A Professional A Professional A Professional A Professional Review ...
!
"Soraya has incredible physical strength, an extensive dance vocabulary, vast
repertoire and integrity of movement that is perfectly complimented by a flare for the
dramatic!"
“This belly dancing video and DVD collection is a must-have for the serious
professional dancer and collector”.
By Fatima Misrahi
Philadelphia, PA
I am so excited to bring you this review of all of Soraya’s great, Egyptian style belly
dance videos. I bought her entire collection and I want everyone to know that purchasing
them was the best thing I ever did for my dance technique, presentation, and style.
Soraya’s extremely popular and unique collection of titles include: “Soraya’s Night at the
Casbah”, “The Dance of Egypt”, “Soraya El Malika (The Dance of the Queen), “Soraya,
Live in Concert at the Tropicana Casino Showroom”,
“Soraya, Live in Concert at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Showroom”, “The Cairo
Collection, “New York Hafla (Arabic wedding)” and the newest addition; “Soraya’s Desert
Dreams, A Borgata Casino Special Event”. On her cultural website, there are even more great
Egyptian belly dancing videos and DVD’s that are not part of the “Top 8”, listed above. These
include but are not limited to: “Soraya, Live in Concert at Resort’s International Superstar
Theater” (dancing with famous Egyptian singer Hany Shaker), “International Festival at
the Seashore”, Egyptian Wedding and Zaffa (featuring her band: “Soraya and Middle
Eastern Sounds”, Moroccan Wedding Show, etc.
I am an avid fan of her work for years and I eagerly await every one of her new video, and DVD
releases! I have a very large collection of belly dance videos from all over the world and Soraya’s
are the absolute best. What makes her videos so great, besides her fabulous Egyptian style belly
dance technique, explosive stage presence, sharply precise execution of steps, movements and
transitions, is the way that she feels every beat in the music. Feeling the music and understanding
it is imperative with Arabic dance. Soraya is of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean heritage and has
been dancing since she was 4 years old. Her style is 100% Arabic and authentically Egyptian.
She understands the Arabic language as well as the subtle and delicate musical nuances as she
flows with ease in all of her incomparable choreographies.
I learn something new each and every time I look at them! I am constantly watching, pausing and
rewinding just to see how she puts it all together and makes it all look so easy and effortless. I
have learned more from watching her performance videos than from any other teaching or
instructional video. There is just no comparison! The way that she moves speaks volumes and it
is obvious that this dance was born into her. In Egypt, the dance comes naturally as it does for
Soraya. This is not the overly scientific and most of all “Westernized”, or European version of
the dance like a lot the other videos I have seen on the market today. Every angle is in full clear
view, without having to struggle to watch through too much distracting post-production, over
editing, slow motion photography and annoying backgrounds. She hired the best film crew from
New York and spared no expense in making these videos and it is obvious. The pristine quality of
the videos and DVD’s are obvious from the moment you begin watching. On her comprehensive
cultural website, there are 8 video/DVD clips at:
www.bellydancebysoraya.com
Her performances capture the true essence and spirit of what real; authentic Arabic style dance is
all about. Her live performance videos feature her incredible orchestra from Egypt and Lebanon
as it engulfs the viewer into watching it from beginning to end. You will be intrigued not only by
her classic Arabic look, gorgeous, custom Madame Abla costumes, playful personality, and
exquisite choreographies, you will also get to witness actual Arabic concerts, upscale shows and
live performances, as if you were sitting there watching her in person! Each one of her videos is
different, packed with artistic, creative styles of all forms of Egyptian dance and feature the best
music that I have ever heard. I like to dance along with her videos. Her drum solos are dynamic,
dramatic, mesmerizing and breathtaking to say the least. She seems to enjoy using very
percussive, complex, and difficult syncopated rhythms to really show off her innate talents and
abilities, not only as an International dance star and gifted choreographer but mostly, as a true
entertainer!
Her style is not the same old boring and predictable style like so many other dancers. You will
discover something new and exciting each time you watch them that you can incorporate into
your own belly dance choreographies.
Her style, technique and authenticity are reminiscent of Samia Gamal, Souhair Zaki, Fifi
Abdou, Raqia Hassan and Dina, yet with own unique style. Her full body shimmies, accents,
naturally innate understanding of the Arabic music, isolations and use of space is incredible. She
really stands out and continues to do so much for the art that we love and cherish! She has the
class of the Egyptian legends and the youthful energy of the more modern styles. I have never
seen a dancer have such control of the stage using such a subtle yet interestingly complex sinuous
signature style.
Soraya is a wonderful dancer. Purchasing her videos was the best thing that I ever did for my
dancing. Her performances appeal to me particularly because I love the way in which she
infuses her own unique style delicately mixed with the authentic Egyptian way. Soraya appears
relaxed, in full control and always has a close relationship with her band. She feels the music in
her soul, and she can be languid yet powerfully energetic. She can do this all simultaneously
and on demand because she knows how to command the pace of her movements so
professionally. She is strong and knows HOW to work this dual effect, a key component of real
Egyptian styling. Soraya has many terrific abilities, too numerous to mention in this review.
Another great aspect that needs mentioning is how she can tap into what she needs at a particular
moment as she builds her performance into a grand fiery finale'. This keeps her audiences and
clients on the edge of their seats and is just another reason why Soraya is requested to do all of
the best shows, events and concerts.
Soraya: The ZEN of belly dancing;
She has an energetic, perky, fun, inviting and engaging personality with very dramatic steps,
movements and true Arabic flair (this is the most important part of the dance and it comes
naturally for her). I love Soraya’s smooth, relaxing Arabic approach of performing very complex
choreographies with ease. It is very unique that all of this is executed with a rare calmness to her
overall appearance, which is the real Egyptian way. Soraya's belly dancing is never rushed,
hurried or nervous. This is true poetry in motion and artistic perfection. I love her almost constant
shimmy beneath her movements (which is very difficult) and the way she can layer steps
with incredible isolations. She also does some wonderful perpendicular, syncopated and
bilateral hip work with tiny, sharp pelvic locks and circles that I am trying to learn by watching her
DVD's.
Soraya is the "Shimmy Goddess" that is always coming up with new moves to keep her on the
cutting edge. She performs the most intricate shimmy work that I have ever seen that targets
certain muscle groups for effect. She can do large and small shimmies; this all depends on what
the music dictates to her. Soraya presents her movements in a very precise yet highly playful and
entertaining style. Her well trained ear for the Middle Eastern music and natural dance ability
translates into a powerfully spiritual connection of “artistic ecstasy”. This intertwined creative
elation becomes the wonderful phenomenon called "Tarab”. This means the true Arabic feeling
which is second nature to her and what her audiences crave. Tahrab means “the extraordinary
emotional state evoked by music”. Emotional evocation is, in fact, central to the aesthetics of the
core of music and dance in the Arab world. It is so interconnected that a common expression
regarding art is referred to as: “Fann il hasas” or “Art is feeling”. Soraya has a deep soulful
connection not only with herself as she is transported through her art, but also with her audience
and band as an aggregate. This communication happens on a heightened emotional level that is
epitomized by this concept of “Tarab”. When you watch her perform, Soraya has such a deep
personal connection to her dance and music with the unique ability to be able to successfully
project it outward to her audience and back again. Her audience in turn gives their immediate
approval back in the form of their undivided, captive attention during her show. Then we see it
again by the cheers and clapping when appropriate.
Soraya holds herself like a true superstar on the stage with an infectious confidence and utmost
class. Soraya has incredible physical strength and integrity of movement, complimented by a flare
for the dramatic!
Soraya is really in touch with every beat in the music and has an excellent movement
vocabulary with a lot of variety for full interpretation. She uses unique pelvic locks, perfect
hip articulations and body alignment that is second to none. Another great aspect of Soraya's
dancing is that her Beledi (Balady) styling is so distinct from her Raqs Sharqi; which is very rare
to behold. It is also easy to see why Soraya is so famous for her killer drum solos that always
brings down the house and is the icing on the cake…
Besides the entertaining aspect of her large video library, I love to watch them for inspiration,
ideas and to absorb everything that makes the true, Egyptian style so fascinating.
You will be glued to your TV from start to finish and will feel as if you were in Cairo! In the
more formal studio videos, you are treated to crisp digital sound, AVID digital editing and very
cutting edge camera angles. Soraya spared no expense and it shows in the quality of her belly
dancing video collection.
There is just right amount of audience participation in the candidly shot settings from large
corporate “Arabian Nights” theme parties, country clubs, five-star hotels, Arabic weddings, hotel
banquets and so much more! These types of high-end events reflect the caliber of shows that she
takes now in her career.
When you look at the incredible and exciting life that she leads and her wonderful marriage, it is
easy to see why her performances are so mesmerizing. Soraya’s shares her incredible joy that she
experiences in her daily life with her audiences on the stage.
Her art reflects the happiness and joy that she experiences in her personal life. Soraya said: “I
dance to celebrate my happiness and love, I thank God everyday. I want my joy to show in my art,
it is an extension of my personality”. Soraya married her true love, who in not an artist like
herself but is a very prominent physician that works as a high ranking Corporate Executive in
charge of global Pharmaceutical Medicine for the world’s largest drug company. Soraya now
only performs on an ultra selective basis, carefully picking and choosing every event that she
takes.
She still enjoys dancing, booking and producing high-end events at her busy, internationally
acclaimed Arabic entertainment agency. Since she doesn’t have to dance for a living anymore she
performs now only for the love, fun and joy of making her audiences/clients happy and as a
wonderful creative, culturally artistic expression, “A dream come true for me”, Soraya says. This
could not have happened to a nicer person. Her Husband, fully supports her love of entertaining
and tells her to continue for as long as she feels like it. It is also easy to see why her incredible
success both personally and professionally causes the insecure and jealous to envy her so much. It
probably makes them angrier because Soraya actually takes it all as a very flattering compliment!
She does not lower herself or her waste time on the ignorance of unhappy, miserable people and
carefully screens all the performers that represent her entertainment agency. Her reputation for
incomparable excellence, quality, integrity and class is so important in her company that is why
she is # 1 for providing only the best in authentic belly dancing and upscale cultural talent. She
gives so much work to other dancers that deserve it, as well as Arab musicians, singers and we
are all grateful to her for her generosity. Soraya is a perfectionist and it shows in her work. I am
one of the lucky dancers who, performs regularly through Soraya Entertainment.
I guarantee that these videos and DVD’s will not get dusty sitting on your shelf with the rest of
the tapes! This video and DVD collection is a must-have for the serious professional belly
dancer and collector. If you are searching for the very best in the rare, authentic, Egyptian style,
you will not be disappointed with each and every title of Soraya’s fabulous video collection! She
also has priced her videos so that they are affordable to everyone. Soraya also holds a BA degree
in cultural Anthropology and her site is comprehensive, educational and informative for Arabic
arts, history and heritage. If you would like more information, and to view 8 great video clips
from her best selling collection, please visit her new website address at:
www.bellydancebysoraya.com
Thank you Soraya for your incredible gift to the world of International dance and art!
You can also write to Soraya “snail mail” in the post at:
Soraya Entertainment Enterprises
P.O. Box 3284
Margate City, NJ 08402
Thank you. Fatima Mizrahi, Philadelphia, PA, Arab-American Belly Dancer
