Advance online/phone booking for Raqs America 2009 will be available until the end of Wednesday, June 17. After this date, all tickets will be available at the door at regular prices.
Online booking has now finished. Remaining tickets can still be purchased on the door at the event. See you at Raqs America!

Not Too Sha’bi

Who

Saphira

Saphira is the Founder and Artistic Director of Saffron Dance, www.saffrondance.com, a leading school for Oriental and Tribal belly dance in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She has been teaching dance for more than two decades and has been a professional Oriental dance artist, teacher and choreographer since 1996.

As a performer, her vibrant Egyptian-inspired styling and natural interpretation of Oriental music capture audiences by portraying classical Oriental raqs sharqi movement through precision, strength and grace. She has been a featured soloist for international vocalists and has performed extensively in theatres, festivals and private functions.

After teaching dance to thousands of students how to develop mind, body and musical awareness to create movement with an intended aesthetic, Saphira has become an expert in breaking down movement for all levels of dancers. Her classes emphasize how to establish proper body alignment and control muscle architecture to create Middle Eastern dance technique and direct movement efficiently and intentionally.

Most notably, however, Saphira has earned the distinct reputation of supporting students through their personal belly dance journeys. Saphira celebrates that each dancer may come to class with a unique goal, whether one seeks to master technique, achieve fitness goals, improve one's self-image and body awareness, escape from the daily stress of life, explore feminine movement or simply have fun. Saphira continues her own journey of this magnificent dance form by traveling to Egypt and throughout the US to study with Master teachers and musicians who continue to guide and shape her appreciation and understanding of Oriental movement and music.

Before creating Saffron Dance, Saphira enjoyed six years as a Co-Founder and Managing Director of Raqs Sahara, a nationally regarded Middle Eastern Dance Company. Saphira was also a founding teacher at Sahara Dance located in Washington, DC. She is featured in the film American Belly Dancer and has been highlighted by DANCER MAGAZINE, Fox Morning News, THE WASHINGTONIAN and The GEORGETOWNER. Before following her dreams to open a dance school dedicated to preserving and growing the art of Oriental dance, Saphira spent ten years as Rachael Galoob-Ortega, a practicing lawyer licensed in Washington, D.C. and Florida.

What

This hip and groovy modern Bellydance choreography captures the essence of the hottest modern pop Arabic music. Find your inner Bellydance grooves, and enjoy Saphira’s fancy footwork; adaptable for all levels.

Where

Studio 3

When

Saturday 20/06/2009 16:30 - 18:30

How Much

$35