technical background in acting, writing, contemporary and ethnic dance coupled with her diverse ethnic make-up and global experience, Tiffany “hanan” Madera is one of the most unique and compelling Middle Eastern dancers in America today. Hanan has proven to be an avant-garde and non-conformist artist in the   Middle Eastern dance arena. For this reason, the Miami Herald describes her as “one of the dominant forces in contemporary dance”. The Miami Herald has also described her as “bold”, “boundary crossing”, “eclectic” and a dancer that possesses “powerful body and skill.” Yousry Sharif, Artistic Director of the Egyptian Academy of Oriental Dance in New York City, says “[hanan] can easily pass as a native dancer [Egypt].” “This is no easy task.” Inspired by her experiences training and performing in Egypt, Hanan’s 2001 production of hanan with other  friendly gods and goddesses, a show which exorcised the theme of female circumcision in the Middle East, was included in the Miami Herald’s Top 10 Shows of the Year.

Hanan is also an accomplished teacher. Her instruction style is holistic; focusing on the dancer’s internal process of self-awareness and reliance, challenging the pupil to dig deeper into the space of creation while acquiring technical mastery. Disappointed by the commercial prevalence of the genre, Hanan created the Dance Empowerment Project and changed the focus of her teaching and performance career to address issues of social consciousness, activism and transformation. The DEP is a mind, body and soul approach to Middle Eastern dance. Through various grants and partnerships with non-profits, Hanan uses Middle Eastern dance to promote healing and recovery to adult survivors of child sexual abuse, victims and survivors of domestic battery (Safespace) and incarcerated women (Artspring) at the Dade County Correctional Facility. She also teaches at-risk and adjudicated girls through the AYUDA center in Miami Beach. Hanan is artist in residence with adjudicated multiple youth offenders at the Dominican American National Foundation in Allapattah.  Hanan has taught dance at Florida International University, Miami-Dade Wolfson Campus, The Mideastern Dance Exchange, Bellymotions and Arts at St. Johns. Hanan has danced in Europe, the Middle East and North and South America.

Hanan is best known for her aesthetic and genre-crossing approach to Dance Theatre. She has challenged audiences with her Habibi Project which included 3 evening length Theatre productions using Middle Eastern dance and hip –hop; Habibi, The Habibi Remix and the Habibi Thinktank. In addition, Tiffany produced The Cuban Hip Hop Film Festival and The Dance Empowerment Festival presenting the Dalia Carella Dance Collective from New York City. Hanan was a featured dancer on the North American tour of Lebanese superstar Fadel Shaker. In December 2003, Hanan created the “Bellydance Cuba Workshop” which fostered the first bellydance troupe in Cuba; “Grupo Aisha al- Hanan”. In addition to completing her Master’s Degree in Cuban Studies, Tiffany is currently in post-production of the documentary film; Havana Habibi, about creating a Bellydance Troupe and teaching Women’s Empowerment in Cuba. Hanan has also been featured in several other documentary films including Miles Copeland’s film American Bellydancer.