Soraya (dancer)

Soraya is an American dancer, specialising in Egyptian-style belly dance.

Soraya was born in Atlantic City, N.J. She grew up in a very MusicAL, & creative household. Her parents were music lovers, and their musical taste was eclectic. They were "hip" parents (so to speak) and encouraged, and supported creativity. They often used to frequent the popular "Olympic Flame" Greek restaurant, with Soraya in tow, when she was just a baby. This is where "the spark before the fire" began for Soraya. Hearing "that music" every week, got into her veins (or maybe it was already there from a previous lifetime). At the tender age of only four years old, little Soraya was invited to join the bellydancers on stage, and dance with them... "In front of a packed club." This is why she has been entertaining since the age of four. She has danced for the late King Hassan and the Moroccan Royal Family in Casablanca, Morocco; her tour – "Soraya's Night at the Casbah" – of India's top five-star hotels was very favourably reviewed, and she has danced and toured with famous Arabic singers such as Amr Diab, Ragheb Alameh, Wadi El Safi, George Wassouf, Warda Al-Jazairia, Assi El Hellani, Kazem Al Saher, and Nawal Al Zoghbi, and many more. Soraya has opened these concerts to enthusiastic audiences of thousands at numerous Atlantic City Casino Showroom stages such as... Trump Taj Mahal, Caesar's Atlantic City, Bally's, Showboat, Borgata, Tropicana/Trop World, Harrah's and others. She recently opened the official black tie gala for the "King Tut Exhibit" at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA entitled > "King Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaoh's." (Many VIP's from all over the US and Egypt were present as well as dignitaries, and celebrities This event was covered nationally, and internationally by local and international press and television.

Soraya also holds a B.A. degree in Anthropology and Sociology with an emphasis in "Middle Eastern and Mediterranean studies." She has dedicated her life to offering belly dancing as a "high cultural art," while staying true and never compromising her ideologies.

Soraya is also a model, appearing in Italian Vogue, Shape, Health and Fitness Magazine, and many American and Arabic newspapers.

Sources and external links

• Soraya Home page — contains reviews, etc.
• Blue Moon Talent, Inc.
• vido review — Yasmina's Joy of Belly Dancing