NJ, Philadelphia Arabic Belly Dance Star Soraya

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/ats/night_life/artist-of-the-week-soraya/article_fcc7a558-0062-56f1-aeee-68581d68d65c.html

Claim To Fame: Some of Soraya's biggest moments include performing at the palace of his Majesty King Hassan, the Crown Price of the Royal Family in Morocco. She also has done a two-week tour of India's five-star hotels called "Soraya's Night at the Casbah."

Fun Fact: Soraya actually created her own style of belly dancing, which utilizes strong Egyptian and Lebanese choreography. "To embody the music is my secret," she says. "I cannot emphasize enough never to over-choreograph - the dance would lose that certain ethnic flavor or Arabic style."

Websites:
www.bellydancebysoraya.com
www.twitter.com/SorayaAgency
www.YouTube.com/NJBellyDanceEvents
www.myspace.com/NJArabicBellyDanceSoraya

Go See Her: The show takes place at the Circus Maximus Theater inside Caesars Atlantic City. Doors open at 8 p.m.. Tickets range from $55 to $155.
Artist of the Week: Soraya

– CONTINUED Part 4: At The Shore Magazine Interview, Press of Atlantic City Newspaper

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/ats/night_life/artist-of-the-week-soraya/article_fcc7a558-0062-56f1-aeee-68581d68d65c.html

And with being a great artist comes getting to wear great costumes -

Soraya's authentic and extravagant garb is custom made in Egypt, and Soraya sketches out all of the designs herself.

"I love a lot of beading, coins, flowing fabrics and sequins," she says. "Much like Lady Gaga, I am a 'sequin monster.' I love glitz, glamour and keeping my costumes in great taste."

Check out Soraya, her decadent duds and all the Arabian Nights show has to offer. Tickets are available through www.pressofatlanticcity.com/
tickets. Tickets are priced between $55 and $155, & the show begins at 9 p.m. in the Circus Maximus Theater.

What To Expect: 'When people watch me perform they can expect a very authentic, professional and cultural experience," Soraya says. "It is my mission to make people smile while they watch me interpret the beautiful rhythms of both ancient & modern Middle Eastern music."

Background: Soraya holds a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology & Sociology, with an emphasis in Middle Eastern & Mediterranean studies, and uses belly dancing as a form of education. She is also a southern New Jersey native who has traveled around the world for her work.

– CONTINUED Part 3: At The Shore Magazine Interview, Press of Atlantic City

Southern New Jersey is her home turf - she has been performing in all of the top lounges and nightclubs throughout the casinos since she was a teenager.
"I am so excited to have been asked to open for Fares Karam," Soraya says. "I have my favorite Karam music on my iPod and I listen to it all the time. So, you can imagine how thrilled I am to be opening for this amazing superstar."
Soraya also was blown away by her opportunity to perform at the official black-tie gala for the opening of the King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
"I was told by the owner of the exhibit that they wanted a real Egyptian belly-dancing experience," Soraya says. "The Franklin Institute told me that they originally did not want belly dancing at the official gala until they saw my work. Those words will ring in my head forever as an artist."

– CONTINUED: At The Shore Magazine Interview, The Press of Atlantic City

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/ats/night_life/artist-of-the-week-soraya/article_fcc7a558-0062-56f1-aeee-68581d68d65c.html

Posted: Thursday, March 10, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 9:24 am, Wed Mar 9, 2011.
A unique and cultural event comes to Caesars Atlantic City Saturday, March 12 - Arabian Nights starring vocalist Fares Karam and world-renowned belly dancer Soraya.
Soraya, who has been belly dancing her entire life, uses the art form to educate people as well as bring happiness and positive energy to the masses.
"I feel that belly dancing is just like any other classical dance form - like ballet," she says. "I have dedicated my life to turning any negatives into positives, and when I perform, it immediately becomes a personal celebration of life in every way."
For Soraya, becoming a belly dancer was less of a choice, and more of a spiritual beckoning she felt from a very early age - and she has never regretted a single swing of the hips.
"Belly dancing chose me; I didn't choose it," Soraya says. "I grew up with beautiful, Arabian music and dance. My parents performed Mediterranean folk dancing for Greek, Armenian and Syrian family parties and nightclubs around Atlantic City and Philadelphia."
Atlantic City has always been good to Soraya, and she holds it dear to her heart.

– At The Shore Magazine, The Press of Atlantic City

THE BOARDWALK JOURNAL MAGAZINE - Soraya chosen as "Boardwalk Beauty" APRIL 2010

SORAYA INTERNATIONAL BELLYDANCE SUPERSTAR -

Soraya enjoys performing her authentic & dynamic belly dancing shows around the US & in global venues. She has been performing the art of bellydancing since early childhood & also holds a BA Degree in Anthropology. Her art has taken her to many wonderful destinations. Some of the many highlights of her career include CELEBRITY PARTIES in CA & as far away as CASABLANCA, MOROCCO at THE PALACE OF KING HASSAN & on tour in five-star hotels in INDIA.

Soraya dances at numerous Casinos for carefully-selected events & in their Showrooms for audiences of thousands. She was selected to dance in a national TV commerical for Trump Taj Mahal. Soraya is the operator of the well-known & successful entertainment agency Soraya's Mid-East Dance & Music Productions. She enjoys performing in & providing musical/variety talent for many weddings, black tie soirees, "Arabian Nights" theme parties, corporate events, sephardic celebrations & more with a strong attention to detail & professionalism.

She performed for the OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING GALA of the KING TUT EXHIBIT at the Franklin Institute in PHILADELPHIA which was filmed by National Geographic.

– James Leonard ESQ, The Boardwalk Journal

http://www.shorenewstoday.com/news.php?id=4543

She shimmies, swivels her hips & undulates across the stage, captivating audiences with her charming exotic beauty. International belly dance star Soraya performs @ Atlantic City casino concerts, black-tie soirées, weddings & Hollywood parties. She's the Genie in Taj Mahal casino commercials, & opened the King Tut Exhibit @ Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

She caught the eyes of Paris Hilton & Nicole Ritchie, who asked if they could film a segment of their reality show “Simple Life” in her home (she graciously declined). One of her notable achievements was dancing for King Hassan/Moroccan Royal Family @ their palace in Casablanca, Morocco.

Soraya has been belly dancing since 3 yrs old & it flows through her veins–literally, because it's part of her heritage. "It's as natural for me as breathing,”. Her successful entertainment company, Soraya’s Mid-East Dance & Music Productions, is an upscale booking agency. She profits from global DVD sales, & all earnings are donated to charity (it helps being married to a doctor).

She's also an Anthropologist,teacher,makeup artist &singer committed to “keeping it real” while changing negative misconceptions about belly danc

– BELLY DANCING IS THE EMBODIMENT OF HER HERITAGE. Anthropologist born to practice art of ancesters

Egyptian superstar singer AMR DIAB and Belly Dance Star Soraya Concert TAJ MAHAL CASINO, AC, NJ.

SORAYA AT TRUMP TAJ MAHAL

Soraya will again be bringing her professional Egyptian belly dancing act to Trump Taj Mahal Arena showroom on Saturday, March 11, opening for Arabic singing star AMR DIAB. Soraya, who holds a degree in anthropology from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, has performed for the King of Morocco and enjoys bringing cutting edge, professional belly dancing to upscale weddings, major concerts, corporate theme parties, fund raisers and hotel banquets. Soraya enjoys being very carefully selective with what types of events she will perform in.

"Showing the general public how great belly dancing can be when done with a strong attention to detail, technique and style is my main focus in life", says Soraya. This dance is something that I have been doing since I was 3 years old with my family. She made it into a very rewarding & lucrative career & enjoys performing in professional concerts, upscale shows, Hollywood celebrity parties, and weddings.
It's no surprise that her Motto is: "DREAMS DO COME TRUE SO DREAM BIG"!

Soraya's Mid-East Dance & Music Productions
(609) 823-2029
www.youtube.com/NJBellyDanceEvents
www.bellydancebysoraya.com

– The Press of Atlantic City (CASINO SCENE)