Safiya has been intoxicated by the allure of
belly dance since the first time she saw a belly dancer performing a drum solo
one cold, snowy night in Milwaukee. Over twelve years have passed since that
fateful night and she has been reveling in the joy and passion of belly dance
ever since!
Safiya
spent the course of the next two years learning the fundamentals including veil
and extensive zill technique from that very same belly dancer Nadia Sahar (now in
Vero Beach, FL). Safiya was then accepted into the PhD program at the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography and relocated to beautiful, sunny San Diego. There
she had the opportunity to study regularly with two master instructors: Lucia
and the world-renowned, Meleah—a master of precision and technique.
Safiya
now resides in Raleigh, NC where she is an active performer and instructor. She
has been the resident dancer at Spartacus, a Greek restaurant in Durham and at
Mosaic Wine Lounge in Raleigh for years and has performed at nearly every
restaurant and club in the RTP area. At Mosaic, she has been the behind the
scenes host of “Arabian Nights”, where she has invited numerous guest dancers
to perform from the ncbellydance.org community. “When I first moved to NC from
San Diego, I was lost. I had left behind so many dear belly dance friends and
precious teachers. Through ncbellydance.org, I was able to find a whole
community in place waiting for me and, after many dances, I was able to connect
with a core of women I just could not live without!” says Safiya.
Her
other notable events include performances at the International Festival of
Raleigh with the band Mozaik and for the Turkish community in particular at
ATA-NC. She has worked extensively with the Indian community as well and was
the star performer at international festivals for the International Business
Schools at both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. She has performed live with the
Bulgarian pop star Maya Delcheva and at the historic Carolina Theatre.
However,
for Safiya her favorite events “are the ones you get to perform with your friends and colleagues of
dance. Thank you ncbellydance.org and all past & future performers for the
amazing memories at the Mosaic international dance nights!”
Safiya
specializes in Egyptian cabaret, with a personal flare for the drum solo. She
is a staunch believer in technique and is a dedicated life-long student of
belly dance. She continues her education with workshops, believing that belly dance,
as an art form, grows with you throughout one’s life. There is always something
rusty to be polished or new to be explored!
For more information, visit http://www.safiyabellydancer.com or contact info@safiyabellydancer.com
