Sahara Dance

Our Faculty

Catarina

Raqs Sahara Executive Committee

Noted for her fiery and energetic dance style, Catarina performs raqs sharqi as an expression of the joy she finds in Middle Eastern music and dance.

Catarina

Before becoming interested in raqs sharqi, Catarina focused on Western dance styles, such as ballet, modern, and jazz. As a teenager and young adult, Catarina choreographed and performed extensively in the modern and jazz styles and, while in college at Yale University, co-directed a performance group called DanceWorks and produced a number of shows.

While in graduate school at Harvard University, Catarina continued to choreograph and perform with the Mainly Jazz Dance Ensemble. While dancing, Catarina pursued a nine-year study of Shotokan Karate, ultimately earning a black belt, and uses the balance, discipline and control developed through karate training to enhance her dance technique and performance.

Several years ago, Catarina’s longstanding admiration for the beauty and grace of raqs sharqi drew her to an intense study of the dance. After years of study and performance, including performances with the Whiplash Curve Dance Theater and as a soloist in a variety of venues, Catarina became one of the founding members of Raqs Sahara. Since then, she has choreographed and performed extensively with the company.

Catarina currently teaches classes exclusively at Sahara Dance.