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Mara al-Nil, M.S., is the director of Sultan's
Delight Middle Eastern Dance Troupe. She has studied Middle Eastern
dance with a number of teachers in the United States, and with several
renowned Egyptian dancers in Cairo, Egypt. She has also enjoyed
various workshops with Morocco, Dahlena
and Mahmoud Reda. She performs at restaurants and festivals
throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Mara is also a staff
writer for The Gilded Serpent, an online Middle Eastern dance
magazine.
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Photos
by
Kathleen
Reeve
and
Yuri Syuganov | |
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In addition to Egypt, her travels have included
Haiti, China, Mexico, Italy, France, Spain and
England, where she lived for a year.
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Mara enjoys a variety of Middle Eastern
music and dance styles, but is particularly captivated by
traditional Upper Egyptian music and the cane dance
(Raqs al-Assaya). Finger cymbals (zils or sagat)
are an important accompaniment to Middle Eastern dance.
All Sultan's Delight members are proficient in playing
them. Mara also plays doumbek (tabla drum)
and def (frame drum).
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Sultan's Delight welcomes new and
prospective members of any age, race or gender. Dancers
of all skill levels (beginner to professional) are
accepted. If you are interested in joining us, please
contact Mara for an audition.
Mara teaches Beginning
Middle Eastern Dance at Mission College in Santa Clara,
California. Classes are open to members of the
community, and are suitable for men and women of all ages and
body types. Pregnant women are also welcome. | |
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