The Art of Belly Dancing is as ancient as time... Shahravar began studying and performing Middle-Eastern dance styles in 1991. Sword work, "Raks Sayef," is her true specialty. As a master instructor, dancers are drawn to study with her. She has been teaching since 1993 and opened the Urban Ghawazii Belly Dance Studio in 2008. She also founded the popular Troupe Habibi Habibi in 2008. She now owns the Urban Arts Studio and Boutique in Salt Lake City. In 2004, Shahravar created Utah's first collaborative belly dance troupe, Shah Sitara, a performing level group of advanced students. Over the years, Shahravar's work has been featured in Jareeda Bellydance Magazine and she has performed and taught workshops throughout the United States and has studied under experts as varied as Mahmoud Reda, Carolena Nericcio, Sahra Saida, Amaya, Alexandra King, Bert Balladine, Rachel Brice, and Kami Liddle. Her specialties include swords, veils, zills, folkloric, and improvisation. In 2009, she was awarded "Best Fusion Bellydance" by Salt Lake City Weekly. "The Image Eternal Oh, lovers of the dance, and you who worship music, and living forms of sculpture or the painter's skill in art, Cease with me an instant from your labors in the studio, in theater or in concert hall, and let us listen for an interval to the Eternal Music, and inwardly behold the perfect image. and then let us begin to move to the silent drum beats Of the Perfect Dance."                                                                                                           - Ruth St. Denis Shahravar is an inspirational, articulate and highly educated instructor. She has enchanted audiences and mentored students throughout the States. She has been performing and teaching at festivals, seminars and productions throughout her career. With a mastery of stage props her workshops in Sayef-sword, veils, Assaya-cane and Zills-finger cymbals are motivational and enlightening. She has traveled and studied with legendary masters of this dance for over 20 years to hone and perfect the true essence of Oriental Dance, continually expanding her knowledge and repitoir made visible with soulfull, inspired performances. She often draws on her early years of Punk and New Wave music appreciation to ad a dynamic fusion to performing modern belly dance. Shahravar has created a unique style of her own, infusing Middle-Eastern dance with Indian, Thai and her own artistic interpretations, diversifying one of the most Ancient performing arts without losing its integrity.    My dance background follows classical cabaret, tribal and folkloric paths. Studying the rich cultural history as well as technique, I am well trained and researched in Flamenco, Zahmbra, Turkish and "Gypsy" (Proper term is Rom or Roma), American Tribal, Saudi Folk, Khallegy, Tunisian, Egyptian Cabaret and Lebanese Debke Line dances.

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My dance background follows classical cabaret, tribal and folkloric paths. Studying the rich cultural history as well as technique, I am well trained and researched in: *Flamenco    *Zahmbra    *Turkish    *American Tribal    *Saudi Folk *Tunisian     *Egyptian Cabaret     *Lebanese Debke Line dance. *"Gypsy" (Proper term is Rom or Roma) *Rhythms Drumming: Doumbek,Tar frame drum *Veil and Veil History *Zills/Finger cymbals: zagat rhythms and combinations *Khallegy: Saudi Gulf region dance performed with ornate thobes * Fans: Oriental, Flamenco and Fusion styling *"Raks Al Assaya": Cane dance styled from traditional Taktib *Basket: Various styling and jug-dances for Tunisian *Skirt:Traditional Spanish, American "Gypsy",Turkish Rom *"Raks al Sayef": sword, scimitar, ghurka, sabre, dagger "Often I am asked about my teachers, It's been an honor to work with so many talented Instructors Here are the performers that have had a significant impact on my Performance Style with workshop or class sessions" ALEXANDRA KING-AZIZ-AMAYA-ELENA LENTINI-DELILAH-CASSANDRA-KATIA-SUZANNA DEL VECCHIO-JOSE GRECO-FAT CHANCE BELLYDANCE(CAROLENA NERICCHIO-JILL PARKER-RINA RALL)-ANEENA-BERT BALLADINE-SAHRA-RHEA-DAHLAL-DALIA CARELLA-FATEN ALI MUNGER-KATHRYN FERGUSON-SONYA-YASMINA-HADIYA-MARGO ABDO ODELL-MEZMERA-CYNDI LOADER-SE SE-SAQRA-JUDEEN-TINA SARGENT-ANSUYA-SUMRA-RACHEL BRICE-KAMI LIDDLE-SUHALIA SALIMPOUR-ASHLEY LOPEZ-ARTEMIS-MAHMOUD REDA  Percussion/Drums- ARMONDO MAUFUFO-MICHAEL BEACH-BRETT "ANGUS" "Historical Research into rich Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean cultures brought me to learn this dance that I am still awe inspired by after ninteen years. Impressed by the beauty and elegance of movement the touching stories and of course those glorious costumes"- Shahravar Music is the basis of the dance arts. It is Key to understanding the musical culture of a people. As a dancer you are also a musician and it is imperative to a good performance that the dancer knows the rhythms that comprise Middle eastern music. I have enjoyed working with many live bands over the years. PEACE PROJECT KAIRO BY NIGHT TRANSARABIAN SOUND BROTHERS OF THE BALADI FISTFULL UNCLE MAUFUFO AND SULEYMAN EL COYOTE PALME RE JAWHARA "FISTFULL OF JEWELS" ELEPHANTE VOODOO BOX DESERT WIND TAREK AND RAJAB MIRAGE-ED KERGOZIAN MARK BELL(OF HELM) KARA NOMADICA JUANA GHANI EAGLE TWIN Shahravar was a featured group member for the "I A M E D" International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance. "Rockin the casbah" video. You can order it via the link below. Link to IAMED