Nafiah began dancing in 2003 to exercise and tone after weight loss. She became interested in
belly dance after watching a local group perform at a festival. Impressed with the customs, the
dancer's beauty & grace, and the varied body types, she considered lessons. She took her first
lesson from Jaleh in Puyallup and became hooked. About a year later, watching a performance of
Belly Dance Super Stars, she became inspired by such top performers as Jillina, Amar Gamal and
Petite Jamila. So impressed by Petite Jamila's double veil routine Nafiah began to choreograph
and perform solos, emphasizing on veil work and spinning. "The veils are like an extension of
myself, my wings, my flight and freedom."
Nafiah has performed at several belly dance conferences and festivals such as the Seattle
Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, the Oasis Market, Powers of Belly Dance, and various local
restaurants. She has performed as a troupe member at haflas, restaurants, and Puyallup's
Meeker Days. Nafiah has studied with Jaleh and Saqra and has taken many workshops from those
such as Aziza, Nadira, Jamila Dwhal, Kamaal, Erna Woo, and Suhalia Salimpour. As she continues to
develop her own style she is eager to absorb as much knowledge, experience, and opportunities
available in order to share with others her enjoyment of expressing her love of music, movement,
and the development of self esteem. "My goal is to one day help those find what they are missing;
what I was missing -- self esteem and the encouragement to know that no matter what your age
or body type, you can be and show true beauty."
Nafiah continues to dance and perform with Jaleh and Raks el Zahira (Jaleh's student troupe) as
well as being a member of JSDC. "Jaleh is my teacher and mentor, while JSDC is my creativity,
my support of camaraderie, and my freedom to express myself."
Being a foster parent, Nafiah hopes to one day help underprivileged adults and teens develop their
self esteem through dance and learn to appreciate themselves and their bodies, no matter what
style, shape, or culture they come from.
"Belly dance is not just dancing to me. It's the music, the style, the grace, and the beauty of
movement of your body. It's what you feel and how you interpret it for yourself and the
audience, and how it can be incorporated into any type of music."
belly dance after watching a local group perform at a festival. Impressed with the customs, the
dancer's beauty & grace, and the varied body types, she considered lessons. She took her first
lesson from Jaleh in Puyallup and became hooked. About a year later, watching a performance of
Belly Dance Super Stars, she became inspired by such top performers as Jillina, Amar Gamal and
Petite Jamila. So impressed by Petite Jamila's double veil routine Nafiah began to choreograph
and perform solos, emphasizing on veil work and spinning. "The veils are like an extension of
myself, my wings, my flight and freedom."
Nafiah has performed at several belly dance conferences and festivals such as the Seattle
Mediterranean Fantasy Festival, the Oasis Market, Powers of Belly Dance, and various local
restaurants. She has performed as a troupe member at haflas, restaurants, and Puyallup's
Meeker Days. Nafiah has studied with Jaleh and Saqra and has taken many workshops from those
such as Aziza, Nadira, Jamila Dwhal, Kamaal, Erna Woo, and Suhalia Salimpour. As she continues to
develop her own style she is eager to absorb as much knowledge, experience, and opportunities
available in order to share with others her enjoyment of expressing her love of music, movement,
and the development of self esteem. "My goal is to one day help those find what they are missing;
what I was missing -- self esteem and the encouragement to know that no matter what your age
or body type, you can be and show true beauty."
Nafiah continues to dance and perform with Jaleh and Raks el Zahira (Jaleh's student troupe) as
well as being a member of JSDC. "Jaleh is my teacher and mentor, while JSDC is my creativity,
my support of camaraderie, and my freedom to express myself."
Being a foster parent, Nafiah hopes to one day help underprivileged adults and teens develop their
self esteem through dance and learn to appreciate themselves and their bodies, no matter what
style, shape, or culture they come from.
"Belly dance is not just dancing to me. It's the music, the style, the grace, and the beauty of
movement of your body. It's what you feel and how you interpret it for yourself and the
audience, and how it can be incorporated into any type of music."
| Nafiah JSDC Company Member |
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