Shahrzad is a full time performer and teacher of Egyptian dance currently located in the DC metro area. She regularly travels up and down the East Coast and abroad to teach and perform. Along with oriental Egyptian dance Shahrzad performs many other North African and Middle Eastern dance styles including Khaleegy, Debka, Tunisian, and Saidi.
Shahrzad has been a student of belly dance since the age of 11. From an early age it was clear that she had found her calling. She joined her first professional dance troupe at age 14 and started dancing professionally at 16. At age 17 she won 2nd place at the winter Ahlan wa Sahlan festival's contest in Cairo and at age 18 she was awarded 1st place at Nagwa Fouad's first ever Royal Crown Competition in Miami.
Very early on in her exploration of the dance she realized that her passion was for Egypt. This passion has led her to study oriental as well as folkloric dance privately with the worlds top Egyptian teachers, travel to Egypt yearly, and even learn the language. Her mission is to keep modern Egyptian dance and folkloric styles present in the ever evolving American dance scene.
Visit shahrzad: www.shahrzadraqs.com
SHARZAD
JUDGE/INSTRUCTOR
