Shahla Zahr carefully picked her dance name when it came time for her to select one. Shahla translates as “beautiful eyes” and Zahr means “flower”. Both of these names are excellent descriptors of her. Born and raised in Maryland, Shahla was first introduced to belly dancing when, as a teenager, her brother took her and her parents to a New Jersey restaurant for lunch. Much to her surprise, part of the dining experience involved a performance by a belly dancer. Once the performance began, she had forgotten that they were there for a lunch. Her vivid teen memory of that day was how beautiful that belly dancer was. Later in 1981, Shahla began taking belly dance lessons only to have the ebbs and flows of life draw her away from belly dance until 1998 when she began taking lessons again. Shortly after in 2001, Shahla began teaching classes. Her formative training was with a S.MD teacher. For a short time during 2002, her dedication to learning this dynamic dance was tested when she forced to travel almost two hours to take lessons.

Shahla has had the good fortune to attend many workshops with instructors from around the world. Currently, Shahla is training under, and assisting, Egyptian-born master teacher and choreographer Yousra (Yucy) El-Banan. So, as well as dancing with Troupe ‘Hip’notic, Shahla also a troupe member of Yucy’s troupe - Dokki Ya Mazika. Shahla’s dance montage includes cabaret and folkloric dances and movements. Moreover, her training in these styles has included dancing with candles, baskets, canes, veils and sword. Among these, double canes, candles and sword are her favorite.

Shahla has been diagnosed with a life threatening disease called Lupus. In addition, she suffers from arthritis and Fibromyalgia. Despite these grave life-altering ailments, she has never considered herself as having a “disability” but rather a differing ability. It is her hope that everyone has the opportunity and courage to try this wonderful dance no matter what their limitations might be. Shahla believes that this wondrous dance is truly a dance for everyone and every body.

Shahla is one of the founding members of SMODA (Southern Maryland Oriental Dance Association) and in 2004 was elected to the board of WAMEDA (Washington Area Middle Eastern Dance Association). Even more importantly…her husband and ‘belly dance sherpa’ is responsible for many of the troupe pictures in our gallery.