Plan wonderful belly dance entertainment for your next special occasion or event. Shems's bio and resume as well as some background on Belly Dance. Learn to belly dance or polish your advanced belly dance performce skills - workshop, classes & private intstruction available. Studio & performance photos & belly dance video clips of Shems. Shems' belly dance performance calendar - upcoming events in Washington DC and Baltimore. Community calendar, resources and links for the Washington DC & Baltimore belly dance communities.

Shems Belly Dance Performances
Washington DC - Virginia - Maryland

Upcoming Performances

A few responses to Shems' Performances

Bring all your friends for a night out and enjoy the unique and wonderful pleasure of a Shems belly dance performance.

 
 
Shems - Washington DC - Baltimore Belly Dance Performance and Instruction
e-mail: shemsdance@gmail.com or call: 202.320.8749
 


     
 

Upcoming Performances:
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Friday, April 25, 2008 - Baltimore, MD
Shems at the Cazbar
show at 9 pm
Location:
Cazbar
316 North Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-528-1222

 

Saturday, April 26 8pm - Arlington, VA
Souhail Kaspar and renowned oud player, Rachid Halihal return to DC!


photo by Roger Wood

Master percussionist, Souhail Kaspar, nominated for a Grammy Award for his Smithsonian Folkways recording with Rahim Alhaj, "When the Soul Is Settled: Music Of Iraq", returns to the Washington, DC area for workshops and a special performance. Souhail will be joined by renowned oudist, Rachid Halihal to perform an evening concert on Saturday, April 26 at Saffron Dance Studio, Arlington, VA.

Some wonderful workshops will also be held at this event.

location: Saffron Dance, Arlington, VA

Admission: $25 (includes music, dancing, cocktails & hors d'oeuvres) Special performances by Saphira, Kostana, Shems and MORE, plus open dancing for all. Registration, Tickets & Complete Event Info: www.wmfolklifecenter.org For more about Souhail: www.neareastmusic.com For more about Rachid: www.rachidhalihalmusic.com


Saturday, May 3, 2008 - Baltimore, MD
Shems at the Cazbar
show at 10:30 pm
Location:
Cazbar
316 North Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-528-1222

 

May 10, 2008 - Ashville, NC
An Oriental Intensive with Lucy and Shems of Washington, DC
brought to you by Lisa Zahiya and Amanda

12-2 Oriental technique and dance combinations w. Shems
3-5 Baladi Taxim w. Lucy

Both Workshops will be held at Studio Terpsicorps, 129 Robert Street, (2nd Floor)

The Show is at the Asheville Arts Center at 208 Merrimon Avenue

contact: lisa@lisazahiya.com or 828.242.7595

and visit the official event page here: Lucy & Shems Oriental Intensive

 

May 23-25, 2008 - Greenlane, PA
Folktours Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp
This is an amazing camp with some of the most incredible musicians and dancers, instructors and performers in attendance. There are workshops all day and concerts at night. I recommend it for anybody interested in Middle Eastern dance or music on any level. Shems will be attending and performing at the campers show. for more information on this event visit the Folktours Middle Eastern Music and Dance camp website.

 

Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Baltimore, MD
Shems at the Cazbar
show at 10:30 pm
Location:
Cazbar
316 North Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-528-1222

 

June 8, 2008 - Somerset, New Jersey
Spring Caravan

This is a large dance festival with multiple performances and workshops. Shems will be performing with the band Pangia on Sunday evening at 6:50 pm.

The classes and festival will be held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center 135 Davison Ave, Somerset, New Jersey.
Friday June 6 - 7pm - 11pm - $12
Saturday June 7 - noon - 10pm - $15
Sunday June 8 - 12noon - 8pm. -$15

For more information on this event visit the Spring Caravan website.

 

Saturday, June 14, 2008 - Baltimore, MD
Shems at the Cazbar
show at 9:30 pm
Location:
Cazbar
316 North Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-528-1222

 

Friday, June 27, 2008 - Baltimore, MD
Shems at the Cazbar
show at 9:00 pm
Location:
Cazbar
316 North Charles St
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-528-1222

 

Sunday, July 6th, 2008 4pm - Towson, MD
All Season's Hafla Featuring Shems and the band Ishtar
Ishtar, Pittsburgh's Belly Rock band will play for Shems, a renowned local dancer as our feature act!
Rom, a Utah dancer will return to her Maryland roots to come dance for us as well!
Doors open at 4pm. Full and delicious Indian Buffet will be served, and there is an open bar.
Rashid Aladeen will open with drumming- you are invited to put on your zils and hip scarf and dance and play along! Anyone else who would like to bring an instrument, please do!
$20 for show and dinner. Drinks and gratuities are not included. This is an awesome show!
More slots available for this fantastic show! Visit

OOH! SWAP MEET! Bring your old-to-you costumes to sell, and pick up a new-to-you costume from someone else- no giant tables of vending, just stuff you can pull out at intermission! Feel free at every hafla to bring flyers for your events and services.

Location:
Cafe Spice
321 York Rd
Towson , MD 21204
410-583-7770

for more information visit the Belly Dance Meetup page. The All Season's Hafla is an ongoing event. For information on it please visit the All Seasons Hafla Website.

 

July 31-August 2, 2008 - Dallas, TX
Ahlan Cairo Nights & Queen of Raqs Sharqi
Shems will be attending and competing in the belly dance contest ajoining the event. This amazing event will include workshops and performances by Egyptian stars Dr. Mo Geddawi, Dina, Randa Kamal and Dandash. For more information about this event see the Little Egypt website.

 

Restaurants Shems has performed at in the past:

  • Cazbar MD
  • 3 Kings of Egypt MD
  • Tobacco Center Cafe MD
  • Little Morocco Cafe MD
  • Karma Lounge DC
  • Fairouz VA
  • Marrakesh DC
  • Piano Grill (Pars) VA
  • Prince Palace DC
  • Fetoosh DC
  • Fairouz VA
  • Mediterranean Grill MD
  • Taste of Morocco MD
  • Tel Aviv MD
  • Casablanca VA
  • Kan Zaman VA
  • Cedars of Lebanon UT
  • House of Kabob & Pita UT
  • The Athenian UT
  • Grecian Gardens UT

A few special events and places Shems has been an invited guest performer in the recent past:

  • Northern Virginia Community College VA
  • Johns Hopkins School of Public Health MD
  • Bonnie Brae Elemetary VA
  • Folk Tours Music and Dance Camp PA
  • Disco El Sharq DC
  • Five Seasons Hafla MD
  • Marymount University VA
  • Middle Eastern Dance Spectacular OR
  • The 4th Annual Shazadi's Soiree UT
  • Yucy El-Banan's Arabian Nights MD
  • Arab Dance Seminar CT

For further past performances, please see Shems' dance resume.


 

 

 

  
     

 

 

     
 

A few responses to Shems' Performances:
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"Shems is the best kept secret in Baltimore! She is a beautiful performer, an excellent and conscientious teacher and a lovely person!"

-Artemis (www.serpentine.org) is a master teacher, writer, historian and one of the best Turkish dancers in the US.

 

"You have musicality. You have variety. You have wicked skill. I was noting just how many different moves, good moves were packed into a dance, yet you did not exhaust the eye; the moves all flowed as though you were channeling the music through yourself. Your dance was an ever shifting feast of loveliness. Your prowess with props was beautiful and impressive as well, and the whole experience was fun. Sometimes I see a dancer that makes me want to hang up my bra and belt because of some sort of remote perfection that leaves me empty. Your performance did not do that- it left me feeling happy, hopeful, and eager to improve my own dancing."

-Nina Amaya, (http://habibihon.com/ninaamaya/) performs belly dance professionally around the Baltimore area

 

"Thank you so much for being there. You were absolutely magical and everybody LOVED you. I also loved your outfit, you looked beautiful."

-Jana, after my performance at her engagement celebration

 

" Thank you so much for coming out and performing for Bonnie Brae. I know everyone loved it. You did such a great job of engaging the audience and getting the kids interested. Many people commented to me while we were cleaning up how much they enjoyed your performances. I know you had to come a long way and I so appreciate all the good communication prior to the event and your explanations before your performances. AND your performances themselves were fabulous so thank you very much! If I have the opportunity I will recommend you for other events at our school or other places I know who might be interested. "

- Amy, coordinator for Bonnie Brae Elementary School's international night

 

"It was amazing to watch Shems work yesterday. Her music and costuming was great. I truly enjoyed her hip shimmies, undulations, you name it! The sword and the cane dances were great and what stamina! I had taken one class with Shems early this years and had been looking forward to her new classes and her style of teaching. I am so glad I decided to go to the 5 Seasons on yesterday. Believe me, it was a real treat! Hope to see more of you Shems!"

- Malia, after my performance at the Five Seasons in Baltimore

 

"Just wanted to say a big thank you for performing at Faces of Africa, on behalf of the African Public Health Network. Everyone enjoyed your performance and you definitely represented North Africa well. We look forward to having you perform for us in the future."

-Abena, coordinator for Johns Hopkins University's Public Health Network's "Faces of Africa" production

 

"beautiful performance at 5 Seasons! i loved the power of your sword dance - the athleticism you possess, the drum solo was awesome. you have a very nice balance of strength, grace, and just enough coquettish to keep the crowd happy.....now, mind you, i'm no dancer - thus hiding behind the darbukka :) bravo!!"

-Eric, an excellent tabla player in the Baltimore/DC area

 

"I just wanted to thank you again for performing in our show. Your dance was amazing! I have only seen beautiful veil work like that on one other dancer (Aziza of Montréal). Thank you again, your performance was phenomenal!"

-Katayoun (katayoundance@verizon.net) is a popular dancer and instructor in Sterling, VA.

 

"All of the dancers were wonderful...My personal favorite was Shems' cane dance, wearing beledy assuit, it was lively, and entertaining. Cane is one of my favorite dances and that was one of the best I've seen. Hats(canes?) off to you Shems!"

-Zuhra Zakiyah is dancer in the Salt Lake City area. This is an excerpt from a review she wrote about one of the USUMED productions.

 

"I love your dancing. You and Zahra Gamal are two of my favorite Egyptian style dancers in the area."

-Kostana (www.raks-n-rhythms.com/) is a professional dancer in the Washington, DC area, known for her wonderful Turkish style dance.


"The first time I saw Shems dance, I was completely and totally blown away. Also, kind of jealous, because girlfriend CAN MOVE like nobody's business!! Since then, I've been fortunate enough to get to know her, and although I'm still envious of her mad skillz, I also consider myself lucky to know her as a friend."

-Lucy (www.lucy-dances.com) is one of the most popular professional dancers in Egyptian style currently working in the DC area.