Surayyah Dance
Surayyah Bellydances
Surayyah has been a student of dance since she was 4 years old, taking ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance before joining the auxiliary line of the University of Georgia's Redcoat Marching Band.
She began learning bellydance from Athens dancer At'tar in 2003 and later studied under Athens dancers Fatina and Christy Fricks, Atlanta dancers Faaridah Taylor and Majda Anwar. She is also lucky enough to have been instructed by such dance legends as Ansuya, Moira Chappel, Bozenka, Tamalyn Dallal, former Bellydance Superstars Jillina and Zoe Jakes, David Calderon, as well as THE Dina.
In 2024, alongside two other amazing Atlanta bellydancers, Surayyah formed the Southern Shimmy Collective, built on the premise that we are all worthy of being performers if we so choose.
What is Bellydance?
Belly dance is the western name for Raqs Sharki a type of middle eastern dance. Many experts say it is the oldest form of dance, having roots in all ancient cultures from the Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic & Turkic (MENAHT) region.
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The dance often focuses upon isolating different parts of the body, moving them independently in sensuous patterns, weaving together the entire feminine form.
Probably the greatest misconception about belly dancing is that it is intended to entertain men. Throughout history, this ritualized expression has usually been performed for other women, generally during fertility rites or parties preparing a young woman for marriage. In most cases, the presence of men is not permitted.
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In America, belly dancing enjoyed its first significant renown when the famous dancer Little Egypt performed at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Americans found themselves fascinated by the exotic body rhythms and music, eventually including them in many silent films made just a few years later. Costumes and dancing styles were given a distinctive Hollywood flair and, in turn, influenced dancers in the Middle East, thus evolving the art form to a new level.
