Welcome to the website of Soraya, Houston-based belly dancer, choreographer, instructor and director of Soraya and La Zambra Belly Dance Troupe! Feel free to browse Soraya’s site for more information on classes & performances.
Soraya began studying Middle Eastern dance fifteen years ago under the tutelage of professional belly dancer Tamar based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Over the years she has continued her Middle Eastern dance education by taking master classes and workshops with various performing artists in different areas of the dance such as Ansuya, Rachel Brice, Zoe Jakes, Dalia Carella, Leila Gamal, Cassandra, Zahra Zuhair, Amel Tafsout, Fat Chance Bellydance, Jillina, Aziza and Bozenka.
Besides studying various forms of Middle Eastern dance, Soraya has studied ballet since the age of four at the Neubert Ballet Institute in Carnegie Hall, New York City. Shortly thereafter, she had begun concurrent studies in Flamenco and Spanish Dance at Carnegie Hall’s International Studios. When Soraya’s family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, she continued her studies in ballet at the Giacobbe Academy of Dance, and in Flamenco with her mother, Maria Del Esapdin, founder, owner and director of Del Espadin Flamenco & Spanish Dance Academy and performing companies, Alegrias (New Orleans), Del Espadin Baile Espanol (Houston) and Solo Sevillanas (Houston).
Today, Soraya performs, teaches and choreographs Middle Eastern dance, concentrating mostly on the Egyptian, or Raqs Sharqi, style of belly dance, and Flamenco. Career highlights include her appearances in Modern Luxury’s Houston Magazine, cover of 002Magazine, Mango Punch’s Video for “Que se lleve el viento mi dolor”, performances at HCC Heinen Theater, the Jewish Community Center, Del Espadin Flamenco & Spanish Dance Academy Flamenco Fiestas, Miller Outdoor Theater, and Loyola University