Photo by Jeff Koenig
photo by Tony. Imajination Photography
About Samira Shuruk
Belly dancer based in the Washington DC/ Baltimore region,
Samira started studying dance at the University of Connecticut,
while she was in high school. After progressing through their jazz
dance classes she took graduate level movement classes and was
assistant to the teacher whenever one was needed. At the age of
17 Samira was offered a full scholarship for modern dance to the
University of Utah. At that time however her dance dreams lay in
jazz dance, so she attended the Philadelphia University of the
Arts, the only college at the time to offer jazz dance as a major.
Her studies included jazz, modern and tap dance, ballet,
choreography, kinesiology, improvisation, pedagogy, acting, music
theory and much more.
This early work in dance lay the foundation for her belly dance
career. She has danced for crown princes, ambassadors and
other diplomats, is recommended by the Turkish Embassy in
Washington DC, is a regular performer throughout the DC tri-state
region and is an invited regular performer at three top NYC
venues. Samira has the respect of her dance and musician
peers, traveling to teach workshops and is also an in demand,
popular performer for the ethnic crowds.
A bachelors degree in Theater Arts from the University of
Delaware provided her with the opportunity to focus her energies
on costuming. During this same time she was introduced to the
SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and historical reenacting
and started working as a character actor at Bube's Brewery in
1999, where she portrayed a Romany tarot reader and started
learning about various styles of belly dance and Romani dance
and culture.
Samira combines her love of dance with her talent in costuming
and intense interest in historical research to create authentic
performances. She also believes very strongly in starting from an
authentic base before spring boarding into creativity and fusion.
Currently learning with Artemis Mourat and Yasmin as well
rehearsing with Egyptian folkloric troupe Sharm el Sheikh, she
rounds out her studies with workshops, videos and lots of reading.
Workshops she has attended include those by Nourhan Sharif,
Kajira, Karim Nagi, Souhail Kaspar, Suleyman, Rachel Brice, Atef
Hassan, Suha Azar, Leila of Cairo, Dahlena, Fifi Abdo and more.
Samira regularly performs as a soloist in the Washington, DC
tristate area and NYC and is also available to perform and teach
outside her region. To book a performance or workshop contact
Samira:
email
410-977-7978
More booking information
Sharm el Sheikh is the name of an Egyptian folkloric troupe that
Samira also performed with. Her current folkoric repertoire
features wonderful male dancers from Egypt performing with
American dancers. Their specialites include saidi, hassan,
Alexandria, Nubian, Hagallah and more.
Samira has had the opportunity to perform in live venues with
these highly talented musicians, many renowned in their field:
Elias Sarkar, Chris Marashlian, George Stathos, Amir Naoum,
Umut Yasmut, Gamal Shafik, Carmine Guida, Scott Wilson,
Pangia, Shawkatt Sayyad, Mohamed Amir, Souren Baronian,
Souhail Kaspar, David Buchbut, Rashid Halihal, Kevin Hartnell
Mike Stoupakis and more. She is invited regularly to New York
City to perform at their prestigious clubs with their astounding live
music. Lafayette Grill and Mike Stoupkakis have chosen Samira
to feature prominently in their videos on youtube. For more
information on her past performances go here.
Samira has been sponsored to learn and perform Bollywood mujra
dance as well. This highly specialized dance form combines
classical Indian Kathak dance with storytelling theatricality. More
info here.
In 1985 Samira also started teaching fitness and movement
classes. She has appeared in 3 fitness videos, currently teaches
Pilates at The Yoga Center of Columbia in Columbia, MD. With
over 20 years experience teaching movement and dance, she has
developed a warm and nurturing yet challenging teaching style.
She is a highly motivated and enthusiastic teacher, constantly
striving to deepen her knowledge through research.
Samira travels to perform and teach workshops based on both
belly dance, fitness for belly dance and Bollywood. Persian
Satellite TV station Rang-a-Rang was featuring an almost weekly
belly dance instructional show by Samira. Samira currently has
the time for occasional specials. The show is filmed LIVE and airs
around the world. Samira holds an ACE (American Council on
Exercise) group fitness instructor certification as well as CPR
certification.
Samira has been featured in Brandon's Oasis and Yasmina's Joy
of Belly dancing; see Advry's Bellydance.net for a recent
question and answer session. She has had a review and an
article published in Zaghareet Magazine
To contact Samira
(410) 977-7978
or
email
Belly dancer based in the Washington DC/ Baltimore region,
Samira started studying dance at the University of Connecticut,
while she was in high school. After progressing through their jazz
dance classes she took graduate level movement classes and was
assistant to the teacher whenever one was needed. At the age of
17 Samira was offered a full scholarship for modern dance to the
University of Utah. At that time however her dance dreams lay in
jazz dance, so she attended the Philadelphia University of the
Arts, the only college at the time to offer jazz dance as a major.
Her studies included jazz, modern and tap dance, ballet,
choreography, kinesiology, improvisation, pedagogy, acting, music
theory and much more.
This early work in dance lay the foundation for her belly dance
career. She has danced for crown princes, ambassadors and
other diplomats, is recommended by the Turkish Embassy in
Washington DC, is a regular performer throughout the DC tri-state
region and is an invited regular performer at three top NYC
venues. Samira has the respect of her dance and musician
peers, traveling to teach workshops and is also an in demand,
popular performer for the ethnic crowds.
A bachelors degree in Theater Arts from the University of
Delaware provided her with the opportunity to focus her energies
on costuming. During this same time she was introduced to the
SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and historical reenacting
and started working as a character actor at Bube's Brewery in
1999, where she portrayed a Romany tarot reader and started
learning about various styles of belly dance and Romani dance
and culture.
Samira combines her love of dance with her talent in costuming
and intense interest in historical research to create authentic
performances. She also believes very strongly in starting from an
authentic base before spring boarding into creativity and fusion.
Currently learning with Artemis Mourat and Yasmin as well
rehearsing with Egyptian folkloric troupe Sharm el Sheikh, she
rounds out her studies with workshops, videos and lots of reading.
Workshops she has attended include those by Nourhan Sharif,
Kajira, Karim Nagi, Souhail Kaspar, Suleyman, Rachel Brice, Atef
Hassan, Suha Azar, Leila of Cairo, Dahlena, Fifi Abdo and more.
Samira regularly performs as a soloist in the Washington, DC
tristate area and NYC and is also available to perform and teach
outside her region. To book a performance or workshop contact
Samira:
410-977-7978
More booking information
Sharm el Sheikh is the name of an Egyptian folkloric troupe that
Samira also performed with. Her current folkoric repertoire
features wonderful male dancers from Egypt performing with
American dancers. Their specialites include saidi, hassan,
Alexandria, Nubian, Hagallah and more.
Samira has had the opportunity to perform in live venues with
these highly talented musicians, many renowned in their field:
Elias Sarkar, Chris Marashlian, George Stathos, Amir Naoum,
Umut Yasmut, Gamal Shafik, Carmine Guida, Scott Wilson,
Pangia, Shawkatt Sayyad, Mohamed Amir, Souren Baronian,
Souhail Kaspar, David Buchbut, Rashid Halihal, Kevin Hartnell
Mike Stoupakis and more. She is invited regularly to New York
City to perform at their prestigious clubs with their astounding live
music. Lafayette Grill and Mike Stoupkakis have chosen Samira
to feature prominently in their videos on youtube. For more
information on her past performances go here.
Samira has been sponsored to learn and perform Bollywood mujra
dance as well. This highly specialized dance form combines
classical Indian Kathak dance with storytelling theatricality. More
info here.
In 1985 Samira also started teaching fitness and movement
classes. She has appeared in 3 fitness videos, currently teaches
Pilates at The Yoga Center of Columbia in Columbia, MD. With
over 20 years experience teaching movement and dance, she has
developed a warm and nurturing yet challenging teaching style.
She is a highly motivated and enthusiastic teacher, constantly
striving to deepen her knowledge through research.
Samira travels to perform and teach workshops based on both
belly dance, fitness for belly dance and Bollywood. Persian
Satellite TV station Rang-a-Rang was featuring an almost weekly
belly dance instructional show by Samira. Samira currently has
the time for occasional specials. The show is filmed LIVE and airs
around the world. Samira holds an ACE (American Council on
Exercise) group fitness instructor certification as well as CPR
certification.
Samira has been featured in Brandon's Oasis and Yasmina's Joy
of Belly dancing; see Advry's Bellydance.net for a recent
question and answer session. She has had a review and an
article published in Zaghareet Magazine
To contact Samira
(410) 977-7978
or
