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``dance
from your heart, express your feelings, give to others"
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Middle Eastern Dance Artist
Diana Mahat Shahein
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Diana
Shahein has immersed herself in the culture and dance traditions of
Egypt and the Middle East for the past three decades, continually
performing , teaching and traveling to these regions, the United States
and Europe. While living in Cairo she taught English to
Arabic
speaking children and adults and Egyptian dance to
foreign tourists . In the desert of Petra , Jordan she danced
regularly with
Bedouin musicinas and also performed at the Edom Hotel.
`Artiste`, as she is called by the residence of Dahab, Sinai who named
a supermarket after her, Diana is renowned for her versatility,
expressive sincerity, innovative style and in-dept musical
interpretation.
Her expertise lies in her ability to translate cultural dance
traditions into a theatrical experience while retaining their charm and
simplicity.
A master teacher,Diana has developed a very distinct and accessible
teaching method based on the `people` of Egypt.
She holds a BS degree in education and continued graduate studies
receiving a scholarship from the Laban Inststute for dance notation.
She has studied ethnic dance with many experts in the field . The
late Ibrahim Farrah was her foremost inspiration and mentor and her
recent
study of Sufi Dervish dance was with Shaikaya Khadejah Marcia
Radin.
She is a rostered teacher with the Toe River Arts Council of
Western N. Carolina .
She has performed with noted musicians among them,Ahmed Abdul-Malik,
River
Guerguerian and The Master Musicians of the Jajouka of Morocco.
She has been instrumental in forming the original musical and dance
groups, Soora Gameela, Tzengara and currently Oasis Winter Garden.
As director of the Beledi Dance Theatre she received an Arts to
the People grant from
the Pa. Arts Council for a lecture/performance. As
part of the Fringe Festival of Asheville ,N. Carolina, she was
awarded a grant for an original work, Essence of Creation incorporating
Egyptian , African and modern dance with spoken word,
live music and recorded
music.
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Currently
,Diana resides in Scranton, Pa. and is a guest artist at E.Stroudsburg
University . She teaches group and private classes in the area
and regular workshops in Pa., New York and North Carolina.
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2010 Diana Shahein was awarded a grant from the Lackawanna County on the Arts .
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