Meeting Soheir Zaki
In June 2002, I accompanied Sahra to Brazil to help translate her dance workshops. I happen to be half-Brazilian & half-Lebanese and fluent in Portuguese, as well as a dancer, which made me the perfect Belly Dance Workshop translator. We spent our days teaching the Sahra style of Egyptian dance and our nights with our…
What’s In A Name????
Well when you are an immigrant that can be very complicated! Take my family name for example…. Phonetically it is pronounced Shelaby but because it is an Arabic name, when it is transferred into English there is a variety of possible spellings. You see, when my grandfather came from Lebanon (then Greater Syria) through Ellis…
Ahlan Wa Sahlan!!
Welcome!! The Lebanese generosity is evident every where we go. Ahla wa Sahla often followed by Fàdalo (come in)…. So much wonderful food, such pleasure in sharing their culture with others. This is what makes Lebanon so special! This is a typical Lebanese breakfast in our modest and charming hotel; Every morning I have had…
Arriving in Beirut
Traveling to Lebanon for the first time had me full of conflicting emotions. I was excited to get to know the homeland of my paternal grandparents and the place my father came back to to attend the American University in Beirut and reconnect with his roots. But was I setting myself up for disappointment? Was…
Baptized by Fire-How it All Started…..
I was 16 and it was summer vacation which meant I was hanging out at the community pool most of the time when Sahra called. She was on her way to meet with Farida Fahmy and a few other dancers to rehearse for a show they were going to perform at the 1st Arab-American Festival….