Raks Sheba - Biography

Raks Sheba
Biography

I have always been intrigued by Belly Dancing. Finally, my wish came true in the Fall of 1982. My dance career started by taking belly dance lessons at the Greece School District through the Continuing Education Department.
There, I met Sadika, my first belly dance teacher who started teaching me the basic hip movements. This was not as easy as I thought it would be. Quite the contrary, I found it rather difficult. The isolations took a lot of concentration on how certain parts of my body were moving.   After taking lessons for a year and a half, Sadika encouraged me to join the Rochester Middle Eastern Dance Club and later that summer, in 1984 I made my debut as a belly dancer dancing a group veil dance in the summer folk festival at the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
In the Spring of 1986, my dance club performed at Monroe Community College for the International Fest. I was assigned as the group leader in my trio to remember the choreography. It was at this particular show that I found that some of the hip movements I seemed to have the most difficulty with were coming more easily to me and I gained a lot of confidence as a dancer. Shortly after this performance I choreographed my first solo dance and performed that dance for the first time in 1987 for the summer folk festival also held at the Rochester Museum and Science Center. After this performance, the following fall I started taking lessons from Lorraine McNeil.
For the next eleven years as I took lessons with Lorraine I progressed from the Intermediate Level to the Advanced Level. During this time period I learned a lot. Lorraine stressed posture, technique and stage presence.   This is so important when it comes to your overall appearance as a dancer. There were several combinations that Lorraine taught to her students. These combinations added to my repertoire of dance steps and combinations.
During my years with Lorraine I attended several mini workshops that she sponsored; including several workshops that Lorraine taught for the Professional Dancer.   During these years I danced in several area nursing homes, Geva Theatre, and the Main Event that the City of Rochester sponsored. At this point in my dance career I became a professional as I was paid for these performances, and my confidence level continued to grow. Improvisation became one of my strong assets.
In January of 1997 I joined the Bal Aziza Dance Troupe. This troupe has performed in the Rochester area at festivals and other events in the City and surrounding areas for thirty years. I have danced with the troupe for four years and we have danced at the New York State Fair, the Monroe County Fair, the George Eastman House, the Cornhill Arts Festival, the Clothesline Arts Festival, Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology's International Evening, Oktoberfest, several nursing homes, school events.
In the Fall of 1998 I had the pleasure of dancing several performances at Shebas Restaurant, in Rochester. This popular ethnic restaurant featured live music and provided the exciting opportunity to dance with three different bands.
Unfortunately, this restaurant did not stay in business very long. This experience was very valuable. I got first hand experience in dancing to a diverse Middle Eastern audience, dancing among and with the audience, and the thrill of dancing to live music.
I really enjoy dancing to live music. Since I've never met the band members, or heard their music beforehand, I had no choreographed steps. I was ad libbing as I was dancing. I was just letting the music take me over. Whenever I think back on this experience I still get a dancer's high.
Most recently, I have also had the opportunity to dance at King David's Restaurant in Syracuse. This is a Middle Eastern Restaurant where several professional bellydancers get together to dance.
I have been with Bal Aziza from 1997 to t2004.   By joining the troupe it has provided the opportunity to attend several workshops in the surrounding areas of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Johnstown, PA, and Ottawa, Canada. I dance during the Haflas after each workshop that I attend. This continues to add to my dance experience.
This brings me to the year 2001. During this year I had the pleasure of being a substitute Bellydance Instructor for Kalilah at the Rochester Athletic Club for Women. I thoroughly enjoyed doing this. When the opportunity presented itself Kalilah referred me as her replacement as the Bellydance Instructor. Thank you Kalilah!
During the year 2002 new adventures came my way. The Bal Aziza Dance Troupe changed the troupe name to Desert Rhythms and I becamce the troupe Publicity Director, and Web Master.
In the spring of this year I took an adventurous trip to Prague in the Czech Republic to participate in the Prague International Dance Festival. Of course, I went to belly dance. I must say this was the hilight of 2002, I received a judge's certificate and had a wonderful time.
In the Fall my teaching career as a Belly Dance Instructor took on a more artistic approach and I accepted an assignment with the University of Rochester Medical Center's Athletic Club. Upon completion of this assignment I pursued my dance instructor career with the Gates Community Center and the Greece Continuing Education Department. This is giving me an opportunity to concentrate more on the art form of belly dance.   For information on lessons go to this page.
In 2005 I formed my student dance troupe into a professional Belly Dance Troupe, called Gems of the Nile. This wonderful group of women have given me the opportunity to become Artistic Director for the troupe. During June 2005 I had the opportunity to travel to Egypt. Upon my arrival to Cairo I took part in a 10 day Belly Dance Study Tour. This is every belly dancer's dream to go to Eypt and study.   I studied with Keti Sharif , Master Instructor of A-Z Advanced Stage Training, and Complete A-Z Routines. Sheba is now accdredited in A-O Advanced Stage Training and A-O Original
Routines.
Sheba is available to dance for special events such as festivals, birthday parties, corporate events, theme parties, weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, bar mitzvaks. It would be my pleasure to dance at your next special event. I can be contacted at: 585-271-6536, or 585-509-5645.

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