Shareen El Safy

Shareen El Safy is one of the most respected American specialists in Egyptian Raqs Sharqi. Her career has combined performance, long-term study, research and direct professional experience in Egypt. During summers between 1988 and 1992 she performed professionally in Cairo nightclubs, giving her unusual access to the Egyptian dance environment during an important transitional period. She studied closely with Egyptian dancers and musicians and developed the teaching approach she calls **Dancing from the ****Inside Out**, which places musical and emotional interpretation at the centre of technique. Shareen has taught in dozens of cities across several continents and influenced many dancers who later became internationally recognised professionals. Her contribution is especially important because she consistently prioritises Egyptian movement logic and cultural understanding rather than treating Raqs Sharqi merely as a collection of isolated steps.