Safira
has studied Middle Eastern dance since she was 17. She has taught Middle
Eastern dance for credit at Wichita State University.
At her studio, she teaches beginning though advanced classes in Middle
Eastern dance.
Speaking
She
holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Wichita State
in creative writing. She taught English and Business Writing there under
a fiction fellowship. She now demonstrates dance and speaks on the dance
cultures of the
Middle East to
community groups, and in classrooms at Wichita
State University, Newman University, and Cowley County Community
College. She achieved the rank of Able Toastmaster.
Choreography
Safira
is the director of Safira's Center for World Dance. She has
choreographed folk dances from Nubia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as
Danse Orientale from Egypt, Turkey and Lebanon. She has also staged
folkloric dances of Mahmoud Reda, founder of the Reda Troupe, the
national dance troupe of Egypt.
Art and Literature
Her
short story, "The Unhappy Women," was published in International
Quarterly, Florida State University (3:4, Fall 2000). The story was
inspired by two articles in Arabesque magazine: "A Little for My Heart,
A Little for My God" (Jan/Feb. 1995: 6-7), and "A Profile in Courage, a
Profile in Compassion" (Mar/April 1995: 12-14). Read it on this site!
Performance
Some of
Safira's dance performances include:
An Evening at the World Cabaret,
Mary Jane Teall Theater, Century II, 2006
YWCA Mardi Gras 2006
Fatherhood Initiative Convention
2006
Newman University Student
Multicultural Concert 2006
A Festival of Dance, Mary Jane
Teall Theater, Century II, 2005
Elena Lentini Intensive, Dance
Celebration, Fazils' Rehearsal Studio, New York, NY,
2005
Interfest 2005, Wichita State
University, 2005
Great Plains Renaissance Festival,
2005
Exploration Place, 2005
Elena Lentini Intensive, Dance
Celebration, Fazils' Rehearsal Studio, New York, NY,
2004
Middle Eastern Dance Show Honoring
Farida Fahmy, Dallas, TX,
2004
