Mahira
| Background |
 I have been dancing my entire life. I was a competitive tap, jazz and ballet dancer. My first performance I was 4 and I fell in love with the stage. I took my last 1st place trophy with my new baby girl back stage with my mother and husband. I semi-retired from dance. I missed it terribly. When my mother passed away I was at my lowest point in my life. I found bellydance and not only did I fall in love with dance all over again, it was also therapeutic for me. It’s a beautiful, feminine and fun dance form. I have not stopped since that first class. I have taken classes, private lesson and workshops from every dance I possibly can. I continue my learning process and I plan to for as long as I can. |
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| Belly Dance Classes |
| I love to teach. I enjoy watching my students grow. My daughter dances with me as well and is part of my student troupe. I teach a blend of Egyptian, American Cabaret/Classic Style and Fusion. I started teaching private lessons in 2006 and then started weekly classes in 2008. I teach not only the movements of bellydance but also how to incorporate them in dancing and/or choreography. I teach musicality, ow to listen to the music and interpret the music and emotion. I love zills and I love to teach zills/finger cymbals. Zill basics and beyond. I love to teach improv with dance and zills. I teach all sorts of props, veils, canes, etc. I have a student troupe and I love to design choreographs for them. I keep my classes fun, interesting and challenging. |
| Performances |
 I am an improvisational style bellydancer. I love the freedom of improv. I love fusing all dance elements that I am good at. I can perform a pure Egyptian style or American Cabaret or fusion, but when I shine I think is when I fuse them all together. I love to dance and improv with my zills. When I perform with a veil, it is part of me. It’s an extension of my dancing, not just a prop. I have performed at restaurants, night clubs, private events, weddings, showers and haflas/stage shows. I am also a part of an all women performance group. I love to dance and it shows in my performances. I have been told I have a magnetic stage presence. I usually don’t get. really nervous (sometimes a little) but I was truly nervous when I performed for Dina of Cairo when she was in Chicago in 2009. |
| Contact and Class Information |
| I teach out of my home studio in Glendale Heights, IL (suburbs of Chicago) as well as at two park districts, Bloomingdale Park District & Glendale Heights Park District. Information on my classes are on my website (http://www.mahirabellydance.com/). I also host/produce workshops and haflas. |
