Safiya

Safiya signed up for a Middle Eastern Dance class in 1998 at the suggestion of her mother, who was a belly dancer in the 1960’s. She took to the movements immediately, and joined Mirage right away. She has been studying and performing Middle Eastern and fusion dance regularly since then, and even teaches a class or two once in a while! Safiya is drawn to the serpentine flow and punctuated isolations of Middle Eastern dance movements, and she is particularly suited for improvisational and tribal-style dancing. She also plays the zills (finger symbols), and performs once a month at the Olympic Flame restaurant in Des Moines. Safiya’s respect for Middle Eastern Dance is deeply rooted in its history of women dancing together in celebration and fellowship, and she cherishes the opportunity to perform with Mirage.