STLBD: As a teacher that has trained so many of the younger dancers that dance now, what makes you most proud when you see them dance?

Somra: I'm proud that they are learning and would really love for them to pass the dance on. Some of them are doing that. It is still very inportant for them to go to seminars and learn as much as they can from others. I can't be their only teacher.

STLBD: How does it feel to have the honor of being the oldest active dancer in St. Louis?

Somra: I'm limber and I can still move! And I'm alive! LOL!

STLBD: You have also studied other dance styles. What are those and how do you incorporate them into bellydance?

Somra: I have studied West African dance now for more than 15 years. I've also studied Dunham technique and I had a chance to study with a man from Brazil. I like to take the steps, break them down to fit North African dance, and add a shimmy to it. The movements are really similar, so it's easy to fit together.

STLBD: What made you decide to do Tribal after dancing cabaret for so many years?

Somra: I like the look. It's more suitable for me. Since Tribal has alot of folkloric roots, I like to focus on a more folkloric look for my costumes. I still do cabaret though.

Somra's Classes

Somra teaches at the new Pinx Academy of Dance in University City! Check the class schedule for details!

   
STLBD: What made you decide to teach?

Somra: We as African American women come from a tribe. I wanted to see more African American women learn tribal and be able to also do Cabaret. Our ancestors that came before us come from a tribe somewhere in Africa, so I thought my group could do tribal off of the African perspective.

STLBD: How did you find your name and what does it mean?

Somra: My name came from a man that I met from Egypt. I asked him about the Nubian girls there. I asked him what names do they usually have. He gave me the name "Somra", which means "black".

STLBD: Who are the dancers that you like the most?

Somra: I loved Amir, Horatio Cifuentes, Sohair Zaki, Negwa Fouad, Francisco, Mahmoud Reda...Bobby Farrah was a lovely person! I met him in Iowa some time ago and had the pleasure of being in one of his seminars.

See Somra and Oasis Beyond the Veil dance at the BJC Sportspark at the St. Louis Science Center, Dec 16 3:15-3:45pm and again at 4:00-4:30pm!

 

STLBD: What is the best advice you would like to give younger dancers?

Somra: For the younger dancers, when you break off from a group, don't cause alot of confusion. We should be able to be civil, and be able to blend in and communicate with all the dancers in the community. We should be able to work together, no matter who it is!

 
STLBD: What are your plans for the future?

Somra: I will keep teaching. I am beginning to travel again. I would like to do more workshops and attend as many seminars as I can.
 

www.somraelnubia.com