By Cindy Fertsch
“This career chose me. I didn’t choose it,” shares Soraya. Soraya is a professional ethnic belly dancer. She was born in the United States and is of Middle Eastern heritage. She began dancing before the age of 5 and enjoyed dancing at all the family celebrations.
Belly dancing is a sacred art form in Middle Eastern culture. Soraya performs at many Middle Eastern weddings and in the showrooms of the casinos in Atlantic City.
Soraya is both a performer and a booking agent. Through her business, Mideast Dance and Music, she books productions for casinos that bring famous Middle Eastern singers here to perform.
Soraya has done opening performances for Middle Eastern celebrities and also performed at Caesars, Bally’s, Golden Nugget, Borgata, Tropicana and the former Taj Mahal and Showboat in countless concerts since her early teens.
Soraya’s art has taken her all around the world. A highlight of her career was performing for King Hassan and the royal family of Morocco in the palace in Casablanca. She has toured many five star hotels in India. Soraya also performed at the black tie gala at the official opening of the King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute.
“My main goal or ideology is to break down all negative and cultural stereotypes with my own theatrical approach without ever cheapening or debasing this dance and turning it into something it is not. I hope for it to be as respected as Ballet one day, which is what I am striving for as an artist and Anthropologist,” explains Soraya.
She is a graduate of both Atlantic City High School and Stockton University, holding a degree in Anthropology. She now resides in Margate with her husband, Dr. Robert while pursuing her career in Ethnic Dance.
If you would like more information, go to bellydancebysoraya.com
