Photo: Tatsuki Kobayashi

Shahrazad Dance Ensemble performs folkloric Middle Eastern dances based on dance of the Levant, Egypt, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf. We also perform modern Egyptian and American Belly Dance. And we also perform imaginative and entertaining choreography to fusion music when we appear as our alter egos, The Wild Women of Wongo -- perfect for children's parties, holiday parties and science fiction conventions,

Photo © Shahrazad Ensemble

Above: Members of Shahrazad Dance Ensemble performing the troupe's North African basket dance at the Kent Regional Library in February 2009. For their participation in the "Many Voices, One Land" program of the King County Library System, the troupe presented folkloric dances from the Levant, the Gulf, Turkey, Persia, and Egypt, and told stories about their inspiration,Shahrazad, the heroine of Alf Layla wa Layla, The Thousand and One Nights.

Shahrazad Ensemble is on YouTube! View two dances from the 2007 Northwest Folklife Festival:

Khalegy intro and North African Basket Dance
Egyptian Folkloric "Bambi Saidi"

Shahrazad Ensemble is one of Seattle's premier performing troupes. The troupe has appeared at dance shows throughout the Pacific Northwest, at the Western Washington Fair, the Northwest Folklife Festival, Arab Fest, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and science fiction conventions.

Shahrazad Ensemble's grace, skill and sheer joy in the dance never fails to charm an audience.

Photo © Shahrazad Dance Ensemble of Seattle