A Very Brief Biography
Dancing since 1977, Zahirah has performed and taught seminars throughout the United States and in locales as far away as Paris.
Her Lebanese heritage brought the dance into her heart; the love of it keeps her soul young and her continual study of its many varied forms will never cease.
An active member of the University of Utah's Middle East Center Outreach Committee, Zahirah is involved in the planning of educational workshops and seminars for teachers from kindergarten through high school, often performing for schools, and other venues with her dance company, Desert Orchid Dance.
Being recognized by the Utah Arts Council, and the Utah Ethnic Artists Bank, she is Involved with providing programs throughout the state as well as other entertainments such as festivals, fairs, family reunions, cultural celebrations and more.
A four-time award winning dancer with a Masters Degree in Education, Zahirah has a clear concise teaching style, and a background in the multifaceted forms of Middle Eastern dance. Turkish, Kurdish, Egyptian, Cabaret, folkloric and sword dance styles are just a few that she has in her varied background.
For information on classes, private lessons, workshops, or seminars call Zahirah's Desert Orchid Dance at (801) 733-6371.
Zahirah
by Alice Nelson
The first time I saw Zahirah dance was at the Utah Belly Dance Festival, a wonderful weekend outdoor festival. Sunburned and tired from being there since morning, I was ready to go home. Then Zahirah took the stage and started dancing. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen, and any ideas I had about leaving were forgotten. She was fluid, almost liquid - delicate, while at the same time, strong. The entire audience was absorbed by her presence on stage.
Growing up in a Lebanese family structure, Zahirah naturally found herself drawn to things that were Middle Eastern. She remembers going to local Greek restaurants, seeing the dancers, and studying their style of dance during their performances. Her first belly dance recollection, though, comes from elementary school. This was where she first saw the film Jason and the Argonauts, in which Medea performs a dramatic, yet Hollywood-styled dance to the goddess Hecate. Although the film didn't realistically depict belly dancing, Zahirah was entranced early on by the unusual and dramatic movements.
However, it wasn't until she was working as an assistant in a wheel-thrown pottery studio that Zahirah learned the real dance. It was there she met fellow student, and potter, Katie Mackin, who had trained with Kathryn Ferguson in Arizona. Katie was new to Salt Lake, and was experiencing the torment of dance withdrawal. When Zahirah mentioned that she had always wanted to learn to belly dance, Katie excitedly offered to instruct her. The following Saturday, Zahirah got her first taste of step-hips, spins, cymbal playing, and the magic that learning the dance can bring. More than twenty years later, Zahirah still feels there is more to learn and experience.
Zahirah is the founding director of Desert Orchid Dance Company, a troupe that has been together since the summer of 1996. The company performs a variety of styles, from cabaret to traditional, to a variety of audiences. They are one of the few performing groups listed in the Utah State Office of Education and Utah Arts Council Ethnic Presenters Bank. Groups accepted into the performers bank go to different schools to educate and entertain, and Desert Orchid Dance Company is the most requested!
Members of the Desert Orchid Dance Company are very committed, with each member focusing her time and energy on the troupe, often at the expense of personal activities. Anyone who watches a Desert Orchid performance can easily see how such dedication pays off, with their delightful choreography and smooth rapport. A sincere love of the dance shines from all their faces.
Not only does Zahirah perform and teach belly dance, but she is also a high school Literature and Honors English teacher. She is a member of the University of Utah's Middle East Outreach Committee, a group that designs and implements educational workshops for teachers and students throughout the state. Zahirah publishes book reviews and activities in their newsletters, and teaches in their workshops.
Her inspirations in dance are many. From that first encounter with the elegantly incorrect Medea, to the present day wealth of video performances, Zahirah continues to study and learn. When I asked her to tell me her "inspiration sources" she shared a list of over thirty performers and instructors, revealing her breadth of experience and surprising humility. Always a student, always striving to learn more, to understand more, and to expand her abilities, she is a remarkable example to her own students. In all her years of dance, there was only one local dance seminar she had to miss due to her work schedule. She has attended all others, encouraging her students to do so, to bypass foolish political fears or misgivings as to "whose seminar" it is. She believes absolutely in supporting Middle Eastern Dance endeavors, since being unified is the only way to encourage the elimination of cultural stereotypes and political biases.
Belly dance has affected Zahirah in many ways: generating friendships, knowledge, developing physical endurance and fitness, as well as providing travel opportunities, to name a few. It has influenced her outlook on history and western civilization's development, and has aided in her creative thought processes. Zahirah sees belly dance as a problem solving opportunity, that is both thought provoking and challenging. She is known for her unique, powerful sword dance, and her lyrical movements.
Throughout all her experiences, Zahirah maintains simple philosophies: "Keep it fun", "Take the dance seriously, but don't take yourself seriously", and "Well, it'll either be a good show, or a good story."
Zahirah is an inspiring dancer, full of joy and grace. Speaking from the perspective of being a student of hers, I can also say that she is an incredibly patient person and a spectacular instructor. She is a deeply appreciated figure in the belly dance community here, and touches many lives with her mesmerizing, lovely dance and kind personality.
