Photo by Jeff Koenig
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 and
Baltimore metro areas 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 an Egyptian folkloric troupe that Samira also
performs with. It features wonderful male dancers from Egypt
performing with American dancers. Their specialites include saidi,
including double stick, 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:
Omar Faruk Tekbilek, 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 and more. She is invited regularly to New York City
to perform at their prestigious clubs with their astounding live
music. 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 art 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 teach workshops based on both belly dance and
fitness for belly dance. 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
samira at samirashuruk. com
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 and
Baltimore metro areas 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 an Egyptian folkloric troupe that Samira also
performs with. It features wonderful male dancers from Egypt
performing with American dancers. Their specialites include saidi,
including double stick, 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:
Omar Faruk Tekbilek, 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 and more. She is invited regularly to New York City
to perform at their prestigious clubs with their astounding live
music. 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 art 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 teach workshops based on both belly dance and
fitness for belly dance. 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
samira at samirashuruk. com
photo by Tony. Imajination Photography
