International Performer
Sahra has performed over 1600 shows in Cairo, Egypt alone.
She holds the record in Cairo, Egypt for the longest running contract of a foreign dancer at a 5-Star Hotel.
Sahra has performed and taught Egyptian style Orientale and Folkloric dance on five continents.
Originally from the Los Angeles, California area, Sahra was schooled in performance for Middle Eastern audiences by Lou Shelby and over 7 years at the Cascades Restaurant with amazing live musicians as well as a crafted Dinner Show.
"Sahra Show" in Egypt: This show's ensemble included Sahra, Egyptian musicians, singers, folkloric dancers and authentic Saidi musicians. Video/DVD/CD "Sahra Show" can be seen on "Sahra Saeeda" video/DVD, "Ahlan, Ahlan" video and "Sahra-Direct from Cairo"; and can be heard on the CD's "Sahra Saeeda", "Music for Egyptian Dance" and "Layali Zaman." Sahra was honored to perform choreographies exclusively by Farida Fahmy from 1989-1991. The "Sahra Show" with 5 of her musicians and a male Folklore dancer, came to the USA from Egypt in 1996 and toured 4 states.
Theater Stage & Ya Amar! Upon her return to the USA, Sahra both embraced the international large theater stages and started a dance company "Ya Amar." Unfortunately "Ya Amar" was disbanded when rehearsals conflicted with her touring schedule. "Ya Amar" can be seen on "Al Dunia" video and "Journey through Egypt" DVD study base for JtE-1. The enrichment of the large stage still inspires Sahra's artistic vision today.
Academic Credits
Master of Arts Degree: University of California, Los Angeles - Dance Ethnology (with specialization in Egypt) graduated with Honors
Bachelor's Degrees: Cultural Anthropology - California State University, San Bernardino;
Archeology - California State University, San Bernardino. Graduated with Honors, 1st in Department.
Associate of Arts Degree: Modern dance - Palomar college, San Marcos, California.
Awards for Dancer of the Year and for Choreography of the year.
Awards
BDUC lifetime achievement award - 2010
International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (IAMED) -
Modern Egyptian Dancer - 2001,
Middle Eastern Dance Award for Troupe "Ya Amar" for "Nubian Joy" (Director / Choreographer)
The Giza Academy of Music and Legends of Dance
Gamal Dance Award for Best Choreographed Performance, Classical dance; "Baad Annak" IAMED - 2003
Gamal Dance Award for Choreography; "Sahra Saeeda: Performance Video III" - 2001
Gamal Dance Award for Troupe, Live Performance; Sahra and Ya Amar! Dance Troupe in "Al Dunia" video
Produced by Sahra C Kent - Layali Yasmine Productions
Conferences
2001 - 2nd International Conference on Middle eastern dance: Co-coordinator with Angelika Nemeth and
Shareen El Safy. Presented Mahmoud Reda, Farida Fahmy, Nagwa Fuad, Mohammed Khalil;
Academic Forums and Presentations, Workshops, Concert Performances
1997 - 1st International Conference on Middle eastern dance: Co-coordinator with Shareen El Safy and Angelika Nemeth. Presented Mona Said (Egypt), Imani & Orchestra (Lebanon), live musicians inc.: George &
Tony Lammam, Omar Farouk Tekbilek, Adel Asfor, Gamal Juma; Academic Forums and Presentations,
Workshops, International Soloists and Dance Companies in Concert
International Teaching
Middle East; Egypt, Morocco
Asia: Japan: (Tokyo, Yokohama)
Europe: (Spring and Autumn European Tours every year since 1996)
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany (more than 20 cities), Hungary, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland
South America: Brazil (Sao Paolo)
North America:
Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Montreal, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Toronto, Winnipeg)
Mexico (Mexico City)
USA (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois,
Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.)
Layali Yasmine Productions: Sahra is the president of "Layali Yasmine Productions" ("Nights of Jasmine") an independant recording and distribution label for Egyptian music, Middle Eastern dance performance and instructional videos.
JtE Journey through Egypt: Utilizing her academic degrees in both Dance & Cultural Anthropology along with a MA in Dance Ethnology from UCLA, Sahra has created a series of 20-hour intensive workshops on the Dance Zoners of Egypt. As the director and instructor of the "JtE" ("Journey through Egypt") Dance Ethnology workshops and JtE Travel as Classroom series, Ms. Kent conducts workshops worldwide and yearly tours to Egypt.
