Dancer Bios

Sharifa Asmar has studied and performed Middle Eastern and North African dance for over 20 yrs and is a recognized resource for Middle Eastern Oriental dance education. Her repertoire includes Egyptian, Lebanese, and Turkish styles, and regional North African and Near East dances. Sharifa has performed at a variety of events, public venues, and family celebrations in the US and Europe. She has been a panelist on NPR radio, appeared on cable TV, and presented her research at the 2nd International Middle Eastern Dance Conference. Sharifa's academic education includes post-graduate studies in history and languages. An experienced educator, she has been a college professor, foreign language instructor, ESL instructor, copy editor, translator, and home-schooler. Sharifa has presented programs and demonstrations to audiences of all ages in association with NC public schools, service organizations, cultural associations, religious groups, and museums. Sharifa continues to study with dance masters worldwide including Morocco [NYC], Suhaila Salimpour[CA], the late Ibrahim Farrah[NYC], Dahlena[Chicago / AZ] , Aegela[MI /Alexandria, Egypt], Sahra Kent [CA/ Cairo, Egypt], Hadia [Canada], Nourhan Sharif [NYC], Aisha Ali [CA] and Egyptian notables Nadia Hamdi, Farida Fahmy and Mahmoud Reda. Sharifa directs Qarisma Dance Arts, performs, and teaches regular weekly classes, and weekend workshops. She is currently involved in curriculum development and research on Oriental dance.

Sahar holds an ME degree in Electric Power Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BS in Mathematics from Gannon University in Erie, PA. She has twelve years of ballet training. She has studied oriental dance for seven years with teachers including Aziza Fadwa, Sharifa Asmar, and workshops with many others. She has performed as a member of The Flowers of the Desert Dance Troupe for five years and is a member of the Phoenix Rising Dance Troupe.

Mushirah earned a BS in Psychology and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. She worked in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina with high risk children, adolescents and adults suffering from various mental health disorders. She studied Modern Jazz for approximately two years and Oriental Dance for nine years. She has received instruction in Raks Sharqi, Turkish, Turkish Rom, veil and cane. She was an original member of the troupe, Flowers of the Desert, in which she danced for eight years. Currently, she is a member of the Phoenix Rising Dance Troupe.

Romalie holds a BA in English from the University of Oregon, where she also studied dance. She started dancing formally when she joined a ballet class at six. Since then, she's studied ballet, jazz and modern with Susan Zadoff, Fleming Halby, Sara DeLuis, Ray Bussey, and Joellen Meglin, among others. She performed as soloist and teacher's aide with the Seahurst Ballet Company. She has been studying raqs sharqi for twelve years now, with teachers including Kamaal, Anja, Aziza Fadwa, and workshops with many others. She has performed as a member of The Flowers of the Desert Dance Troupe for five years and is a member of the Phoenix Rising Dance Troupe. Romalie now teaches raqs sharqi in Fuquay-Varina.

Ariella holds a BS in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico and a Certification in Computer Programming from Pueblo College in Albuquerque, NM. She has studied oriental dance for three years under Aziza Fadwa, Sharifa Asmar, and workshops with many others. She performed as a member of The Flowers of the Desert Dance Troupe and is a member of the Phoenix Rising Dance Troupe.