Interview with Claudia

June 18, 2009 01:27 PM

Name: Claudia

What is your role within the Sahara Dance community? Raqs Caravan East member and Company Manager

Childhood ambition: I remember I wanted to be an artist! I was drawing all the time. Then, when I was a teenager I wanted to be a dancer..of course!, but I never had a chance to take lessons. I just kept dancing on my own or with friends any chance I got. I was really inspired by movies like Flashdance…very 80’s

First job: Doing a marketing promotion for Pepsi called “The Pepsi Challenge.” It was a taste test. People had to choose between Pepsi or Coca-Cola. It was really fun! But it only lasted a few months.

What’s playing on your iPod or CD player? Usually belly dance music. Hossam Ramzy, Om Kalsoum. I’ve been listening to Warda a lot lately. She’s such a lovely singer! I’m more into classical Egyptian music.

When I’m not listening to belly dance music, which is rarely, I listen to anything like salsa, pop, rock. It depends on what I feel like :)

Indulgence: Chocolate and more chocolate!! I love to get together with my friends and just talk for hours. Shopping for shoes or earrings. I can never have too many!

What’s your favorite belly dance moment or experience? It’s hard to think of only one. I have so many! One that comes to mind would be my first solo at Casablanca. It was not my first solo ever, but it felt really special. It was my first solo here in the US and my family and friends were there to celebrate with me. I just felt great with my new costume, dancing to one of my favorite songs.

Current inspirations: Classical Egyptian dancers like Tahia Carioca, Souhair Zaki and Fifi Abdo. I wish I could dance like that!!

My husband, my kids..always!!

What is your dance background? My only dance background is belly dance!! It’s been almost 10 years since I started.

How did you get interested in belly dance? Actually, my sister had a friend that was a belly dance instructor. One day I came to visit and she was teaching my little niece and her friends (7 year olds). I just thought it was the most beautiful dance I’d ever seen. The music, the movements, everything was captivating, so magical and feminine. I started taking lesson with her, I think two days after that. I just loved it! And I still love it. There’s always something new to discover.

Finally, what do you love most about Sahara Dance (other than Hip Talk, of course!)? I have learned so much! And I’m still learning. When I moved here almost 5 years ago I was hoping to find a place to continue growing as a dancer and I really found much more! It’s a great community and I’ve made great friends. That’s the most valuable to me.

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