Well hello there! I’m Sahira.
I am a lifelong performer…I got my start on stage with local pageants when I was three and have never stopped jumping onto stages! I love music and theater (I love acapella vocals, Renaissance flute and Shakespeare plays most of all) and of course, belly dance!
I began belly dancing full-time after being laid off quite suddenly from my cushy environmental engineering job in 2001. I had only been dancing for one year and was scared to death…but I figured I had nothing to lose! So I packed my belongings into storage, moved out of my apartment and started dancing at Renaissance Festivals all around the country. (I didn’t really know where else I could dance at the time!)
Fast forward a few years and, tired of living in a tent, I landed back in Houston and began teaching and performing all over town. At one point I was dancing 5 nights a week, sometimes up to 7 shows in an evening! In 2005, I released my first instructional DVD and shortly after was invited to teach and perform all around the world. In 2006 I even had the honor of being the first tribal instructor ever invited to teach at the largest belly dance festival in the world: Ahlan We Sahlan, in Cairo, Egypt.
These days I choose to focus my energies on teaching this beautiful art form to people here in Houston and all over the globe through my online studio at Learn.SahiraBellyDances.com. This platform has allowed me to collect my 20+ years of experience in technique, choreography, zills (my personal favorite!) and more into a convenient library of educational videos. But above all else I believe I am known for my warm and inviting energy, amazing organizational skills, and my tendency towards the ridiculous.
I am also the proud co-owner of Bella Donna Dance, voted Houston ’s Best Belly Dancers by the Houston Press and founder and director of Houston’s premiere Tribal Style troupe, Urban Hipsy.
What I love best about teaching is watching a student grow into their dance – from that first “ah-ha” moment, to seeing them dance with a confidence that they never thought they had. This dance is so wonderfully empowering and can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life. I’ve gained balance, confidence, poise, and come to appreciate my body and who I am… and you can too!
I look forward to helping YOU learn and love this dance that means so much to me.
See you on the dance floor!”
~Sahira
I’ve been watching your YouTube videos for years- and loved the prenatal videos when I was pregnant with my now almost 3 year old. I continued those after he was born and he would fall asleep in my arms, and still loves dancing with me everyday. 🙂
Sahira is an amazing teacher and one of the most talented, exciting bellydancers ever! She makes learning this beautiful dance form fun and informative all the while getting a great workout. You leave class feeling confident and more comfortable in your own body. She's also the nicest, most genuine person you will ever meet. Highly recommend her as both a teacher and performer. You will not regret even a second spent in her presence.
I LOVE Sahira's classes! I've taken classes with her both online and in person. The classes are fun and no matter what your skill level, Sahira makes you feel like the most beautiful person in the room. Her skills are second to none and on top of that, she has a great sense of humor and a ton of patience. What more could you want? I can honestly say I wouldn't take belly dance lessons from anyone else!
The best way to start your belly dance career is in Sahira's class! It's a technique driven class that's fun and all happens in a safe and loving dance environment. I've taken classes with Sahira for years and not only has it toned my body muscles but also my brain 'muscle'! She's a fun, supportive, and knowledgeable instructor! I love her and will continue taking her class! EVERYONE (male and female) should take her belly dance class.
Sahira is not only a graceful dancer, she is an amazing teacher. She knows how to break down the steps into simple moves which makes learning an enjoyable experience. Sahira also adds cultural explanation to certain steps and songs, and that makes the dance very interesting. She genuinely cares about her students, and everytime I go to her class I feel transformed into a world of joy and trust.
I have taken bellydance classes from several instructors over the years, but never stuck with any of them as they seemed uninspired, disorganized, or otherwise did not teach in a clear and concise manner. I have learned under Sahira for 2 years and counting now, however, in both her level 1 and level 2 classes. She is energetic, interested, well-organized and ready to help with any questions or concerns and really brings the class together as a community. She's very accessible, open, interested and always introducing new challenges and techniques. I highly recommend her as a teacher!
What I most appreciate about Sahira as a teacher is that she creates an atmosphere wherein everyone feels heard and appreciated for simply showing up! You will also be given an opportunity to ask questions to figure out what you are doing and she will step-by-step elucidate and demonstrate it in a way that makes it click. Take a class...you won’t be disappointed. If something is not clear, she welcomes questions...you will feel more feminine and empowered at the same time!
