Sharifa Asmar
The Gilded Serpent presents...
Sharifa Asmar
Sharifa met Oriental dance in college and they've been inseparable ever since. The music captured her heart and its physical expression, Oriental dance, became her passion. Nothing has changed. Since then, Sharifa has danced across 3 continents, several islands, in a myriad of venues over 2 ½ decades with happy audiences celebrating life on a breathless journey of music, cultural exchange and laughter.
Sharifa’s repertoire includes a wide sampler of styles from across the Middle East, classic Egyptian, and American style. Known for her elegant style, musicality, technique and passion are hallmarks of Sharifa’s dance, choreography and teaching.
Sharifa teaches regular classes in several North Carolina locations and workshops all over the US. She actively shares Oriental and Middle Eastern dance with general audiences through engaging and innovative offerings at public and private events. Sharifa also serves as artistic director of Qarisma Dance, a performing troupe.
Sharifa is comfortable in Spanish, German, French and English languages. Her study of Arabic language is on-going…and hopefully much improved by her next trip to Cairo. Sharifa's academic education includes post-graduate studies in history and political science. A professor of history, her ongoing research now includes contemporary Oriental dance communities, a view of 20th C Oriental dance and online learning. In 2001, Sharifa participated in the 2nd International Middle eastern Dance Conference with a survey of then current US bellydance community, “From Uncommon Grounds to Common Traditions: Belly Dancer or Middle Eastern Dancer.”
In 2012, Sharifa celebrates 30 yrs of Oriental dance and is dancing with old and new friends throughout the US and Canada and maybe even across the sea! You can always reach Sharifa in the studio or in the field with her Paso Fino horses.
Articles on Gilded Serpent by Sharifa Asmar
- 2-10-12 Technique, Rhythm and Passion, Sharing the Intangible, All by Hossam Ramzy: Rhythms of the Nile: Intro to Egyptian Dance Rhythms, Baladi Plus: Egyptian Dance Music, Sabla Tolo III,
Rhythms of the Nile is one of the most important CDs in my library. While I have lots of instructional rhythm CDs, this is one of my top three – all the others are just collecting dust.
